table while it was 
The two scenes in our garden!
The Bulbuls at the feeding table in the rain!
The rain Lilies looking battered in the rain
As I sat down to dwell on these touching scenes, where two Bulbuls feed in the rain and the Lilies looking colourful and alive in the rain, I felt interrupted by an unusual broadcast from the The Print, of an interview with a Member of the Parliament, Mr Derek O'Brien.
The interview was about his experience of a flight from New Delhi to Srinagar on May 21, 2025, which was caught in a terrible turbulence with serious damage to the aircraft. The aircraft lost its height and tilted to one side. The ten minutes of that flight before it could land with a full support of emergency landing protocol, was an experience of shock and fear to all in the air craft!
While most people in the aircraft were screaming, crying, sighing and praying, Derek turned it into a time of recollection. Derek, a frequent flier thought that this flight could end in disaster.
The thoughts that rushed to his mind were of all treasured relationships. He wondered if he would miss the wedding of his daughter! His recollection was about life from childhood. He recalled a meeting with Mother Teresa. He remembered friendships and family occasions.
After the plane landed safely, while all rushed to alight, Derek stayed on in the plane to greet and thank the members of the crew. The conversation with the captain of the aircraft, who had an experience of flying for 41 years seemed to have been an intimate conversation of debriefing for both.
The Bulbuls looked different at the feeding table. They did not chirp or stay on as usual. The rain lilies looked soaked in rain, although still colourful !
Derek, re-lived his life time of memories during the fifteen minutes when the air craft lost height and was tilting. He emerged from an intesely difficult experience in life with greater fondness for family, friends, and relationships.
The driver while returning after dropping Anna at the air port this morning, recollected memories of his wife who moved on after five years of struggling with chronic renal disease. The last three years with dialysis, repeated hospital admissions, coronary by-pass surgery and amputation of legs for diabetic gangrene, became a paralysing experience in life. His final remark turned this gloomy situation into something surprising and refreshing: 'I feel good that I had an opportunity to take care of my wife'!
Another reminder of the wealth and wellness in relationships !
We live amidst many adversities in life and trying times of enduring hardships.
But what lightens the burden of all of them, is the recollection of memories of relationships and sense of belonging!
A friend living in the USA, after attending a conference in Nepal, visited a few families whom she knew earlier during her short time in Nepal, to renew relationships.
When I sent fifty two messages on a day, ten days ago to friends, it was out of an urge to recollect and appreciate of each of them! I felt revived thinking of them and the shared experiences!
Life is lived and formed in a net work of relationships. That is the fabric of our soul !
Recall, relive and relish relationships- this is what is on my mind now!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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