Gerald D'Cunha

“I can’t become angry with you, today,” I said to Abhinav. He had wished me, along with others in the class, “Happy Teachers’ Day, sir!” Yes, it was my early-morning first-batch… and, it was a Teachers’ Day. I had to be a lot gentle with my students… a lot patient. As I was teaching, I saw Abhinav limping. He had not done his homework, while others had. Looking at his struggle, I, finally, broke my resolution… “Can you see Abhinav, by not doing your homework, what you have done to your   confidence?” I asked Abhinav, showing my annoyance, “All that it would have taken for you, may be, some thirty minutes to complete that homework.” “Sorry sir,” Abhinav responded meekly,  “I will not repeat this mistake.” I was pleased with the sincere promise my student had made. “I am happy Abhinav that you have owned up,” I said, “It only takes making and keeping a small silent-promise to oneself.” My heart w...

Yesterday was a Sunday. We had been for the morning Mass. There was a simple wedding-nuptial ceremony of a local East Indian couple. After the Mass, the couple posed for some lovely pictures, the brass band played some traditional tunes… the guests danced… and the crackers went up in the air. In a few minutes, everything was silent.  “Reminds you of something?” a good-old friend teased me. “Yes, it does,” I smiled. At night, we had to attend another wedding reception of a Punjabi couple. The bride and the groom looked stunning; the parents looked extremely proud and happy… And, on the stage, when we wished the young couple, we meant every letter of our greeting. “May you be together in your happiness and sorrows; may you be together in your laughter and tears; may you be together in your health and sickness.” What more can one wish on a wedding day?  What more could, my dearest ones do on my own wedding day? Yes, h...

  There are no guarantees in Life.  And, yes, I know this: there is no guarantee, that I will wake up tomorrow morning!   “Come on! Don’t say such things!” I hear my well-wishers discouraging even from thinking such thoughts. So, I should not say, “What if tomorrow doesn’t come?”…  “What if I do not wake up tomorrow morning?” Yes, I am advised to be positive and optimistic in life…  Think, that tomorrow WILL come… Think, that I WILL wake up tomorrow morning! Sorry friends, there are times, you can’t stop me from thinking and saying so: “What if tomorrow never comes!” Today is one such day… I married  Anima, my wonderful wife, twenty-one years ago. Yes, on this day! I have been strongly feeling, suddenly: “Have I told her how much I loved her!” “What if tomorrow never comes…”  “Yes, what if?” “What if?” I just felt I must say that today to her, ...