A real life epic

A real life epic

If you met them, with no clue of their identity, you are likely notice a few things about this remarkable family. The august bearings of the parents and the sheer prettiness of the daughter, are the first factors likely to arrest your attention, initially. And if you luckily got into a conversation with them, you are likely to feel like, having accidentally run into a family of bosom friends, you missed for years. That is how this beautiful family comes through to you.

Yet if you knew them closely enough, you would know of an epic journey, they call life.  Undaunted courage, grim resolve and unfailing geniality are qualities that keep this family apart from the common. You would never know that glitter in their eyes as they met yours, belie the sorrow and suffering they endure, not just to you but even their own outgoing selves. The friendliness in their behavior would never reflect the diamond hard fortitude in their true nature.

They have seen the heights of fame, success and happiness. On a piece of printed medical paper they saw the foundation of the entire edifice of their life shake, in front of their eyes. They stood up and with resolve and gritty courage denied fate its sadistic thirst for tears. Today they carry on with the strength of their love for one another and that of those who love them.

This is the story of a most remarkable family, one could get to know in life. They have seen it all, together. A family of educated and highly respectable members. They were exposed to the lures of success and fame through the grace and beauty of their only daughter. A brilliant student with extraordinary grasp of most subjects, she had displayed glimpses of talent from early days. Coupled with grace and bearing, she blossomed on the sliver screens of South Indian Movie Halls. Crowd loved her and she became a celebrity in no time.

As in every artistic career, her career too had its brief ups and downs, but there was never any doubts as to where she was headed. The halls of fame beckoned her and there was no stopping her. Even a shocking separation could not hold her down. News and Social Media went gaga over her – until fate dealt a telling blow.  With brutality, the family’s bonhomie turned to nightmarish survival, overnight. A medical report had turned their lives to hell. The ruthless brute called “Hodgkin Lymphoma” had struck the ravishing beauty – she, who had bewitched the hearts of millions.

It was time cry- or to fight back. They chose the latter.

Together the family stood up to the challenge. The only weapon they had was their love for one another. The family had to adapt urgently to keep up with the enforced changes and hectic schedules of treatments. It was obviously a most daunting thing for a family, stepping from relative comforts that success ensured them, to the cold nights in hospital wards and diagnostic labs. And above all was the dark ogre of real fear, always at the back of their minds.

Today, the grim resolve that has kept them going during their trails continue to hold fort for them. They have stood up to the worst and continue to do so. Yet the fact they do so, not with grumpiness and ill will, but with hearty smiles makes them the remarkable family they are, turning even their sufferings into celebrations.

This is not the story of a family in pursuit of happiness and success, it is one of a family that stay happy so that they may spread happiness around, everywhere they go. This is the story of a family, you will miss sorely, even if you met them for less than a minute. A story of gracious good will and unfailing love.

This story is a real life epic that should shed light into countless lives, filled with ill will, darkness, avarice and pretenses, we see all around.  Only if they had eyes to see……….

For those who knew them, this story may resemble the lives of Mohandas, Ganga and their only daughter – Mamta.