Shekhar Suman Opens one of the most painful chapters of her life – the illness and loss of her son Ayush Suman. In a recent conversation, the actor recalled how his father, a doctor, was the first to notice the symptoms of Aayush’s rare treatment and also shared an emotional incident that made his family feel that his son is still watching over them.
‘His liver is enlarged’
Recalling the moment his father’s instinct alerted the family, Shekhar said Ayush was sitting on his grandfather’s lap when he noticed something unusual.“My father was a doctor. Ayush came and sat on his lap, and while examining him normally, he said, ‘Sekhar, come here. His liver is slightly enlarged. When you get back to Mumbai, get it checked. It might not be anything, but don’t ignore it,'” the actor shared with Lehren Retro.The family pursues medical tests, which eventually lead to a devastating diagnosis.
‘When my dad said oh my god, I knew it was serious’
As the investigation continued, doctors discovered that Ayush was suffering from endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF), an extremely rare heart disease.“One test led to another and we found out that he had fibrosis of the heart, a one-in-a-billion case called endomyocardial fibrosis. When I told my father on the phone about the diagnosis, there was complete silence. Then he just said, ‘Oh my God,'” Shekhar recalled.The actor said he immediately felt the depth of the situation. “When he told me it was not a good disease, I understood. I knew my father very well. We finally got to know that Ayush was terminally ill.”
‘You can never get over something like this’
Years after losing her son, Shekhar admits the pain remains.“I’ve talked about it many times, but you never get over something like that. Every day we talk about him, look at his pictures, remember him. Loss never leaves you,” he said.The actor added that he often feels Aayush’s presence around him and believes that the bond with his son continues beyond the physical world.
Incident of Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Sharing an experience that deeply affected his family, Shekhar recalled an incident involving his wife Alka Suman while visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.According to the actor, Alka called him while campaigning during the 2009 elections. Before explaining why she was hurt, she casually asked if she had met Aayush.“He was shocked and asked how I knew. He told me that after going to the temple, someone asked him for money. He handed over a small amount and the person replied, ‘Itne se mera kya hoga?’ Just in Ayush’s voice and tone,” said Shekhar.This phrase was an Ayush often used at home when doctors restricted her food intake and gave her small portions.
‘Many said he would give us a sign’
Shekhar said Alka was so startled that she immediately looked for the man, but he disappeared.“Many priests and astrologers told us that Aayush would one day give us a sign. Alka strongly believes that it was him. We feel that he is still with us, not physically, but spiritually,” he said.The actor also revealed that many people have predicted that Aayush will one day return to the family in a different form.“We have been told that he will return as Adhyayan’s son. We are waiting for that moment. I really feel He is all around us. I can hear his voice and feel his presence,” added Shekhar.Ayush Suman died in 1994 at the age of 11 after battling a rare heart disease. Over the years, Shekhar and his family continue to talk about him with deep affection, keeping his memory alive through stories and cherished moments.
