TRIBUTE TO DEEPIKA*(Shattered Dreams 3)**

 When Deepika's body was taken to the funeral pyre various incidents and events of their four decades of married life came to Dr.Sundaram's mind.Deepika had been an extremely down to earth woman with out any hatred towards anybody caring both affluent and deprived alike in her own plain way.After the snatching away of their beloved daughters by fate both Sundaram and Deepika were leading a low profile life. Dr.Sundaram restricted his hospital practice to morning session only. Mean time by September 2016 Deepika  developed severe pain and discomfort in the stomach. Suspecting something serious Sundharam took her to an Oncologist for consultation and his suspicion became true and moderate growth of tumour was detected in the stomach .She had undergone treatment including chemotherapy and after eight months she  gradually recovered and their life became almost normal. Unfortunately in 2018 again she felt some discomfort and when consulted they diagnosed reappearance of tumour and doctor asked her to continue the same treatment . When Sundaram enquired about the prospect of speedy recovery by consulting and admitting to any reputed specialised hospital abroad his friend arranged video conferencing with a renowned Onchologist in USA who also endorsed the existing treatment.This time Deepika felt more tiredness and started to think that her days are numbered and sooner or later she will have to leave the world.Thinking about the plight of her husband she became very upset .God had blessed them with two smart daughters who were in the process of moulding themselves as a manager and medical professional respectively slipped into  lack of confidence and consequent depression unable to fight emerging troubles and turbulence of life, took their precious life which shattered the dreams of both of them .When Sundaram was  abroad all his kith and kin in his family showered tremendous love and affection towards them.He used to spend liberally for marriages,birth and death ceremonies of not only his family members but also the agricultural workers working for his family and in the neighbourhood. After his return to Kerala in general and particularly after the departure of children he witnessed drastic change in the attitude of relatives.They derived sadistic pleasure out of blaming the couple for alleged irresponsible and inadequate care of children, which were very much contrary to real facts. Moreover they have also resorted to propoganda tactics to stake claim in his property and assets. 

In such a scenario after the second occurrence of tumour much worried Deepika  insisted her husband to fulfill her two wishes. 1. 'Please permit me  to stay in my ancestral house with my elder sister's family so that they will take care of me and your botheration will be minimised and your practice will not suffer'.2.'Without waiting for the end of my life,I plead you to get married to  a healthy woman at the earliest so that I can see you are well taken care off and die peacefully'. Dr.Sundaram in any case obliged to the first condition and as expected her sister and family members took utmost almost motherly care of Deepika and her health with routine check up and treatment and Sundaram visited her every Sunday. On may 13th 2019 Deepika's condition suddenly deteriorated and she was rushed and admitted in the critical care unit of the medical college, when Dr Sundaram visited her she told him that her time has come to depart and further reiterated to fulfill her second wish. After few hours her end came due to massive cardiac arrest leaving Sundaram alone.

Sundaram began to recollect his experience in life right from childhood. How a farmer's son became a physician and after marrying Deepika emigrated to Bahrain  and got employment in a reputed hospital there and how his fortunes and asset position dramatically enhanced  through  innvestment in land,  houses,  jewelleries,Fixed deposits, stocks and bonds.When they were in Bahrain they had visited almost all important  countries in Europe  and Asian  countries like Singapore, Malaysia,Thailand and Japan. When they were in Kerala Deepika was very fond of  seeing green paddy fields and taking bath in the river.Despite rich inheritance from her own family and Sundharam's accumulated wealth Deepika never shown arrogance to anyone and behaved very politely towards all.Both of them were very much inclined to help others including workers , relatives and friends. Accordingly when a cousin's daughter Smitha requested help to emigrate for research and employment in Canada Dr.Sundharam unconditionally met the cost at the insistence of Deepika.In due course Smitha found a life partner in Canada and settled there.Once after  a gap of six months when Sundharam visited their plantations to their utter shock and dismay they found that majority of their robust teakwood and rosewood were cut off and removed from the estate. On enquiry he came to know that it was removed by one of his nephew who happened to be a timber merchant. When Sundaram thought of complaining against stealing of the woods to the police Deepika had intervened and prevented the attempt. Similarly they had three well furnished and fully equipped villas which were easily accessed by friends and relatives for occasions like marriages  or  birthday parties etc. To their utter dismay they found that one of Sundaram's relative not only let out his own house but also started comfortably staying in Sundharam's villa regularly. Realising the risks involved Sundaram had lost his temper and asked him to vaccate the villa mmediately.Since then the relative became very  much hostile and started to call names and  spread misinformation compaign about the death of  their children Anju and Anu.This has further widened and irreparably damaged their relationship.

On 25th May 2019 a very pious and sober old maternal uncle Shankaran a spiritual scholar visited Sundaram's house. According to him most of Sundaram's problems in life could have been averted if the dilipadated family temple was renovated and and appropriate remedial rituals and atonement ceremonies were performed.After uncle Shankaran left he started pondering over his suggestions.Reluctantly he started  to undertake the task with the help of a group of devoted youngsters in the family.Within seven months renovation of the temple building was completed.Similarly the atonement and remedial rituals were completed in another forty one days.There after temple committee appointed a priest and he conducted special pooja every first day of  Malayalam month regularly.Drastic and rapid changes occurred  in the minds' of family members they began to worship family Diety Durga for all their problems and acquired much confidence and inspiration.In due course invariably all family members actively participated.Dr.Sundaram experienced great satisfaction in visiting the family temple and participating in monthly pooja and consequently took more interest in spiritual matters Gradually more cohesion and unity were noticed in the family and hostile family members became  cordial .In February 13,2022 after attending the monthly Pooja Sundaram was about to return home when one lady Suma daughter of retired professor Ragini approached him.Suma and her family has been living in France.After the sad demise of her father Krishnan ,Suma has been trying to take her mother Ragini to France.Ragini is adamant not to go abroad and to live only in her own land.So Suma explored the possibility of proposing  an appropriate match in Sundaram for her mother.Initially Sundaram was very much reluctant to take a firm decision.Except for a very few majority of the family members were opposed to Dr.Sundaram's re marriage. Considering well that professor Ragini is financially sound and may not to  meddle with Sundaram's financial matters , and also in tune with fullfiling the second promise given to his beloved wife Deepika he took a very bold decision. Consequently they  got married on  June 15, 2022.Gradually both of them became ardent devotees of lord Krishna and Devi Durga the family  deity and involving in spiritual and charitable activities and lived happily.

*Characters and events described above are only fictional.

** Please read Shattered dreams 1 and 2.