You’ve heard from Ally Matthan and Viji aboutSangeetha Param’s essay that won an award. An essay she wrote about her brave father Param who developed resistance to medication and underwent a bone marrow transplant to battle with his cancer and emerge a winner.

Sangeetha wrote the essay to honour the struggle her hero father went through and to give hope to the families of other patients. In her words : “Have hope faith and trust in everything…in every stage of life.”

Ketav and I spent the evening with everyone that came to felicitate Sangeetha. A room where each and every one present had either battled with cancer, was still battling it, or had seen a loved one through the battle. Care givers, care providers, doctors & patients.

After the felicitation we broke for tea. And there began conversations and exchanges of experiences. The mood lightened when we sat down to an impromptu antaakshri, singing old hindi songs, with those not humming along, either tapping the beat with their feet or snapping their fingers in tune.

The party moved to Koshys where fifteen of us sat at a long table. Prem Koshy stepped forward and I introduced him to the new friends I’d made. He spoke about the wars he has waged in his life.

I looked around at everyone on that table as we ate our dinner in the midst of banter, teasing and laughter. Each one of us had stared at defeat of some kind in our lives, fought our battles and emerged victorious. Each one of us was learning to live with our new normal.

They say you only live once. I’ve said this before, I think that is incorrect and needs to be changed.

You only die once. You live every single day.

Saree #96, a tussar with Kalamkari patchwork, that I wore to celebrate life.

As we drove home, returning with precious gifts of organic vegetables from the farm of Karthikeyan from Coimbatore, Sangeetha’s essay, the Maximo book written by Amma with a few more goodies tucked away in the bag, another package from another victor, I knew I was returning with gifts far richer than the ones in the boot of the car.

I was returning with inspiration to live life to the fullest. I was returning with strength and hope.