This fickle life

My dad's sashtiabdhapoorthy function was a grand success. This function is like a renewal of wedding vows – a second wedding that happens when the husband turns 60. It's a function conducted by the children, for their parents. It is said that blessed are the few who get to witness their parents' marriage. The function was preceded by chanting of the vedas for 5 days.

But alas, our happiness was short lived. Sundu sastrigal, a good family friend and the purohit who was instrumental to the success of the "veda paaraayanam" and the sashtiabdhapoorthy function, passed away 2 days after the event. He suffered from a sudden brain haemmorhage and succumbed to it. He was the person who had conducted all functions in our family, including my brother's marriage.

It need not have been him...it need not have been at this young age...it need not have been this way.