The tough WOMB

A very usual day in one of the villages of Srinivasapura taluk in Kolar district; 'she' was happily moving along the walk-path of her village's highway, which connected itself to the district headquarters further ahead. It has been her daily chore to set out for a casual walk once in the morning and again in the evening, since she was declared pregnant. At least one family member would accompany her every single time she set herself out since then. They were all excited for the fact that she was carrying her first ever child in her 'womb', so she was.

It was a well-off family, the head of which was an ex Zilla Panchayat President. She had no real pressure on herself in any aspect, unlike many others of her kind in the village. The only challenge for her was to safeguard her young little one who was gradually growing within her, to birth. They never seemed to have bothered whether it would be a 'boy' or a 'girl'; all they honestly wanted was to see her family tree grow, 'lucky, I am..' she thought. She was right!

'She looks near to term..?' asked a passing by villager. 'Yes, she is.. expected anytime in a week or so..' said her family member. Her pulse gained pace, without her knowledge. She was excited, knowing that 'the day' which would make a huge difference in her life was not too far. The little one kicked from inside in response to her excitement, they both already had the 'chemistry' set in. While subconsciously she moved a little away making way for the moving tractor, something banged her belly really hard.. before one could realize what was happening around, she was found deep in the nearby dug trench being unable to make a move. It took a while for her family member to recover from the incidental shock, who at once took her out with the help of others around. 'Are you fine??.. Nothing happened to you right??.. Does it pain.. ' - she could hardly respond to those questions shot at once.. pain from within the womb was unbearable until she lost conscious.

While I washed my hands coming out of the small animal OT following a surgery, my eyes naturally stared at the wall clock. It easily stuck the half past twelve mark; making me recall what my wife had packed for lunch today.. with love, obviously. A pregnant sheep walking with lot of pain into the OPD ward interrupted my preparedness for lunch. I walked closer..

"What is the problem?" asked our Professor.
"She is pregnant, almost term. Met with an accident.. a tractor banged her and she is in immense pain since then" replied the accompanying owner.
"When did this happen?"
"Yesterday morning.."
"Oh! What made you take so long in seeking medical care?"
"We are coming from a far off place, near Srinivasapura.."

The severity of the accident was too much, the abdominal muscles seemed to have given away and some parts of the foetus were pressing out on the skin at belly. The animal experienced severe pain on palpation. No parts of the lamb were felt in the birth canal, which ruled out the possibilities of going in for an assisted delivery. An ultrasound scan couldn't really help us to know whether the lamb was still alive inside; we knew that it would get too late if going for a detailed investigation. A word was soon given to get the OT prepared for surgery.

"Are you sure she is almost term?" I asked.
"Yes, she is.." owner replied.
It was my responsibility to make it clear to the owner that 'all is not well'. I continued.
"We are not sure if the lamb is alive inside. But still, we have no other way than going in for an elective c-section"
"No problem.. she is one among our family members. She has been so good to gain all our love and affection. No matter the lamb is alive or not, we want to get her well soon.."
"Seeing her condition, it is doubtful that she will eventually recover after surgery. The condition is really worse.." - I was in a hurry to convey the message, since it was all set for surgery in OT.
"Please try your possible best sir.. rest is left to the almighty.." owner's words were really touching.
"Sure, we will.."

While wearing the gloves, I looked in to her eyes. She found it hard even to blink her eyelids, could feel the pinch of immense pain she was undergoing for so long a time. Whether it really was or it did seemed so to me - her eyes were full with tears of pain. She closed her eyes more than she kept it open."Ready.." - signal from anesthetist brought me back to the real world. It took very less time to incise the skin; muscle layers had all given away as expected. Contusions made the bulk of intact muscle layers, they were literally crushed in to pieces. Later, it would definitely pose a real challenge to get them opposed and close. To our surprise, the uterus had no injury whatsoever! Not a small tear or scratch! It was strong enough bearing all the physical damage to save the life within!! I incised the uterus and took out the lamb. It was alive!! We couldn't believe this.. thanks to 'Nature' for making such a safe and tough womb!! Rest was all more tougher.. it was practically impossible to end the reconstructive surgery in a positive note. While I came out of the OT, the healthy active lamb brought a smile on my worried face..

out of the tough womb..

Handing over the discharge summary to the owner, he was informed that the chances of sheep recovering from surgery was highly questionable. With a small hope of good, the owner shifted the sheep to the boot space of his vehicle.

The wall clock ran a few minutes past three.. it was only then I remembered my forgotten lunch. "It's well past lunch time.." my wife seemed yelling at me. "Oh!!..", suddenly it stuck my mind that none of us had even bothered to show the lamb to his mother.. how could we be so mean?! By the time I rushed to the front desk, their vehicle was passing out of the hospital gate..

For whom the poor mother had to suffer so long and saved by sacrificing her own life, I strongly doubt if she could even get a chance to have him looked at; won't the brave mom curse us for this?? Sigh..

Beginning of my Fatherhood..

"When are we planning for a baby?"
"Should we?.. so early??"
Guess, my (bad?) habit of answering a question with another question is probably what my wife hates most. She continued..
"Enough, can't take it anymore.. better you face everyone yourself" - she looked annoyed.
"Let them ask me, I will answer myself.." - somehow, I wasn't dare enough to frame yet another question.
"It's been year-and-a-half we are married, are we growing younger anyways?.."
"uummmm.. no.., but.. we still have enough time.., isn't it?"

In the history of over 11 years of our relationship, this was the only thing about which me and my wife strongly disagreed upon - "having a baby". As it would have happened with any other married couple, we both soon had to face the undue pressure of being "parents". Though she looked a lot eager to be a "mom", I was too lazy and lethargic as usual.

"When are you both going to give us some good news?" - it was such an embarrassment when I was asked this by my wife's aunt in one of the family gathering.. didn't know what to answer! My wife seemed to be the most happiest person on earth that very moment, she was laughing mouthful. Realizing the fact what my brave wife was going through all past days, I quickly decided what to do next. Following a couple of fertile days I had marked for us, she only managed to have a period and missed the rest. When the hCG test done at home ran positive, we finally had a hint of the "good news"!!. I could no more be the same old "lazy boy".. our Gynecologist had confirmed the "good news" and certified it with a big list of precautions to my wife and responsibilities for myself.

"What are you going to present me for our second wedding anniversary?" asked my wife.
"Do we really need anything more?.." I said with a smile.
This time, my question as an answer to her question had little adverse effects; she very well understood what was intended. Following months of pregnancy were the most memorable days of life with lots of happenings around - scheduling appointments with the Gynecologist, waiting long hours for consultation, the curiosity of looking at our child through ultrasound while it slowly crept along it's crucial weeks of prenatal life, the joy of looking into the normal-read medical reports, the responsibility of being a sensible hubby, sharing few of her routine household chores, a little counseling done often to ease worries off and make her strong.. everything seemed like a fairy tale of a sweet dream!

It was on 29th June, the doctor advised to get my wife admitted for further medical care following frequent pain and discharge. Continuous fetal Non-Stress Test (NST) monitoring was normal throughout 30th June while she was in the labor ward. With no progressive signs of delivery, doctor recommended to wait until the next day for normal delivery to happen. It was at around half past 12 noon on 01st July, NST started recording an alarming drop in the fetal heart rate. Looking at the term scan report, doctor said "There might probably be something obstructing head to descend down and the baby seems to be in stress. It is better I take her in..". The sentence of term scan report "cord around the neck observed at the time of scanning" which I had purposefully ignored when my wife asked about it looking at the report a month ago was proved detrimental.

"Should I be operated now?"
"hmmmm.. baby seems to be stressed out. NST has now come down to 125, what was in the range of 145 earlier. Don't worry, C-section would be less painful compared to the normal labor pain. You will be put under anesthesia and by the time you open eyes, baby will be beside you" - even though I wasn't completely right, only intention was to ease my wife through her C-section. Hearing to those words and having known the stressed condition of the baby within, (looking as brave as ever) she too agreed.

"If you don't faint, please come to OT" said the doctor looking at me, this was what my wife also probably wanted. No matter I have been used to sight blood and also been regularly performing C-sections in animals myself, it shall never be easy to see the raw flesh and fresh blood of my loved one. Without much delay, I pulled on the pink gown and stepped in to OT. The anesthesiologist had done his job by then, but it was only the regional anesthesia - my wife was very well aware of the happenings around. Thanks to the head cap and face mask, which came to my rescue to avoid emotions on my face being directly seen by my wife. As the surgeon pierced through the different layers from skin into the abdominal cavity, I struggled to hold my nerves tight. While the suction pump cleared all the oozing out blood from the surgical site, baby was taken out with the umbilical cord around its neck. A few seconds later, the first cry of our baby brought a smile on my wife's face and a much awaited relief in me.

"Note the time of birth.." said the anesthesiologist to me. All my belongings were dropped outside the OT and the wall clock struck 2pm. I stood looking at the clock. "See whether you got a baby boy or girl.." - said the nurse. All I wanted was healthy mother and a healthy baby, no matter boy or a girl; reluctantly moved a bit towards the pediatrician who was passing the nasal tube to evacuate the mucus from the baby, I could see our tiny "daughter" crying aloud. "Don't you congratulate your wife?" asked the surgeon. Oh! yes.. had totally forgot to wish her.. I held her hand and gently pressed saying "daughter.." - am sure she did pick the pleasure within me as she was very well aware that I always preferred a daughter over son.

our daughter, on day two

Mom, daughter & dad are all fine now. Somewhere in May 2012, while I wrote a post "mom n me.." on this Blog (please read it again, it might just take a few minutes), it was mere fiction; and never was aware that almost the same thing would happen in my life a year later. Having such a lovely beginning to my fatherhood, we parents now have to shoulder the huge responsibility of making life of our daughter more prettier and most importantly, the responsibility of making her a beautiful human being.

ಅಗಲಿದ ಗುರುವಿಗೆ ನುಡಿನಮನ - ಡಾ. ಕೆ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್

19ನೇ ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 2013ರ ಸಂಜೆ; ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಿಂದ ಮನೆಗೆ ಹಿಂತಿರುಗಿದವನೇ laptop ಮುಂದೆ ಕುಳಿತು, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪಶುವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಸಂಘದ ಬಳಕೆಗಾಗಿ Online Web Application ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಪಡಿಸುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಢವಾಗಿ ತಲ್ಲೀನನಾಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಹಾಸಿಗೆಯ ಮೇಲಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನ mobile ಕೀರಲು ಧ್ವನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸದ್ದುಮಾಡತೊಡಗಿತು - ಅದು ಗುರುಗಳಾದ ಡಾ. ಎಂ. ನಾರಾಯಣಸ್ವಾಮಿಯವರಿಂದ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕರೆ, ತಕ್ಷಣ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿದೆ:
"ನಮಸ್ತೆ, ಸರ್.."
"ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್, college magazine ಗೆ ಏನಾದ್ರೂ ಬರೀತಿದ್ದೀಯ?"
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹಿಂಜರಿಕೆಯಿಂದಲೇ "ಬರೆಯೋ idea ಏನೂ ಇಲ್ಲ ಸರ್.." ಎಂದಿದ್ದೆ.
"ಒಂದು ಅರ್ಧ ಪುಟದಷ್ಟು ಏನಾದ್ರೂ ಬರೀಬಹುದಲ್ವಾ?"
ತಲೆಯ ತುಂಬೆಲ್ಲಾ ಪ್ರೊಗ್ರಾಮಿಂಗ್ ಕೋಡ್-ಗಳೇ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಆ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಲೇಖನ ಬರೆಯುವ ಸಂಯಮ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ; ಏನು ಉತ್ತರಿಸಬೇಕೋ ನನಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯದೇ ಹೋಯಿತು.

ಅಂದಿಗೆ ಎರಡು ದಿನಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆಯಷ್ಟೇ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನಗಲಿದ್ದ ಗುರುಗಳಾದ ಡಾ. ಕೆ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಗೌರವ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುವ ಲೇಖನ ಬರೆಯುವ ಸಲುವಾಗಿ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ನಾಟಿದ ಕೆಲವು ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಮರೆಯಬಾರದೆಂಬ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಇದೇ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆರಳಚ್ಚಿಸಿ ಕರಡಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಿದ್ದೆ. ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಆಲೋಚಿಸದೇ, ಕರಡನ್ನು ತಿದ್ದಿ, ಪುಟ್ಟ ಲೇಖನವೊಂದನ್ನು ಮರುದಿನ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಸಂಪಾದಕೀಯ ತಂಡಕ್ಕೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದೆ. "ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ-ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆ" ಎಂದಾಕ್ಷಣ ಅದೇಕೋ ಒಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ಅಳುಕು ನನ್ನೊಳಗೆ ಮೂಡುತ್ತದೆ; ಇಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ - "ನನ್ನ ಲೇಖನವು ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆಗೆ ಯೋಗ್ಯವೇ?" ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಕಾಡತೊಡಗಿತು.

2013ರ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಪಶುವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಮಹಾವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ವಾರ್ಷಿಕ ಸಂಚಿಕೆ "ಬಿಂಬ" ಇಂದು ಹಲವರ ಕೈಸೇರಿದೆ; ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿರುವ ನನ್ನ ಲೇಖನವು ಇಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಮೂಲಭೂತವಾಗಿ ಕಾರಣಕರ್ತರಾದ ಗುರುಗಳು, ಡಾ. ಎಂ. ನಾರಾಯಣಸ್ವಾಮಿಯವರಿಗೆ ತುಂಬುಹೃದಯದ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.

17-04-2013

ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ಅಂದೂ ಸಹ ಕಾಲೇಜಿಗೆ ತಡವಾಗಿಯೇ ತಲುಪಿ, ವಾಹನ ನಿಲುಗಡೆ ಸ್ಥಳದಿಂದ ಗಡಿಬಿಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೋಧನಾ ಕೊಠಡಿ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ – 2 ರ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ. ಆ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗಾಗಲೇ 5 ನಿಮಿಷ ತಡವಾಗಿದ್ದುದರಿಂದ ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಂಚಿತವಾಗಿ ಅಥವಾ ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ತರಗತಿಗೆ ಹಾಜರಾಗಬೇಕೆಂಬ ನನ್ನ ಬಹುದಿನಗಳ ಆಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆಗೆ ಎಳ್ಳು-ನೀರು ಬಿಟ್ಟಂತಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಗುರುಗಳಾದ ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರು ಬೋಧನಾ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿ ಅಂದು ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಬಹುದಾದ ಪ್ರಚಲಿತ ವಿದ್ಯಮಾನಗಳನ್ನು ಅಂದಾಜಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವು ಫಲಕಾರಿಯಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನನ್ನ ಸಂಕುಚಿತ ಚಿಂತನೆಗೆ ಅವರ ವಿಶಾಲ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ-ವಿಚಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಇಡಿಯಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಥೈಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭೇಟಿಯಾದ ದೈಹಿಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂದಿನ ನಗು ಕಾಣದಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಾನು –
"ನಮಸ್ತೆ ಮೇಡಂ; ಏನು.. ತುಂಬಾ ಸೀರಿಯಸ್ಸಾಗಿ ಕಾಣ್ತಿದ್ದೀರ?" ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾ ಮಾತಿಗೆಳೆದೆ.
"ನಿಮ್ಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ವಾ? ಅವ್ರು, ಪ್ರೊಫೆಸರ್ ತೀರ್ಕೊಂಡ್ರಂತೆ.." ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿದಾಗ ಅವರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಗಂಭೀರತೆಯ ಕಾರಣದ ಅರಿವಾಗತೊಡಗಿತು.
"ಯಾವ್ ಪ್ರೊಫೆಸರ್?" ಮರುಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದೆ.
"ಅವ್ರೇ.. ಡಾ. ಜಯ......" ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಮರೆತಂತೆ ಕಂಡ ಅವರ ಮಾತನ್ನು ತಡೆದು ನಾನು "ಯಾವ್ ಡಿಪಾರ್ಟಮೆಂಟ್ ಹೇಳಿ.." ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದೆ.
"ಇದು.. ಫಾರ್ಮಕಾಲಜಿ.."
"ಹೆಚ್. ಒ. ಡಿ. ಅವ್ರ??"
"ಹ್ಹೂ.... ಅವ್ರೆ.."
"ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್..??"
"ಹಾ.. ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್.. ಅವ್ರೇ.. ಹಾರ್ಟ್ ಅಟ್ಯಾಕ್ ಆಯ್ತಂತೆ.."
"ನಮ್ಗೆ ಅವ್ರ ಕ್ಲಾಸಿತ್ತಲ್ಲ ಒಂಬತ್ತು ವರೆಗೆ.." – ಈ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ನನಗರಿವಿಲ್ಲದಂತೆಯೇ ಆಡಿದ್ದೆ; ಅದಕ್ಕವರು ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯಿಸಲೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಬಂದೆರಗಿದ ಆಘಾತಕರ ಸುದ್ದಿಯಿಂದ 'ವಿಧಿಯ ಕರೆಗೆ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ತರಗತಿಗಳು ತಡೆಯೊಡ್ಡಲಾರವು' ಎಂಬ ವಾಸ್ತವವನ್ನು ನಾನು ಮರೆತಿದ್ದೆ.

ಡಾ. ಕೆ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್

ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ನಡೆದು, ನಾವು ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಮುಖ್ಯಪ್ರಾಂಗಣವನ್ನು ಸಮೀಪಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆಯೇ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆಗಲೇ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನಗಲಿದ ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಂಜಲಿ ಅರ್ಪಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಾಂಶುಪಾಲರಾದಿಯಾಗಿ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಎಲ್ಲ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರು, ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು, ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ಮುಂತಾದವರು ನೆರೆದಿದ್ದರು; ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಾ ಗುಂಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾದೆ. ಪ್ರಾಂಶುಪಾಲರ ಮಾತುಗಳು ನಾನು ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ಅಂತರಕ್ಕೆ ತಲುಪುವುದು ಕಷ್ಟಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಅಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಕೇಳಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕೆಲವೊಂದು ಪದಗಳನ್ನು ಆಲಿಸುತ್ತಾ ತಲೆತಗ್ಗಿಸಿ ನಿಂತೆ. ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತು ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಮಾಸ್ತರ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸ ಕೇಳುವ ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಪ್ರಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ, ಉರಿಬಿಸಿಲಿನ ಸೂರಿನಡಿ ನಿಂತು ಅದೇ ಮಾಸ್ತರ ಅಗಲಿದ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ಕೋರುತ್ತಾ ಮೌನಾಚರಣೆ ಮಾಡುವ ದೌರ್ಭಾಗ್ಯ ತಂದೊದಗಿಸಿದ ವಿಧಿಯನ್ನು ಮೌನವಾಗಿ ಶಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ.

ಎರಡು ನಿಮಿಷ ಮೌನಾಚರಣೆಯ ನಂತರ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಚದುರಿದರು; ಅಂದು ಯಾವುದೇ ತರಗತಿಗಳು ನಡೆದಂತೆ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿ ಮುಖ್ಯರಸ್ತೆಗೆ ಹೊಂದಿಕೊಂಡಂತಿರುವ ಯು. ಎ. ಎಸ್. ವಸತಿಗೃಹಗಳ ಆವರಣದತ್ತ ತೆರಳಿದೆ. ಮುಖ್ಯದ್ವಾರ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿದ ನಂತರ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನೆರೆದಿದ್ದ ವಾಹನ-ಜನರ ಜಾಡನ್ನನುಸರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋದ ನಾನು ಕೆಲವೇ ನಿಮಿಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಮಾಸ್ತರ ನಿವಾಸ ತಲುಪಿದ್ದೆ. ಆ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗಾಗಲೇ ಅಗಲಿದ ಗುರುಗಳ ಅಂತಿಮ ದರ್ಶನ ಪಡೆಯಲು ಅನೇಕ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಆಗಮಿಸಿದ್ದರು; ನೂರಾರು ಮಂದಿ ಒಂದೇ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರೂ ಸಹ 'ಸ್ಮಶಾನ ಮೌನ' ನೆಲೆಸಿತ್ತು.

ಮನೆಯಂಗಳದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಚೆಂದದ ಕೈದೋಟದ ಬದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾದರಕ್ಷೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು, ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಸಾಗುತಲಿದ್ದ ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡೆ. ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಜನಸಂದಣಿ ದಟ್ಟವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರಂತೆ ನಡೆದುಹೋಗಬಹುದಾದಷ್ಟು ಮಾತ್ರವೇ ಸ್ಥಳಾವಕಾಶವಿತ್ತು. ಎದೆಯನ್ನು ಭಾರವಾಗಿಸಿದ್ದ ನೋವಿನ ಕಳೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದವರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಗೋಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು; ದುಃಖವು ಜಿಹ್ವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಡುಗಟ್ಟಿಸಿ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಮರೆಸಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿತ್ತು. ಒಂದು ಕ್ಷಣ ಆ ನೀರವತೆ ಹಿತವೆನಿಸಿದರೂ, ಅದರ ಕಾರಣವು ಮಾತ್ರ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕರಾಳವಾಗಿದ್ದಿತು. ಸಮಯ ಸುಮಾರು ಹತ್ತು ಘಂಟೆ; ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಕೊಠಡಿಯ ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿರಬೇಕಿದ್ದ ಗುರುಗಳು ಶೀತಲ ಪೆಟ್ಟಿಗೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಚಿರನಿದ್ರೆಗೆ ಜಾರಿದ್ದರು, ಅವರ ನಿದ್ರೆಗೆ ಭಂಗ ಬಾರದಂತೆ ಸುತ್ತಲೂ ನಿಶ್ಶಬ್ಧತೆ ನೆಲೆಸಿತ್ತು. ಸರತಿಯ ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸುತ್ತು ಬಂದು ಗುರುಗಳ ದಿವ್ಯಚರಣಗಳಿಗೆ ಮನದಲ್ಲೇ ಸಾಷ್ಟಾಂಗ ನಮಿಸುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಕಣ್ಣಂಚು ತೇವಗೊಂಡಿತ್ತು.

ಒಂದು ತಾಸಿನ ನಂತರ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಮುಖ್ಯದ್ವಾರದ ಬಳಿ ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಮಾಸ್ತರ ಪಾರ್ಥಿವ ಶರೀರ ಆಗಮಿಸಿದಾಗ ಅನೇಕರು ಅವರ ಅಂತಿಮ ದರ್ಶನ ಪಡೆದರು. ಅಲ್ಲೇ ತುಸು ಅಂತರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನ ಕರಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 'ಗುರುವಿನ ಗುಲಾಮನಾಗುವ ತನಕ ದೊರೆಯದಣ್ಣ ಮುಕುತಿ..' ಎಂಬ ಪುರಂದರದಾಸರ ಸಾಲುಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದಲೋ ತೇಲಿಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. "ಹೆಚ್. ಒ. ಡಿ. ಆದ್ಮೇಲೆ ಕಾಲೇಜ್ಗೆ ಬಾ.. ಬಾ..  ಅಂತ ತುಂಬಾ ಕರೀತಿದ್ರು; ಇವತ್ತು ಬಂದು ಡಿಪಾರ್ಟ್‍ಮೆಂಟ್ ನೋಡ್ದೆ. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ.. ಆದ್ರೆ ನಮ್ಮಣ್ಣನೇ ನಮ್ಜೊತೆ ಇಲ್ಲ.." - ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಮಾಸ್ತರ ಸಹೋದರಿ ಪರಿಚಯಸ್ಥರೊಡನೆ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಈ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ನಾಟಿದವು.

"ಸರಿಸುಮಾರು ಆರೇಳು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನನ್ನ ಪಶುವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ರೀತಿಯ ಸಿಹಿ-ಕಹಿ ಅನುಭವಗಳನ್ನುಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ; ಆದರೆ, ತರಗತಿಗೆಂದು ಬಂದು ಗುರುಗಳ ಸಾವಿನ ಸುದ್ದಿಯನ್ನು ಕೇಳುವ ದುರಂತವನ್ನೆಂದೂ ಕಂಡಿರಲಿಲ್ಲವಲ್ಲ! ವಿದ್ಯೆ ಕಲಿಸಿದ ಗುರುಗಳನ್ನು ದೈವಸಮಾನರೆಂದು ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಿ, ಅವರಲ್ಲಿರಬಹುದಾದ ವಿಶೇಷ ಗುಣಗಳನ್ನೇ ಜೀವನದ ಮೌಲ್ಯ-ಆದರ್ಶವಾಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಅನೇಕ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಇಂತಹ ಘಟನೆಗಳು ಭಾವನಾತ್ಮಕವಾಗಿ ಘಾಸಿಗೊಳಿಸದೇ ಇರಲಾರವು. ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆಗೆ ಹೆಸರಾಗಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನೂರು ಉದ್ಯಾನನಗರಿಯ ಹೃದಯಭಾಗ ಮಲ್ಲೇಶ್ವರಂನಲ್ಲಿ ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಭೇದಿಸಿದ ಉಗ್ರರು ಶಕ್ತಿಶಾಲಿ ಬಾಂಬ್ ಸ್ಫೋಟಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ಯಶಸ್ಚಿಯಾದರಲ್ಲ.. ಇದು ಈ ದಿನದ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ದುರಂತವೇ ಸರಿ.." - ಹೀಗೆ ನಿರಂಕುಶವಾಗಿ ಹರಿದಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನ ವಿಚಾರಲಹರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಮೌನದ ಅಟ್ಟಹಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಕಡಿವಾಣ ಹಾಕಿದ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಆಂಬ್ಯುಲೆನ್ಸ್ ಕೆಎ-ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತೈದು, ಅರವತ್ತಾರು ಸೊನ್ನೆ ಸೊನ್ನೆ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ವಾಹನದಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾ. ಜಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಮಾಸ್ತರ ವೈಕುಂಠ ಯಾತ್ರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ-ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶೂನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿ, ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ದೂರ ಸಾಗಿತ್ತು...

- ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಸಿ.

(ಈ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ನುಡಿ ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶದ ASCII ಸ್ವರೂಪದಿಂದ UNICODE ಗೆ ಪರಿವರ್ತಿಸಲು ಹಳ್ಳಿಮನೆ ಅರವಿಂದ ಅವರ ASCII2UNICODE ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶ ಬಳಸಲಾಗಿದೆ)

ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯ ಕನಸು

ಜೀವನವೇ ಹೀಗೇನೋ.. ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಸಂಬಂಧವಿರದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶದ ನೆಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಚಯಿಸಿ, ಭಾವನಾತ್ಮಕ ಸಂಕೋಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬೆಸೆದು, ಅರಿವಿಗೆ ಬಾರದ ಅಗೋಚರ ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆಯನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿ, ಬದುಕಿನ ಬಗೆಗೆ ಹೊಸದೊಂದು ಭರವಸೆಯನ್ನು ಮೂಡಿಸಿ, ಆ ಮೂಲಕ ಅಂತರಾಳದ ಮೂಲೆಯಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೋ ಗುಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಅಡಗಿ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ದ ಕೊರಗುಗಳಿಗೆ ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕವಾದರೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವೆಂಬಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಗುವ ಪರಿಹಾರದ ರೆಕ್ಕೆ-ಪುಕ್ಕಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿಸಿ, ಹಗುರಾದ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಆಕಾಶದೆತ್ತರಕ್ಕೆ ಹಾರಿಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ..

ಮೇರಿ ಮೇಡಂ (ಹೆಸರು ಬದಲಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ), ಕಛೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ ಸಹೋದ್ಯೋಗಿ; ಸರಿಸುಮಾರು ನನ್ನ ತಾಯಿಯ ಆಸುಪಾಸಿನ ವಯಸ್ಕರು. ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಸುದೀರ್ಘ 36 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಸೇವೆಯಿಂದ ವಯೋನಿವೃತ್ತಿ ಹೊಂದಿದರು. ವಯಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ವೃತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅನುಭವದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಿರಿಯನಾದ ನಾನು ಕಳೆದ 5 ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರಿಂದ ಕಲಿತ ಪಾಠ ಅನೇಕ. ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ವಸತಿಗೃಹದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸವಿದ್ದ ಅವರ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಬದುಕೇ ವಿಚಿತ್ರ; ಗೃಹಿಣಿಯಾದರೂ ಒಂಟಿತನವೇ ಅವರ ಒಡನಾಡಿ. ವಾಡಿಕೆಯಂತೆ ಅವರ ಸೇವಾವಧಿಯ ಕೊನೆಯ ದಿನದಂದು ಕಛೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೀಳ್ಕೊಡುಗೆ ಸಮಾರಂಭವನ್ನು ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅವರ ಬಗೆಗೆ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನಾಡುವ ಸರದಿ ನನ್ನದಾದಾಗ, ಕೆಲವೇ ವಾಕ್ಯಗಳ ನಂತರ "ಅವರು ಈವರೆಗೂ ನನಗೆ ತೋರಿರುವ ತಾಯಿಯ ಪ್ರೀತಿಗೆ ನಾನು ಆಭಾರಿ.." ಎಂದಷ್ಟೇ ಹೇಳಿ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ದೆ.

ಸಮಾರಂಭದ ನಂತರ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನೆಡೆಗೆ ಬಂದ ಮೇರಿ ಮೇಡಂ, "ಇದು ನಿಮಗೆ ಸರ್, ಆಮೇಲೆ ಓದಿ.." ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾ ಆ ಮೊದಲೇ ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದ ಒಂದು ಬಿಳಿಯ ಲಕೋಟೆಯನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಕೈಗಿತ್ತರು. ಅದರಲ್ಲೇನಿರಬಹುದೆಂದು ಅಂದಾಜಿಸದೇ "ಥ್ಯಾಂಕ್ಯೂ ಮೇಡಂ.." ಎನ್ನುತ್ತ ಅದನ್ನು ಕಿಸೆಯಲ್ಲಿಸಿಕೊಂಡೆ. ಆ ದಿನ ಹಿಂತಿರುಗಿ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬರುವಾಗ, ಬಸ್ಸಿಗಾಗಿ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಾ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಲಕೋಟೆಯ ನೆನಪಾಗಿ, ಅದನ್ನು ಕಿಸೆಯಿಂದ ಹೊರತೆಗೆದು ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಮೇರಿ ಮೇಡಂ ಅವರ ಕೈಬರಹದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ಓದಲಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ.

ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯ ಕನಸು

ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯ ಮಂಪರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಸುಂದರ ಕನಸು. ಕರಗಳನ್ನು ಜೋಡಿಸಿ ಕಣ್ಮುಚ್ಚಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕರ್ತರನ್ನು. ಕರ್ಣಗಳಿಗೆ ಮೃದುವಾದ ಮನೋಹರವಾಗಿ ಕೋಳಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು ಒಂದು ಅಶರೀರವಾಣಿ.

"ನೀಡಿರುವೆನು ನಿನಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟ ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು, ನನ್ನಿಂದ ಯಾವ ವರವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲು ಮತ್ತೆ ಈ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ?"

ಪ್ರಭುವೇ, ನನಗೆ ನೀನು ನೀಡಿರುವುದು ಸಪ್ತ ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ. ಒಂದು ಕೊರತೆಯನ್ನು ಇಟ್ಟಿರುವೆಯಲ್ಲಾ; ಅದನ್ನು ಪೂರೈಸು ಪ್ರಭುವೆ

"ಅದೇನೆಂದು ತಿಳಿಸಿದರೆ ಪೂರೈಸುವೆ ಆ ನಿನ್ನ ಕೋರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು"

ಅಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ಊರಿಗಿದ್ದ ಒಂದೇ ಒಂದು ಬಸ್ಸು ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಗಮಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಮೇರಿ ಮೇಡಂ ಮೂಲತಃ ಕ್ರೈಸ್ಥರಾದರೂ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಮೇಲಿದ್ದ ಅವರ ಹಿಡಿತವನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ಬೆರಗುಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಲಕೋಟೆಯನ್ನು ಕೈಚೀಲದೊಳಗೆ ಜೋಪಾನವಾಗಿ ಇರಿಸಿ, ಬಸ್ಸಿಗೇರಿ ಕುಳಿತೆ. ಪ್ರಯಾಣದುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಚಿಟ್ಟೆಯಂತೆ ಅನೇಕ-ಅನಾವಶ್ಯಕ ವಿಚಾರಗಳೆಡೆಗೆ ನಿರಂಕುಶವಾಗಿ ಹಾರಾಡುತ್ತಿತ್ತು; ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ವಾಹನ ಹಾಗೂ ಜನದಟ್ಟಣೆ ಬೇಸರ ತರಿಸಿತ್ತು, ಆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಈಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಜೋಂಪು ಹತ್ತಿ ಕೊನೆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಮನೆ ತಲುಪಿದ್ದೆ.

ಇದಾಗಿ ಹಲವಾರು ದಿನಗಳೇ ಕಳೆದುಹೋದವು; ಮೇರಿ ಮೇಡಂ ಕಛೇರಿಯ ತಮ್ಮ ವಸತಿಗೃಹವನ್ನು ತೆರವುಗೊಳಿಸಿ, ನಗರದಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೋ ಒಂದು ಬಾಡಿಗೆ ಮನೆಗೆ ತೆರಳಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡುವ ಅವಕಾಶಗಳೇ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾವುದೋ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತೋಚಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಗೀಚಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಹಾಳೆಯ ತುಣುಕೊಂದನ್ನು ಕೈಚೀಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಡುಕುವಾಗ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೂ ನಾನು ಮರೆತೇ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದ ಮೇರಿ ಮೇಡಂ ಅವರ ಲಕೋಟೆ ಕಾಣಿಸಿತು. ದಿನೇ ದಿನೇ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ವಾಹನದಟ್ಟಣೆಯಂತೆ ಉಲ್ಬಣಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ನನ್ನ ಮರೆಗುಳಿತನಕ್ಕೆ ಶಪಿಸಿ, ಲಕೋಟೆಯ ಓದನ್ನು ಮುಂದುವರೆಸಿದೆ:

ಬರಿದಾದ ನನ್ನ ಮಡಿಲು, ಸರ್ವ ಸದ್ಗುಣ ಸಂಪನ್ನನಾದ ಒಂದು ಪುತ್ರ ರತ್ನವನ್ನು ದಯಪಾಲಿಸು ನನಗೆ

"ಈ ಕಲಿಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ವ ಸದ್ಗುಣ ಸಂಪನ್ನನಾದವನನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕುವುದು ಸಾಗರದೊಳಗೆ ಸಾಸಿವೆ ಕಾಳನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕಿದಂತೆ ಅಲ್ಲವೆ?"

ಆ ಸಾಗರದೊಳಗಿಂದ ಒಂದು ಅಮೂಲ್ಯ ರತ್ನವನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕಿ ತೆಗೆದಿರುವೆನು ಪ್ರಭುವೆ 

"ಬೇಡಿಕೋ ಹಾಗಾದರೆ ಏನು ನಿನ್ನ ಕೋರಿಕೆ?"

ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮವಿರುವುದು ನಿಜವಾದರೆ, ಮರುಜನ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ನಾನು ಹೆಣ್ಣಾಗಿ ಜನ್ಮತಾಳಿದರೆ, ಬರಿದಾಗಿರುವ ನನ್ನ ಮಡಿಲನ್ನು ತುಂಬಲು ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಮೂಲ್ಯ ರತ್ನವನ್ನು ಕಂದನಾಗಿ ಕರುಣಿಸು

"ಮರುಜನ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ? ಹಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ತಥಾಸ್ತು.."

ಮರೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು ವರವನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದ ದೈವಸ್ವರೂಪ. ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತು ಕಣ್ಣುತೆರೆದಾಗ ಕಂಡಿತ್ತು ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ವಾಸ್ತವರೂಪ..

- ಮೇರಿ.

mom n me..

In recent years, the rate at which Caesarean Section is performed during child birth has risen; up to a record level of nearly the second quartile - (Q₂).

Image by Google

Mom: Dear.. you seem to have grown 'silent' lately..?
Child-in-Womb: Not really maa..

(long pause)

How long is it from now till I be born?

Need not wait for too long.. it's almost full term & you soon would be in the external world.. to be born is your preference alone

There is only one reason I still would love that happen..

One reason..?

Yea.. want to see my 'Dad'!

Oh dear! Hes been eagerly waiting for you & sure you are blessed with the best ever 'Dad'..

Am I.., mom??

Yes you are, my child..

(silence)

Are you sleepy?

Naa.. I prefer not to; want to live this phase of my life to its fullest

That's my wish too.. (gently pats the baby beneath her womb).. you definitely will get to live the rest of your life to it's fullest.. that's our responsibility, anyways

I fear.. may not

What on the earth made you think so?

I see your dreams are very often so scary..

Common.. most of my dreams are no better than just imagination!

Imagination or anticipation.. dreams might lie but not your heart.. I easily read it beat of fear!

(silence)

How do I figure out my gender, mom?

Why should you?!!

If not me now, the 'world' later would do..

The 'world' is crazy, don't be bothered much

(pause)

I love you, my child..

I too, mom. But the 'world' wouldn't if I don't get my gender just right

(long pause)

Can you rest a bit more on your back maa? My shoulder is aching

Ok.. are you fine now?

Yes.. a lot better. Thanks maa

(pause)

What made you think of me, mom?

There's been a lot of expectation that I give birth to you after your Dad and me got married

Hmmmm..

It's the same pressure almost all women undergo.. which ends up with the pleasure of giving birth to a life

Not just 'life', mom; it's all about a 'boy' or 'girl'

Well, we are least bothered by that

'Life' isn't just we three. 'World' is cruel, isn't it?

(silence)

Maa, whats 'heaven'?

Believed to be a paradise, where Gods & Angels live..

And, 'hell'?

Realm of evil & suffering..

Mumma.. I prefer to live in 'heaven' than being born in 'hell'

Yet another caesarean section; 'world' smiles, the 'child' cries..

ಕ್ರೌರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕಮರಿಹೋದ ಕಂದಮ್ಮ

ಸತತ ಮೂರು ದಿನಗಳ ಜೀವನ್ಮರಣ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸಿ, ಸೋತು ವಿಧಿವಶವಾದ ಮೂರು ತಿಂಗಳ ಹಸುಗೂಸು 'ನೇಹ ಭಾನು ಅಫ್ರೀನ'ಳ ಪೂಜ್ಯನೀಯ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಗೌರವಪೂರ್ಣ ನಮನಗಳು.

ಮರೆಯಾದ ಮಗು - ನೇಹ

'ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಪೂಜಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾಳೋ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ದೈವನು ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ' - ಎಂದು ಸಾರಿ ಹೇಳುವ ವೇದೋಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳ ಭದ್ರ ಬುನಾದಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಭಾರತದ ನೆಲದಲ್ಲಿ, ನವಜಾತ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಶಿಶುವಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆದುಹೋದ ಈ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯವು ದುರಾದೃಷ್ಟಕರವಲ್ಲವೆ? ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನವು 4-ಜಿ ತರಂಗಾಂತರಗಳ ಎಲ್ಲೆ ಮೀರಿ ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ಹವಣಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಹ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಬಗೆಗಿನ ಕೀಳರಿಮೆಯ ನಿಲುವು ಬದಲಾಗುವುದಿರಲಿ, ಅಲ್ಪಮಟ್ಟಿಗಾದರೂ ಸುಧಾರಿಸದೇ ಹೋದುದು ಒಂದು ದುರಂತವೇ ಸರಿ. 'ಸ್ತ್ರೀ ಮೇಲಿನ ನಿರಂತರ ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಗಳನ್ನೊಳಗೊಂಡ ವಿಕೃತ ಸಮಾಜದ ಏಳಿಗೆಯಾಗುವುದಾದರೂ ಎಂತು?' ಎಂಬ ಉತ್ತರ ಕಾಣದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಅರಿವಿಲ್ಲದೆಯೇ ಆವರಿಸಿ ರೌದ್ರನರ್ತನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದೇನೋ ಎಂಬ ಭ್ರಮೆಯುಂಟಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ.

ತನ್ನ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾದ ಮಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ 'ತಂದೆ' ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡವನ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಂಡರಿಯದ ನೇಹಳ ಮೂರೂ ತಿಂಗಳ ಬದುಕು ಆತನ ಕ್ರೂರ ದುರ್ನಡತೆಯ ವಿರುದ್ಧದ ಹೋರಾಟವೇ ಆಗಿದ್ದಿತು. ಮೂಲತಃ ಮಧ್ಯವ್ಯಸನಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಾದಕ ವಸ್ತುಗಳ ದುಶ್ಚಟಕ್ಕೆ ಬಲಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ 25ರ ಉಮರ್ ಫಾರೂಕನಿಗೆ ನೇಹಾಳ ತಾಯಿಯಾದ 19ರ ರೇಷ್ಮ ಭಾನು ಎರಡನೇಯ ಮಡದಿ. ಮೊದಲಿನಿಂದಲೂ ವರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆಯ ಕಿರುಕುಳದಲ್ಲೇ ಸಾಂಸಾರಿಕ ಜೀವನ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ರೆಷ್ಮಳಿಗೆ ನೇಹಳ ಹುಟ್ಟು ದುಸ್ತರವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಣಮಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮಗುವಿನ ಜನನಕ್ಕೆ ತಾನೇ ಕಾರಣಕರ್ತನೆನ್ನುವ ಸತ್ಯದ ಅರಿವಿಲ್ಲದ ತಂದೆಯು, ತನ್ನ ಮಗುವನ್ನು ಉಸಿರುಗಟ್ಟಿಸಿ, ಸಿಗರೇಟಿನಿಂದ ಸುಟ್ಟು, ಮನಬಂದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಯಿಂದ ಕಚ್ಚಿ, ಅದರ ತಲೆಯನ್ನು ಬಲವಾಗಿ ಗೋಡೆಗೆ ಗುದ್ದಿಸಿ ಕೊಲ್ಲಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಿದನೆಂದು ಮಾತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಲೂ ಸಹ ದಿಗಿಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ, ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ದುಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಲಿಯಾದ ಮುಗ್ಧೆ ನೇಹ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿರಬಹುದಾದ ಮೂಕಯಾತನೆಯ ಕ್ರೌರ್ಯಾನುಭವ ಅದೆಂತಹುದಿರಬಹುದು?? ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ವಾಣಿವಿಲಾಸ್ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯ ತೀವ್ರ ನಿಗಾ ಘಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಕೊನೆಯುಸಿರೆಳೆದ ಕಂದಮ್ಮನೇ ಬಲ್ಲಳು.

ಪ್ರತಿನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಅನೇಕ ವಿಧವಾದ ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಗಳನ್ನೆದುರಿಸುವ ಅಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವಂತೆ ತೋರುವ ನೇಹ, ತನ್ಮೂಲಕ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಮೇಲೆ ಸದ್ದಿಲ್ಲದೇ ನಡೆದುಹೊಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ ಮಾತಿಲ್ಲದ ಬರಿಯ ಮೌನದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಕೂಗಿ ಹೇಳಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಆಯೋಗ, ಸಮಾಜ, ಸಮಿತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸರ್ಕಾರೇತರಗಳು ನೇಹಳಂತಹ ಹಲವಾರು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಕ್ಕಳ ಬಲಿದಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಎಡೆಮಾಡಿಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಫಾರೂಕನಂತಹ ಸಹಸ್ರಾರು ಪಾಪಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾನೂನಿನ ಸೋಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಭದ್ರತೆಯನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸಿಕೊಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಹೀನಾಯ ದುರಾಚರಣೆಗೆ ಹಿಡಿದ ಕನ್ನಡಿಯಂತಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಇಂತಹ ದುಷ್ಟ ಮಾನವರ ಅಟ್ಟಹಾಸವು ಇನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಕಾಲದವರೆಗೆ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯಲಾರದಂಥ ದುರಂತ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಕಾಣುವುದಂತೂ ಶತಸಿದ್ಧ. ಇದರ ಮುನ್ಸೂಚನೆಯೇನೋ ಎನ್ನುವಂತೆ ನೇಹಳ ದುರ್ಮರಣವನ್ನು ಸಹಿಸದೇ, ಹೆತ್ತ ತಾಯಿಯ ಹೃದಯವಿದ್ರಾವಕ ಆಕ್ರಂದನಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸುತ್ತಾ, ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ರಾಜಧಾನಿ ಉದ್ಯಾನನಗರಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಹ ಮಾತೆ ಭೂತಾಯಿಯು ಇಂದು ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ಕಂಪಿಸಿದಳು.

ತಾಯಿಯ ಒಡಲಾಳದಿಂದ : ಕಹಳೆ

ಸಾವಿರಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಅನೇಕ ಜೀವರಾಶಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಸರೆಯಾಗಿರುವ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಮಾನವರಾದ ನಾವು ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿರುವ ರೀತಿಯು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕ್ರೂರವೇನೋ ಎಂಬ ಭಾವನೆಯು ಬಹಳ ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಆಳದಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೋ ಕೊರೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.

ಭೂತಾಯಿಯ ಪತ್ರದ ಮೂಲಕ ನನ್ನ ಭಾವನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಜೀವ ತುಂಬುವ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡುವ 'ತಾಯಿಯ ಒಡಲಾಳದಿಂದ' ಎಂಬ ಲೇಖನವೊಂದನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದು, ಅದು 'ಕಹಳೆ'ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟಗೊಂಡಿದೆ.

ನಿಮಗೆ ಕಾಲಾವಕಾಶವಿದ್ದಾಗ, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು 'ಕಹಳೆ'ಗೆ ಭೇಟಿಕೊಟ್ಟು ನನ್ನ ಈ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ಓದಬೇಕಾಗಿ ವಿನಂತಿ.

ತಾಯಿಯ ಒಡಲಾಳದಿಂದ

ಮಗೂ.. ಹೇಗಿದ್ದಿಯಾ..? ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಸೌಖ್ಯವೇ?? ನಿನ್ನ ಕ್ಷೇಮದ ವಿಚಾರವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಾನು ಸದಾಕಾಲ ಚಿಂತಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವೆ. ನಿಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರುಗಳ ಹೊರತು ನನ್ನವರೆಂದು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಮತ್ತಿನ್ಯಾರೂ ಇಲ್ಲವಲ್ಲ ನನಗೆ! ನನ್ನೊಳಗಿರುವ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಜೀವರಾಶಿಗಳ ಆರೈಕೆಯೊಂದಲ್ಲದೆ ನನಗೆ ಇನ್ಯಾವುದರ ಹಂಬಲವಿದ್ದೀತು ಹೇಳು...

ಈ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ಮುಂದೆ ಓದಿ

My name is Harry

Courtesy - PicCat

My name is Harry; well, may be that doesn't matter anymore. My lungs fail to oxygenate blood and heart refuses to pump the impure blood. All my vital organs have rested themselves; kidneys being the main culprit for everything happening. There's a reason for me to fight my death – I just want to see my 'mom'.

Am 9 years old now; did you think it's not the age to die? But, being a Cat, that's nearly what I all deserve. 'Harry is going really down; all his vital organs have stopped functioning. To save him from further sufferings, I strongly suggest you to put him to sleep' says the Vet to my owner, which she refuses at once. My 'mom' is expected here to see me anytime now; I have to hold my breath until then.

While I lay down almost dead in the Intensive Care Unit, my owner picks a call – 'Harry hasn't had eaten anything for a week now; I don't see him open his eyes since past two days'. I know it's my 'mom' at the other end. After disconnecting the call, owner pats me and says 'Clara is taking the next flight and will be reaching here by evening. You will be alright Harry'.

Clara – the youngest daughter of my owner; she is my 'mom'. Even before I could open my eyes after birth, I was abandoned orphan. It's Clara who picked me up and gave me life then; it was she whom I saw when I opened my eyes for the first time. She was a school-going kid then, but still took care of me every single day – isn't she my 'mom'?

Though there were many Cats at home, am her only pet. She used to laugh with me, play with me, eat with me, sleep with me and even cry with me; in no time we were soul-mates. I don't remember even a single night sleeping without being hugged by her. I soon became her child and she, my 'mom'.

When she wanted to do her higher studies, she chose Veterinary Science. 'Don't worry Harry, I will soon become a Vet to see that you never get ill and had to suffer' – she told me before leaving to join a far away Veterinary School. I jumped into her bag and went till airport; was very sad that day and wept a lot for wanting her. It's five years now and she will be a Vet doctor in a month or so, and I have gone through all possible sufferings being ill and trying to restore my fading breath every single time, until she arrives.

'Harry never let me sleep the night before my daughter Clara was coming home. Now, though I told him she is already on her way to see him, he don't bother to respond' – my owner was telling to the Nurse who came to change my drip. She, and even me know very well that nothing on this earth could give me a rebirth; all meds pushed inside me had just gotten filtered out off my blood during dialysis.

'Harry..'; well, it sounds like my 'mom'. 'Harry.. I came for you..'; yes, it's my 'mom'. She gently pats on my head through body; I feel it so comfortable, as though am a new soul altogether. Finally am going to witness a sight, which I was longing to see for the last time in life. I put all my stored bits of energy together and managed to open my shut eyes. It's her.. my 'mom'; my 'mom'! She looked so sad, dull and red; hugged me at once. I felt it is the right time to let my pulse stop ticking. But then, I still want to live forever in the love of her arms. She comes close and kisses me on my forehead, tears roll off her eyes and falls on my mouth; I gently smacked it..

I pray, the great soul of Harry rest in peace.

B@D

It's my Blog @nniversary Day today!

That's what I was thinking and had been planning to post a writeup on this Day for the past month or so. Unfortunately, I had written my first blog post on 19-05-2010 and not 19-07-2010. It's actually been exactly two months past my Blog @nniversary Day and I plan to celebrate it today! Just wonder how did I forget to remember the Day? Well, that clearly shows am getting older; nothing much. That shouldn't stop me here, let's move on..

Even today, I don't really know why this idea of Blogging stuck my mind in the first place. Sometimes, we can't figure out what on this Planet Earth drives us crazy! To begin with, it was not all that easy for me to write my first ever post online; reason being, had no clue as to what I actually want to Blog about?! It still is a mystery, even before starting to Blog, that I knew it will be Gururaja, one of my close childhood friends, the first person to post a comment on my Blog.. and he did.

I continued writing about arbitrary things, with a sole idea of putting my thoughts into words and nothing else. It feels real good when I come to know that there are people who read my weird thoughts quite often. To be frank, the most attractive part of my Blog to me, is the bunch of my readers who have added colors to the Blog Theme with their pictures and value to my writing with their comments; am sure I can ask nothing more than having them spare some of their precious time online in my Blog. I sincerely thank all of my friends, for keeping along and making this tiny space on the web so very much interactive.

By now, I have figured out that Blogging isn't an easy task at all. Recently, was talking to one of my friend over telephone and he said 'I can make out that from your Blog', when I said 'life got busier these days; especially after marriage'. When said 'days have changed and things ain't the same after arrival of home minister', he replied 'my home minister is already staring at me..'. Okay, he is having tough time updating his Blog and most of us are sailing in the same boat. When I started to Blog, she wasn't my wife yet; but without my wife's continued support, Blogging wouldn't have been a part of my life after marriage. Today, for this Blog still does exist, equal credit goes to my wife too.

I share the joy of my First Blog @nniversary Day with each and every one of you; thanks for making this happen. With your ever lasting encouragement, I would like to continue write more and more here.

The more B@Ds; the more GOOD. Thank you all..

a step away..!

Two days of the year, specially dedicated to Women, have just passed by - March 8th (Women's Day) and May 8th (Mother's Day). Both the days being observed on the 8th date is a unique thing that happened this year, 2011. The latter went without any significant thing happening, but the former was too much a special day for me. All credit goes to Women around, for making March 8th - my day!

08-03-2011, Women's Day, was yet another day for me at work. As usual, I had reached office a bit late than my reporting time at 7 in the morning. After a couple of hours attending to my chores, I walked in to the Accounts Department to get my salary slip printed. There are two ladies in Accounts, Shashikala in her mid 40s and Eliana in her mid 50s, who were busy with files and papers then. Normally, I try to distract them by talking to our attendant Murugesh as they may feel disturbed if spoken directly.

Me: Murugesh, you know today is a very special day? Especially in Accounts Dept...
Murugesh: Is it sir? What is special today?

It's Women's Day..

So, how will that be special for us? We are not women!

It is special, coz the women here will be getting sweets to all of us while they celebrate Women's Day

Both the ladies spoke at once: Sure sir, what sweets you like to have?
They were smiling happily, which made me feel proud for getting the timing just right.

Am fine with any sweet, how about you Murugesh?

Me too sir..

Ok, we will get it for you all

I had printed my pay slip logging in to HRMS by then and moved back to my place.

In an hour's time, I was called for to the Accounts; Shashikala Mam had sweets in her hand by the time I could reach there. It was a pleasant surprise to me! Bengali sweets were all looking so delicious (didn't get the name though), gave her one, me took two and handed over the rest to Murugesh to distribute to others. I thanked her and got back to work.

The day went hectic, it was half past 4 in the evening when I was walking along Accounts and suddenly Eliana Mam appeared and said: I was looking for you since afternoon sir..
Me: Whats the matter Mam?

Been to the shop myself during lunch and got some sweets for you

Wow! Where are they?

While we reached her desk, Murugesh joined us.
Murugesh: Sir, since afternoon Mam refused my request for having a sweet to eat

Yes Murugesh, I wanted to give first to Prashanth sir as he asked for it

I already had picked one jalebi from the lot and starting eating.

Sir, the sweet is actually for three reasons

Gulp..!! Three reasons..??

Yeah, 1. Today is Women's Day

Then..

2. Even though it isn't your job, you have been processing all our salaries every month in time for the past 3 years in HRMS. We should be giving you sweets every month!

aaaah! Never mind.. I too want salary right?

3. Yours is the best behavior with women I have ever seen in this office. You always talk to women with respect and never use words that might hurt us.

I never had a clue what to speak in response.

Can I have one more jalebi Mam?

Sure sir, you can have the entire thing

Thanks, so that I will not be asking for sweets next time due to 'sugar complaint'..??

Everybody: LoL..

On my way back home, was feeling very happy and good within. I knew it wasn't easy to get such a compliment from ladies, especially when it comes to behavior of Men. It definitely has piled up loads of responsibility on my shoulders for rest of the life. I text-ed my wife and shared with few friends of mine about this. All replied in appreciation and my wife said 'good dear.. keep it up'.

That day, I literally was flying and for me, heaven was just a step away..

I Love You..

(Courtesy - Google Images)

14th February, 2003

It was just yet another morning, to me. Being in the final year of my Graduation Schooling, I have had an assumed feeling of freedom from the strong clutches of Academics. Since it was Friday, the weekend laziness had already crept a bit in. That, wasn't enough to stop me from attending the first hour Lecture at half past eight in the morning, anyways. Being forced to sit at the last desk for being always late to Class, it was no different from my everyday drowsy start at School.

Looking at the 'Cats Herald' - the Student's Editorial at the campus corridor, I found enough to learn that it was again Valentine's Day! I said 'again' because, many such days had passed by in my life then, without much of a significance. Not being bothered for getting late to the next Public Health Lecture, I did read every single word published on the Cats Herald, which was flooded over with 'Love'!!

It was thirty minutes past we had entered the Clinics, felt my cell phone vibrating 'gently'. Rushing to a lonely corner of the Out Patient Department, I answered the call;
Me - 'Hello..'
'Good morning, Prashanth!' - it was that Girl at the other end, whom I incidentally met almost nine months back. Our profession was different and so were our ways of life. By the end of the call, she had asked me to make some time in the evening to meet her, which I agreed upon - had no better work either!

Had to cut my usual longer evening nap shorter, since I was going to meet that Girl at around seven. However, it was almost half past seven when I rode my bike to our meeting destination; but, the Girl wasn't seen around. 'She always was punctual to commitments' I thought and started looking around to find her until my cell phone did put a break;
Me - 'Hello..'
'Am getting a little late, can you please wait for me?' - the same Girl. Sounded as though she had a genuine reason of excuse for being late.
'Will wait, for sure..' - I had no other answer.

A lot seemed to be happening in the City, that Valentine's Day. Archies Gallery were full, Coffee Day were crowded, Shopping Lanes were congested, Roses were sold out and Dark Corners were all occupied! Since I had no good habits of smoking and other such sort, being a mere witness to the busy Bangalore was the only option left.

My wrist watch struck nine when I saw the Girl almost 'running' towards me. She really was feeling sorry for making me wait so long, could easily make that out from her face. While the Girl was gasping;

Me - :o)
Girl - 'Sorry..' (gasp) 'am late coz..' (gasp)
Me - 'Relax..'

By the time she recovered from gasping, we had reached a nearby eatery. And it was crowded, we restricted ourselves to sip a cup of fresh fruit juice.

'My colleague was behind me since evening, couldn't deny him as a friend and so I got late..' - said the Girl.
Me - 'Yeah, saw him coming along with you in the bus stop. Hope he and few others had something important to say for the Day', said her kidding since I was told earlier what was happening around.
'Don't know why they can't understand..' - she said.
Me - 'How do I know either?'.
(smiles).

We had very little time that evening as her PG was to close by 9:30 pm. Arbitrary and vague were the discussions while we rode on bike towards her PG. It was few yards away from PG as usual, I stopped my bike to drop her. She stood besides me and looking into my eyes;

'Don't take it in a different way, I love you so much' - the Girl said and walked away into her PG before I could say anything in response. My throat was actually too dry to utter even a single word.

14th February, 2011

Eight long years have now passed by, I didn't dare to say anything to that Girl in response to her feelings, which painted my heart red. How mean! Isn't it? But, not anymore. That Girl is now my Wife and this is our first Valentine's Day after marriage, on which Day I would like to tell her;

'Take it in all possible ways, I love you so much..'

Calf Delivery

I actually had another post in draft to be published, but this writeup preceded.

Yesterday, we (me & my wife) visited our Farm Office and happened to witness the process of a cow giving birth to her calf. Thought of sharing the process of delivery here, with some selected pictures.

The cow was left in the calving area with some bedding material made available anticipating delivery. Since it was not her first delivery, much attention was not always necessary. The expected date of calving (calving is the act of cow giving birth to calf) was three days ahead, but she started showing all the signs of delivering. Since the delivery was happening well before the date of expected calving, we suspected the calf to be female.

Not too long we got to wait, the amniotic sac appeared and ruptured to make way out for the calf. Amniotic sac is the one that covers the fetus for protection in cows womb throughout pregnancy, within which the young one develops. However, couldn't take a picture at this stage.

In the above picture, we can see the amniotic sac ruptured and sagging out down with some amount of amniotic fluid in it. Also, we can observe the two front legs of the calf coming out. This is the normal posture in which a calf is born. So, everything seems to be set just right for a normal delivery.

This is the next important stage when the head of the calf comes out. Should there be problems in delivery leading to complications, usually we can expect those in this stage. Nothing seem to have gotten messed up, as we could see the mouth of the calf started coming out in the above picture (just above the two legs).

At this stage, the mother should lye down to facilitate safe delivery with ease. But, she was standing upright; may be we standing around might have caused discomfort to her. We moved a few yards away and back, she sat in no time and delivered the calf before we could take a picture.

Above picture shows the 'newly born' (literally new - a few seconds old) calf. As expected, it was she - a female calf. The calf was gasping to take her first breath. Mother was liking her all over, out of love, care and responsibility.

The calf took her first ever breath of life to successfully start an independent life away from mother's womb. Other cow which is also in the calving area approaching her date of delivery, comes in and shares the joy of the mother who just gave birth to her young one.

In the next 15 minutes, the calf was able to sit, looking very normal and healthy. By 30 minutes of delivery, the calf took her first step standing on her own legs, with the help of her mother.

During the course of calving, I was all worried and concentrating on the calf for its normal delivery. But, my wife standing beside me seemed almost exclaimed when she said 'how much the cow is struggling?!!'. Only women can feel the pain of delivery - isn't it?

ಯುವರಾಣಿ!

Junior Thimmi

ಹಿಂದಿನ ಈ ಲೇಖನದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಛೇರಿಯ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರೀತಿಗೆ ಪಾತ್ರವಾಗಿದ್ದ 'ತಿಮ್ಮಿ' ಎಂಬ ಶ್ವಾನದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದೆ. ಜೀವ ಹೋಗುವಂಥ ವಯಸ್ಸಾಗಲಿ, ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯವಾಗಲಿ ಆಕೆಯದಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ, ವಿಧಿಯ ಆಟ ಬಲ್ಲವರ್ಯಾರು? ತನ್ನ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮುದ್ದು ಮರಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಾಗರಹಾವಿನಿಂದ ಕಾಪಾಡಲು ಹೋರಾಡಿ, ತನ್ನ ಪ್ರಾಣವನ್ನೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಳು ತಿಮ್ಮಿ. ತಾಯಿಯ ಪ್ರೀತಿ-ತ್ಯಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ಬೇಕೇ? ಮನುಷ್ಯರಾಗಲಿ - ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳಾಗಲಿ, ತಾಯಿಯ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯು ಒಂದೇ; ಎಳ್ಳಷ್ಟೂ ಕಳಂಕವಿಲ್ಲದ, ನಿಷ್ಕಲ್ಮಶ-ವಿಶಾಲ ಹೃದಯದ ತ್ಯಾಗ-ಪ್ರೀತಿ ತಾಯಿಯದು.

ಕಛೇರಿಯ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ 'ತಿಮ್ಮಿ' ಇಲ್ಲದ್ದನ್ನು ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ ನಾನು ಊಹಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಈ ಮೊದಲೇ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ, ಅಂತಹ ಪ್ರೀತಿಭರಿತ ನಮ್ರತೆಯ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯದ್ದು. ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ನೋವು-ಕಳವಳ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ಮುಟ್ಟಿತೋ ಏನೋ? ಆ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಕ್ಕೆ ನೋಡುನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆಯೇ ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯ ಯಥಾರೂಪವನ್ನು ದಯಪಾಲಿಸಿಬಿಟ್ಟ ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ. ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಹೋಲಿಕೆ ಇದೆ ಎಂದರೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಕಛೇರಿಯವರಲ್ಲದೆ ಹೊರಗಿನ ಜನರೂ ಕೂಡ ಈ ಮುದ್ದು ಮರಿಯನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ 'ತಿಮ್ಮಿ ಥರಾನೇ ಇದೆ..' ಎನ್ನುವಷ್ಟು!

ಈ ಮುದ್ದು ಮರಿಗೆ ನಾನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ 'ತಿಮ್ಮಿ' ಎಂದೇ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತೇನೆ, ಇನ್ನಿತರರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯದು ಅರ್ಥಾತ್ ಆಕೆಯ ತಾಯಿಯದ್ದೇ ಸ್ವಭಾವ; ಅದೇ ಬಣ್ಣ, ಅದೇ ಹೋಲಿಕೆ, ಅದೇ ಗುಣ, ಅದೇ ನಡತೆ, ಅದೇ ನಮ್ರತೆ, ಅದೇ ಪ್ರೀತಿ - ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ತನ್ನ ತಾಯಿಯೇ ಮತ್ತೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಬಂದಿದೆಯೇನೋ ಎನ್ನುವಷ್ಟರ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ತಿಮ್ಮಿ ತನ್ನ ತಾಯಿಯನ್ನು ಹೋಲುತ್ತಾಳೆ - ಬೆರಗುಗೊಳಿಸುವಂತಹ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ವೈಶಿಷ್ಟ್ಯ! ಕಛೇರಿಯ ನನ್ನ ಕೊಠಡಿಯ ಪ್ರಾಂಗಣವೇ ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯ ಸಧ್ಯದ ಮನೆ. ದಿನವಿಡೀ ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಮಲಗಿರುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೊಂದಿಷ್ಟು ನಮ್ಮ ನೌಕರರು ನೀಡುವ ಬ್ರೆಡ್, ಬಿಸ್ಕತ್, ಬನ್ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಇಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ನನ್ನ ಹಾಗೂ ಕೇಶು ಸರ್ ಊಟದ ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯು ದಿನವೂ ಜೋಡಿ; ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯೊಡನೆ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಂಡು ಊಟಮಾಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ ಖುಷಿಯೇ ಖುಷಿ.

ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಕೊರಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನಮಗೆ ಈ ಮುದ್ದು ಮರಿ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿ-ಸಂತಸ-ಆನಂದ ತಂದಿದೆ. ತಿಮ್ಮಿ ತನ್ನ ಮರಿಗಳ ಸೌಖ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಜೀವತ್ಯಾಗ ಮಾಡಿ ತಾಯ್ತನದ ಹಿರಿಮೆ ಮೆರೆದಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ನಾವೂ ಸಹ ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯ ಆಸೆಯನ್ನು ಪುರೈಸಲೆಂದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರೀತಿ-ಕಾಳಜಿಯಿಂದ ಈ ಮುದ್ದು ಮರಿಯ ಆರೈಕೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ವಂಚಿತಳಾಗಲು ಬಯಸದ ತಿಮ್ಮಿಯು ತನ್ನ ಮಗಳ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾಳೆ; 'ಯುವರಾಣಿ'ಯಂತೆ!

My Marriage @ 50

Courtesy - Google Images

Our Wedding Website

Have you ever heard of someone getting married at 50? Well, I boldly say am getting married @ 50! Wondering what would be the fate of the girl who is getting married to me? Please wait.. there are still a couple of decades left for me to get 50 years old. For now, with this writeup, the number of posts in my Blog hit the 50 mark. And, at this 50, am pleased to announce that the wedding bells are gonna ring for me and my fiancee.

It was nothing than just a co-incidence, that I got an opportunity to write about our Marriage at the 50th Blog Post. It indeed is a very contented feeling after I started Blogging and needless to mention that this contentment is just because of all my readers, who have been supporting me right from the word go by their invaluable and encouraging comments and views on my thoughts.

I take this opportunity to personally thank every one of my readers for shaping up this Blog of mine to what it actually is today. Also, this Blog has created a bridge of virtual friendship with many intellects, otherwise to whom I would have just been a passing-by stranger. Many of my friends are also here to extend their unconditional support to me as they have been doing from my childhood, I thank them too. Overall, it is a very pleasant experience for me to Blog, thank you all for making it so.

About our Marriage, aaaahh; it is just the same thing that happens in any individual's life. But, it really is a great achievement I should say if given an opportunity to get married to someone we cannot live without. To find such someone is also very important; am glad that Veena found Prashanth or Prashanth found Veena or the Almighty made us to meet - all are equally true.

While getting married with the graceful blessings of God and our Parents on Sunday, the 28th November 2010, we would like to have the pleasure of your presence with family & friends on this auspicious occasion. Please consider this as our personal invitation and do come to bless us.

Please visit Our Wedding Website for further information. Thank you!

Thimmi (ತಿಮ್ಮಿ)

Thimmi (ತಿಮ್ಮಿ)

She never was just 'that'!
Better to humans, in Character;
Superior to civilised, in Common Sense;
Similar to siblings, in Love;
On par to pals, in Friendship;
Exceptional to dogs, in Affection;
Equal to Angels, in Heaven;
Sigh.. yes, Thimmi is now 'dead'.

Just can't believe that she is no more.. never can I, in this lifetime! And, it was indeed a shocking news to almost every staff at Office. "It wasn't the age to die", we felt; and neither was she ill. She was at her normal health, had given birth to four lovely puppies, fortnight and a week ago. None of her puppies stayed with her for more than a month; people used to take them away, knowing the character of Thimmi! Finally she had left her kids herself, forever, before anyone could separate them from her.

"If you happen to believe someone in Office, it was Thimmi alone" - not too long since I said this to one of my superiors at work. There was an 'unknown' force binding us together, since our first meet when I resumed Office 3 years ago. Be it late at night or early in the morning; no matter I rode bike or drove my car in, she could easily pick the glimpse of me every single time - she was the only one who knew me well, than anyone else at work.

One evening, when I was at Office, my parents, sister and brother-in-law visited me. As soon as the car stopped in front of the Office (though I was not in the car and my brother-in-law was driving), Thimmi ran to my car wagging her tail with love and affection to everyone getting down, as though they were known to her since ages. She did what I should have done; how best can anyone welcome Guests?

She was the most disciplined in Office; never crossed the door to enter any of the rooms. Instead, she would wait with patience at the door, until someone attended her. Thimmi also was very sincere; tough to trespassers at night, am sure our watchman finds it hard at night without her around, anymore.

Often she visited me at lunch and since she whelped, we had lunch together almost everyday. Not a single day Thimmi snatched food from me, but used to politely wait for me to offer her some. Last time we met and had food together was on 04th September 2010; Mom had packed me 4 chapatis for lunch, we had two each - I never knew it would be the last time. Wonder if she very well knew that I was deputed for Training from 06th September and could not again get a chance to dine together!!

When I report back to Office on 22nd, guess it would be the toughest part in my Career - "How could I ever imagine that place without Thimmi?" is one question I don't find answer to. Thimmi definitely had found herself a very special place in my life, which remains reserved only for her, forever. Though she has managed to make a move out of this 'world', Thimmi always lives and can never get out off my 'heart'.. Never!

Oh almighty God, please let her Soul rest in permanent Peace.

Dear Sister..

How can in words, I say you are so so special to me?!

When in College, how can I forget that the pocket money you gave was always bigger than my Wallet; so that I had enough to spend and even lend?!

How can I forget, on Raksha Bandhan you never missed to tie me a Rakhi and got me enough sweets to eat?!

Till date, how can I forget, the way you carefully selected dresses for me to wear; so that I never happen to learn choose them myself?!

How can I forget, each day morning, the pain you take in joining hands with mom and dad to prepare and pack my breakfast and lunch; so that I stay healthier?!

Every year, how can I forget, the pleasure with which you celebrate my birthday and the offerings you make to God; so that I will always be happy?!

This year, how did I forget, to wish my Sweet Sister yesterday, 16th August 2010, on her very special Birthday; so that I have proved myself so irresponsible and careless?!

Please.. please.. do not pamper me so much.. am sorry..

am sorry..

Taking the privilege of being born younger to you, I fall at your feet on my knees, praying to forgive for being so rude; and to bless me to be more responsible (at least) with my dear loved special ones.

"Happy Birthday my Dear Sister.."

ಪ್ರೀತಿ-ಸ್ನೇಹ

ಆಕೆ, ಆತನ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲದ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗಳನ್ನು ತಂದುಬಿಟ್ಟಳು. ಆಕೆಯ ಪರಿಚಯವಾದದ್ದು ಆಕಸ್ಮಿಕ! ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ragging ಪದ್ಧತಿ ಹೊಸತೇನಲ್ಲ; ಇದರಿಂದ ಒಬ್ಬರಿಗೊಬ್ಬರು ಪರಿಚಯವಾಗದೇ ಇರಲಾರರು. ಆದರೆ, ಆಕೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಆತನದ್ದು ಬರಿಯ ಪರಿಚಯ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಆಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. "ನಾವು ಹೀಗೇಕೆ ಹತ್ತಿರವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ?" ಆಕೆಯನ್ನು ಕಾಡಿದ್ದ ಉತ್ತರವಿಲ್ಲದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಆತನನ್ನೂ ಕಾಡಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೂ, ಆತನೊಡನೆ ಆಕೆಗೆ ಅದೇನೋ ಸಲಿಗೆ, ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆ. "ಕಾರಣವೇನು?" ಆಕೆಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಆತನಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿಯುವ ಉತ್ಸುಕತೆ ಇದ್ದಂತೆ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ಆತನ T-Shirt ಗಳನ್ನು formals ಗೆ, Slipper ಗಳನ್ನು Shoes ಗೆ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಲು ಆಕೆ ಸಮರ್ಥಳು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಕೆಲವೇ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಬೀತುಪಡಿಸಿಬಿಟ್ಟಳು. ಆತನಿಗೂ ತನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಸತನ ಕಾಣುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಅದೇನೋ ಖುಷಿ; ಆ ಖುಷಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆಕೆಯೂ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದಳು. "ಬದುಕು ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಸುಂದರ!" - ಆತನದೂ ಆಕೆಯದೂ ಒಂದೇ ತೆರನಾದ ಅನುಭವ, ಆನಂದ.

"ನಿನಗೆ friends ಬೇಕೋ ಇಲ್ಲ ನಾನ್ ಬೇಕೋ?"
ಆತ ಇಂತಹದೊಂದು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಕೇಳಬಹುದೆಂದು ಆಕೆ ಕನಸು-ಮನಸಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಹ ಎಣಿಸಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ.
"ನನಗೆ ನೀವೂ ಬೇಕು, friends ಕೂಡ ಬೇಕು"
ಆಕೆಯ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ಉತ್ತರವು ಆತನಿಗೆ ಅದೇಕೋ ಹಿಡಿಸಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ!! ತಪ್ಪಲ್ಲದ ತಪ್ಪಿಗೆ, ಇಬ್ಬರ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಅಗೋಚರ-ಶೂನ್ಯ ಅಂತರ. ಅವರ ನಡುವೆ phone calls, SMS ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ತಂತಾನೇ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವವನ್ನು ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲದಂತೆ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡುಬಿಟ್ಟವು.

ಹೀಗೆ ಐದು ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಕಳೆದುಹೋಗಿವೆ. ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಆತ-ಆಕೆ ಇಬ್ಬರ ಸ್ಥಾನಗಳೂ ಬದಲಾಗಿವೆ. ಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಅಂತಸ್ತೂ ಬದಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಅಂತಸ್ತಿಗೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ನಡೆಯೂ ಬದಲಾಗಿದೆ. ನಡೆಗೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ನುಡಿಯೂ ಬದಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಅವರಿಬ್ಬರ ನಡುವಿನ ಅಂತರ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬದಲಾದಂತೆ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಕಾರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತು:

ಆತ: "Phone, SMS ಏನೂ ಮಾಡ್ತಿಲ್ಲ? ಎದುರಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ರೂ ಮಾತಾಡ್ಸಲ್ವ?"
ಆಕೆ: "ಅದನ್ನು ನೀವೇ ಮಾಡ್ಬಹುದಿತ್ತಲ್ಲ?"
ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯೇ ಉತ್ತರವಾದಾಗ ನೀರಸ ಮೌನ..
"time ಇದ್ಯ ಇನ್ನೂ?"
"I can spare another 10 minutes"
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ತಡೆದು..
"Is it possible for us to be as we were before?"
"I don't think so..."

ಆವರಿಸಿದ ಮೌನ, ಒಳಗಿನ ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮರೆಸಲು ಮಾತುಗಳು ವಿಫಲವಾದಾಗ ಆತ FM ಮೊರೆಹೋಗದೆ ಬೇರೆ ದಾರಿ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. "ಹಾಳಾದ್ ಹಾಳಾದ್ ಹಾಟ೯ಲಿ ಹೊಸ ಹುಡ್ಗೀರ್ ಹಾವಳಿ..." FM ಗೇನು ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕು ವಾಸ್ತವದ ಚಿತ್ರಣ? ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ತನ್ನ ಉತ್ಸಾಹ ಮೆರೆಯುತಿತ್ತು.

"ನಿನ್ number ನೀನೇ delete ಮಾಡ್ಬಿಡು" ಅಕೆಗೆ ತನ್ನ mobile ಕೊಡುತ್ತಾ ಹೇಳಿದ ಆತ. ಮನದಲ್ಲಿನ ಭಾವನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ, ಆತ ಹೇಳಿದಂತೆ ನಡೆಯುವುದೇ ಆಕೆಯ ಧ್ಯೇಯ; ಮರುಮಾತಾಡದೆ ಆತ ಹೇಳಿದಂತೆ ನಡೆದುಕೊಂಡ ಆಕೆಯ ಕಣ್ಣಂಚುಗಳು ಒದ್ದೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ಆತನ ಗಮನಕ್ಕೆ ಬರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ಆಕೆ ಕಾರಿನಿಂದಿಳಿದಾಗ ಆತನ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಗಲಿಕೆಯ ನೋವಿನ ಭಾವ.. ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಮಾತುಗಳೇ ಹೊರಡಲಿಲ್ಲ ಆತನಿಗೆ. ಆಕೆಯ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು ಮಾತುಗಳ ರೂಪ ಪಡೆದೇಬಿಟ್ಟವು - "ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಕಳ್ಕೊಂಡೆ..". ಆತ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯಿಸುವ ಮೊದಲೇ ಆಕೆ ದೂರ ಸರಿದಿದ್ದಳು, ಹಿಂತಿರುಗಿ ನೋಡದೆ..

"After some yrs, v al wil b busy wid our own lyf. No more Miss cals, no more Sily SMS, no more Chatting. I hope Someday v wil recal al dis wid a smile n tears in our eyes.. Dis SMS is dedicated 2 al my frnds who hav Created such wonderful memories in my lyf"

ಆತನಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಿದ ಈ SMS ಕಳುಹಿಸಿದವರ್ಯಾರು ಎಂದು ಬೇರೆ ಹೇಳಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ!

- "ಪ್ರೀತಿಯು ಸ್ನೇಹಕ್ಕೆ, ಸ್ನೇಹವು ಪ್ರೀತಿಗೆ ಮುಳುವಾಗಬಾರದು". ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರ ದಿನಾಚರಣೆ ಶುಭಹಾರೈಕೆಗಳು.

ಕಾಳಜಿ?.. ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ..??

ಮದುವೆಯ ಸಡಗರ!! ಮನೆಯ ಕಿರಿಯ ಮಗನ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ತರಾತುರಿಯ ತಯಾರಿ ನಡೆದಿದೆ. ಮದುವೆಯನ್ನು ಇನ್ನು ಒಂದು ತಿಂಗಳೊಳಗಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಮುಗಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದು ವರನ ತಂದೆ ನಿಶ್ಚಯಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಅದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ತರಾತುರಿ ಅಷ್ಟೆ.

ಆದರೆ, ವಧುವಿನ ತಾಯಿಯ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಏನೋ ಕಳವಳ. ಮಗಳ ಮದುವೆಯ ಸಡಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ತನ್ಮಯತೆ ತಾಯಿಗಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಕೆ ವರನ ತಂದೆಯ ಬಳಿ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ - "ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಏಕಿಷ್ಟು ಆತುರ? ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮುಂದೂಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲವೇ?". ಇದೇಕೆ ಹೀಗೆ? ಮಗಳ ಮದುವೆಯನ್ನು ಮುಂದೂಡುವಂತೆ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿರುವ ಇವರೆಂಥಹ ತಾಯಿ? ವರನ ತಂದೆ ಸ್ವಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ: "ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಭಂಧಿಕರಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಮಗನಿಗಿಂತ ಕಿರಿಯರಿಗೆಲ್ಲ ಮಾಡುವೆ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ಹೋಗಿದೆ. ಅವರ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಮುಂಚೆ ನನ್ನ ಮಗನ ಮಾಡುವೆಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ಮಾಡಬೇಕು. ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಸಹಕರಿಸಿ". ಮಗನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಎಂಥ ಕಾಳಜಿ ತಂದೆಗೆ?! ಸಂಭಂಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರದೋ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಮದುವೆ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾದರೆ, ಅವರು ತನ್ನ ಮಗನಿಗಿಂತ ಚಿಕ್ಕವರೆಂಬ ಒಂದೇ ಕಾರಣ - ಮಗನ ಮದುವೆಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಿದ್ಧತೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಇಂಥಹ ಅಪ್ಪ ಸಿಗುವುದು ಸುಲಭವಲ್ಲ. ಒಲ್ಲದ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ವಧುವಿನ ತಾಯಿ ಸುಮ್ಮನಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೂ, ಅವರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಏನೋ ಕಳವಳ..

ವರನ ತಂದೆ ತನ್ನ ಮಗನ ಮದುವೆಯ ದಿನಾಂಕವನ್ನು ಗೊತ್ತುಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇನ್ನು 20 ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮದುವೆ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ಬಹಳ ಸಮಯಾವಕಾಶವೇನೂ ಇದ್ದಂತಿಲ್ಲ. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತಯಾರಿಗಳನ್ನೂ ತರಾರುತಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ದಿನಗಳು ಕಳೆಯುತ್ತಿವೆ, ಮದುವೆಯ ದಿನಾಂಕ ಹತ್ತಿರವಾಗುತ್ತಲಿದೆ.

ಮದುವೆಯ ದಿನ.. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಸಮರ್ಪಕವಾಗಿದೆಯೇ ಎಂದು ನಾಲ್ಕಾರು ಬಾರಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿದ್ದರು ವರನ ತಂದೆ. ತನ್ನ ಮಗನ ಮದುವೆ ಸರಾಗವಾಗಿ ನೆರವೇರಬೇಕೆಂಬುದು ಅವರ ಆಸೆ, ತಪ್ಪೇನಿದೆ? ಬಂಧು-ಬಳಗದವರೆಲ್ಲಾ ನೆರೆದಿದ್ದರು, ವಧೂ-ವರರನ್ನು ಆಶೀರ್ವದಿಸಲು. ವರನ ತಂದೆಯ ಶ್ರಮ ವ್ಯರ್ಥವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಅವರು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಸುಸೂತ್ರವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಸಂಭ್ರಮವೋ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ.

ವಧುವಿನ ಜೊತೆ ಚೆಂದದೊಂದು ಹುಡುಗಿ.. ವಧುವಿನ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬೇಕು-ಬೇಡಗಳನ್ನು ತಾನೇ ತಿಳಿದು ಉಪಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿ. ತನ್ನದೇ ಮದುವೆಯೇನೊ ಎನ್ನುವಷ್ಟು ಸಂಭ್ರಮ (??!!) ಹುಡುಗಿಯ ಮೊಗದಲ್ಲಿ. ಏಕೋ ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿ ನನಗೆ ಆತ್ಮೀಯಳೆನಿಸಿದಳು. ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದಾಗ ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದು - ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿ ವಧುವಿನ 'ಅಕ್ಕ', ಆಕೆಗಿನ್ನೂ ಮದುವೆಯೇ ಆಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ!!

ನಾನು ಸೋತಿದ್ದೆ; ಹುಡುಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಗೆದ್ದಿದ್ದಳು.