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Cut out for cutting it out
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True heirs of Dhanvantari chill out at Ilapuram with Mubin Sultan
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AN EVENING with them is like sailing snugly in a petty family boat in tranquil waters, dining al fresco while enjoying their agreeable company. Offering an almost desirable environment for the right feel is Ilapuram Restaurant. Dr. Venkata Ratnam, an ENT specialist and his wife Dr.Sailaja, taking time out of their hectic schedule, drived down with their cute and bubbly daughter, Sameera.
A native of Guntur district, Venkata Ratnam had his graduation and post-graduation in Guntur. A specialist, he obtained his Fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology from Bombay while Sailaja who belongs to Gudivada is a doctor in Homoeopathy.
Their day begins with work out sessions at the crack of dawn. Venkata Ratnam doesn't skip his daily sessions of badminton for anything, at the Railway Club. "That is where I get the opportunity to socialize as the rest of the day holds not a minute of my own," he confesses. "I cannot afford to be as busy as he is," says Sailaja who takes care of her children Sameera and Sindhura, giving all the entertainment and attention they need.
While chipping in the light Pulkas with Mixed Vegetable curry and Palak Paneer, Venkata Ratnam provides an insight of his career. The first Oncologist to perform challenging surgeries like Laryngectomy and Laryngo-pharyngo-Oesophagalectomy, in the city, Venkata Ratnam finds not many cases these days. Socially inclined, he also works in collaboration with an NGO - Care and Share. His most significant case had been that of a US-based anesthetist whom he treated free of cost at a critical situation. After getting a surgery done by experts in the US, who praised Dr.Venkata Ratnam's ideal work, his patient returned after a year to pay her gratitude to him. Inspired by the act, Dr. Ratnam has noble plans of starting a "Manne Health Foundation," to keep himself busy after shedding his responsibilities.
The family enjoys going out together on Sunday evenings. While Sweet Magic is a favourite haunt of their kids, the couple has sweet memories of boating together at the Krishnaveni Motel. Movies too play a huge area of their interest. "I like Nagarjuna and Shreya" says Sameera while relishing her Chicken Biryani with fantasies of the movie still lingering on her mind. "He prefers staying back at home, the task of taking the children for shopping and entertaining them is completely mine," says Sailaja. The family also goes on a vacation every year and hill stations are their prominent spots and rate Manali to be the best amongst all.
An interesting couple, Sailaja tries her gourmet varieties quite often. "She is the best at gulab-jamuns," spurt the father and the daughter together. A know-all wife and mother, she talks on behalf of her daughter Sindhura , currently in Sri Chaitanya hostel, on her way to follow her father's footsteps. She's very much into swimming," she says.
"With rural backgrounds, we didn't have much exposure to many things as students," says Sailaja who now takes pride watching her husband take his piano lessons every Sunday. "I wish to appreciate all kinds of music," adds Dr.Ratnam with a smile which steals away his age from him. He is also a considerable linguist and knows many languages from Kannada to Gujarati. "I learned Urdu to read Omar Khayyam's works, I hope to realize the dream soon," says Dr. Ratnam. His next to-be learnt language is French, which is very important for him to take part in the activities of Gustave University for ENT specialists in Paris.
Relaxing themselves over the chill, creamy butterscotch scoops, the couple talks about Vijayawada. "It is a very peaceful place which is why we chose to settle here," says Sailaja. A simple couple and role models to the society in their own way, they successfully represent the idea that humanity, satisfaction and understanding are more important above anything else, to lead a perfect and happy life.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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