I did not die.

If you have not read my post of 7th Sept 2010, do read it here, before going further.

Right now, I am typing from a remote little  village in Kerala, lying on the cool granite floor in my mom's cottage. I am surrounded by miles and miles of  lush green rubber forests. There is also silence, darkness, the sounds of crickets and  a myriad other insects chirping and the soothing sound of rain as it dances hesitatingly outside, like a shy maiden teasing you  with a gentle sway before she breaks out into a full-bodied frenzy of tantalising movements to seduce.

I am so glad I was able to make this trip. The last year and the year before last, I was living in  the UK  and it  was not possible to come to India. I had gone to a cathedral in Norwich and walked the cold English country side, all by myself, remembering him alone. But now, it's so much easier to come to Kerala, whenever I please, to be with my mum. My brother too has come here and it's just my mom, my brother and me. Just like the old times. Except dad of course.

It's been five whole years as of today. I still miss him like crazy.  Here it is even more intensely experienced--mostly because of  the memories this place holds.
Today we celebrated his spirit. We did all the things he loved to do. We walked on those very paths that he has walked a countless times. We talked about him lots. We went to the places he and mom used to go.

And we all felt he was with us, all along. He lives on in our hearts--stronger than ever. And the gift he left me was the gift of writing. And the love of thousands of readers like you. (I'd have never started the blog if he hadn't passed away. I had started writing only to get over the unbearable grief).

Say a prayer for him please. He was such an awesome guy, my dad.
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ps: I clicked a lot of pictures today. I wanted to remember this day forever.
I am sharing just one here (the very first pic I clicked this morning) because of very limited Internet connectivity. Watch out for a picture story in my next post :)