Memoir: Enlightenment

Rameshwer Singh
I was ten years old then.
It was heavily raining outside. Rain was falling in thick sheets of water.
I was in the bigger room of our two room one story government house.
A muddy lane separated us from the next house.
I was looking outside from my window sitting on the bed lying just adjacent to the window.
Rain was pouring cats and dogs.
My freshly developed brain cells of awareness was amazed to see the water falling in the
muddy lane forming multiple waves of water flowing with multiple now forming and then
dissolving water bubbles.
A silvery stream of water was flowing out of a drainage pipe from the roof which was opening
towards the lane. Its water was falling into the lane stream with delightful noise.
I was deep in my senses to enjoy the fragrance of wet mud and drenched trees with their
happily swinging flowers in the cool breeze.
"Will you come here?"
A voice got me out of my deep thoughts.
Voice of my respected father Shri Sohan Singh!
My father, a genius in Mathematics and English!
A throughout topper.
"Ji Papaji."
I turned my neck.
"Have you completed your homework?"
He was searching for my homework notebook in my school bag.
He checked some of my Mathematics problems solved.
Seeing that he became furious.
"You cannot solve these simple equations.Are you not interested in your studies?"
I have two sisters both younger than me.I am the only son of my parents.
They had high hopes from me.
My mother Shrimati Pritam Kaur was standing near the door.
My father called my elder sister three years younger then me.
"Solve this, Guddi."
Guddi took couple of minutes and solved it correctly.
"See! You are not interested in your studies at all."
He frowned at me.
Then what he said I thought was an opportunity for me to get out of studies.
"You say No if you don't want to study further."
He said.
Every word soft and clear!
Deep inside I was on cloud nine.
"No!"
The word came out from me very firm and clear!
Reverberating with joy.
A minute of silence probably.
His face became red.
I knew immediately a slap by his left hand on my cheek was imminent.
But it did not come.
Something different happaned.
Something unique.
Something that would change my life forever.
"Guddi, come here."
Guddi came.
"Slap him on his face with full force."
He ordered.
Guddi was three years younger than me and three yers older than my younger sister Binny.
Guddi hesitated momentarily but ultimately obeyed Papaji.
Staaaak!!
A full force slap on my right cheek!
Rain became heavier.
A silver lining appeared in the clouds with thunderous noise matching the impact sound of the
slap.
An earthquake trembled deep inside me.
Something Spiritual happened.
I was enlightened!
On that day when night came so did my father.
He touched my slapped cheek.It was swollen.
He was teary eyed so was Guddi standing at door.
Putt, Channan ho Gaya hai!
Son, You are enlightened!
He said in Punjabi.
My Life changed after that.
He taught me English and Mathematics.
I remained National Scholarship holder throughout my sudies.
Today I am a Surgeon.
My father was a feather hearted and kind human being.Parents do take hard and harsh
decisions for their children to become a great human being and to get them achieve success.
To take that step to get me on right path, I know, he did suffer intolerable pain deep inside.
My wife Dr Dipika Ramesh and I have been providing the same warmth and love to our son
Priyank Singh and Bahu Nishtha.
Today he is physically not with me.
This truth is so painful that hurts my sensitive nerves of brain and heart.
I want to cry on his shoulders.
I have epic thoughts and memories about my father.
I wish I come out with an Epic that would enlighten the World about my parents and all parents.
Parents are Goddess and God coming to you in this Life.
In the pictures I have shared:
My Parents, wife, son and myself

2 comments :

  1. Your vivid memories of your childhood touched me after reading your memoir.Your ability to describe your surroundings and the people in your life in great detail is extremely astounding.The fact that you are so open and vulnerable in discussing the challenging times in your life is one of the memoir's most engaging features.Overall, I was quite intrigued and engaged by this memoir.I'm happy that my daughter is a member of your family.
    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your vivid memories of your childhood touched me after reading your memoir.Your ability to describe your surroundings and the people in your life in great detail is extremely astounding.The fact that you are so open and vulnerable in discussing the challenging times in your life is one of the memoir's most engaging features.Overall, I was quite intrigued and engaged by this memoir.I'm happy that my daughter is a member of your family.
    Regards

    ReplyDelete

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