Page 58 - Seniorstoday January 2024 Issue
P. 58
Alaimentary - A Story of a Tale - 10
Cosmic Circle
Life had embraced Shiv and Makarand in a cosmic circle, writes Nagesh Alai
Shivcharan Singh Grewal, a retired army interactions terribly, more so as someone
personnel of distinguished service had who has lost his wife of 25 years and 25
taken voluntary retirement in his early-50s years’ old son in an unfortunate road
and had moved on to a board position in a accident in Mumbai, whilst on a family
well known private sector company where holiday in 2000. Shiv was bereaved and
too he had a successful run well into his broken, but looking at the fatality and
early 70s. Over the last few years, he had finality of it all, he neither pressed any
been faced with an indifferent health, onset charges or claim any compensation; his wife
by a heart attack, which he coped with in his and son were never going to come back.
characteristic never-say die attitude. A bon- Silver jubilee had a completely different
vivant to the core, he enjoyed his Patiala connotation for Shiv from that day, but this
pegs in the company of his gregarious army never came in the way of his celebrating
and civilian friends and their families, full birthdays and anniversaries and golden
of laughter, ribald jokes and repartees. jubilees of his friends and family folks.
A recent second heart attack had rung the They were the reason for his joy of existence
alarm bells and had necessitated admission and resilience in the face of destiny’s play.
into an army hospital close by to his villa Following the loss of his wife and son, he
in the cantonment vicinity of Pune. A slew had got used to living alone in his large two
of medical check up had thrown up other storeyed villa. The cantonment vicinity
worrisome indicators of deficient lever and was a boon for him, with the well paved
kidney functioning, taking a toll on Shiv’s roads, canopies of greenery, riot of colourful
overall health. flowers, chirping of birds and tranquillity.
The consequent health and diet It was in a central location, while accessible
restrictions, not to mention a cutback on to all parts of Pune. He was fortunate to
daily walks and jogs, had limited Shiv’s have purchased the large villa in the gated
social life and he was missing these community during his active army life
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