Happy Birthday Brother

                                                     

Many years ago, one sunny afternoon as I and my best friend were chatting in the backbench of class while our teacher lectured us; I mentioned I am going for a wedding reception to Chennai over the weekend ( hip place to travel to for a girl who listened to A.R.Rahman’s Urvasi on loop till her parents prayed for the college bus to come faster). Since our common cousins were getting married, she was aware of it so she mentioned look out for groom’s brother – he had assisted in the recently released hit movie of 2000(God 20 years ago!!!) which was a complete delight to watch especially amongst the college girls.

Fast forward to the wedding reception, I caught him looking affectionately at the newlywed couple  while he sat back on the white satin chair, so  I gulped a big glass of water and shook hands with my brother of the future who asked me only one question” Did you like the movie?” It brought such an innocent smile on his face when I nodded my head. Blessed are those who know their passion and can lead a fulfilling life working each day on what they love the most.

To digress a bit, if we delve into the dynamics of family, there is a pattern where we all know the youngest member of the family is most pampered throughout their lives. The youngest member is also fully aware that by birth they have acquired more than their fair share of elders looking out for them watching their every step. Under the shade of his loving father, with the marvelous loving presence of his mother, a tall distinguished resilient brother, a doting sister in law and an ever supportive beautiful partner who live and breathe to celebrate each milestone, each victory he brings forth- he continues to convert his passion to reels of stories that many cinema houses proudly release today. His magnum opus is yet to come I tell you.

I fondly recall a day when my beloved and I with our little one were roaming around Ooty chewing on the fresh bright carrots completely clueless, direction less and it got to a point when our legs ceased to cooperate with our minds. We were too tired to explore any further. Ajith knew Lal knows Ooty like the back of his hand. A speed dial to him and to our pleasant surprise he was very much in Ooty himself.

Readers, please note that when these 2 cousins meet; flowers bloom, birds fly higher and apples fall off its trees. I witnessed this moment of pure happiness and the twinkling light shown in my husband’s eye when he saw Lal which was likewise. I can fold my hands and stand back timelessly to watch these boys ( yes there is a bigger band of brothers out of which these 2 are just trailers) who knew each other since they learnt to run. Their formative years were spent in each other's company creating many memories for a lifetime be it their vacation days at Valiachan's estate or  at the massive ancestral home in Thrissur. They know what each other want even without saying a word. They hate leaving each other and keep delaying the time to part…Family – This is how it is.

Well our itinerary for the lazy chilly noon was set- we placed our orders in his fav restaurant King’s Cliff where the sunlight filters through the glass house structure reflecting light on the gleaming cutlery and neatly folded table linen. I left the loving cousins to bond while my daughter and I just stood watching the clouds drift through the hills. Well I stood and she rolled on the lawns!! In a few minutes they came out and he regaled us with a beautiful story that was his upcoming project while we sat on the fresh grass against the backdrop of misty hilltops. It is a picture perfect memory which is close to our heart. I know many of our cousins can vouch for his ability to make a story come live and vibrant in front of our eyes.. As a matter of fact, he makes us visualize like no other. A blessed gifted story teller .. Period.

He is a family man, the best uncle to his golden nephew and the group of next gen kids, trendsetter in his chosen field and a film director beyond excellence, a self-made man who never hesitates to roll his sleeves and get into the dirt if it comes to that. A lover of all kinds of cuisine. One fine morning in Thrissur when my dad plucked a mango from our garden and mom made a chutney out of it for Ajith and Lal; he was completely fascinated with the simplicity of it- A garden chutney!

When I sent him my first story – he kept pushing me to write more, publish and basically let it flow.. For which I am grateful, my dear brother.

Today we are a sea apart from our loved ones , but not a weekend goes by when we don’t recall those lively evenings spent in the company of our “Dil based wonderful brother” who insists on making each moment well worth the time.

Every time I sit down to pen my mind, my boss’ words resonate in my head- He says words have that ability to penetrate to the soul. They are the biggest yet simplest gift we can present to the ones we love.

So my dear brother, on the eve of your birthday, I have written only a tip of the iceberg about you but it is our gift to you and I hope that only happiness, more success love and prosperity await you for a lifetime.

Happy Birthday!

Love

Rani Ajith & Shraddha ( who is your biggest fan since she could curl her fist)