In the Autumn of 2013, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I didn’t know till December. A chemo had already been done. I was still in college at that point of time,although it was my last year. Fast forward to February and i find myself in Canada, where it was decided she would be operated upon. Due to some issues i arrived a few days post surgery. The weather, 10 degrees below 0. A perfect way to describe this disease, a cold killer.

My plan was to do some research in my Department under my HOD during my last semester. The reason behind that being i had already given my GRE and would be applying for Masters. Suddenly i find myself at home so that my father is not alone while my mother is receiving treatment.

Frantically applying for Visas every other week i realised how this blackhole sucks everything in it. Economically, socially,emotionally it is a disease which consumes you.

Finally i got a 6 month Visa and was onboard 16 hour flight to Toronto with a 6 hour layover in Hong Kong. I had really mixed feelings, it was the first time i was travelling so far to such a happening city in one of the most developed countries. Yet there she was, suffering with weakness , barely able to get out of her room.

The moment i saw her i couldn’t hug her. The immune system was so weak and after such a long flight halfway across the planet i was carrying a lot of microbes. It was strange, i was happy yet sad, close to her yet far.

The few weeks i stayed there i got a chance to see her doctor and the people who had cared for her, a really marvellous team.

The tall buildings downtown somehow augmented this irony. We have come so far and have become so advanced, yet we still cower before this disease.

I wanted to know the origins , i wanted to know how this happens, why this happens.

The Emperor of all Maladies came to my rescue. It was an eye opener, a tear jerker, a comforter.

Fastforward to March and we are back in India , my father’s eyes swollen from tge tears he had been crying. Surprisingly it was my mother who had been the strongest through all of this.

I realised how strong the relationship is between a woman and her hair, i realised that the most pure form of love is between a mother and her children. It is that love which pushed her to resume her daily life. From taking over the kitchen again to going for work.

Today is January 2nd 2016 it has been more than 2 years and we’ve been fighting this disease hard. She is in the kitchen making delicious food.