Vijay is no more

Vijay, teenage grandson of Rajappamama, is no more. He died in a bike accident in Chennai. We heard the sad news through e-mail from my sister Bhagya in New Delhi. She had spoken to the grieving parents, jayam and Vishwa.Bhagya,in her mail, said Vijay had gone into coma after the accident; and doctors could not revive him.

When we phoned Chennai,Vijay's mother said his heart,kidneys and eyes have been donated; a very noble gesture, and highly unusual for a conservative Bhramin family. Jayam told us vijay's heart had been successfully transplanted on someone in Bangalore; one of his kidneys went to a doctor admitted in Apollo Hospital in Chennai.

Our recollection of Vijay, an ITI diploma-holder, was that of a toddler, in the 90s, when we were staying at Parson Towers on Pantheon Rd. Vijay and his parents lived closeby. As an year-old child, Vijay endeared himself to us and our son Ravi,then a schoolboy, delighted in teasing the toddler. A particular prank Ravi used to play was pull down Vijay's shorts, if only to annoy the playful toddler, with mischief in his eyes. It was delightful watching Vijay darting around the house,dodging Ravi from reaching for his shorts.

My wife and I last met Vijay a few years back at his Ambattur house. He was then in the 10th class,and he made fond enquiries about Ravi anna in the US, still remembering his pranks when we were neighbours on Pantheon Rd.,Egmore. On receiving the news of Vijay's death couple of days back my wife and I remembered our last visit to his place; and pictured Vijay as a schoolboy who , on the asking of his mother, had escorted us to the neighbourhood scooter-stand at Ambattur to see us off.

Drawing for Dad

This was Sidharth's gift to his dad on Father's Day, June 21.Flipside says it all,"Ravi, Dad Day, Ha,ha,ha", if you have the artistic sense to figure it out.
"Me too," says Nikhil, and does his own piece for daddy.
The artists at work in their play-room.

Diya's birthday

Not all kids always relish school. But no child would want to miss going to school on her birthday.That is the day she gets to share her sweets with her friends in the class. Diya was out at Eurokids, her school in Mysore, when we called her grandparents on Monday.
With grandpa - Raghu thatha - on their recent visit to Subbu patti's place.Being watched with admiration by Diya's fan No.1.
Diya turns to Baby patti who has infinately more patience than mother when it comes to responding to Diya's whims and fancy, such as making herself a saree out of Savitha's dupatta.

Gautam is one (nearly)

It was a working day;and not even his birthday (June29), but Gautam's parents - Uma and Rajesh - celebrated his first birthday on June 19 - the day of the asrological star - Bharani - under which Gautam was born nearly an year ago. A birthday doesn't seem to interest our friend. He would rather be in bed playing with our camera cover. But it was his parents who seemed all steamed up for doing the puja marking Gautam's ayushoma.

Gautam in bed biting into the camera cover.
His mom Uma is decked up in a fancy saree, wearing it in a cumbersome way. She and daddy were so engaged in the rituals that they wouldn't even let Gautam have his milk in peace.
Puja materials that caught Gautam's attention, after they took away the camera cover from him. 'My parents wouldn't let me handle them', says his mother quoting young Gautam, whose noises and gestures only his mother can make sense of.
Gautam's grandparents, whose presence at the puja was mandatory. Grandma Bhagya.
Kumar, one of Gautam's favourite uncles, stood in at the rituals for Shankar mama, who is in London.
Meanwhile Saranya appears to be having fun with Ramesh chacha
A rare moment during puja when Uma could bring together both kids to stay at one spot.
A ring for Gautam, for the special day - a present from patti-thatha.

Sidharth/Nikhil at Soccer

If it is Friday morning, it is soccer time. Nikhil and Sidharth are enthusiastic about it because they get to wear their soccer colours - Nikhil makes do with what his elder brother wore last year, while sidharth has graduated to the 'red' class.
Sidharth poised to score. Sidharth is a veteran when it comes to kicking the ball around.Nikhil appears in a quandary; for he often can't decide on which ball to kick around. On his turf they have as many soccer balls to go round as there are players.

After the last session they gave his daddy a certificate of achievement. Though It was in recognition of Nikhil's performance at the soccer,the San Ramon sports centre know well that it is a certificate in recognition of the time and energy his parents devote to bringing the boys for the coaching sessions.Nikhil is at the centre, in case you can't figure him out from his team mates.

Back home from soccer Nikhil gave us a display of his footwork - by putting it in his mouth.Presumably, he relishes his food less than his toe.

Drive to the park

Sidharth loves to drive Nikhil in his red Ford Mustang to the neighbourhood park in san Ramon. It takes him five minutes to drive up an incline,involving a couple of hairpin bends,to the hillside park.