When Reena was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in the month of October, 16 years ago, she was given a probability of six months to live.So we came home, fell into each other’s arms, cried for two minutes, and then she pulled away and said, “Right, you are not allowed to cry anymore, because you need to be my rock.”
I never broke that rule.
Over the years, obediently dry-eyed around her, we travelled the world. Her health ebbed and flowed, but her spirit always flew high. Often, I would ask her what her favourite place to holiday was, and she always replied, “Kotagiri! Because it’s the one place where you belong to me completely and I never have to share you with anyone else.”
Kotagiri was more than a second home to us. It was the elixir of life. Standing together on an evening patio, watching the sun dwindle into the peaks as the light turned red-gold and then black and then moonsilver, we gratefully acknowledged the gift of days gone by and the promise of a day at a time. The air we inhaled was endlessly pure. The mountain silence enveloped us in understanding. Nature embraced us with unconditional love, and troubles gave us rare room to breathe.
It was during the monsoon that the magic was most indescribable. We loved the pioneering sounds of the first rains announcing themselves with a gentle random splatter upon the roof tiles, then growing into a metronomic rhythm of continuously falling water. By the time a crescendo was reached, we were cuddled together in the coziest, warmest spaces possible where the music of the rain made our hearts dance, but the pouring drops left our bones dry.
Prabhu Viswanathan
Prabhu is a reluctant businessperson who discovers his peace in all matters art and prose. A former collector of books, art and ephemera, he now devotes his time to social impact causes and dabbles in writing. He is deeply passionate about the Nilgiris and its communities.
Ramya Reddy
Ramya is a visual storyteller, photographer, author, and entrepreneur. Her acclaimed book, "Soul of the Nilgiris: A Journey through the Mountains" explores the UNESCO-recognized Blue Mountains and its indigenous communities, highlighting their cultural and ecological richness through narratives, writings, and photographs. Deeply engaged in the Nilgiris, Ramya works closely with the Toda artisans to ensure their GI-tagged art form is preserved, celebrated, and integrated into the contemporary landscape.
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