RENAISSANCE - Post Brain Haemorrhage

It was September 10, 2010 when our father had the brain hemorrhage in his sleep.    It was Ganesh Chaturti – this festival marks the onset of Hindu festival season which ends in January with Pongal.     A day of celebration since it was also Eid and Jain Samvatsari.  Also it was my parents wedding anniversary.   Seems like a good day to have the hemorrhage. This year September 10 th was low key.   None of the festivals fell on the day.  It was just the wedding anniversary.   Routine day – night nurse getting engaged, looking for replacement; maid on long leave of absence, looking for replacement; washing lady quit, looking for replacement.  Urinary Tract Infection (again), antibiotics course started.   All of us sleep deprived and running around.  But we are all together and highly grateful for everything we have.  Happy anniversary indeed.  

Four months and three days since the incident we are still at Apollo Speciality Hospital , Chennai. Its ‘P ongal’,   biggest Tamil festival, and all of us are here with our father.     Surprisingly the hospital is not buzzing with the usual frenzy of activity.     Emergency ward is relaxed, the ICU seems empty and there are very few families at the waiting area. Its evening and the small shrine at the hospital, usually buzzling with people with frantic prayers is empty.   Yes, empty.   I have barely seen it so quiet in all my days at the hospital.    My sister pushes our father in his wheel chair close to the idol.      Our male nurse stands next to our father in case there is an emergency.    The priest approaches us and applies the sacred ash on my father’s forehead.    My sister and I finish our quick prayers and stand next to him.   Its dark and still with very few people outsid...