A day in the life of Jewel Paul.
Jewel, one of the prettiest kids from our RJ kids' gang back in the early 90s, today has grown to be a beautiful young woman - not by convention but by character. We didn't look alike, but I took her to be my kid sister, as I yearned for a younger sibling myself( preferably a sister). I was always exceptionally fond of her. Our parents too were very good friends, especially our mothers - they quite looked alike - with their common oblongish faces, broad smiles, same brown complexions and yes, their well pleated hair which ran beyond their hips. The only factor in which I thought Jewel's mom scored over mine was that she was a housewife (something I used to deeply regret when I was young ). My parents bumped into each other when they took a walk around the complex post dinner, and mamma used to return home complaining - see how Mr. Paul listens to her & keeps himself a trim tummy.
8 years ago, aunty was diagnosed of cancer. And all eventually steered towards a change; beginning with no night walks, extending to Jewel not coming out to play in the evenings so that she could be by her mother, then came the bad - the deep black long hair were giving away to the chemos and had to be chopped. For the next two years my parents met briefly, only when uncle Paul stopped his car if he saw my dad& mom out taking a walk. Most times they were returning from the doctor. The ugly began when the on-off hospitalizations started, she had grown too weak to sustain any treatment, and the ugly was drawn to its end when she slipped in coma and finally ended (2-3 months later) in its ugliest form when the husband and the kids had to take a decision of withdrawing her life support. In spite on being young & in spite of not knowing what death means, I could somehow understand what it meant for Jewel - to lose a mother !
I remember hugging mine really tight when she got back from aunty's funeral, enjoying her physical presence in my life and feeling sorry for Jewel she will never feel what I was feeling to be in my mum's hug, ever ever again. Since then, six years passed by, eventually healing wounds and mending the vacuum aunty left in some checkered way. I saw Jewel going from being cold, not wanting to see people other than Dad & elder brother Gem, to once again smiling at life and focusing her energies to studying well. I didn't see much of them, other than their church visits, the months when Gem and Paul uncle were teaching Jewel to drive, or they running the errands which would only be aunty's prerogative, had she been here. Nevertheless, things seemed to have found out a way to finally work out something.
Then came the 20th June of 2009. I was gorging on "fanasaachi bhaaji ani poli" - courtesy Shruti Kaki [ you have to be from the Konkan to know what a vegetarian delight that is ] , and suddenly my concentration broke loose... it was a loud shriek!! God, I hadn't heard something like that ever before, yes, even I was hoping it was someone watching her afternoon soap. I looked out of the window, as if I would see something ! and then continued with all my attention to my Konkani feast.
Afternoon of 21st June, I learnt that Gem was out for the weekend with a bunch of office colleagues and while they were playfully swimming across a river, had got drowned. It was almost 24 hours already since the incident and the "body" was yet to be found. People are so callous! or am I so sensitive? For God sake.... don't refer to Gem like that in front of lil' Jewel, was my constant plea(not a vocal one) when I bumped into anyone that day uttering the "body" word. Someone even confirmed to me that the shriek was indeed hers ( like they distangled some exciting mystery). I had no courage to visit Jewel. People were streaming their home already, with relatives flying from deep south of the country within hours of the news. Uncle, now a high blood pressure patient underwent an angioplasty once in these 8 years since aunty passed away, was sedated by injections. Leaving little Jewel all alone to tend to everyone consequential and even inconsequential visiting their home to lend support.
Mamma, too visited them. She came back narrating how brave Jewel was and how patiently she was telling everyone what happened at the accident site and the progress of the search parties. I was sent in a tizzy! Yes, its the easiest reaction for us.. Anger ! Anyways, I was angry at the gossip mongers in the complex treating it like a Tea-party subject and visit to their house as a matter of some achievement than genuine concern.
On & off, Jewel stood there in front of my eyes, not crying or weeping but Hoping against all hopes that she sees her brother again, just once atleast... so that she could tell him, that he had no business leaving her like this alone. Just once if she could see him alive, she would probably say "Its okay, for the mean things you said" or " I promise not to blackmail you for keeping your secrets". She could even show him off her driving skills, which she mastered because of him. Or may be just cry for one last time in his arms, when they missed their mother. I could see her, her eyes wide awake, staring at the Summer Solstice sun, only drawing Hope !
It was a long day that day.... the night never came, the sun never set, it was shinning with Hope.
And suddenly the earth came caving in, the Sun toppling over far far away.... as if it would never rise again.
72 hours later, it was a call confirming that the Coast Gaurd choppers have found the "body".
....... Even as I come back from his funeral, I can only think of that long day in Jewel's life.
Jewel, one of the prettiest kids from our RJ kids' gang back in the early 90s, today has grown to be a beautiful young woman - not by convention but by character. We didn't look alike, but I took her to be my kid sister, as I yearned for a younger sibling myself( preferably a sister). I was always exceptionally fond of her. Our parents too were very good friends, especially our mothers - they quite looked alike - with their common oblongish faces, broad smiles, same brown complexions and yes, their well pleated hair which ran beyond their hips. The only factor in which I thought Jewel's mom scored over mine was that she was a housewife (something I used to deeply regret when I was young ). My parents bumped into each other when they took a walk around the complex post dinner, and mamma used to return home complaining - see how Mr. Paul listens to her & keeps himself a trim tummy.
8 years ago, aunty was diagnosed of cancer. And all eventually steered towards a change; beginning with no night walks, extending to Jewel not coming out to play in the evenings so that she could be by her mother, then came the bad - the deep black long hair were giving away to the chemos and had to be chopped. For the next two years my parents met briefly, only when uncle Paul stopped his car if he saw my dad& mom out taking a walk. Most times they were returning from the doctor. The ugly began when the on-off hospitalizations started, she had grown too weak to sustain any treatment, and the ugly was drawn to its end when she slipped in coma and finally ended (2-3 months later) in its ugliest form when the husband and the kids had to take a decision of withdrawing her life support. In spite on being young & in spite of not knowing what death means, I could somehow understand what it meant for Jewel - to lose a mother !
I remember hugging mine really tight when she got back from aunty's funeral, enjoying her physical presence in my life and feeling sorry for Jewel she will never feel what I was feeling to be in my mum's hug, ever ever again. Since then, six years passed by, eventually healing wounds and mending the vacuum aunty left in some checkered way. I saw Jewel going from being cold, not wanting to see people other than Dad & elder brother Gem, to once again smiling at life and focusing her energies to studying well. I didn't see much of them, other than their church visits, the months when Gem and Paul uncle were teaching Jewel to drive, or they running the errands which would only be aunty's prerogative, had she been here. Nevertheless, things seemed to have found out a way to finally work out something.
Then came the 20th June of 2009. I was gorging on "fanasaachi bhaaji ani poli" - courtesy Shruti Kaki [ you have to be from the Konkan to know what a vegetarian delight that is ] , and suddenly my concentration broke loose... it was a loud shriek!! God, I hadn't heard something like that ever before, yes, even I was hoping it was someone watching her afternoon soap. I looked out of the window, as if I would see something ! and then continued with all my attention to my Konkani feast.
Afternoon of 21st June, I learnt that Gem was out for the weekend with a bunch of office colleagues and while they were playfully swimming across a river, had got drowned. It was almost 24 hours already since the incident and the "body" was yet to be found. People are so callous! or am I so sensitive? For God sake.... don't refer to Gem like that in front of lil' Jewel, was my constant plea(not a vocal one) when I bumped into anyone that day uttering the "body" word. Someone even confirmed to me that the shriek was indeed hers ( like they distangled some exciting mystery). I had no courage to visit Jewel. People were streaming their home already, with relatives flying from deep south of the country within hours of the news. Uncle, now a high blood pressure patient underwent an angioplasty once in these 8 years since aunty passed away, was sedated by injections. Leaving little Jewel all alone to tend to everyone consequential and even inconsequential visiting their home to lend support.
Mamma, too visited them. She came back narrating how brave Jewel was and how patiently she was telling everyone what happened at the accident site and the progress of the search parties. I was sent in a tizzy! Yes, its the easiest reaction for us.. Anger ! Anyways, I was angry at the gossip mongers in the complex treating it like a Tea-party subject and visit to their house as a matter of some achievement than genuine concern.
On & off, Jewel stood there in front of my eyes, not crying or weeping but Hoping against all hopes that she sees her brother again, just once atleast... so that she could tell him, that he had no business leaving her like this alone. Just once if she could see him alive, she would probably say "Its okay, for the mean things you said" or " I promise not to blackmail you for keeping your secrets". She could even show him off her driving skills, which she mastered because of him. Or may be just cry for one last time in his arms, when they missed their mother. I could see her, her eyes wide awake, staring at the Summer Solstice sun, only drawing Hope !
It was a long day that day.... the night never came, the sun never set, it was shinning with Hope.
And suddenly the earth came caving in, the Sun toppling over far far away.... as if it would never rise again.
72 hours later, it was a call confirming that the Coast Gaurd choppers have found the "body".
....... Even as I come back from his funeral, I can only think of that long day in Jewel's life.
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