by Sam Trailerman
March holds a special charm in my life, almost akin to that fluttery excitement kids feel on a bright Deepavali morning. What’s so enchanting about this particular month, you ask?
Well, it’s the month I graced this beautiful blue planet a modest 64 years ago. But that’s just the start of its magic.
March also brings an incredible lineup of events as vibrant and diverse as life itself—three magnificent weddings and, believe it or not, a surgery all inked onto my trusty “racehorse” calendar!
These occasions inject spring into my step and energy into my days, as the sun lingers a little longer each evening, signalling spring’s gentle arrival.
This year, though, both March and April seem determined to test my resolve — they’ve turned into my very own “anxiety months.” With age creeping up on me, I find myself fretting over everything from loud noises to lengthy car rides, and even solo follow-ups at the hospital. It’s like my mind insists on inventing new things to worry about!
That said, life sure has a way of balancing nerve-wracking moments with heartwarming ones. During my latest visit to the Colorectal Surgery Unit at the Sultanah Bahiyah General Hospital in Alor Setar, Dr. Nil Amri—an accomplished surgeon and a wonderfully compassionate human—set a date for what will be my sixth surgery.
As daunting as it sounds, Dr. Amri’s calm demeanour and assurances, coupled with the skilful hands of Dr. Yusairi, rekindled my faith in their expertise. Dr. Amri even mentioned this could very well be my last surgery—a melody that played like music to my ears.
Now, onto the weddings! First up is my darling niece Suganniiya’s special day in mid-April — a wedding day after her birthday!
Hindu weddings are always a feast for the senses—a kaleidoscope of ceremonies, warm embraces from relatives, and an emotional rollercoaster of love, laughter, and tears.
Of course, the wedding marathon doesn’t end there. Just a day before Suganniiya’s big day, my former tuition student-turned-family-friend Kasturi is set to tie the knot. Having endured years of her mother’s classic inquiry, “When are you getting married?”, Kasturi has finally found her moment to shine.
Her sacred thali ceremony—a cherished Hindu tradition symbolising unity and love—will be nothing short of spectacular. Picture yellow rice and flower petals raining down on the couple amid cheers and the rhythmic beats of festive drums.
The bridegroom is required to tie two or three knots around the bride’s neck. Each knot symbolises different things. Sometimes the groom only ties the first two knots while his sister or anyone with similar blood ties will tie the remaining knot.
In some instances, the bride groom ties all three knots. The first two knots signify the commitment of the couple of their love and to assure the well-being of the de. The third knot (either tied by the bridegroom, sister or relative) represents the commitment between both families.
The three knots together symbolise the completeness of marriage, covering all aspects of life: spiritual, physical, and emotional. They remind the couple of their duties to each other and the holistic nature of their relationship.
Speaking of weddings, I must confess I’m planning to tactfully skip one of the three invites—a fortuitous clash with my surgery date, which conveniently spares me from mingling with a few less-than-pleasant individuals (relatives and friends included!). Oh, what a relief!
Whether I stride into the wedding hall dressed to the nines in my most elegant “jippa” (a traditional garment for men), freshly adorned with rose water, or find myself wheeled into the operating theatre, with a cannula (pronounced “Can-you-lah?) – that thin tube that doctors insert into a vein of your body — one thing’s for sure: I fully intend to savour every moment of this rollercoaster journey we call life!