My dearest sons,

It feels like just yesterday I was writing my first letter to you, V, when you were barely walking and the world was simpler. Now here you are, almost four years old, speaking Malayalam with a smile that lights up my heart, and you, Y, have grown from the tiny baby we welcomed in March into a spirited little boy who wakes up each morning as fresh and energetic as your Acha.

So much has changed since December 2023. Life has taught our family profound lessons about love, loss, resilience, and what truly matters. While you may not remember these early years, they have shaped our family in ways that will influence the love and values we share with you as you grow.

V, you've grown into the most caring big brother I could have imagined. Y, you've become my little shadow, my "Dada's boy" who sleeps beside me and calls out "Acha!" even when you cry. Watching you both run to hug each other, defend one another, and share quiet moments together has shown me that having you both wasn't just about fulfilling our dream of being parents - it was about creating this beautiful bond between you two that will last your entire lives.

This letter captures a period when life moved fast and reminded us daily that every ordinary moment - from afternoon naps to Malayalam lessons to brothers kissing goodnight - is actually sacred. These are the stories I want you to carry with you, the lessons that emerged from both our brightest joys and our deepest sorrows.

Life is fleeting, my sons, but the love we share echoes forever. Let me tell you about this remarkable chapter of our journey together.

With all my love,
Acha

Part 1: When Life Tested Our Family

December 2023 brought unexpected storms to our family. Sometimes life doesn't ask if you're ready before it changes everything. Your Achoos needed support during one of the most difficult periods of her life, and it meant all of us - Amma, Acha, your Achamma, and your Achacha - had to come together in ways we'd never done before.

V, you were almost three then, full of energy and questions, while Amma was carrying Y and preparing for his arrival in just a few months. What amazes us both now is how we navigated this together - Amma managing her pregnancy, caring for you, V, and providing emotional support to family, while I traveled back and forth handling logistics and difficult conversations. We learned that partnership isn't just about sharing the good times; it's about dividing the weight when life gets heavy.

Your Amma's strength during this period was extraordinary. While dealing with pregnancy discomfort and caring for an energetic toddler, she never let you feel the stress of what the adults were handling, V. She made sure your routines stayed consistent, your needs were met, and your world felt safe even when ours felt uncertain.

Your Achacha was fighting his own battle with Parkinson's disease, but even as his body grew weaker, his spirit remained strong. He would still sing his favorite songs, still light up when he saw you, V, still find joy in simple moments. Your Achamma devoted herself to his care with unwavering dedication - not romantic love like in movies, but the everyday choice to show up, to serve, to put someone else's needs first.

Those months taught us both that love isn't just about the happy times. Sometimes love means one parent traveling while the other holds down the home front. Sometimes it means making difficult phone calls together late at night after you're both asleep. Sometimes it means your pregnant Amma takes extra care of everyone while Acha handles family emergencies.

But here's what's beautiful about those dark months - they prepared us for the greatest light. In March 2024, Y, you arrived like a beacon of hope when our family needed it most. And V, watching you meet your baby brother for the first time in the hospital, seeing your face transform with protective love - that's when we both knew that all the challenges we'd faced together had led us to exactly where we were supposed to be.

Life was testing our family's strength, but it was also showing us that we were stronger as a team than any of us could be alone.

Part II: "Creating Light in Dark Times"

By April 2024, our family was still processing everything, and Y was just a month old. We made an intentional decision - Acha and V would take a trip together to Boston and Dubai. When life feels heavy, sometimes you have to actively create moments of joy.

V, those days with you will forever be etched in my memory. You ran around airports with such freedom and carefreeness, slept peacefully on my chest, and never once cried asking for Amma. In Dubai, you indulged in your love for buses and trains during rides with your Achoos. You played hide and seek with your Achacha, bringing him such happiness during a difficult time. Your presence was medicine for Achamma's heavy heart - they lifted Achamma's spirits in ways that words and sympathy couldn't. One evening at Abu Dhabi Cornish, watching our family relax together - I knew healing was beginning.

What struck me most wasn't just the joy you brought to others, V, but how naturally caring you are. You notice when someone looks sad and try to cheer them up. Your heart is so open and generous, my hope is that the world will nurture this beautiful quality rather than take advantage of it. I want you to keep caring deeply while learning to be wise about who deserves that care.

Sometimes the best response to darkness is actively creating light - and V, you taught us how to do that just by being yourself.

Part III: "The Greatest Goodbye"

On July 1st, 2024, your Achacha went for his afternoon nap while Achamma sat beside him, singing the prayer songs he loved. He simply didn't wake up - as peaceful a departure as anyone could hope for.

In his final months, Achacha showed us what dignity looks like in the face of illness. Parkinson's made his body weaker, but his spirit remained strong. He still sang his favorite Yesudas songs in that beautiful voice of his, still lit up when he saw you both, still found joy in simple moments. He recorded so many songs during his lifetime, and though you may not remember him now, V and Y, I hope you'll listen to his voice someday and understand the musical legacy he left behind.

Your Achamma cared for him with unwavering devotion - not the romantic love of movies, but the steady, daily choice to put his needs first, to encourage him to keep singing, to take him to temples, to never let his illness define his spirit. She showed us what real commitment looks like.

Witnessing such a peaceful but sudden departure reminded us how fleeting everything is. Life doesn't stop - everyone moves on - but we learned that this isn't tragedy, it's truth. The lesson isn't to be afraid; it's to be present.

From that day forward, we've tried to see every ordinary moment as sacred - your early morning smiles, the way you both run to hug each other. Because we learned that any moment could be the last, which makes every moment precious.

Part IV: "Adventures and Discoveries"

Between the challenges, we made sure to fill this period with adventures. V, by age three you had visited multiple countries across different continents. You probably won't remember these early travels, but Amma and I hope they planted seeds for your future explorations.

We celebrated milestones - your birthday in a new city, Y's first birthday at home. There were family weddings, visits with extended family, and precious time with grandparents from both sides. Your Achamma taught you both prayers and stories during her stay with us. Later, your Appuppa and Ammumma filled our home with different kinds of love and wisdom.

Acha also took some solo trips to music cities - a chance to heal and recharge during a difficult time. Sometimes parents need to refill their own cups to better pour into their children's lives.

Watching you both soak up love from all four grandparents has been one of our greatest joys. These connections are the threads that will hold you steady throughout your lives, no matter where your adventures take you.

Part V: "Growing Into Yourselves"

This period has been remarkable for watching you both develop your unique personalities and your bond as brothers.

V, you've blossomed in so many ways. Your Malayalam has improved dramatically - you can now count to ten and speak full sentences that make Acha's heart sing. I see how you light up when I smile at your Malayalam progress, and I suspect you keep practicing partly because you love making me happy. That generosity of spirit is so quintessentially you.

You're clearly Amma's boy, but your love for Acha runs deep too. When I had to leave India and return to the US, watching you cry at our goodbye was both heartbreaking and beautiful - it showed me just how much our connection means to you.

But perhaps your greatest growth has been as a big brother. Y, when you were growing in Amma's belly, I worried about bonding with you because everything was so different from when V was born. Life was busier, more complicated. But after you returned from India in February, we grew incredibly close. Now you're completely "Dada's boy" - sleeping beside me, playing together, even crying "Acha!" when you're upset.

Y, you wake up early and fresh just like Acha, ready to tackle each day with energy and curiosity. You've inherited that morning person gene, and our early hours together have become some of my most treasured moments.

V, you've appointed yourself Y's protector. When Amma or Acha need to guide Y, you come running to defend him, telling us not to scold and to "just walk nicely to him." You taught us all to say "no thank you" instead of getting frustrated - a lesson in patience from our three-year-old.

The moments when you both run to hug each other, sleep curled up together, or give each other spontaneous kisses - these make every challenge of raising two young children completely worth it. You're becoming exactly the brothers we dreamed you'd be.

Part VI: "Life's Beautiful Complexity"

Life has taught us so much in these months - about resilience, about love, about being present and the preciousness of ordinary moments.

We've learned that life rarely asks if you're ready before it changes everything. Family crises arrive alongside new babies. Loss walks hand-in-hand with growth. Beautiful goodbyes happen on the same timeline as beautiful beginnings. This isn't contradiction - it's life in all its complex wholeness.

The spiritual anchors your Achamma shared - those prayers and stories - aren't just traditions. They're tools for navigating life's storms when logic falls short. Faith isn't about having all the answers; it's about finding peace when you don't understand why things happen.

Life is wonderful because it's constantly teaching us something new. Every day offers chances to learn, to grow, to love more deeply. We're grateful for both the joyful moments and the difficult ones that have shaped our family.

Our greatest hope is that you'll always have each other - through all the happy times and challenges that life will surely bring. The brotherhood you're building now will be your greatest strength and your most treasured gift.

With endless love,

Acha

My dearest sons,

It feels like just yesterday I was writing my first letter to you, V, when you were barely walking and the world was simpler. Now here you are, almost four years old, speaking Malayalam with a smile that lights up my heart, and you, Y, have grown from the tiny baby we welcomed in March into a spirited little boy who wakes up each morning as fresh and energetic as your Acha.

So much has changed since December 2023. Life has taught our family profound lessons about love, loss, resilience, and what truly matters. While you may not remember these early years, they have shaped our family in ways that will influence the love and values we share with you as you grow.

V, you've grown into the most caring big brother I could have imagined. Y, you've become my little shadow, my "Dada's boy" who sleeps beside me and calls out "Acha!" even when you cry. Watching you both run to hug each other, defend one another, and share quiet moments together has shown me that having you both wasn't just about fulfilling our dream of being parents - it was about creating this beautiful bond between you two that will last your entire lives.

This letter captures a period when life moved fast and reminded us daily that every ordinary moment - from afternoon naps to Malayalam lessons to brothers kissing goodnight - is actually sacred. These are the stories I want you to carry with you, the lessons that emerged from both our brightest joys and our deepest sorrows.

Life is fleeting, my sons, but the love we share echoes forever. Let me tell you about this remarkable chapter of our journey together.

With all my love,
Acha

Part 1: When Life Tested Our Family

December 2023 brought unexpected storms to our family. Sometimes life doesn't ask if you're ready before it changes everything. Your Achoos needed support during one of the most difficult periods of her life, and it meant all of us - Amma, Acha, your Achamma, and your Achacha - had to come together in ways we'd never done before.

V, you were almost three then, full of energy and questions, while Amma was carrying Y and preparing for his arrival in just a few months. What amazes us both now is how we navigated this together - Amma managing her pregnancy, caring for you, V, and providing emotional support to family, while I traveled back and forth handling logistics and difficult conversations. We learned that partnership isn't just about sharing the good times; it's about dividing the weight when life gets heavy.

Your Amma's strength during this period was extraordinary. While dealing with pregnancy discomfort and caring for an energetic toddler, she never let you feel the stress of what the adults were handling, V. She made sure your routines stayed consistent, your needs were met, and your world felt safe even when ours felt uncertain.

Your Achacha was fighting his own battle with Parkinson's disease, but even as his body grew weaker, his spirit remained strong. He would still sing his favorite songs, still light up when he saw you, V, still find joy in simple moments. Your Achamma devoted herself to his care with unwavering dedication - not romantic love like in movies, but the everyday choice to show up, to serve, to put someone else's needs first.

Those months taught us both that love isn't just about the happy times. Sometimes love means one parent traveling while the other holds down the home front. Sometimes it means making difficult phone calls together late at night after you're both asleep. Sometimes it means your pregnant Amma takes extra care of everyone while Acha handles family emergencies.

But here's what's beautiful about those dark months - they prepared us for the greatest light. In March 2024, Y, you arrived like a beacon of hope when our family needed it most. And V, watching you meet your baby brother for the first time in the hospital, seeing your face transform with protective love - that's when we both knew that all the challenges we'd faced together had led us to exactly where we were supposed to be.

Life was testing our family's strength, but it was also showing us that we were stronger as a team than any of us could be alone.

Part II: "Creating Light in Dark Times"

By April 2024, our family was still processing everything, and Y was just a month old. We made an intentional decision - Acha and V would take a trip together to Boston and Dubai. When life feels heavy, sometimes you have to actively create moments of joy.

V, those days with you will forever be etched in my memory. You ran around airports with such freedom and carefreeness, slept peacefully on my chest, and never once cried asking for Amma. In Dubai, you indulged in your love for buses and trains during rides with your Achoos. You played hide and seek with your Achacha, bringing him such happiness during a difficult time. Your presence was medicine for Achamma's heavy heart - they lifted Achamma's spirits in ways that words and sympathy couldn't. One evening at Abu Dhabi Cornish, watching our family relax together - I knew healing was beginning.

What struck me most wasn't just the joy you brought to others, V, but how naturally caring you are. You notice when someone looks sad and try to cheer them up. Your heart is so open and generous, my hope is that the world will nurture this beautiful quality rather than take advantage of it. I want you to keep caring deeply while learning to be wise about who deserves that care.

Sometimes the best response to darkness is actively creating light - and V, you taught us how to do that just by being yourself.

Part III: "The Greatest Goodbye"

On July 1st, 2024, your Achacha went for his afternoon nap while Achamma sat beside him, singing the prayer songs he loved. He simply didn't wake up - as peaceful a departure as anyone could hope for.

In his final months, Achacha showed us what dignity looks like in the face of illness. Parkinson's made his body weaker, but his spirit remained strong. He still sang his favorite Yesudas songs in that beautiful voice of his, still lit up when he saw you both, still found joy in simple moments. He recorded so many songs during his lifetime, and though you may not remember him now, V and Y, I hope you'll listen to his voice someday and understand the musical legacy he left behind.

Your Achamma cared for him with unwavering devotion - not the romantic love of movies, but the steady, daily choice to put his needs first, to encourage him to keep singing, to take him to temples, to never let his illness define his spirit. She showed us what real commitment looks like.

Witnessing such a peaceful but sudden departure reminded us how fleeting everything is. Life doesn't stop - everyone moves on - but we learned that this isn't tragedy, it's truth. The lesson isn't to be afraid; it's to be present.

From that day forward, we've tried to see every ordinary moment as sacred - your early morning smiles, the way you both run to hug each other. Because we learned that any moment could be the last, which makes every moment precious.

Part IV: "Adventures and Discoveries"

Between the challenges, we made sure to fill this period with adventures. V, by age three you had visited multiple countries across different continents. You probably won't remember these early travels, but Amma and I hope they planted seeds for your future explorations.

We celebrated milestones - your birthday in a new city, Y's first birthday at home. There were family weddings, visits with extended family, and precious time with grandparents from both sides. Your Achamma taught you both prayers and stories during her stay with us. Later, your Appuppa and Ammumma filled our home with different kinds of love and wisdom.

Acha also took some solo trips to music cities - a chance to heal and recharge during a difficult time. Sometimes parents need to refill their own cups to better pour into their children's lives.

Watching you both soak up love from all four grandparents has been one of our greatest joys. These connections are the threads that will hold you steady throughout your lives, no matter where your adventures take you.

Part V: "Growing Into Yourselves"

This period has been remarkable for watching you both develop your unique personalities and your bond as brothers.

V, you've blossomed in so many ways. Your Malayalam has improved dramatically - you can now count to ten and speak full sentences that make Acha's heart sing. I see how you light up when I smile at your Malayalam progress, and I suspect you keep practicing partly because you love making me happy. That generosity of spirit is so quintessentially you.

You're clearly Amma's boy, but your love for Acha runs deep too. When I had to leave India and return to the US, watching you cry at our goodbye was both heartbreaking and beautiful - it showed me just how much our connection means to you.

But perhaps your greatest growth has been as a big brother. Y, when you were growing in Amma's belly, I worried about bonding with you because everything was so different from when V was born. Life was busier, more complicated. But after you returned from India in February, we grew incredibly close. Now you're completely "Dada's boy" - sleeping beside me, playing together, even crying "Acha!" when you're upset.

Y, you wake up early and fresh just like Acha, ready to tackle each day with energy and curiosity. You've inherited that morning person gene, and our early hours together have become some of my most treasured moments.

V, you've appointed yourself Y's protector. When Amma or Acha need to guide Y, you come running to defend him, telling us not to scold and to "just walk nicely to him." You taught us all to say "no thank you" instead of getting frustrated - a lesson in patience from our three-year-old.

The moments when you both run to hug each other, sleep curled up together, or give each other spontaneous kisses - these make every challenge of raising two young children completely worth it. You're becoming exactly the brothers we dreamed you'd be.

Part VI: "Life's Beautiful Complexity"

Life has taught us so much in these months - about resilience, about love, about being present and the preciousness of ordinary moments.

We've learned that life rarely asks if you're ready before it changes everything. Family crises arrive alongside new babies. Loss walks hand-in-hand with growth. Beautiful goodbyes happen on the same timeline as beautiful beginnings. This isn't contradiction - it's life in all its complex wholeness.

The spiritual anchors your Achamma shared - those prayers and stories - aren't just traditions. They're tools for navigating life's storms when logic falls short. Faith isn't about having all the answers; it's about finding peace when you don't understand why things happen.

Life is wonderful because it's constantly teaching us something new. Every day offers chances to learn, to grow, to love more deeply. We're grateful for both the joyful moments and the difficult ones that have shaped our family.

Our greatest hope is that you'll always have each other - through all the happy times and challenges that life will surely bring. The brotherhood you're building now will be your greatest strength and your most treasured gift.

With endless love,

Acha