Hello, world! Here I am, emerging from my cocoon. I don't know what I've been going through that has stopped me from writing often. Now that I am back, let's see how long it lasts!
Continuing on the previous post, here's something that defined a cloud nine moment, so take a deep breath, read on, curse my pride and self obsession as much as you want, but if you're my true friend, pray that life goes on like this - Chugging along with its share of disappointments peppered with little things that bring a smile - And please wish that in all our lives, once a while, just once in a blue moon, something like this moment happens.
First, let me introduce the man - Dr. JLW, my boss, whose class was the answer to what makes CMU awesome, whose questions and appreciation instilled the aspiration of being a researcher in me. All the while, what amazes me is how his deep research acumen flows alongside his incredible quick wit.
He comes to me one fine afternoon and says "I need your permission for something. Would you mind if I write to your parents? As a parent, I've often wondered how my children are doing in grad school and I thought I would write to your parents too"
I said I am absolutely fine as long as he writes good things. He told me he was going to write that I am running around here with a midget, not showing up regularly in lab. So typically him. That's all I know.
The next day morning I call home - my mom, she is in the temple, her voice brimming with ecstasy that she was trying to restrain so badly because she was at the temple amidst lot of people. Yes, they had received that email of appreciation that my boss had sent them - about how 'fabulously progressing' I am (Now, that's debatable, I am sure). WOW. I never thought my academic success/career advancement meant so much to Appa, Amma and all of my adorable extended family. You work for something, pray for it with all your heart, make enough sacrifices that it becomes the focus of your aspirations day and night and then it happens, miraculously, as they call it. That moment, that undefinable feeling is what I heard in my mom's voice. I realized how much it meant to them, how much they had wished and hoped for my education being the best. All of their pestering emphasis on education right from high school - moments that irritated me to no bounds at some point in life, attained a whole new meaning. I could only laugh thinking of those moments when I questioned myself why I didn't choose to work comfortably in a call center in India!
JLW guruji being the great person he is, was very generous with his words I am presuming - apparently he finished it saying "Thank you for her". Well, what else can make me work harder than ever, I shall show you that you were not wrong, I shall make sure I live up to it, live up to the great inspiration that you've been. Thank you indeed, I feel fortunate to be mentored this way.
Thank you Amma, Appa and Chuchan - for letting me be unapologetically myself, accepting me with all my flaws, not only helping me overcome them but also steering my efforts in a direction that I would succeed in. Words fail me. And the best part about it is that tiny little restrained anger that pops in your voice when I say I stayed up late in the night just to finish an assignment. I promise, I shall take better care of my health. That said, many thanks for letting my rant about my ulcer ruin your mood on many occasions. Thanks for praying for each and every one of my little tests and exams and presentations - right from my kindergarten to my PhD journal clubs. Thanks for teaching me to take failure in my stride. Thanks for teaching me that there's much more to life than what meets the eye. I hope I live up to your aspirations and I hope I am deserving enough for all your love, forever.
Love. Smile. Cheer.
Time to get back to work, after all, I shouldn't forget to practice what begets these moments -
sincere effort in whatever one does .
