Living in San Ramon Valley: My Garden Today

Gobind and Grandpa

I love to go and pick up Gobind after the School. He takes his own time to come out of his class room while I have to wait till he packs up his books and pushes his jackets in the bag. He then leisurely hands over the bag for me to carry on my shoulders.

I enjoy doing that, while We walk back to the Parking lot holding each others hand. He comes out with lot of stories spent during the day in the school. Most of the times, it is a good day and is narrated to me. Some times it is not a good day and other times it is so so. At times he will not like to talk of the day at all as to how it was spent. I simply understand that it was really one of those bad days. By the time he reaches the car, I am able to extract the exact cause behind his bad day. Hold on, I would not disclose it here.

On every Wednesday, the school terminates early and I am to get a cup of 'Jamba' juice with strawberry-banana flavor for him. He never forgave me last year when I forgot to bring my valet to buy him the juice. He reminded me innumerable times not to forget next Wednesday.

When Gobind was promoted to third grade, I suggested as he had grown up now, he should reach directly to the parking area where I do not have to walk all the way to pick him from the class room. He agreed and started walking to the Parking lot. There were a few problems like spotting me and my car but we sorted it out and some how carried on.

One day I was running late as I was to be away to attend to my work and was late to reach by 15 minutes or so. As is the practice, a phone call went to the Mom who immediately contacted me to collect him from the office. So this guy came all the way to the parking lot and not finding me there, was sent to the Principal's office after walking again all the way back. He looked cool when I reached the office. But he was furious inside all the times. From then onwards Gobind will never meet me at the Car Parking lot and even today refuses to come there. Now I have to walk all the way to Black top and wait for him to come out of his class room at a snails race. Holding hand in hand, he spells out the days happenings to me.

Today, as I brought him back home, I opened the back door of the car to release the child lock, he handed over his school bag to me to carry the same inside the home. I casually asked him if he was giving the bag like giving it to a servant. I further asked him if I was a servant to him.

No, no, you are my grandpa, came his prompt reply. I was relieved that at least he respected me in his heart though. In the next breath, he continued and said, "The servants are very expensive, grandpa".

Still I continue to love my master, my Gobind.

© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved

I (almost) got admission into Kindergarten

I have been trying my utmost to get admission to a Kindergarten Grade ever since I came to know that my parents never sent me to such a fun loving atmosphere. I had a great desire to learn to communicate, play and interact with others appropriately. I wanted to learn the language and vocabulary of Reading, Mathematics, Sciences, Music, Art, and Social Behaviors. I felt that the curriculum at Kindergarten gives the first opportunity to play and interact with a consistent group of kids on regular basis. I would like to run fast blindly to hit a tree or a wall to learn the topography of Discipline.

I tried to get help from every kid in the family starting first with my younger cousins and then with my nephews and nieces and with neighboring kids. No body helped me. Most of them will laugh away taking it as a crude joke, some will be half serious, some will refuse to take me as a class fellow. Others will be serious and will like to take permission from their teacher.

Jania was ever reluctant to help me get admitted to her KG class. She will sight so many excuses like her friends objections to her grandpa joining the class room, or there was no slot available for me to sit. She refused to share even her seat though when requested.

Today was a lucky day for me, as a part of deal with the Live Oak Elementary School management, she has been made Principal for a day. She will remain with the Principal and observe her minutely the functioning of the Principal Office and its activities. She will also get a chance to see how the Principal solves various kids problems on site.

Hence she was excited since yesterday. Seeing the iron hot, I hit it hard to request her to help me for admission to KG class where I should be able to sit by her side, listen to the teacher and learn from her and above all hang out with her and her friends.

To my good luck, as she happened to be the Principal for a day, agreed to admit me. She told it was possible as her friend Meghna, sitting next to her, had just left for India and her seat was vacant and I could occupy the same slot. But she warned me to follow the following rules:

Rules

• When you get into the class room, you will sit quietly on the carpet in Criss-Cross and applesauce manner
• You should not shout or yell.
• You take a black pen and write it over the Pencil line.
• You should write slowly and beautifully.
• You have to raise your hand if you have any questions
• Two fingers are raised to quiet the super shouting
• You will be called by your first name
• Most Important rule is to have fun while you work.

Rules were difficult to follow at this age, but I shall try if I have to take this one lifetime opportunity to attend a Kindergarten class. Excited, I started humming a poem below:

So we shall read and play together,
Enjoy our snacks together,
Then run fast together
Cutting across the winds on the Black Top in the hot and cold weather,
Play on swings, slides and gates,
Go for the drinking fountain breaks.
Wait for the ride to home
To be with the family all together.

Jania with Principal

Jania is just back from the school, she simply forgot to get my admission in the KG Class. She promises that she will send a note ( Principal like)to the Principal's office to admit her Grandpa in her class. I doubt very much it will help. I have lost the golden opportunity and  my hopes are shattered... as I will never ever study in KG Class.

© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved

Mother's Day 2012

On this Mothers Day, because of limited time help available, there was a small window for Mommi Ji to visit Gurdwara. But She was determined to use that opportunity to pay her obeisance to the Almighty. When we arrived at the Gurdwara, she was about to leave for home.

Harvinder took her to the car and drove her home. There were Mothers Day celebrations but scanty this time as some of the family members were traveling and others yet to join. But there was still a trace of glowing light and contentment on the face of Mommi Ji who was as usual more worried about feeding us in her typical style.

Some of the nice pictures of four Generations of good looks are here for everyone to see and enjoy.
© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved

© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved

My B-I-L Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry

Dr Didar Chaudhry and Mohinder

A miracle happened this week.

My brother-in-law Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry who, in his mid sixties, is a healthy looking person who meticulously observes strict diet and takes regular long walks through out rain or shine. Whenever we push him for extra eating, he will simply smile and let go our requests.

Strictly at seven, he will get up and start his day. As he studied in Chail Military School, a residential School in Himachal Pradesh, his habits are developed on Army lines. He will dress up by 9.00 AM every day. After doing the house hold chores during the course of the day, he will only retire in the evening after a long walk in the streets of Defence Colony, New Delhi where he owns a nice newly built ground floor. He has strict eating hours.

He was posted as a Veterinary Doctor in a village Nurpur in the vicinity of Ludhiana. I went all the way from Delhi by the Roadways bus and reached Ludhiana and took my lunch at a local restaurant before leaving for the village where Dr Didar Chaudhry was posted. I had a good meeting with him when he gave me a tour of his small Vet Hospital. I instantly in my heart approved the match for my sister Mohinder(Bobi). Chaudhrys have since moved to Delhi after Dr Chaudhry took voluntary retirement from the Punjab Government job where he was a Cattle specialist.

Dr Chaudhry is a very decent, cool and ever smiling person. He always forces me to stay in his house on my annual trips to India. A couple of years back, all six of us, grand parents to grand kids stayed in their place and we had 12 Jumbo size suitcases in addition to 6 more heavy duty carryon. The international traveling is what it is. There was not an iota of complaint from him as we were, of course, unfair to overload their flat and pushed them out of their own house. Gagan was virtually pushed out of his room and had to take refuge in the queen size bed with his parents. But As per the Punjabi saying "there still is a room on top of the roof", the family took instead took the load on their shoulders. On the other side, we converted a neat and clean house into a fish market. But smile on his face never diminished. His signature answer was that we had not even stayed for a few days.

On the Morning of 8th May, as I checked my mail, I came to know that Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry had been admitted, in a critical condition, to Medcity Hospital in Gurgaon, as all his major heart arteries were nearly fully blocked. He had been complaining of burning in his chest for the last couple of days and was in touch with my nephew Dr Sandeep Singh Kapoor. He advised him some prescriptions for treating acidity and also advised him to keep 'Sorbitrate' ready for an emergency. As he had no relief from acidity medicines, and continued with burning sensation, he took the Sorbitrate 5 mg break under his tounge and surprisingly he got relief.

In mean time, Dr Sandeep Chawla, a senior cardiologist with AIIMS New Delhi and a cousin of Dr Sandeep Kapoor, was also consulted. Dr Chawla immediately grasped the situation and warned them that the BIL has to be moved to a Major Hospital as some thing serious could happen in the following day.

So BIL was moved to Medanta Medcity Hospital and the investigations were jump started with the help of contacts of Dr Sandeep Kapoor who had his class fellows Dr Rajnish Kapoor, Dr Rajnish Malhotra working for that hospital.

After the ECG was done, there came no signs of any problem. He had no angina, no breathlessness and moreover the ECG was showing normal conditions. It was emphasized to investigate deeper, when they finally found out that all his major arteries were almost fully blocked.

A triple bypass open heart surgery was immediately planned, decided and successfully done yesterday. He is off the ventilator and oxygen pipes and all the supports have been withdrawn today. Dr Didar Chaudhry is slowly recovering as per schedule. Dr Didar Chaudhry confronted this hurdle very boldly and was found at his best with his ever green smile even in this hour of utmost difficulty.

I

I feel that a miracle has happened, as before a damage to any major organs could happen, a quick and befitting decisions by Dr Sandeep Kapoor and later with the expert opinion of Dr Sandeep Chawla made all the difference. A precious life in the family was saved with Almighty's blessings.

Co-incidentally, their only son Gagan Chaudhry happened to be with his parents as he is pursuing his internship of his MBA program at Symbiosis, Pune. He took over the command of the house like catching the bull from the horns and was very instrumental in setting up the logistics. His team of famous 'SIXTEEN BROTHERS' were up in tandem and were waiting to serve like John Milton on 'His Blindness', as there was pre-req for blood donation before the surgery. So, young, healthy and fresh blood was attainable. While my sister Mohinder Chaudhry was as usual calm and decisive and never lost her cool.

Seeing a bit disturbed and tense, Shiv encouraged me to write a note on Smiling Uncle. Believe me after this blog, I heaved a sigh of relief as my nephew Dr Sandeep Kapoor just tells me that how gracefully both my BIL and sister behaved in this hour of hardest test of their lives. It was commendable that young Gagan rose to higher heights to confront the hard times rather being mowed down by the pressure and tension. There was full support from other close members of the family including that of Bhagwant Bhenji who being stationed locally in Gurgaon also hosted the entire family in her house. We all pray for BIL quick recovery and back to his favorite walks in Defence Colony. I am told that even in the ICU, he is spreading smile all around. His smile is overwhelming than his distress like a true Sikh in Charhdi Kala(High Spirits).

P.S. May16, 2012

Gagan tells me that Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry has been discharged from the hospital and arrived home safely. He was able to walk on his own and retired in his bed room. He was earlier having difficulty in taking food because of heavy dose of medication but is fast  improving. Many friends and relatives have been enquiring about his health. I, on behalf of the family, appreciate their concern and convey our sincerest thanks for being with us at this hour of distress. The prayers of the well-wishers have been heard by the Almighty. Thank you all and thank you God.

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© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved