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DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

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SANGEETHA KAMATH

 


#ButterflyEffectSpanning25Years

#AllsWellThatEndsWell

#DiamondsAreForever

#WhereTheresAWill

The pivotal phrase from “Kafka and the Doll” by Franz Kafka which says that ‘Loss isn't final but love is transformed and restored to you in ways that you never envisioned; it's all about growth and adaptation—plays a huge part in my new year. 

The Franz Kafka of my life is a girl called ‘Charrzzx’.

In retrospect, this story was in all probability conceived in 2001 as a miniscule bubble, but nevertheless a significant ripple which would impact my life 25 years later in 2026. 

****

Year 2001:

The landmark year when I migrated to and made my base in Singapore was also a memorable one for another reason that it was my parents’ first visit to my place. The days ran into each other with visits to tourist spots and rounds of shopping sprees. 

On a very fine day, Daddy and I had passed by a Giordano showroom in a mall which I would generally walk past without a second glance otherwise.

Branded clothing wasn't my cup of tea then. 

Daddy had nudged me to a halt and pointed to a mannequin at the store front. She was displayed with a Snow white hoodie jacket with crimson and gold striped drawstrings layered over a crimson top with a signature golden peony. 

Daddy always had impeccable taste in clothes and he only had to say the word that it would truly become me and I was led into the store to buy it. It would be his gift for me. The hoodie and crimson top scored, I wouldn't let him dent his pocket and bought it for myself for the genuine affection and compliment he had given.

Decades down the line, the hoodie saw me on various air travels to and fro home, hikes and treks, nature trails and excursions but never tiring of it or a need to buy another one just for a fancy change in trend or a colour. It was daddy’s selection for me and so it would be. 

The quality Giordano showed no wear, tear or even a hint of fray and had a coveted place in my wardrobe wrapped in my favourite fragrance.

Years 2017 onwards, my Gio hoodie ‘became’ Babylou's. She took it to school every day and especially during exams when the AC at the venue hall was borderline frosty. It was her lucky mascot throughout secondary school, Junior College and the better part of her University years…until semester five. 

The trip back from India on Jan 8, 2026 with a transit at Kempegowda International changed our lives forever! At the domestic arrival hall of T1, Babylou inadvertently left our treasured hoodie on the hook of the washroom cubicle and we realised that she no longer had possession of it only at the heart stopping moment at 8 pm in T2 when we were just stepping into the Immigration queues. 

Editing a lengthy scenario which transpired at T2, but a very tearful, red-eyed, remorseful, sheepish (but my darling girl always) sat through the 4.5 hrs in the aircraft turning her face to the window. 

Once home, she wasted no time in logging into the Lost and Found section of the airport website and fervently scrolled through a million assortment of items deposited there. Filtering the search for the ‘White Jacket/ White Hoodie/ Cream colour ( in a final bid exasperation) too yielded zilch !

Responses to the emails to the manager were promptly received with apologies to us. The airport staff are diligent and the washrooms are constantly monitored. In not so many words, it was up to us to deduce that someone had walked away with our vintage hoodie. It was invaluable because of the sentiments it held, not so much for materialistic value. 

The sadness and regret on her face broke my heart into irretrievable pieces. Not so much for the loss of the jacket as I reiterate but for the realization how soft hearted and sensitive Babylou is !

“It's gone forever, Amma! I'm so sorry for Ajja’s jacket. You valued it so much. It held Ajja's memories…”

The bawling went on for 2 days with curses spewed on the petty thief ! 

“I hope she….”

“She should…”

“She will…”

****

The next thing that happened to us was ‘Charrzzx’ Babylou scanned through Carousel, a second sell platform. She had taken it upon herself to right the wrong. 

The first search item miraculously displayed the exact vintage Giordano hoodie I owned ! Except for the drawstrings which were red and black striped. It was an insane replica of my snow white. The only one listed. Babylou grabbed hold of it and reserved it with the trader. 

The heavens must have been on our side. It is a brand new, hardly worn, tags intact, no mark, no stains, fresh as the day it was tailored on…in a ridiculously mint condition for less than half the OG price ! Lord! 

I imagine ‘Charrzzx' or someone from the family buying the same hoodie around the same time as me in 2001 ! And how the universe scripted for us to meet after 25 years for the very hoodie they would never wear and keep it well preserved ( for me ?!) For all I know, this ‘Charrzxx’ wasn't even born in 2001 who according to Babylou is only a teenager right now! Too many synchronicities that keep my head spinning! 

The meeting place with ‘Charrzzx’ was on the stark opposite direction of the area from where we stayed but Babylou took that one hour commute from Uni after her class dismissed, snagged the deal and gifted me with the neat lil package upon arriving home. 

“Amma, this is only a replacement. It's vintage and there are no more of these in stock now. To prevent any more jinxes we ain't gonna wear it no more but keep it as a memento for all time.

I still owe you a new hoodie to wear on future travels so choose something for yourself."

Well, I didn't.

Babylou had used her own well earned internship paycheck to retrieve the loss for me and that was a legacy in itself to hold close to my heart.

I may or may not have achieved high accolades or triumphed with drum rolls in this lifetime but one thing is for certain — I must have done everything absolutely right in raising a godly child in this day and age. My kintsugi heart is in spring bloom and brimming with sunbursts! 

Love returns to me in ways I never envisioned. It was transformed and restored to me in an imperial, flawless manner. The universe definitely is a top-notch director to bring a plot to its deserving finality. And Babylou is my blockbuster star ⭐

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