With his career savings he was able to buy a house some distance away from the temple. It was a small house in an apartment newly constructed. The house about 500 sq.ft. place that had a large room, a kitchen, a bathroom and toilet. Along one side wall by the side of a window he had put in his bed. His furniture, apart from a single bed, contained a reclining chair and a couple of chairs for any visitors. There was a small refrigerator and some utensils in the kitchen. He cooked his own meals. He particularly liked to cook eggs in the mornings, with some rice for the afternoon and chapati and a simple subzi for the night. He had early dinner by about 8 pm and mostly retired to bed by 10.30. Somedays if he did not feel like cooking he bought food from a homely restaurant nearby. Between breakfast and cooking lunch he spent his time visiting temple, or reading or writing which he was very fond of. After lunch he rested a bit and went for a walk in the evening. After dinner he listened to carnatic music or bhajans or discourses till going to sleep. This was his routine everyday.
In the apartment, in the same floor, there were two other houses, big ones, sort of 3 BHKs. One on the left was occupied by a family of 6 people and in the one opposite came to reside a young couple with a 2 year old boy. They had bought this house. The woman's name was Prerana and the man was Srimaan. The little one was named Sandilya.
Vishnushiv was pleasant to the people in the apartment and greeted people warmly whenever he happened to meet them. Whenever he encountered either Srimaan or Prerana they greeted with a "hello, uncle" and he would respond. Soon hello turned into a few enquiries and the couple became familiar with Vishnushiv.
Prerana had a homely look about her and her appearance was pleasant. Srimaan was tall and was of amicable personality.
One day, Prerana met Vishnushiv in the corridor of their floor when she suddenly asked him,
" Uncle, can I call you appa?" I lost both my parents and I feel like calling you appa. Can I?
Vishnushiv said, " Sure, By all means".
As soon as he said this she suddenly hugged him with tears in her eyes. " Thankyou, appa.". There started a beautiful relationship. After this she made it a practice to hug him at least once a day. Her hugs gave a warmth which Vishnushiv liked. He also responded with genuine affection. Since the house was opposite she would come in and offer food. In fact she offered to give him food all three times in a day. But Vishnushiv said the he would like to keep in touch with his cooking and whenever he did not feel like cooking he would take from her. She also agreed.
Srimaan's job made him busy and knowing a relationship developing between his family and Vishnushiv, he was able to concentrate on his work without too much worry on the household front. Sometimes the kid used to come into Vishnushivs house to talk and play. At times Vishnushiv helped Prerana with buying vegetables and provisions. He also taught the technique of meditation to Srimaan as he was stressed out at work and needed to cope. When the child became a bit old older, Vishnushiv helped with his schoolwork and told him stories. For Vishnushiv, getting a daughter like Prerana was a satisfying life experience and he became quite close to her.
Gradually the two houses became one in terms of their bonding. By his spiritual pursuits Vishnushiv, who was seeking the knowlege of the self practised unattachment while experiencing this special kind of relationship. He knew attachments would lead to some emotions which are hard to resist. However he let the happenings proceed as events. He taught them that death would bring them pain, but it is unavoidable and they have to learn to cope with it just as they face some of the challenges of life. He taught all three of them the life skills.
He did write a will to bequeath his humble property to this daughter Prerana after his death to show that life is an experience and memory, it's payoff.
