A Special Bond

A loving tribute to an uncle who has brought so much joy to his nieces…

- Elsa Lycias Joel

I married into a large, extended family. My husband's five siblings were far more welcoming than I had expected them to be. The youngest of them seemed to be the best and I was right, right from the start. From helping me with cooking and doing the dishes to listening to my philosophy of life, he was always patient. To my surprise, he introduced me to people as his sister. Just like a big brother, Jegan made sure I was happy and comfortable in my new surroundings. Any time my husband differed with me to the extent of upsetting me, Jegan supported me vociferously, thereby earning rebuffs. Every time both of us went out, he was 'the wall', protecting me even from unintentional nudges in the most crowded places, and without anything being said, Jegan knew that in his brother's absence he was being entrusted with my safety. In no time, he became the most adored uncle of my two children, Lauren and Barbara. The excitement on their faces when they meet him is so obvious that anybody in the family will know that my children are his favourite nieces.

When my girls started school, Jegan became their weekend tutor, giving Prem and me our much-awaited relief. It was more than a world wonder to us when our daughters developed a passion to score centum in mathematics. It wasn't Jegan's rewards or praises but a plain, “How much did you score this time?” with a smile and raised eyebrows. Over the years, I learnt that it's not just the parents or school but every single relative, especially loved ones, who can contribute a lot to a child's development, both cognitive and psychological.