This month of December is proving to be quite unique and unusual. I had planned for it to be exciting and fun and instead here I am baby-sitting my teenage niece Sujata.
It all started when my brother got a call from France that my nephew is unwell and he had to depart unexpectedly to attend to him leaving me as the designated guardian for the duration of his trip. At first, I was a bit apprehensive given that teenagers can be quite independent and sometimes challenging but I must say that we hit it out right from Day 1. As the days have unfolded, I have discovered that spending time with Sujata is the most delightful experience ever. We have conversations about her interests, school, and she shared with me her awesome results of the semester where she performed really well. I've introduced her to her first ever Bollywood movie, we went to watch Wonka and everyday we play with Matou, her two months old kitten, I help her prepare her breakfast every morning and more importantly I've come to realize that I've found myself embracing the role of not just a guardian but also a friend. This unexpected arrangement is fostering a special bond between us making this December a unique and memorable one.
We have to arrange for Jay's homecoming now. It's a challenging time for both him and his family and also for us at large as we navigate through this distressing situation. Jay, usually all smiling and composed has been grappling with overwhelming emotions and stressors that led to his breakdown. We should be able to provide him with the support and understanding that he needs during his recovery and in the process try not to lose our own bearings. It is going to be a sobering experience as this is a path we have never trodden on before. There are quite a few antecedents of people suffering from depression in my family; my dadi, my dad and I believe to a certain degree my aunt but never to the point of being sedated and admitted into a psychiatric ward. Too much pressure, he confessed to Mike who went to visit him. How can a 19-year old undergo that much pressure as to become broken? That's all very strange to me. Where did the pressure come from? His family? Himself? Identifying the root cause of it all could be the starting point towards a quicker recovery, a beaming light allowing him to emerge stronger from this difficult period in his life. Maybe we should all educate ourselves better about mental health to better support him.
Over the years, I have assumed the responsibility of providing as much emotional support as possible to every member of my family and strived to create a stable and nurturing environment. It has been a journey filled with challenges and while my siblings may have their own families to support them, I've found purpose and fulfillment in being there for my immediate family. Though my path has been different, the commitment to their well-being has been unwavering, even at the expense of my own relationships sometimes . Like most of my friends, I could have left to have a life of my own abroad far from inquisitive eyes and embarrassing questions but I chose to stay and be happy here and as I look back today, I am relieved to have succeeded pretty well in that aspect. I don't and will probably never have as much money or assets as the rest of the family but I've managed to secure both a joyful and peaceful life for myself whilst preserving the dignity of my parents, taking care of them, providing for them, loving them. I even found love after decades of sentimental chaos, one which has come in the form of someone who accepts, loves and understands me, someone who pacifies my heart when I am angry and provides me with nuggets of wisdom when I am lost, someone who tells me don't worry, I've got your back when I struggle a little, someone whom I fight with only when it comes to which radio channel to swap to when we are in the car.
This December has brought an unexpected twist in our lives adding a touch of unpredictability to the month. The hustle and bustle of preparations intertwine with the peculiar events that seem to unfold with Lao Lao's deteriorating health and Wen Rong's marathon strain and fatigue. In the midst of holiday rituals, anything can happen this year as each day holds the potential for a delightful surprise as well as sad news. But then again, we’ll face anything that comes our way and get through it, just like resilient and united families usually do.
