Chapter 19:Eluka Mallee Puttindi” (The Mouse is Reborn)

 

 In my life, two full days mysteriously disappeared. It may sound strange, but it is true. Life never moves exactly as we plan. Sometimes unexpected things happen.

 

Even the beginning of my life was unusual—so I started my story with “A Mouse was Born.”

In a small tiled house in a village without electricity, on a dark night, a tiny “mouse baby” was born. That baby grew up, completed sixty years, and then this incident happened.

 

Forty-eight hours of my life vanished without my knowledge. I was asked to lie down on a table. Lying flat, I looked up and saw a bright white bulb. The white light spread across the room. Everything was happening as I wished.

 

I was lying on the operation table. I knew they were going to operate on my heart.

 “Your name?”

“Nagabhushana Rao.”

“Okay sir, I am giving you a small injection.”

“Alright, go ahead, doctor.”

 

I looked at the white light. Slowly colours appeared… then darkness.

That’s it.

Slowly, my eyes opened again. The same white light. It was too bright, so I closed my eyes. Yes—sometimes even light feels frightening, like darkness.

We move from darkness to light, from hopelessness to hope, from fear to courage.

I opened my eyes again. This time the light didn’t disappear. It looked like a symbol of new hope.

“Sir, please look here.”

A nurse was standing beside my bed. She had a calm face, and a soft smile.

 “Sir, are you awake?”

“Yes…”

“How do you feel?”

 Then everything came back to me slowly—as if in a movie flashback.

 “Yes… I came for my heart surgery. The doctor said he would give an injection. Did he give    it? Is the surgery over?”

 I asked the nurse.

 “Yes sir, surgery is done. Successful. Please take rest.”

“When did the surgery take place?”

“Two days ago.”

 “Two days!?”

 Forty-eight hours passed and I didn’t know anything.

 “Who do you want to see first?” the nurse asked.

 

Back to Nandigama

 

After retirement, I moved to Nandigama to live peacefully and to take care of some property matters. children were married and had settled, so I shifted there with my wife. We rented a house as my own house was let out.

 

I always loved Nandigama. My school and college memories… And my birthplace Adavi Raavulapadu which is just nearby.

 

Morning walks at Nandigama high school ground became a daily routine. Childhood friends like Maram Satyanarayana and Mahankali Rama Rao often joined me in my walks. With walking for the body and memories for the mind — life was full of joy.

 

Then came Corona.

 

A virus unknown to the world suddenly arrived and shook the globe. No one knew how to fight it. Fear everywhere.

 

The Warning

 

One morning, while walking, a slight pain started in my chest.I was sweating profusely. I sat under a tree. After some rest, it reduced.

 

Long ago, when I was working in Andhra Prabha, Hyderabad, I had similar pain. ECG and medicines helped then. Doctors warned me that my heart was weak.

 

Now again, the same type of pain. After coming home with vegetables, the pain returned. Morning again —the same pain.

 

I quietly woke up my wife. I asked my friend Gopu Subrahmanyam to arrange a car to Vijayawada.

 

On the way, we stopped at Sathemma temple, Ambaarpet. I got down from the car and prayed. Her divine look gave me courage.

 

In the Hospital

 

Tests in Vijayawada showed four blocks in my heart. Doctors suggested bypass surgery but said it could wait for a week. We discussed with family and got admitted to Ramesh Hospital.

 

Because of lockdown and my rare blood group (A-negative), arranging donors was very difficult. Many people responded online but travel was not easy. Family and friends worked hard. My son Rajesh monitored everything from England. Daughter Divya and son-in-law Saketh came from Bangalore with great difficulty. My relative in Chennai coordinated with police. Many hands supported me.

 

Finally, blood arrived. Surgery was fixed for May 18th.

 

Before surgery, doctors checked my legs too. I wondered why. Later I understood — they took veins from my leg for the bypass.

 

Then came the injection. Darkness.

 

The Rebirth

 

After 48 hours, I finally woke up.

 

“Whom do you want to see?” nurse asked.

“My daughter Divya.”

 

I slept again.

 

“Nanna… Nanna…” Her voice woke me.

There she stood, smiling with courage and love.

 

That smile gave me confidence. That smile gave me faith in doctors and in life.

 

I stayed in the ICU for four days. I couldn’t move much. Chest and legs had stitches. Like a rebirth. Yes — the mouse was born again.

 

I remembered my grandmother’s words — I was born weak, always falling sick, and they raised me with great care and love. And now again, life gave me one more chance.

 

In the ICU, sleep rarely came. So I played ‘Antyakshari’ ofold songs to myself. That is when the line — “Sreevarihrudayamu naakenta padilamu…” moved me deeply. My wife Sridevi’s worry, her prayers — that’s what protected me.

 

Family, relatives, friends — all their efforts saved me. My heartfelt gratitude to each one.

 

After recovery, one thought stayed in my mind — I must record this experience. Today, while writing Melodies of Life, I am finally sharing it.

 

This rebirth inspired me to plan the Ghantasala Centenary Mega Online Festival. Truly — some unseen force guides us.

 

My second life is going beautifully.

This “mouse” is receiving honours and blessings.

 

What else is success?

Life continues - with gratitude.

 

Rest & Realisation

 

After the open-heart surgery, I became more spiritual . A strong desire to do good for others also grew. I understood the real value of life… and equally, I realised the value of rest.

 

While taking rest, I began focusing only on the few things that I could genuinely do with sincerity. In this retired life, memories naturally come flooding back. So I started revisiting and cherishing them.

 

Good and bad moments form part of everyone’s life. When we leave aside the unpleasant ones and recall only the good things — and share them — the mind experiences a special joy. I understood this truth.

 

We must say goodbye to negative thoughts and developpositive thinking. With that belief, I started an audio station on Facebook with the slogan:

 

“Let’s grow goodness, let’s share goodness.”

 

With the same creative spirit, I initiated the series “Pattabhishekam to Telugu Cinema” on my YouTube channel, Channel 5 AM. Through more than a hundred episodes, the series journeyed into the hearts of hundreds of music and literature enthusiasts. 

 

My career, which started with the Eenadu newspaper, feels as if it is still continuing even in this peaceful retired phase of life. Till my last breath, my only strength will be the wish to serve society and do good.

 

There are still many more memories and experiences to share —

my bond with Andhra Prabha,

moments at All India Radio and Taranga radio,

my internet radio journey,

articles on websites,

foreign travel experiences… and more.

 

Let us continue this journey together.

 Come, let’s move ahead…

******