Obituaries

To our sweet, darling Lucky baby:

There are not enough words to express all the joy, endless love, and adventure you brought and will continue to bring us. An Alpharetta boy through and through–at just a month old, you instantly ran into your forever family’s hands and let us embrace you Simba style. Your lion’s mane from day one forever serves as a symbol of your loyalty, fierceness, and courage. Little did we know that you would raise and hold us up for the rest of our lives (all while matching our same level of craziness, attachment, and affection). From the time you climbed up the stairs at less than eight-weeks-old to when you pulled all-nighters to make sure your siblings studied, you instantly cemented yourself as one of us. We questioned how you were born (“nuvvu etta puttevu”) because of how unique and unexpectedly pleasant you always are. You went through all traditional childhood phases as your siblings did, which included eagerly waiting in the elementary school carpool lane, sneaking into their suitcases before college, and exhibiting pride as they walked across their stages at graduation. Even long after childhood milestones, most importantly, you forever teach us the value of unconditional love and that family always comes first. For these reasons and more, you will always be the center of our universe.

You always give us so much to look forward to and celebrate. It’s fitting that you were born around Thanksgiving because you always extend grace and have the most interesting and refined palate. Popeyes crispy fried chicken, fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts (hot light only, right off the conveyor belt), Chick-fil-a nuggets/sandwiches, Bruster’s doggie sundaes, triple Thai hot drunken noodles (sneakily eaten against our wills), Publix tenders, Mommy’s chicken and rice, Thatha’s table scraps, and Mammamma’s hand mixed baiyya buvva–just to name some of your favorites. We knew it was poetic that we first met you the day after Christmas and quickly realized every moment spent with you feels warm and fuzzy like Christmas morning. You are truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Not only do you have a spectacular, charming personality, but you have the elegant grace, style, and poise of a GQ model to match. From your royal, luscious locks to your radiant smile, your beauty is simply beyond compare. You have the most rigorous routine that involves turtling your beds, inspecting the kitchen floor, engaging in a self-cleaning routine, and checking on all your family members. To top it all off, you were born blessed with Lord Venkateswara’s namam and nakshatram, signifying your closeness to god and devotion to Hinduism. You have perfect attendance at every puja; and we know you’ll keep this record all while munching on the prasadam and kalakanda. You are “Kesar Babu” for a reason, even though bellam pongali is a close second.

You are never shy to flaunt your many talents and flair for dramatics–whether that be through a bark-off, private squeaky toy concerts, racing down the driveway, speed eating sausage McMuffin patties, immaculately twisting the caps off bottles, TSA level sniffing abilities, destroying swimsuits within a matter of minutes, sunbathing (because you’re already perfectly tan), Olympic-level recliner jumping, or just casually strutting your stuff. One of your simple pleasures is riding in the car with your spiked hair blowing in the wind while your favorite summer music jams (“One Kiss,” “Chains,” and “Sunday Best”) play on the radio. You always highlight your incredible emotional intelligence by knowing exactly what to do based on the circumstances. By going above and beyond, you make sure that there’s never a dull day in sight with your robust programming.

Consistency and communication are some of your strong suits. Since the moment you joined us, you’ve always prioritized protecting and guarding us at all costs. This is a testament to your selflessness and staunch determination. However, you’re well-balanced and still make sure to show your soft side through your love of receiving belly rubs, petting of sleepy spots, sharing kisses, and giving us your paws (saying “I love you”). Through it all, you make sure that you never waver on these things not only because of our mutual, boundless love for each other but also because of your commitment to staying strong by making everything seem okay. You constantly give us so much to be proud of because of your pure character, persistence, and resilience. We can only hope that we do the same for you.

You continually inspire us to be the best versions of ourselves, to always reach for the stars, and to find the bright side of every situation. You instill self-confidence and unwavering support in a way that no one else can, especially in the midst of our greatest obstacles. Oh the laughs you provide even now–your mischief, Swiper the Fox tendencies, and energy bars!

You join the ranks of a couple of the greatest minds of all time–Albert Einstein, who was born on Pi Day and Stephen Hawking, who passed on Pi Day. Though you physically left on Pi Day (yummy pie!), this only showcased your unmatched intelligence and further proved to us that you have a greater plan to stand firmly by our sides forever. You’ve already left some indelible marks on us, never to be forgotten such as teething on the dining table and instilling valuable life lessons (just to name a couple). You will keep giving more life if not only to us but to the world through Mommy’s garden, endless tales, an overarching presence in each of our lives, and the list goes on and on. As your name suggests, you make us feel beyond lucky, fortunate, and honored to have the privilege of being your eternal family. We love you always and forever and ever, Nubes.

Nuthina, roll over for a belly rub. We love you, Naana. May God always bless you!

Infinite hugs, kisses, head and chin scratches, and belly rubs from your best friends, Mommy, Pavitra (“Jehu” and Big Sister), Meghana (Designated “Dad” and Big Sister), Prasanth (“Food Goals” and Big Brother), Mammamma (Grandmother), Thatha (Grandfather), and Suresh