The Mind and the Heart

Fiction depicts the beauty of true friendship and humanity. ANNASWAMY VAIDHEESHFormer MD, Johnson & Johnson, Medical, India& Former VP, South Asia and MD, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, India'Darling, read this.' Lakshmi feels there's too much suspense and pressure, and her face is the index of her mind. She opens and reads. With excitement on her face looming large, 'Daddy! Research award for me! Oh my God!' She has tears rolling down her eyes and sees her father. Ganesh gently hugs her and looks at her.'Darling, you are the only one selected out of 200 cardiothoracic surgeons across the globe to get this prestigious research award on heart transplantation. You'll be working under the world-renowned heart surgeon and my good old friend, Prof Victor Benjamin in Sydney.'Lakshmi stares at him with tearful eyes. Slowly she falls on her father's chest and hugs him emotionally.'Daddy, right from my birth, I have not seen my mother. You showed her only in photos. For me, in this world, everything is you... Mother, father, guru, friend, philosopher, guide. I am blessed to be your daughter.'