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Sundaresan - Part 1

Thursday 3 April, 2014. 4 PM

My landline phone rang and when I answered, it was Suresh and he gave the most stunning and unbelievable news that SUNDARESAN, his father and my elder brother, had passed away at Dapodi Pune an hour earlier (3:05 PM). I couldn't find words to speak or console him.

As per his request, I started calling everyone in the family and conveyed this sad news. Sundaresan was suffering from minor ailments (or so we thought) for the past 7 days. He and Manni were to leave for Thane for further treatment; Suresh came in car to pick them up. As they came one floor down, on the 1st floor, Sundaresan felt unwell, wanted to sit, and sat in a chair, but collapsed suddenly. A few seconds ago he was speaking, next second he was no more. He was 76 and 9 months.

We two planned to go to Thane / Mumbai by 5 AM or 8:30 AM flight, but we were told the rites would be over by the time we reach Pune - so we dropped that idea.

4th April 2014 Friday.

Sundaresan was cremated by 12 noon at Dapodi. Sudhakar and others came last night. Nobody else from our family. Suresh lit the Fire.

5th April 2014,Saturday.

Sundaresan's Asthi was immersed in Aalandhi, a place 25 km away from Dapodi in Bhima river there. Suresh, Sudhakar, Manni went there. In the evening, they all left for Thane.

10th April 2014,Thursday

Vijaya and I left house by 6 AM in a NTL taxi and took the 8 AM JET Airways flight to Mumbai. Arvind booked our tickets. Landed in Mumbai by 10 AM and Krishnaraj took us in his car to his house. We met Kamakshi and Krishnaraj's wife Gayathri. After lunch and rest there, we left at 4:30 PM, for Suresh's house in an auto.

How to console manni, Suresh, Sudhakar ? It was impossible.

Suresh lives in the 11th floor, and Sudhakar in 8th floor of the same building Sapphire 2. We had meals in Sudhakar's place but slept in Suresh house. VASU has come in the morning from New Delhi.

11th April 2014, Friday (9th Day)

Suresh, Vaishali, Sudhakar did the 9th day rites at Vashi, 32 km away from their house. They are doing this from day 5.

12th April 2014, Saturday  (10th day)

We all left for Vashi in two cars. Vasu, Raman, and me did குழி தர்ப்பணம்  after taking bath there and in wet veshti.. [ Raman is the son of Seenu Anna, Tiruchi, who is the son of Sambamurthy periyappa. ] After the பத்துக் கொட்டுதல் by the women (Vijaya, manni, Vaishali, Revathi) we took bath again; Suresh and Sudhakar did ஆனந்த ஹோமம்; had our lunch (caterer mami) and returned to Thane by 4PM.

13th April 2014,Sunday (11th Day)

Suresh, Vaishali, Sudhakar went to Vashi for the rites. Vasu left for Delhi by train 5:30 PM.

14th April 2014, Monday (12th Day Rites)

All nine of us left for Vashi at 8:30 AM in a car and a taxi. We took bath in the house itself. Sabeentikaranam Sraththam was performed by S - S. Three brahmanals ate and things were offered / gifted தானம் to them. Then all of us took bath again there and Sothakumbham started in the I floor. One Brahmin ate and after he left we all ate. We returned to Vashi by 4. Suresh, Sudhakar went in the evening for purchases for tomorrow's GREKKIAM function. Vijaya also went.

15th April 2014, Tuesday (Subasyam - Suba sweekaram)

Sundaram Sastrigal came by 8 and started the proceedings by 8:15 AM. It was performed in Suresh house. Navagruha Homam was done. Completed by 10:30. Apart from manni, Suresh (3), Sudhakar (4), we (2), Radhakrishnan (2), there were just 2 friends attending it. After lunch, we took rest till 4 PM, and left for Ravi's house at Kandhivili. Sudhakar dropped us in his car.

Thus, Sundaresan's last rites were over.

Ganesan is okay except for his "forgetting". We had meals prepared by Sweta and slept in the hall.

16th April 2014, Wednesday.

Bath, breakfast and then lunch later, we two left Ravi's house by 1:15 PM. Ravi took us in his car and dropped at the airport. We started waiting from 1:45 PM; the JET aircraft was to take off T 3:55 but it was late. Took off at 5:20 PM and we reached Chennai by 7:30 only. ARUN had come in his car with Sowmya and Sriram and we were home by 8:30.

Thus, our trip to Mumbai ended.

rajappa
17-4-2014
1000 AM








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