Deepavali pertama tanpa Indiran

For Usha Suppiah, Deepavali now once again brought back memories of her eldest son, K Indiran, who brought joy to the family's celebrations. In Petaling Jaya, Usha Suppiah remarked that Deepavali is always a time for family to gather together. Her home would be bustling with the presence of her siblings, the excitement of preparing for the festivities, and children coming together to make sweets.

This year's celebration, however, was different as K Indiran, her eldest child, was no longer present. On February 18th last year, the 22-year-old soldier was found unconscious at Camp Batu 10 in Kuantan. He took his last breaths two days later while receiving treatment. "Last time, Indiran was with us and everyone was happy. But this year, he is not here.

When a family member is missing, it feels like something is missing." Usha, 52, told FMT Lifestyle. According to the Hindu tradition practiced by her family, they would not celebrate Deepavali for a year after the death of a family member. However, Usha and her three other children still plan to hold a prayer ceremony and a simple reunion with siblings who come from all over the country.

Although initially concerned about her son's career choice, Usha ultimately accepted Indiran's decision to join the military, following in his father's footsteps.