Tears

Pushpa, I hate tears….Rajesh Khanna’s famous dialogue from the movie Amar Prem. Tears….those drops of water that flow from our eyes when we are overwhelmingly sad…..considered by some as a sign of weakness. Yet to me, some tears are not a sign of weakness….they signify happiness, emotions and love as nothing else can. Some tears are to me very precious.

Lately, I have started watching X-factor India on television. It is amazing to see that there are so many talented people out there. And then there are those people courageous enough to come and make a fool of themselves on stage….I guess in a way I admire those people….that kind of self confidence takes guts. So, have been seeing all kinds of people from all parts of life. One such audition was of Vishal Srivastava, a 31 year old rickshaw driver from Delhi. He has never been trained to sing but loves to sing….so he sings while he is driving his rickshaw around. When the judges asked him what he wanted to do in his life…his answer was….my wife wants to be a teacher….so I want to help her study and become a teacher. Hearing this, one of the judges remarked…In a country where many husbands stop their wives from having careers…your thoughts are great and wonderful. Then Vishal proceeded to sing….really well….touching the 3 judges hearts and leaving them emotional and in tears. They agreed that there might have been a few flaws in his singing, but given that it was his first time on a big stage, singing to music and in front of so many people….he had done a great job and his sincerity had touched them. They felt he was destined to make it big in his life. And as they said ‘Yes’ to him, they had tears in his eyes, Vishal had tears in his eyes, his wife backstage had tears in her eyes and yes, I had tears in mine….the whole scene had moved me and left me emotional….those tears of hope and the wish that Vishal succeeds and makes it big in his life…..those tears are precious.

The day of my tenth standard results. SSC exams…..an important day in the lives of many students in India. The percentage of marks received in these exams decide the future course of studies and future careers. I am my parent’s oldest child so there was a lot of anxiety as they awaited the results. I had passed and with flying colors. And as my father heard my results, for the very first time in my life that day, I saw my father….my pillar, my strength, my rock…..with tears in his eyes…..tears that expressed his happiness and pride at his daughter’s achievement….those tears are precious.

Whenever I return to the US after a trip to India, my parents come to see me off at the airport. Not wanting to say goodbye to me with sadness, they always have a smile on their faces…..as they bid goodbye to me until the next time. And in my mother’s eyes, I see those tears….and I see her fighting hard to keep them from rolling down her cheeks…those tears which express her love for me…..those tears are precious.

I had my son after 5 years of marriage. So he was a much awaited child. The day he was born, when I held him in my arms for the very first time, when he looked at me for the very first time, I cried….I kept looking at him and the tears kept flowing. My cup of joy at becoming a mother was full…..and those tears which denoted the overflowing of my cup of joy…..those tears are precious.

Last year, we moved from one state in the US to another…..leaving behind our friends who after 13 years had become more like a family. They threw us a farewell party and at the end when everyone started saying their good byes there was a lot of sadness at parting….and one of my friends as she hugged me….had tears in her eyes. Months later we would meet again….at a ladies weekend away at Las Vegas. I made that trip for many reasons….to meet and spend time with 3 of my closest friends whose company I really enjoyed, a weekend away….a much needed break in a long time, having a good time in Las Vegas…..but I especially made the trip for her…..as we were meeting to celebrate her milestone birthday. Her tears had bound me to her in a way no words can………those tears of friendship…..those tears are precious.

Signing off a little teary eyed but with a smile on my face at being surrounded by so much love and this quote

‘Tears are words the heart can't express’.