So yesterday, there were many firsts that I was proud of and by the end of the day, my excitement was through the roof. I could hardly contain it in. I was jumping around like a little girl after I got back home. I was happy. I do not remember the last time that i felt like this, HAPPY. Not that i am not happy otherwise, just that this sense of peaceful, content happiness does not come as often. It is pure and has a touch of innocence to the emotion.
Now the backstory that got me there. I cried at a movie, sobbed and sniffled and yet it was the best movie I had watched in a long time. How does this even relate to being happy ? Well, I took my father out for a movie, driving my car to a mall nearby. This was my first malayalam movie and my father was watching one after maybe 50 years. Since we reached 30 minutes sooner, took him around the different floors of the mall and we were whiling away time until we could enter the theatre. I felt a shift in our dynamics. I was not the child with her parent, I was the parent of my parent. Watching his every step, telling him where things were and guiding him around the mall.
Even with all the roaming around, we ended up reaching the theatre still with 5 minutes to spare. The first half of the movie made me laugh so much and I was completely into the storyline. Very interesting, unique plot and the characters were all so relatable and like people you would know and meet rather than being in extremely un-attainable standards of living. The story premise, the ordinary, daily-attire of a typical family, the simple dialogues and the sweetness of the main leads of the movie, got me completely immersed. Cut to the interval. Again, like the parent of my parent, I left Appa at the seat to go get popcorn. I got him a strong coffee as well as he was feeling sleepy in the dim lighting even though he was enjoying the movie. The second half got a little more serious. There was a scene where the son comes to his father's room, after having been aloof and indifferent for many years, just to find him showering a pet dog with so much affection and care and then keeping his wife's memories alive even after she was gone. Her clothes were regularly washed, ironed and rearranged in her shelf. That scene broke me. I remembered Amma, I missed her and I could not hold my sobs in.
People are misunderstood. They do not try to change your perception of them. You need to see him in their elements and find it on your own. No matter how loudly you scream your truth, no one will understand. But in this scene, the son saw his father's actions and instantly realized he was a fool to have misunderstood his father's intentions and not being aware of his medical conditions also because he was not present around. And watching this with Appa, made me even more emotional because I know he is the nicest person and I was so glad to have him around and nearby. I am extremely blessed to be experiencing this phase of both our lives in close proximity. Somewhere I stopped sobbing and was back watching the movie. Then a scene where there was a girl in the hospital and in stitches and there is a school kid, her younger brother watching her and crying. I was reminded of how my son would have felt when he stood next to me at the hospital, seeing me non-responsive and slightly bleeding.
By the time the movie ended, my eyes were still quite wet. Infact walking out of the theatre, while talking to my dad, I was still crying. The movie was fantastic.It was the perfect movie to also watch with Appa for so many reasons. It was a perfect day out with him. That's why even though I cried at the movie, I enjoyed the day so much and I was at my happiest in a really long time. The experience was one that I shall cherish for the rest of my life. Sarva Maya is etched in my memory for so many reasons. The best Sunday ever !
Until next weekend, Happy Reading!
My Father-in-law was not the typical FIL who was distant and would not interact with his daughter-in-law. Well, initially he was like that and then he warmed up to my presence and opened up to me. Over the last few years, as we spent a lot of time together, as we were all living in the same home, he became my close friend, mentor, guide and my biggest cheerleader. He was born in Shimoga, grew up in Amrutur with his aunt, started his family in Sagara and eventually retired into Bangalore. 80+ years, he has had the most enviable life. Don't mistake it for a rosy life or a life with no issues or problems! He was one among 11 - 6 boys and 5 girls. He was the 2nd child and as his mother had more children, she needed help raising the kids and so she reached out to her sister in law to take care of him in Amruthur - a farmland. He grew up under the care of his aunt and love from his cousins, who were all girls. He would eat fresh food from the abundance of the farm and also drink milk so...
Comments