He clings to flashes of memory and grapples with his ‘reality’. As he chases the mirage of his memory, his world disappears fragment by fragment. It is not just his being, his self that disintegrates every moment; it is the universe as he knew it that fades into oblivion. This is a tale of a man building bridges to nowhere.
Everything around you changes when you take care of a parent with dementia. This person who had been bedrock of your strength, to whom you looked up to and who was always there for you is now nothing close to his former self. His enquiring glances, puzzlement, doubts and demand for answers signal a total shift in relationship. The despair also reveals the person you are – temperamental and escapist.
But this journey has life lessons too: When drama of life ends, you will have nothing; today is all you have, so enjoy life. With tears there is laughter and amidst confusion there is clarity that life goes on and we must flow with it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Minakshi Chaudhry
Manakshi Chaudhry Kanwar did her postgraduation in journalism and Mass Communication besides Masters in English Literature, L.L.B. and postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management and Labour Welfare. Her interest in studying nature, people’s lifestyles, customs and different aspects of culture grew in Nigeria, West Africa where she spent her early formative years. This was nurtured on her return to Himachal Pradesh where she traveled extensively as a correspondent of The Indian Express. Her scores of articles and short stories reflect her literary taste and her insight into various aspects of life in Himachal Pradesh and the intricate psychology of the hill people. Minakshi is married to an officer of Himachal Administrative Services. She and her husband lived in the remote Pangi valley for nearly three years. This book is a product of her extensive study of the valley where she trekked long distances and crossed mountain passes to reach the inaccessible hamlets. Her next major project is a book on places of interest in Himachal. She is also working on a research-based manuscript title ‘Non-Government Organisations in H.P.: status and Role’.
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