The past few weeks have been a see-saw of happenings and emotions.  Yet, here I am again, one year, three months and  twenty four days since Akshay, sharing my thoughts with all of you, even as I try to do my best to bring to you more stories of our brave and selfless heroes. As … Continue reading CONNECTED BY AKSHAY: SUNNY DAYS AND STRANGE MIX OF EMOTIONS

Almost 15 months since Akshay. Down with a fever and throat infection last three days, I sit up in bed as I write, warm water and hot tea beside me. The medicines are helping and its been nice having Girish, Sangeeta, Neha and Pradish around for company and care, and of course Naina’s cheery presence, … Continue reading CONNECTED BY AKSHAY: STARS THAT SHINE BRIGHTEST

In just three days from today, it will be one whole year since that miraculous incident. Pradish finding Akshay’s spectacles at the same spot my raja beta was found, right beside the staircase wall, 2 months and 7 days after he had been martyred. While we as a family, in our terrible grief then, forgot … Continue reading MOVING AHEAD WITH AKSHAY: COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS

This is the season Akshay loved. Christmas cheer, closely followed by making plans to welcome each New Year with a 'dhamaka'! This was the time of year he prioritized for bringing friends and family together. In all their growing up years, for Akshay and Neha, Christmas eve was a sacred outing with kids among family … Continue reading MOVING AHEAD WITH AKSHAY: PROSPERING THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS

One year. We made it through November 29th and 30th with images from last year flashing through mind space.  This day, last year -the 1st of December 2016, Akshay’s final farewell in Bangalore saw a spontaneous surge of humanity come together. Pride, sorrow and gratitude in perfect harmony. We stood together to salute a brave … Continue reading MOVING AHEAD WITH AKSHAY: FINDING LOST TREASURE

Eleven months since Akshay, we woke up to Naina’s birthday with a strangely distressing occurrence. The family WhatsApp said ‘Akshay left’. It shook us to realise that the same message was on all other groups that Akshay had been part of. While trying to underplay the emotions each of us felt, telling ourselves and each … Continue reading CONNECTED BY AKSHAY: MOMENTS THAT MATTER

Akshay constantly in our thoughts notwithstanding, days approaching the end of every month are particularly difficult to cope with. Ten months since Akshay, people across our beautiful country are all set to celebrate Maha Navami and Vijay Dashami. Both days represent the victory of good over evil. Growing up with my mother’s stories, it is … Continue reading CONNECTED BY AKSHAY: THE TIGHT ROPE WALK

Raksha Bandhan is around the corner and for the first time ever, Neha will not be able to do what she has always done. Long before this time, she would have asked me ‘when is Rakhi mom? I have to buy and post it in time so it reaches Akshay’. Neha started tying Rakhi to … Continue reading CONNECTED BY AKSHAY: BONDS AND BEYOND

  Eighteen years since Kargil. Eight months since Akshay. Emotionally, I think we are feeling a little more stable, maybe because it feels like Akshay is somehow with us. We talk a lot about him, thinking of how he would have reacted to Naina’s chatter and naughtiness, Bingo’s gobbling up of chicken-rice (and even dahi-chawal!) … Continue reading CONNECTED BY AKSHAY: GRATITUDE FIRST

WHAT REALLY DEFINES ‘A SUCCESSFUL LIFE’? Six months since Akshay. Time continues to be slotted into ‘with Akshay’ and ‘after Akshay’. Terrorism continues as well and even as we feel extreme sadness at losing more bravehearts after Akshay, there have been some major successes in eliminating terrorists like Burhan Wani's successor. The really good news … Continue reading CONNECTED BY AKSHAY: COMPREHENDING SUCCESS