Malaika nakupenda Malaika

Malaika nakupenda Malaika

Malaika, nakupenda , Malaika - This famous Kiswahili song by the African singer Mamma Miriam Makeba is an all time hit. It means ‘My angel,  love you, my angel.’ The song with her heavenly voice and lilting music captures you. The melody makes its place in your heart just like the time when you first would have heard ‘Come September!’ So even if you don’t comprehend the language,  you do sway in the mood.

And why I recall this? Let me tell you the story of Disha:

Disha had been my son’s classmate when we were in Dar and we had known the family quite closely. Disha was 13 then-demure and sweet with lovely expressive eyes – she was a born performer.  Her father Souravda - an accomplished corporate top executive, well respected in the community and her mother Sangeeta - a talent house of music. I used to take singing lessons from her and used to admire her patience as I just do not have the voice to sing but have great passion for music.

While our singing sessions were on, at their house,never realized when Sangeeta and me became friends. I was always treated with fresh lemon grass tea at their home, which I relished. We had transformed from a  Guru – chela relationship and singing lessons became just an excuse for forging our friendship. I still have the ‘Saicharitra’ that Sangeeta had so lovingly presented to me. Sangeeta – Saibhakta and a great human soul! By and by came to know Disha too.Somehow I struck an equally beautiful chord with the daughter just as I had with her mom. We used to discuss at length about just anything under the sun from her career choices to films to current topics to sweet nothings. She used to come out of her study for a short break and seeing me in the living room ,would spend a few minutes chatting.  I was lucky to see her stage performance, too.  

Soon mom and daughter duo left for India after her SSC exams to settle in Kolkatta. As an only child, she was doted by her parents. Sangeeta chaperoned her so that Disha could make her mark in the career of her choice. Souravda was all by himself in Dar. Disha had made a portfolio of her and had showed me all the snaps. She looked lovely in a modern attire and was gorgeous even as a village belle. By and by time passed and she bagged a role in one of the TV serials. News came that she has been received well by the audience and we were all happy for her success.

Disha had visited Dar after she had become successful as an actress in her own right. She was combining studies with profession and was pursuing an arts degree. Yet when she came visiting she was the same old humble Disha – loving and caring, respecting elders. Fame had not gone to her head! All this was six years back! She was just 17 then and so much success at such a young age could have made any one have high airs.

She was as friendly to me and my son as she was before. How nice, I had said to myself!

Shortly thereafter, we too relocated to India and life was flowing its normal flow. 

One fine day my son calls up to tell me ‘Aai, Dishane suicide keli! She is no more’ OMG! Was I believing my ears? ‘Were you in touch with her’ I asked him ‘ No ma, have not spoken to her since last two years but now I am feeling so bad! Wish I was in touch with her. Wish I could have at least discussed and stopped her from taking this drastic step.’ Both of us were in a state of shock.  Disha the darling of the Bengali TV screen –an actress par excellence with a promising career , all of 23 …why Disha why!

The lemon grass tea would never be refreshing again!

Then it was Google Google to find out news about Disha! The news kept haunting me! Disha’s face book page was full of obituaries and I could make out that her Dar classmates too were shaken up by the news. Her beautiful face kept on surfacing in my memory now and then as if she wanted to tell something more than what the newspapers said.  Every two days I would Google to find out more about her ! I do not wish to go in what is right and what is wrong...what the society should do and the like. It is all easy to blame but the fact remains  that a promising career was lost as it could not handle the pressure.  In some way wanted to connect with Souravda and Sangeeta! The pain of losing a child sent shivers in my spine! 9th April 2015, can never be the same.

We normally say: May your soul RIP! But come to think of it, the soul never dies. It just leaves one body to take another form. Disha you continue to live in our memories! What happened to you is sad and may be in your best judgment you chose to leave this world but my dear, it was just the body that you left. Your soul would still be pining and am sure would one day get what it wants.

The word Malaika now has an identity – yes it’s you  - Disha! We all love you!

It is now an ode to the lost child - Malaika, sisi upendo wewe,  Malaika!

Love

Anagha aunty

Sunday, April 26, 2015