CHAPTER 8 - ASSURANCE

It is said time is a great healer. It helps us adapt to difficult circumstances and to gradually find a way to move forward, no matter how deep the loss is. Over time, I’ve come to understand what that truly means—to live in the present while holding onto the memories of the past and keeping my husband close in my thoughts. Life must go on—not just for ourselves, but for those we hold dear.


After the refreshing trip to the US, I returned to work rejuvenated and began accepting more responsibilities and setting goals. This included visits to rural and urban educational institutions. Travel proved to be a revitalizing experience, and I seemed to feel more cheerful and social as well. A colleague who was a Doctor remarked that the motor skills on the left side of my body had improved. Left side? I wondered why she commented on my left and hadn't noticed that it was my right side that needed improvement. Upon my inquiry about that, she said that I was performing my daily routine as though I were a born left-hander. And that I was walking steadily in comparison to just a few months earlier.


My imagination was running wild as I was trying to find a meaning and reasoning on how my hands worked. I deluded that my left hand was an impostor trying to take the position of my right hand !! Actually, my right hand was better coordinated with support from my left, similar to sibling behavior. For example, I could grip a book in my right hand when the book was passed from my left, but I could never pick up the very book with my right hand naturally. Another thing I observed was how sensitive my hands had become to temperature. I could no longer hold even slightly hot objects like a coffee mug in my right hand. My palm was like that of an infant. I was rediscovering so much about how to operate and function.


Towards the end of 2023, I started accepting veena students. Though I could barely manage playing on the veena, I could definitely teach techniques quite well. I realized that I was able to successfully guide the students through their lessons. Over the months I was able to use teaching tools better and proceed to add online veena students and tutoring electronics to first-year engineering students online as well.


In October 2024, many of my cousins were planning for a trip to Chardham Yatra for 15 days. This is considered to be a rigorous tour involving a lot of walking, hiking, and high-altitude trekking. I wanted to attempt this challenge. So, I consulted my doctor, and he encouraged me to go for it and provided me with cautionary advice. He clearly instructed me to be judicious about difficulties and to be mindful of discomfort. My mom and my children wished I wouldn't dare do it all out of concern. But I decided to take this up and challenge my physical endurance. I knew I had to train by walking regularly, and went through hiking practice. I added weights to longer and well-paced routines to support the trekking adventure.


The day arrived, and the yatra began. It was a hectic schedule, and we had to cover 6 holy places starting from Delhi. I thought that sound sleep was required for me to maintain balance for walking, especially my right leg, and to avoid slurred speech. I was worried that any lack of rest could affect me the following day, because we would have to start as early as 4 am to begin our trek. Low temperature was also something to be considered, as I had become temperature sensitive, and my right hand and leg would get extra cold. I had to keep them warm with woolen gloves and socks to be comfortable on the trek.


Traveling with cousins and family brought in music, conversations, and it added to my enthusiasm. Despite irregular sleep, the excitement kept me going.


I am proud to say that we completed the yatra successfully. I had never imagined that one day, I would hike the mighty Himalaya. Some attributed the success of the trip to the almighty, and others suggest that it could be sheer luck. But I attribute the success to the well executed trip, energizing and comforting hot and healthful food, my adequate preparation, and let's not forget; my determination to complete it.


Returning from his yatra gave me a renewed outlook—eager to explore new interests and embrace the value of life.

 

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