Life's A Messi Motor!

WHO ………….

When it comes to exhibiting power, no other title in the world can match this one. The power to change moods, the power to change the tones of a tea party, the power to play mind-games. Hell yeah! The MiL. For the ignorant men, that means the classic Mother in Law.

You can love her, you can hate her, but you just cannot ignore her. It all begins from day one. They tell you, you are embarking on a new journey, not just with the guy, but the whole family, blah blah. They could cut the crap, and keep it simple. ‘You are entering the MiL space, good luck with that!’

Well, the humour and puns on this kind of a subject - not today. This one’s a heartfelt post. I’m supposed to pen down my thoughts about someone who’s undeniably #madeofgreat. And I surprised myself with the name that sprung to my mind. I could’ve written about my superhero – my dad, my shrine – my grandpa, my bestie - my mom, my love – my hubby, but that would’ve been unfair to this Iron Lady.

WHY ………….

It all began in the English summer of 2008. We were in London back then and my in-laws were visiting. They spent a month in the Queen’s land, and since it was their first visit, they made the most of it. The hubby’s elder brother, a doctor, is settled in the UK. And the in-laws visit to England would thus encompass a lot of family time, and getting together. On one such day, he advised MiL to get herself tested on her return to India, a full health check. He had some doubts.

You would know from your experience with your parents, their own health is the last on their priority list. So the tests were done at leisure. After constant pressure from the UK. And as luck would have it, she was detected with ovarian cancer, which had spread to other organs as well.

The doctors advised a surgery. A significant part of her large intestine was removed. And she had to undergo chemotherapy post-surgery.  I still remember how shocked and gloomy the hubby was when the news reached him. And the person who consoled him was none other than his mother. In fact she was the one who would tell everyone, that she was going to be perfectly fit and fine. She would cheer up visitors and lighten up the atmosphere. She fought bravely and drove away the beastly disease.

Life got back to normal, cos she ensured that it would. But only until the fag end of 2009 when cancer knocked her door once again. This time around the body part attacked was different, yet the fear in everyone’s mind, the atmosphere was unchanged. But so was her attitude. The same positivity, the same fighting spirit, throughout the chemo sessions that she underwent.

She was cured yet again. There was another attempt at starting life on a fresh note, with zeal. The daily grind began and so did the out-of-ordinary stuff. Trips to England continued.

And just when things had started getting back on track, life threw another shock her way in the form of another recurrence. She fought again and survived again, the smile and optimism intact.

THEN ………….

When my toddler arrived in our lives, he proved to be a source of joy not just to his parents, but his two sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, the whole family. All illnesses and troubles were forgotten. Everybody revisited childhood once again.

My parents had thrown a big party for the little angel when he was 6 months old. And one of the people, who were at the forefront, beaming with joy and in full spirits, was the lady in question. Nobody would’ve guessed that here was a woman who had suffered so much lately, not once, not twice, but thrice.

After the in-laws visit to Singapore around summer this year, I mentioned to the hubby that MiL looked very exhausted. And we attributed it to the flurry of trips they’d been doing of late. Singapore, UK, trips within India, plus a marriage in the family recently. If only, life’s answers were that simple.

My phone rang early morning that day, a couple of months later, much before the sun’s rays hit the grounds in India. A call at unruly hours, from elders living far off, not something you look forward to. And this call was no different. MiL had been admitted to the hospital on an emergency basis. She had been vomiting incessantly. The surgery that she had undergone on her first encounter with cancer had played havoc with her digestive system. Another surgery was imperative.

Its funny how this one seemed like a cakewalk relatively, to all of us. It was only because of the confidence that this woman had instilled in everyone’s minds over the years. Nobody said it aloud, but everyone knew that she would sail through this one. Of course she did.

AND NOW ………

Life goes on. The routine continues. But without any drudgery, or pessimism, or even complaints. What her body and mind has been through is left to one’s conjecture.

I sometimes wonder if I could’ve survived these kinds of battles. If I could’ve gone head to head with destiny and made it bow down on its knees. I do not know the answer to that yet. But I know for sure now, that if you’re determined and positive, if you’re a fighter and, if you believe in yourself, you can pen down your own future.

PS. Lets end on a lighter note, shall we? Here’s a Giveaway. You, my readers, answer the following question, “What do you think of Tata Motors’ association with Lionel Messi?” and you stand a chance to win an Amazon Voucher worth Rs.750 from Tata Motors. Last date of submission: 26^th November – 11.59 pm IST. Good luck.    

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