Varshita Venkatesh - A Taj Mahal is not enough

I am no Shah Jahan. I cannot build a Taj Mahal for my dearest departed wife, Varshita. The Taj Mahal is well and truly symbolic of undying love which endures death and transcends the physical plane; and very aptly it was there – about 50 metres away from the structure – that I and Varshita decided to become soulmates. A little over 12 years from that day and she has been taken away by God from the terrestrial plane into His heavenly abode. She succumbed to metastatic breast cancer. This world perhaps was too painful for her kind and generous soul.

The Taj Mahal can inspire several noble deeds, thoughts and words which come post-mortem and benefit humanity – the ones who are left behind in the world by the souls which bid adieu to the mortal plane. Varshita, on the mortal plane and beyond, was, is, and will be one in a zillion – epitome of gentleness, compassion, care and
selfless sacrifice.  I am not saying this just because she was my soulmate (and is still so, thanks to the soul connection, as the word implies, which can never ever be severed). You just need to ask anyone, just about anyone who knew her well. I wish to keep her memories alive, to keep her soul contented and smiling down at me, and blessing me, from her abode in heaven – caring for me, as she used to unfailingly, but in a more divine sense. So here goes:

In Varshita’s honour and memory, I intend to set up a small fund for the Lahore unit of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital – Varshita Venkatesh Memorial Fund. It feels very apt – the former Pakistani cricket captain and current PM honoured his mother by setting up the hospital to benefit the populace. I would like to set up this small fund within the hospital, which, Insha’allah, will keep growing over the years, in honour and memory of my departed soulmate.