Beyond Infinity: Multi-Generational Family Saga Based on True Life Experiences

By Ghanshyam Bhatt

Through a kaleidoscopic lens, this cross-cultural novel uniquely chronicles one family's compelling saga based mostly on the real-life experiences. This multi-generational tale explores the powerful dynamics of both the ordinary and extraordinary moments in the human journey: be they funny, awkward, sad, happy, or sac

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ghanshyam Bhatt
• Release date: Oct 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9780578765785

Ghanshyam Bhatt

Ghanshyam Bhatt is a retired finance & technology professional born in India and immigrated to New Jersey for the last 30 years. He has 2 kids and 4 grand kids. His values are shaped by strong family life and spiritual faith. He worked at big industrial conglomerates and investment firms. Outside of the professional career, his interests are travel, food, baseball, reading, video editing, and mentoring his grand kids.

Book preview

1

SUNRISE

Inside the hospital of a small lake-front town in Gujarat State, India, a newborn boy slept peacefully, snuggled in the warm embrace of his doting mother. Sam, the mother whispered, and in that moment the infant had no idea of the ‘infinite’ puzzles he would face in the days and years ahead.

Sam was born just before sunrise on a cool October morning in 1950. A soft breeze flowed through the streets, brushing past the still-closed storefronts until it reached the hospital room where it fluttered the curtains, slightly, as if to say hello to the world’s newest star.

Outside, the soft white clouds drifted over the mirrored lake. The morning haze was being brushed aside by spears of light that were already piercing through to create a soft amber glow across mother and child in the birthing room. This small town would soon wake and become busy, with street vendors and food carts filling every corner and locals flooding the market for the day’s harvest.

The mighty Sun rose up against the scarlet background and showered blessings from Almighty above, signaling a new beginning and fresh energy. Sam’s father, Rishi, a learned man, had gone to the lake’s soft bank to perform his daily religious routine. An aura of wisdom was written over his forehead, emanating sacredness. The fragrance of incense burning at the small Shiva temple along with the earthy scent of the dirt road served as reminders of God’s eternal presence. Rishi’s ritual ‘Om’ reverberated across the frost covered leaves, their moist pearls of dew gaining strength and dripping to move on to the next form of life. As Rishi chanted his prayers to Sun, the musical rhythms seemed to halt time, allowing his mind to wander into sunny dreams—dreams of a bright future for his beloved newborn son.

The watch on Rishi’s wrist ticked rhythmically, but his heart continued pounding at a faster beat. His cool, calm demeanor was deceptive. Underneath, he was unwrapping extreme emotions, buoyed by the pride and satisfaction of having created a son. He’d fulfilled his duty to keep the progeny alive, a big deal for the family because Sam would carry forward the name of Rishi and continue the family lineage. The father would now have a greater new purpose in life based on what the boy would expect from him and the dreams he would build and pursue alongside him.

Covered only by small, thin clothing, the cool air caressed Rishi’s skin. Preoccupied with memories of his child’s first cry, he lost concentration and even forgot to properly chant his verses. Instead he was mysteriously murmuring the lullaby he’d soon sing for Sam. He stared deep into the sky, thrilled in awe of the morning. With a new fatherly perspective, he had never experienced such beauty. The Sun would soon climb higher in the sky, soon to bring him the warmth of this new day.

Rishi was torn by a torrent of thoughts. He was a happy soul because his wife had delivered a boy that he’d long imagined how to groom. As a realist though, he was overly concerned and jittery about his modest means. He could not shake his sense of trepidation, troubled by fears that he might not be able to raise his son like more well-to-do people.

Once again, he felt small in the presence of the giant Sun and the spectacularly wide horizon unfolding in front of him. Nevertheless, he had reasons to feel enthusiastic and hopeful as he lapsed into a dreamy world, painting the family’s future in vibrant colors. Rishi may not be able to buy a lot of toys for his son, but he would somehow get him a lot of books. He would take his child to the top of the world, and he would teach him everything he knew. His imagination ran amok, and he made himself a promise: I did not get much in my life, but I will provide everything for my son. With wisdom and learning, I will lead him to infinite greatness. And beyond!

Back in the hospital, Rishi’s wife, Tej, was recuperating from the delivery. The feeble mother’s sleep was intermittently disturbed by her baby boy, Sam. For both of them, there was no longer any defined day or night. Whenever the boy cried, his mom would wake and pacify the infant. Occasionally, Sam would open his brand-new eyes, bewildered by the world he’d come into. But he’d been blessed to experience the same love, protection, warmth, and cuddle here in his mother’s arms as he’d found in the womb. He would, by habit, raise his legs and throw tiny fast kicks, pushing his toes out from beneath the soft, colorful comforter printed with lions and giraffes. Tej would swaddle him again, imagining the small infant curled in her womb during pregnancy. She would smile, gazing at her beloved boy, picturing his bright future and the joys ahead.

With his stomach full, Sam would soon fall back into another deep sleep. Tej adored the sweetness of his face, wondering how he might look when his hair grew long and his teeth filled in. Would his cheeks redden in the Sun? Would his muscles build in strength? No matter what the future would bring, she would be his protector forever.

Seeing Rishi returning to the hospital room from his worship time, Tej smiled. Rishi inquired about her health, laying his hand gently on her forehead. The satisfaction of motherhood was apparent on her face, as she handed the boy to Rishi. Sam immediately held two of his father’s fingers, gripping as tightly as his little might could allow and locking up the security all children seek in their parents.

The boy was happy with the sensory touch of his same blood, the shared electricity of their heartbeats, and the mysterious divinity of oneness between father and son. Rishi was filled with an exhilaration, swaying the little wonder in his hands, awed by the baby’s tiny fingers and toes, inspired by such delicate limbs, the fresh scent of his child’s small body, the smooth shine to his son’s forehead. A brilliant, large, clear, forehead—all indicative of the fortune God was to bless him with in life.

Tears swelled in Rishi’s eyes, as he thanked God for bestowing on him this beautiful bundle of joy. With glassy eyes, he asked his wife teasingly, Do his nose and eyes look similar to mine? I was as cute and good looking as him when I was born.

Exhausted, Tej wanted to be playful too but instead preferred not to steal any happiness from her husband. She counted off more flattering resemblances between the father and son. Rishi, though, had some other ideas. He wanted Sam to be like his mother—soft, kind, loving, soothing.

All of sudden, Sam interrupted the parental talk, screaming with a panic-like blare, the only language he’d learned to speak so far. Tej took him back from Rishi, showered kisses on his cheeks, caressed his soft hair, stroked his back, and whispered a sweet lullaby in his tiny ears. In response to his mother’s love, Sam quickly calmed and began to snore.

Rishi had no need to argue with the truth that Sam liked Tej more. The boy was unaware of the struggle and pains of life, but he definitely had a divine sense of what he may like, love, and need at the moment. Mom and Dad were determined that he’d get everything in life.

In a few days from the birth, Sam’s only demand was nursing every few hours. He did not cry much otherwise, rarely woke up during the night, and played without giving much trouble to his dear mom. Tej would brag to her visitors about her well-behaved son. The boy rested contentedly in the soft hands of their many guests, at peace in the company of nice people and their careful handover back to his loving mother. They flattered Tej saying, You must be taking good care of him. Perhaps he is like his father, calm and collected. Indeed, Tej agreed that like Rishi, Sam seemed to carry a well-disciplined and considerate nature.

Standing off to the side, Sam’s father would gloat over the praise and thank God for giving them such a good child. With each sunset, God brought peace to his life. With each sunrise, hope. Each new day delivered a world of new possibilities and opened a fresh page of the book yet to be written.

2

SEEDING

Thousands of years ago, Indian philosopher Chanakya advised: One should up bring a child with love and utmost care during the initial five years, followed by maintaining strict discipline during the next ten years. After the child reaches the sixteenth year of his age, he should be treated like a friend.

It is said in Hindu philosophy that we get a life as a human being only once in 184,000 births, but as a non-human all other times. In that context, when we’re born as a human, we should strive to meet two primary goals. One is to live life meaningfully, as a human, for other humans. The other, and more difficult one is to get Moksha, that is to merge with the divine God and thereby shun the cycle of being born as an insect, bird, or animal in subsequent lives.

That theology begs a question: What is a meaningful life? Alternatively, How do we define a happy life? or What are the benchmarks of a successful life?

Many measures have been used, qualitative of course, and much advice has been published about the path to a fruitful life. But life is an arduous and grueling journey. It can pose meandering, uncomfortable, and messy times. That’s why Rishi and Tej believed a thoughtful parenting could help their son to navigate his life and make it meaningful.

Rishi, a simple and religious man, had some vision of how his son should be. He and Tej wanted to teach their child deep understanding of life’s values. Their sole objective was to imprint the first pages of their son’s life with images that would continue to emphasize the greatness and sanctity of life. They would inculcate strong character and morals, inspire God-fearing beliefs, cement inner strength and willpower, and exemplify decency, humility, and kindness.

Together, Rishi and Tej would make sure that Sam built positive relationships with the people around him. They would take great care in deciding what he would see and experience in their home, modeling their own healthy ways of life for their young son. They confidently believed that with the proper upbringing, Sam could do anything he’d determine to do.

Rishi and Tej had a long, unending list of qualities they wanted to see in their boy. They were committed to inspire Sam to have passion, enthusiasm, dedication, and a sense of balance. He would learn a lot from school teachers, friends, and well-wishers, but his parents were willing to take care of his development at home after the school hours ended. At school, he would be taught how to sum numbers. But life would entail much more than numbers. New kinds of lessons would have to be learned at home, through the two persons Sam trusted most. This overarching philosophy would prod their son to become a person who would stand tall when facing hardships and calamity. This parental support system would keep their boy on track, whenever he might falter or be tempted to deviate from his set path.

Rishi’s first approach would be fostering a secure and warm attachment in which Sam would trust that his basic needs would be met. Then, as he grew older, the boy would be provided enough freedom so that he, with his God-given abilities, would become able to explore his own identity and paths.

Rishi knew there were a lot of different ways a responsible parent could raise a kid. There was no one fit-for-all formula. He’d have to create his own recipe. But he knew that Sam’s life could be better if the boy learned to pay close attention and make a conscious effort not to get lost in distractions and whimsical ideas. Though some diversions would be unavoidable, and even desirable at times, his chosen path should not be altered. The challenge would be to identify Sam’s uniqueness and to utilize that intelligently, as his life changed and advanced. Together, they would adapt to each new situation and move on to the next challenge.

Despite his longing to infuse the fundamentals of a successful and happy life on his son, Rishi would make great efforts not to force his own standards on the boy. He would simply focus on guiding Sam to make wise choices so he could become a Well-Groomed Adult, a Delightful Person, and of course a Subject Matter Expert.

Well-Groomed Adult

Rishi instilled five fundamental learning elements to help Sam become a well-groomed adult:

Baby Steps

Empathy

Tolerance

Winning Competition

Behavior

Baby Steps

Sam’s character had already been shaped while he still was a fetus. His mom, Tej, had taught sacrament during her pregnancy by reading holy books, listening to harmonious tunes, remaining in a jolly mood, savoring pleasant thoughts, and eating healthy food. She wanted to teach her child the Dharma (Religion and Morals); otherwise someone else might teach him Adharma (Sins and Dishonesty).

If life’s journey was a climb, their baby would not have to learn to navigate the whole staircase at once. Taking the first step was OK. One step at a time, when added, would make stair climbing easy and natural. Moving up a notch would encourage Sam to grow at his own pace. Tiny they would look, but each baby step would count for one leg up the ladder of life.

Every time that Sam would try to do new things, such as play with a toy, give high-fives, share candy, learn a game, recite rhymes, or meet new friends … his knowledge base would continue to build. Solid baby steps would slowly take him all the way to the top.

Tej learned that it was OK to allow Sam to take missteps, as they would be just one of the many steps along his journey. In his formative years, Rishi and Tej were not bothered if their young son made noise because as an adult he would know when to be silent. They did not mind if he broke things in childhood because he’d have to learn to deal with the many things that would become broken throughout his life. They let him have whimsical dreams because some of his dreams would surely get cut in time.

Sam was taught how to make boats out of paper long before he would get swamped by academic papers. Much of the time he was allowed to eat whatever he wanted because he would have to count calories later. It was all right if he acted naïve and innocent because the world would teach him to be wise soon enough. His parents’ philosophy was to let him enjoy, learn, make mistakes, and learn again.

Maybe Tej and Rishi loved their child too much, but which caring parent would not? As usual, their tendency was to protect their baby and provide that cover of care and safety at every step. By nature, Tej was more uneasy and distressed than Rishi. When Sam started walking for the first time, Tej noticed that his walk was unsteady. Of course, that’s usually how a child walks at first, toddling until he learns to steady his step. But Tej was worried he might fall and hurt himself. She screamed, Don’t fall, don’t fall. Sit down. You will fall. She did not realize how her overprotective love could diminish her son’s ability to learn, and grow, and walk.

Sam had no idea that his actions raised his mother’s blood pressure and caused her great stress. He simply was excited by the amazing experience of doing what Mom and Dad did all the time. The curious boy got up, smiled, and restarted taking baby steps. He was having fun in practicing his new ability. For him, the joy of acquiring this new skill trumped all else—he was going somewhere!

Three and half years later, a baby girl Tula was born to Tej and Rishi. Sam was happy to see his tiny new sister. He curiously watched how she moved and looked around. He wanted to measure her up, to see whether he would be able to keep his sister happy or whether he could draw her attention. In the process, Sam was learning what it takes to be in charge of her care, how to behave and make her happy, and how to communicate despite age or gender differences. Sam was lacking the vocabulary to speak his emotions such as love, worry, and amazement. Tej would teach him by praising,

Good job. Your sister seems to like you so much. She values your care. She loves your presence. She is enjoying the silly faces and cute sounds you make for her. When you help her by putting the pacifier back in her mouth, she is thinking that big-looking brother has a big heart. See, now she eagerly waits for you to start the musical toy. She stares at you and sees you as a friend she wants to play with.

Sam wanted to do what his daddy did, play with tools, fiddle with electric sockets. Sam wanted to do what his mom did, put on band-aids, sing lullabies, serve water to guests. Sam wanted to do what his younger sister, Tula, would do. In time, the two small kids would fight like rivals, often in envy of each other. They would fight over plastic bottles