Annikki and I just received a letter which told us why we DID NOT get one important Season's Greeting in the many thousands that arrived here in Oulu!
This aerogramme from our former driver, Narayanan, brought tears to both Annikki's and my eyes.
Narayanan was the driver for the Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) office in Madras in 1970. The office was being closed, and my dad, who was the CEO of TCE told us that they would be ending the service of a driver whom he thought was a wonderful individual.
Narayanan became my family driver in 1970. As he spoke a smattering of good English he became a confidant of Annikki who had just settled in Madras.
As I was in the process of establishing my Consulting Company, Polymer Consultancy Services, which required me to travel extensively in India, I was greatly blessed by Narayanan who took care of Annikki and the children with so much love and affection that he became an important member of our family. Every time the children got into the car, he would make sure that each one was safely seated before he started to drive - pre seat belt days.
When we moved to Bangalore in 1976 he continued as our company driver in Madras till he started his own taxi service till his retirement.
On every visit we made to India after we moved to Finland, Narayanan was there to drive us around in Madras.
When we went to India in 1991-92, he turned up with his whole family to see us. I have many beautiful pictures of him and his family with Annikki and me, which we greatly treasure.
His annual greetings were a great comfort to Annikki and me as we knew he and his family were doing well. When we did not get his greetings this last holiday season, both of us were wondering why.
Then this letter brought us this sad news of the demise of his wife and the loneliness that has crept into his life.
Our prayers go out to him and his children as we know they will miss a wonderful lady who had helped Narayanan live a good but tough life and raise a wonderful family.
We, and the many guests of ours whom he looked after with such love and care, grieve with Narayanan and his family.
