CHIKNI CHAMELI...
If you
have food in your fridge and clothes on your back,
A roof
over your head and a place to sleep,
You are ‘richer’
than 75% of the entire world!
If you have money in your wallet and a little
change,
And can go
anywhere you want,
You are among
the top 8% of the world’s wealthy!
If you
woke up this morning, with more health than illness,
You are more
blessed than a million people
Who won’t
survive this week and die!
If you can
actually read this message, and understand it,
You are
more fortunate than the three-billion people in the world,
Who can
not see, don’t know English, or suffer being mentally retarded!
LIFE is
not about men/women who dumped you,
Or whatever
else that doesn’t matter…
It is
about a thousand other reasons to be Happy…
So,
‘CHEERS!!!’ to this Life…
Have a cheerful
day!!!
Almost a month has passed since I received this Good-Morning
message from my younger brother, Viva. Even before I finished reading the first
line, I had saved it. I knew, I would write on it, one day.
This is that day!
On Sunday, 12th
Feb., at the Silver-wedding party of my wife’s cousin Sunita and her husband
Benjamin, I had met Rebecca and her teenager-daughter, Aryil. Rebecca is
Sunita’s sister-in-law, married to Anil, Sunita’ brother. Some years ago, at
41, Anil died all of a sudden leaving Rebecca and her two daughters heartbroken
and shaken. It was tough time for Rebecca. She was not working at that time,
and they had no house of their own… Anil had passed through a rough phase in
business and now, all of a sudden, he had gone… leaving young Rebecca and her
two daughters to fend for themselves.
The life took a new
turn… a nasty one!
Rebecca had to decide
whether to buckle down or pick the gauntlet. She chose to face the challenge
with grit and grace. Aleen, her elder daughter, was just in first
year-engineering, and Aryil, the second one, was in ninth-standard. Both the
girls were very fond of their father… particularly, Aryil. The loss was so
painful… As they say, only the passage of Time could heal this loss. But then, that’s
what ‘they’, always, say to make you feel good!
Does Time really heal
our wounds, loss, and our pain?
I really do not know!
But, I do hope, it does!
Presently, Aryil is
doing her first-year BMS from St. Andrew’s College, Bandra. I had this e-mail
from her, this morning.
Hello uncle,
How are you? Sorry for the delay...
Uncle, I don’t expect my poems to be great… It’s just what
I feel I write it down...
This was a poem I wrote soon after I was diagnosed of
cancer... Hope, you like it... I will
send you more later.
I am having projects in college; so, I don’t get time…
Take care… See you some day..!!!
Keep smiling!!!
... ARYIL
THE ‘BIG PLAN’
in teenage
Life shows
troubles to every person,
But, how
will a trouble be for a young teenager?
Yes, this
was the question I asked to myself,
When I
was just fifteen.
It was a
sudden shock!
How could
God be so partial
To make me suffer, so early?
To make me suffer, so early?
But then,
I closed my eyes
And thought of millions of small infants
And thought of millions of small infants
Who hardly
come into this world
And suffer this ‘big pain’.
And suffer this ‘big pain’.
I thought
I should be strong
Rather than crying aloud…
Rather than crying aloud…
I thought
I should think of living
Rather than
being scared of facing death.
I felt
that I had a chance
To start my life, all over again...
To start my life, all over again...
Yes, a
dream came that night…
"I'm
there with you my sweetheart, you'll fight it ! "
Soon, I
woke up to see who that was…
Who told it to me?
Who told it to me?
I felt
him sitting right beside me…
And, that
was my daddy!
That
night, I realized
That I wouldn’t care what came in life,
That I wouldn’t care what came in life,
What pain
I would bear…
Because,
my daddy and God were there with me.
I'm, now,
facing each day in pain,
But, I
know God is always there...
My dad is
always there…
Up there…
Right
here!
So
friends, never feel low if you face bad times…
Life is
unpredictable…
Yes, it
is true!
Never
predict your future,
But,
always predict
How Life will look upon to you, anytime!
How Life will look upon to you, anytime!
I'm still
living life to the fullest,
As though
nothing ever happened;
I believe
that, one day, ill be fine…
Because,
as I said before...
Life IS
so unpredictable!
When I met Rebecca and Aryil on that happy occasion, I felt
happy for the mother and daughter, as both looked really happy and graceful!
Life is busy for all of us… We rarely ‘stand and stare’, as the famous lines tell. Another person’s misery is not mine. So, why add more misery to my life… ? I already have enough, my own!
Life is busy for all of us… We rarely ‘stand and stare’, as the famous lines tell. Another person’s misery is not mine. So, why add more misery to my life… ? I already have enough, my own!
It sounds sensible…
but, it could be the most insensitive thought… a cruel one, in deed!
That night, I learnt
that this little soul, Aryil, has been through a hell. Soon after this little
one lost her darling dad, the pain had taken its toll. At 15, Aryil was
diagnosed with cancer and the life of this family took another nasty –
completely unpredictable – turn. “No, this was not expected, not at least,
now…” This was what the outburst before God. “Why do You do it?”
For a while, I felt
so guilty that I did not know about this girl’s suffering… and the multiple
blows Destiny had delivered on Rebecca. So, when I sat next to them, I learnt the gravity of the situation… The dressing was on… the pain was on… The
treatment was on… and, the Living too!
Rebecca told me about
the initial shock and denial… and the process through which they bounced back…
She described to me the way her teenager-daughter went about facing this
challenge… the way she took this unpredictable 'gift of God' in her stride and
learned to remain up-beat and grateful… Rebecca’s face lit-up with silent pride as
she told me this.
I had raised the
toast for Sunita and Benjamin, that night.
“I miss Anil, today,” Rebecca said, a lot overwhelmed.
“Yes, I saw that on your face when we all were dancing with the silver-couple to the first song.”
“I miss Anil, today,” Rebecca said, a lot overwhelmed.
“Yes, I saw that on your face when we all were dancing with the silver-couple to the first song.”
I had seen Rebecca
alone in her seat… lost in her private world!
“Great lyrics,
uncle,” Aryil had complimented me after I had presented Betty Midler’s
song-lyrics – ‘The Rose’.
After I had done with my toast, I had placed myself
next to Aryil.
“This is for you, dear…” I pulled the lyrics-sheet from my blazer-pocket and gently tucked in this young beholder’s hands.
“This is for you, dear…” I pulled the lyrics-sheet from my blazer-pocket and gently tucked in this young beholder’s hands.
“Thank you so much,
uncle,” Aryil was thrilled.
It was then, Rebecca
told me that Aryil had started penning down her fragile feelings in her diary
and she still continued to do. I was so impressed about it. I was reminding
myself, “Hey, what a divine way of dealing with our sorrows, our dilemmas, our
hopes and despairs… What a way of expressing our gratitude… What a way of celebrating
Life!”
I immediately urged
Aryil to send me some of her poems. I told them about my blog… and I would love
to share some of her poems with my readers. And, yes, her inspiring saga, as
well!
The real music was now on, full blast!. Aryil was dancing
her heart out. Rebecca was a little worried about the dressing of her teenager.
“Her hand has terrible pain, I am bit anxious,” she told me. But then, she
wanted her daughter to dance… like the rest… She wanted her to live life to the
hilt… and, that’s what Aryil was doing that night. My eyes fell on this dancing
beauty as the DJ set ablaze the floor with ‘Ckikni Chameli’. Wow! It was feast
for my eyes!
Aai Chikni Chameli
Chup ke akeli
Pavuoa Chada ke Aai
Aai Chikni Chameli
Chup ke akelli
Pavuoa Chada ke Aai…
Gehre pani ki Machhli hoon raja
Ghat ghat dariya mein ghomi hoon mein
Teri Nazron ki Lehron se haar ke Aaj doobi hoon mein
Oye!
Hayee!!
As I am writing this piece, this song is being
played on my PC. Yes, I had dragged my wife, some days back, to watch this new cock-tail
of ‘Agneepat’. It was the late night show, and my wife was cursing me for my
sin! Both of us couldn’t withstand such gory onslaught when we wanted to retire
for the day. We were left depressed. But, then, when the Chikni Chameli –
Katrina – exploded on the giant screen, our hearts did dance that night… our
faces did light up!
Sorry buddy, you can not play a ‘Chikni Chameli’
and remain without dancing…
And, you can not remain depressed when you dance
like a Chikni Chameli!
I bet. I bet.
“Thumbs up to you, Aryil… my little Chikni
Chameli... Yes, Life is not only unpredictable... it is also so beautiful! Thank you.”
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pics.: Vivek D’Cunha
Comments
Truly inspiring... Hats off to Aryil.
= Ravi Jain
My best wishes to the young Aryil.
Thanks, Gerry.
-- Shaina
Do read regularly,
Love,
GERRY
Love,
GERRY
Really inspiring story!
Thanks a ton, Gerry.
... Janet
Thanks,
Do keep reading...
Love,
GERRY
thanx sir for being d medium.God surely has to heal this lovely girl.
Love,
GERRY
Regards,
== Amrit
im living my life to set an example for the young generation as well as to be a strength for my family...
im very grateful to you.. that you shared my thoughts on your blog.
will surely surely send you more poems :) :)
& to all the others.. thankyou 4 ur prayers and blessings..
O Gerry.....
I truly admire you the way you put things in a perspective.
This was a cocktail of inspiration struggle, confidence, grit, positivity...and the Darwins theory of Survival of the fittest!
I can also add that there are so many greats around us which we fail to admire..
or we need a Gerry to show us!
The one that suffers knows best. The one that endures senses the most.
And the one that fronts promise dishonestly shall forever live in internal misery.
When we share, do we really believe that we have shared. Or do we just perform the act of it because it is meant to thin down the pain in some instances and incite joyful happiness in another. Does the other ever be in position to intensely understand the grief in one and the joy in the other. When we share our pain with the other do they not sympathise as friend on our condition, or do they sympathise because they are freed from similar. When we share our joy do they embrace our happiness with the same earnestness as us or do they do so with a tinge of envy, in not possessing what we accomplished. Harsh thoughts yes … but worth a thought !!
I am glad u, sis and mom all lked the post.
Yes, u have inspired many... and they all r sending ther prayers to u...
KEEP SMILNG DEAR AS U TOLD ME... and keep writing, keep inspiring.
Again,wshing u well and keeping u in my prayers, always,
Love,
Uncle Gerry
Yes, t made me sit up and think...
another person's sorrow s always another person's. But, that may be the reason why I feel so more sad!
Love,
GERRY
Wow! Life and our old London weather... what a comparison! I loved it.
And, I loved the way you conveyed ur feelings for young Aryil...
Love,
SIR
My best wishes to Aryil... I will keep her my prayers!!!
--- Priyanka De
.. Bhushan Thakkar
Yes, I am even more glad when u said that u wd keep Aryil in ur prayers.
Keep reading and helping,
Love,
Sir
and, yes, even I do not know...!
Perhaps, this very mystery keeps Life worth living!
Love,
GEERRY
My good wishes to you, as always!
Love,
GERRY
It is always the ordinary... just the ordinary things, that touch us, inspire us...
Now u know why those things that u capture on your camera fascinate u!
It is ur private world! Cherish it...
Thanks for your prayers for Aryil.
Love,
Dattu
Thank you!
I wish you would have read it out to me, sir!
Have a great day.
Love,
... Nivedita
Oh yes, I would love to read out my post to you!
Keep reading and helping,
Love,
Sir
U r very bold & courageous.
No words in this world...
will reduce ur pain
BUT
ur words will give strength to others
to fight back.
Aryil u r truly a fighter.
Thanks to u
Thanks to sir
Regards Soniya.
God Bless Aryil.
Love,
GERRY
I wd love to visit the link u have given...
Love,
GERRY
Yes, ATTITUDE is everything...
Love,,
GERRY
Some give up and Die. A few fight back and Live, and a very few can Dance every precious minute of their Life on Earth. For me they are "Fully Alive".
Ayril wd find solace in ur words.
Love,
GERRY
Your post reminded me of an old song " Duniyaa mein kithna Gham hai, Mera Gham kithna kam hai". Our prayers are with Aryil.
Kumar
In fact, that very thought is enough for us to be happy in life!
Love,
GERRY
Aryil left this world long back..2.5 years now, but her presence is still afresh..As I write this, I can see her right here...next to me, and now she is happy! Why wouldn't she be, after all, she is with daddy and also, mummy!
I often looked at her, questioned her, "From where do you gather so much courage?" And she used to smile and reply, "Aleen, You can never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice." And today, I realize and understand what she meant.
She was A FEARLESS LIFE. She suffered with this chronic disease CANCER for 5 long years, in that tender age of 15-20, when we get out of our comfort zones, go to college, make friends, pursue our interests,yes, we start living our lives! She suffered during that time, but, till her last breath, she didn't give up. It was in her eyes, she wanted to live. But God's plans are all different. A year after she left, mummy gave up too, she could not bear her loss. She passed away with a massive cardiac arrest within seconds. It's the loss of another brave heart, which left me in shock, dismay and emptiness.
I miss them all, every day of my life, and I will continue to, till my last breadth. What I have lost, I cannot replace, but I can and am trying to live with the fond memories we all have had as a family. About me, I am none other than that elder daughter of Rebecca, and sister of little Aryil, who was 18 then, when we lost daddy. It's 9 years since, life has taught a lot, and God has helped to endure.
Gerry uncle, I cannot thank you enough for this wonderful blog you have written, describing Aryil and her life. I always wanted the world to know about her, and you have helped that happen. Thanks a ton and God bless you always.
There has been progress in herbal medicine of DR AKHIGBE which have become safer,in curing diseases;i was suffering and dying of herpes for past two years,untill i came across DR AKHIGBE on internet i email him on drrealakhigbe@gmail.com 'glory be to GOD'am cured of herpes by drinking his herbal medicine cure [HMC] he sent to me. Herbal medicine cure have made it possible curing diseases. i was once a victim and am giving out a living testimonies , and am been restore.
So become easier to take or drink and where early herbal often required drinking it as frequently as 3 to 5 times per day, most first-line cured, herbal medicine now comprise a single daily fixed taking as the instruction followed. DR AKHIGBE also cure others diseases like ; HIV/AIDS,DIABETES,CANCER,HERPES,SYPHILLIS,MENINGITES,GENITAL AND SIMPLEX HERPES, ALS,HEPATITES A AND B.etc any one out there been effected by diseases to email drrealakhigbe@gmail.com or whatApp him on +2348142454860. GET YOUR HERBAL AND GET YOUR FREEDOM.