17th February 2022 - morning started as usual. Morning tea, office work, breakfast etc. But then my mother called up with a 'hard to believe' news for me. Aaji had passed away. You may say why would this be a 'hard to believe' news. Old people do pass away. Especially at an age of 87, it is only a matter of time, even to those who are in the best of health. But when someone this close passes away, it is really hard to believe for the loved ones.
My oldest memories of Aaji start with me going to their place in pune every summer holidays. Aaji, Ajoba and mama were my favourite family !! Ajoba was the disciplinarian types but used to buy us sweets and used to take us out to eat. Mama was the sportsman and used to take us to the ground every evening, where I used to jog and play. Aaji used to shower all her love on me, used to give me whatever I wanted and used to reprimand my mother for reprimanding me !! Her everyday cooking was so good, I swear by her 'Chinch gul Amti' to this day. Eat as much as you want and exercise / play as much as you can, she used to tell me - this was the secret ingredient to her health. I used to feel most comfortable in discussing my thoughts and feelings with her. She too confided everything in me.
I remember her narrating her childhood memories. One of my favourite, goes like this .....
Aaji's mother used to tie her to the window since she was extremely active, mischievous and used to bully kids of the neighbourhood. This was confirmed once by my grand-aunt (grandmother's elder sister), who also said that the kids used to drop whatever they were playing and run away at the sight of my grandmother coming out of the house !! My grand-aunt had also said that once 'leeli' (My grandmother's pet name (maiden name was Leela).) had asked her to face the wall and when she did, had pulled her legs from underneath her causing my grand aunt to hurt herself badly. No one who had seen her in adult life, would ever imagine that this very kind lady was once the cause of terror in the neighbourhood !!
My aaji and I played cards a lot during those summer holidays. Rummy and ek-shey-aath being our favourite card games. When Ajoba wanted to play with us (rare occassion), aaji used to tell him jokingly, "Naka khelu tumhi. Bhayankar wel laavta khelayla" and used to smile at me. This was also rare - Aaji telling Ajoba off. She used to give me a bath everyday herself till the time I was atleast 10 years old !! The song she sang during my bath went like this......"Jai Gange jai bhagirathi, jai jai ram, dasharati...."
I remember waiting happily for Aaji at our city's bus depot, bouncing at the thought that she and Ajoba would be here for a few days now. Each time a ST bus came into the depot, I used to ask aai whether this is the one that Aaji is in. She used to love the Apna Bazar near our place - atleast one trip during their visit was fixed.
When it was time for her to return to pune (or in my case, return from pune), I used to cry a lot, clinging on to her and begging her and Ajoba not to go. More than once, I remember them staying back a couple of days more. Almost at all times, aaji was also in tears while parting.
She herself was a very healthy individual and was regular in her lifestyle and habits. She used to do pranayam regularly and went on walks, lately only inside the campus - but everyday. Her meal times were regular and she used to eat almost a 'measured' quantity of food per meal. She loved 'Shira', a sweet dish that is made in quite a few parts of India. Till the last day, she was mobile, moving on her feet and could even touch her head on her knees while sitting !! (Something which my 6 year old cannot do !!)
In later years, she took great care of Ajoba when he was bedridden. The day he died she went into a kind of shock and later on kept on telling me to ask Ajoba if he requires anything. In a hope to put an end to her shocked state, I tried telling her in a loud and aggravated voice that he is no more and she should stop saying this. "He is gone aaji and he will not come back now." I remember almost yelling at her. I think she perceived Ajoba's death as the end of the purpose of her existence as well - at the time atleast !! Slowly she started returning back to normal.
I used to visit her and call her every now and then. Last year, I had stayed with her for a couple of weeks. I met her last month when I was here in Pune and it was the last time that I did. She used to tell me every now and then that all her grandchildren and children are the best in the world and that she is proud of them !! I am glad she saw all her grandchildren and her great grandchildren hale and hearty !!
A grandparent's love is unconditional and the relation is like no other. Aaji meant as much as my mother to me. Her loss cannot be expressed in words and I wont try it either.
This post may not be properly written, but it does bring back my aaji to me at least for the time I am writing the post. And as I try to conclude the post unwillingly, it feels like aaji is going back to pune again, leaving me in tears. Sure, it will be back to life as usual for me - I have her blessings. As for aaji, hopefully she is in peace wherever she is, somewhere up there, watching over me, and in the meantime having a chat with Ajoba !!
People may come and go,
But memories of them stay,
Their blessings keep us strong,
Till death take us away.
