Cruel Fate

Angad Singh: Putting up a brave front

For those of us who repose our faith in the infinite wisdom of the Almighty, here’s a poser. You lead an exemplary life, discharging your worldly duties – as a proud soldier, a loyal friend, a dutiful husband, a responsible father… and then, in your twilight years fate deals a cruel hand. You are informed one day that your son-in-law, otherwise hale and hearty, is now dead. Your daughter is widowed.
Within days, your wife also passes away, unable to bear the shock.
Left to fend for yourself in a home with nothing but memories to haunt you day and night, you seek diversion in friends and well-wishers in another city. But fate catches up with you there also. You are informed that your second son-in-law is no more. Not telling anybody, you rush to the side of the younger daughter – utterly devastated, helpless, puzzled and confused.

Yusuf Rassiwala apologises for not coming last Saturday. His wife
has lost her maternal uncle in Surat.

“Why does this have to happen to me?” you ask yourself in vain.
This and many more questions have been swirling around in Lt Col Angad Singh’s mind from the time he left Mumbai about 10 days back upon hearing of the latest tragedy. “I am sorry I could not inform anybody in the Club before leaving,” the octogenarian apologized long-distance from Bangalore last weekend. “I am needed here more for the moment. Who knows what plans the Almighty has for me.”
Next week, on April 10, Angad Singh turns 83 – an age when ordinary mortals would have long hung their boots. But this army veteran is still taking it all on the chin and keeping up a brave front. He realizes he is the sole pillar of strength for his family today and cannot afford to buckle down. He does not require anybody’s sympathy. This is a lone battle he must fight to the end.
Our thoughts and prayers are with him.
Bihari Milwani:
It is difficult to understand the wisdom of God. But definitely our loving father must have done this tragedy with some good reason which we may not understand.
Kiran Prakash:
I am sad to know the sudden demise of Col Angad Singh's son-in-law. Please accept my condolences Col Sa'ab. May God give strength to bereaved family to bear this loss. We all are with you at this sad moment.
Lt Col Angad Singh (in Bangalore):
Dear brothers and sisters, my family and I are thankful to you all for showing your solidarity in this hour of grief. Your encouraging words have emboldened us to face our day-to-day life with strength. Strange are the ways of Almighty God. He knows what is good for us. Time is a great healer. It is up to the Almighty to keep us hale and hearty.