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Unveiling Life's Mosaic Between Chai Sips

Updated: Feb 23, 2024

By Vidhi Bhide


I sat there, by the window sipping my hot ginger chai and gazing out. A soft smile took shape on the lips and waves of nostalgia waved over me, carrying my mind back to the days of childhood and the schooling years. It was a bittersweet sensation.. could be described as a comforting embrace from the past. A realization of coming a long way since those tumultuous days, almost unreal to see how much life had transformed, how the time went by and how much it had taught me.


I had been unfortunate enough to grow up in a dysfunctional family. It was mostly like navigating a maze with hidden traps at every corner. My elder sister, a case of cerebral palsy, had been handicapped since birth. This significantly changed the lives of everyone in the family. Emotions were not manifested in the usual way. Love was a rare and elusive creature, a sentiment that seemed to materialize in fleeting moments before disappearing once again into the shadows and the surroundings to be overtaken by self-doubt, difficult boundaries, struggles.. The household was often shrouded in tension, with worried voices and unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. My parents, two really good but complex souls entangled together in facing life's battles, inadvertently wove a tapestry of strictness, aloofness and an orthodox attitude towards my life. Their love, sometimes blighted by their controlling behavior, was a fragile thing that cracked under the weight of disagreements. It was in these moments that I learned to create my own world; a world of books, hopes, notes, daydreams, birds, music and friends. With time it became effortless to retreat into this world and seek the solace of my own thoughts.. School was a safe haven, my second home, a place where I could escape the clamorous realities and find solace in the company of friends and seek new knowledge.



There were however those rare instances when affection or compassion broke through the grey clouds and seeped in like a ray of sunlight. My mother fondly asking to accompany her to the bazaar or oiling, combing and ponying my hair on weekends, my father's acts of kindness when he cooked family favorite dishes once every fortnight taking out time from his busy schedule spoke volumes louder than words, or him trying to get movie CD’s of old classics like House of Wax (1953), Doctor Zhivago (1965) or even Mackenna's Gold (1969) to watch together post dinner – these were the fragments of love that I found in the blood ties and clung to.. They were like precious gems hidden amidst the stones and rubbles, that sparkled to say "We're imperfect, but we're trying."


With no cell phones or excessively popular internet, the school days had a different charm in that age. Friendships formed the backbone of those years, a support system that buoyed me through the rough seas at home. In the classroom, I discovered the joy of learning, it lifted my spirits and gave me a sense of purpose. Teachers became my sources of inspiration, guiding with their wisdom and igniting the flame of curiosity that still burns within. The challenges I faced, both at home and beyond, were like stepping stones to pave a path with the help of teachings from school, family and society itself. As the years passed by, I began to develop a sense of independence, a determination and confidence to face life. I found peace, joy and beauty in the midst of chaos, treasuring the moments of love, behaving morally, showing kindness and being considerate shaped my inherent nature. I learnt to be a dreamer, a fighter, a silent observer of the world around me. And though I often felt lost or lacked having exceptional accolades, I was never truly alone.


Now, sitting in the quiet of my present, my heart filled with gratitude for the journey that was undertaken. There have been many life changes, having to deal with the loss of my father to cancer and sister due to frail health, marrying a career driven person.. My relationship with my family has evolved, it's still a work in progress, but we've all grown in our own ways. The love that was once so elusive has now taken new forms, matured and molded by the passage of time. I sincerely feel we should all honor our journey; each one of us has a unique story, the tears shed, the battles fought, and the love discovered. The road ahead is still uncertain, but we should face it with a gallant heart, a mind with clarity of purpose, and a spirit that's been tested with time, circumstances and proven to be unbreakable. With that thought I took my empty cup and headed back to the kitchen..


By Vidhi Bhide



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Manasi Gangal
Manasi Gangal
Sep 12, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

very well written

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