Obituary for my Mentor, Best Friend & Uncle!

My mind is restless

As I pen down my thoughts seamless

For someone I knew from my birth as Jyothi chittappa

Honestly, speaking I was closer to him than my own appa

Since childhood I have lots of fond memory

I used to often seek his advise and he used to always tell me don’t worry

I used to eagerly look forward to his weekly visit

To our place [Dombivali] and he used to make it a point never to miss it

I vividly remember how in his marriage I was insisting

For him to lift me and he offered to do so smiling

I had sat on his laps and he had offered me the halwa

In fact I didn’t like the taste so I quickly jumped and disappeared from the scene like a hawa

He was my go to person as a google for everything

I could absolutely talk freely and share openly with him without fearing

I was absolutely amazed with his human relations

He could absolutely gel and engage with anyone right from a kid to an old person without any apprehensions or tensions

He was very happy to see my career journey

He was the only person who encouraged and supported me when I decided to shift from my Tata job to being an entrepreneur in my family

In the initial days of my career I had sought his help to draft a show cause notice

It was during my first job for an employee and he taught me the nitty gritty as I was a novice

To me success may be miles away

But the biggest happiness I had that you were always just a phone call away

You were a bundle of talent – writing – reading – solving crosswords – singing

Mehfil used to be not complete without your jokes, teasing and not to forget the famous tickling

Whatever you did I have seen you doing it with passion

I love the way you touched people’s heart through your act of compassion

How can I forget your role in my match making with Harsha?

You made it so easy for me so that I can have forever jalsa

I still can hear your voice and see you acting with a poker face

Doing all the masti and playing fun with grace

Will miss your phone calls and message

Your speaking to Harsha and her family in Gujarati language

You have always kept the interest of family as one

You were and will always be the joyous soul that won

I have never heard or seen you lying on the bed for even a smallest of fever

You will always be in our hearts forever and ever and ever

You taught me that we can’t always choose the music life plays for us dear

But we can choose how we dance to it without any fear

I will remember and follow your footsteps to be joyous

Live by it more and be more generous

To my mind you were a person only made of goodness

And truly for all of us you are now an invisible goodness

Heaven must be blessed with your entry

For you were a soul which was absolutely happy

Gods would be extremely happy with your inning

For you played the game of life always smiling

May your soul rest in peace and travel smoothly

We are blessed to be part of you and the family

The last I saw you was during our family get together on zoom online

The song you sang is still ringing as music in my mind full of divine

Being so close to you I couldn’t meet you at hospital is my regret

Please forgive and pardon me as I am unable to forget

I am not able to control my tears as I am writing

You will always be in my heart and need your blessing

You were less of chittappa and more like my best friend

You will forever remain my angel guardian till my end

Shyam for the world and Shyama for you

I love you and miss you

Dear God, please convey the message to my chittappa without any stress

We know wherever he is he will continue to bless

Om Shanthi!

Note: Nobody could touch words, but words do touch everybody. Writing and sharing my feelings and emotions [the unspoken words] helped me to mourn and was kind of Catharsis.