During July 1969, there was a tragedy at home. Chikka Jayamma who was pregnant had an abortion at her in-law’s residence. She saw the abortion happening in front of her eyes and breathed her last immediately suffering from a heart attack. It was on Ashada Shuddha Trayodashi, two days prior to Bheemana Amaavasya Festival, she breathed her last.

Her death has a huge impact on my educational career. I was unable to concentrate on studies. I completed the Engineering course but withdrew from the Examination in April 1970. Appeared for the examination in September 1970 – passed in all subjects except two in which I got ordinance.  Appeared for two papers in April and failed again.

During June 1971, Annaiah fell sick and was admitted to Bowring hospital for treatment. He did not return home and breathed his last exactly at 9.00 PM on 31^st July 1971. I remember the time as precisely as I had a watch in my hand and Annaiah had asked me the time just the previous minute. He was to be discharged on 31^st July 1971 in the morning. He called for the “Panchanga” from home and had told the Doctor that he wished to get discharged on 01 Aug 1971, as 31^st July 1971 was Navami. He could not fulfill his wish as he breathed his last on Navami itself.

Doddamma, Kitty, Seeki and Dodda Jayamma and we two, me and Chandri were totally shattered at the demise of Annaiah. Doddamma’s pain was unbearable as she lost her daughter and son within a span of one year and that too in front of her eyes and in her old age. She was 85 plus then.  I was direction less and spent many hours playing cards with a decent company of friends. I used to reach home late 11.00 PM or sometimes past midnight. I never bothered to study for the two ordinance papers I had to finish. It was Kitty’s timely intervention and advice put me back on rails. Later on I learnt that it was Doddamma’s direction to Kitty to talk to me. I was at studies again and passed the two papers with ease by getting good marks and completed the B.E. Degree in Electrical Engineering. I paid heed to Kitty’s advice and stopped playing cards with the same intensity I used to play. Late coming home was put to halt and I became an obedient boy of the family.

In retrospect, Annaiah knew his time of demise. This was confirmed as he had casted Ashtaka Varga, which gives the exact time of one’s death. I found this casting/prediction hidden in a box kept in his cup board after some years. He has learnt Astrology so well from his maternal uncle “Kanti” who was a renowned Astrologer of his times in Channaraya Patna. I was also lucky enough to learn Astrology basics from Annaiah and Kanti.

Annaiah’s profound knowledge of Astrology was made known to me by his brother-in-laws – Ramanna and Kittu. Ramanna was to tell me that he had gone to Thirthahally to see my mother who was sick. During conversation with Annaiah, Ramanna was told the exact time of death of my mother. My mother passed away almost the same date predicted by Annaiah. Kittu also told me the same incident appreciating the knowledge of Astrology of his brother in law and was awe about his predictions.

During Annaiah’s hospitalization, I was with him in the hospital. He was hospitalized for a month. I used to spend nearly Ten Rupees a day. During the last week of July, he had asked me how much money I have. I told him I have fifty rupees with me which I had borrowed from his cousin Prabhakara {Yenkana Maga} towards the examination fees which I had to pay on the last date of August,04, 1971. He asked me to spend the amount and assured me that the examination fee can be drawn from his Pension Account which would be disbursed on 31^st of July.

Annaiah’s colleague by name Shri Gundu Rao used to visit him at the hospital on hearing the news of his hospitalization. Shri Gundu Rao had retired as Executive Engineer from PWD and was staying in Bowring hospital quarters with his son Dr. Somashekhar who was an anesthetist. Shri Gundu Rao slipped a note of fifty rupees into the hands of Kitti as Annaiah’s body was taken out in a trolley from the ward. Annaiah’s cremation expenses were met with the amount of fifty rupees given by Shri Gundu Rao. I paid my examination fees by borrowing from my classmate Chandrashekhar who was already employed with MICO.