CHANDAI !
That's what I call my lovely Nani since childhood.I share a unique bond as I spent the first five years of life with her in view of my working parents.I was pampered, not spoilt by her. I cried a lot when my parents took me home back then.
She suffered Pott's spine in her youth,was bed ridden for a year however imparted Literacy to a few lucky people in and around the family. How noble of her!
That's what I call my lovely Nani since childhood.I share a unique bond as I spent the first five years of life with her in view of my working parents.I was pampered, not spoilt by her. I cried a lot when my parents took me home back then.
She suffered Pott's spine in her youth,was bed ridden for a year however imparted Literacy to a few lucky people in and around the family. How noble of her!
She walked with a mild limp but never used to take support of any helping hand for the same.She was always independent and had a strong will power to boot. I really considered her as my moral pillar of strength and still take her advice at times for ethical issues.
Few years back, I fulfilled her wish of flying and took her to Singapore for a vacation. She really enjoyed the sights and we later took her to a cruise also to balance air with water. All the staff used to take special care of her and used to be beside her like bodyguards.She used to always accompany us to shopping malls where she used to quietly sit in a corner without getting tired. She never used to say no to anything !
Last year she suffered a fatal infection of the brain, Viral Encephalitis. She was critical in the ICU for a month or so,everybody saw her with a prayer on their lips and consolation for the family. It is very difficult treating one's own relatives and I was also under a lot of pressure to perform miracles for her. She could not see me lose any time and slowly started to improve and rise like a phoenix from the ashes.She came out of the hospital with a mild memory impairment, entertaining for me as she daily used to wish me in the morning for my birthday or my marriage anniversary. I readily used to take the money cover offered by her as I used to in my childhood.That got over pretty soon and normalcy was restored.
Few years back, I fulfilled her wish of flying and took her to Singapore for a vacation. She really enjoyed the sights and we later took her to a cruise also to balance air with water. All the staff used to take special care of her and used to be beside her like bodyguards.She used to always accompany us to shopping malls where she used to quietly sit in a corner without getting tired. She never used to say no to anything !
Last year she suffered a fatal infection of the brain, Viral Encephalitis. She was critical in the ICU for a month or so,everybody saw her with a prayer on their lips and consolation for the family. It is very difficult treating one's own relatives and I was also under a lot of pressure to perform miracles for her. She could not see me lose any time and slowly started to improve and rise like a phoenix from the ashes.She came out of the hospital with a mild memory impairment, entertaining for me as she daily used to wish me in the morning for my birthday or my marriage anniversary. I readily used to take the money cover offered by her as I used to in my childhood.That got over pretty soon and normalcy was restored.
However after a few months, she sustained a hip fracture and was again bed ridden! She was always a care taker in our illnesses and now she requiring care,was simply not acceptable to her. She got depressed but our joint efforts healed her and got her back on her feet.She uses a walker for support though.
Her spirit is really indomitable!
Every morning she craves for the morning newspaper and magazines, asks me to put old hindi songs on the music system for her and watches a lot of television soaps.
Last month we took her to a restaurant for a party and she was all smiles and excited like a child wearing a new saree which made her look so pretty! She still relishes the latest bollywood movies and watches them uninterrupted. Last week she personally supervised our cook to make a delicious Undhiyo for us. She pesters me repeatedly to take her with the family to Lonavala for a short trip.
So far, she has never told me that she is tired of life.
Everyday is a new day for her!
Looking at her enthusiasm,
I understand the meaning of 'Young At Heart' now !
We love her a lot and want her to be forever with us.
Her spirit is really indomitable!
Every morning she craves for the morning newspaper and magazines, asks me to put old hindi songs on the music system for her and watches a lot of television soaps.
Last month we took her to a restaurant for a party and she was all smiles and excited like a child wearing a new saree which made her look so pretty! She still relishes the latest bollywood movies and watches them uninterrupted. Last week she personally supervised our cook to make a delicious Undhiyo for us. She pesters me repeatedly to take her with the family to Lonavala for a short trip.
So far, she has never told me that she is tired of life.
Everyday is a new day for her!
Looking at her enthusiasm,
I understand the meaning of 'Young At Heart' now !
We love her a lot and want her to be forever with us.
UPDATE- 28/12/2010.
My granny had been bed ridden since the last few months. She used to sleep most of the time and had to woken up for her small feeds. She reluctantly took liquids and would vomit if we forced her. She was sinking day by day. Her days and nights were slowly merging together. Her once favoured and avidly watched TV serials would just play on, without a single glance from her.She was in her own world.
Hospitalisation was strongly rejected by her, We respected her wishes. She wanted to be with us all the time, away from the pokes and jabs and the drips.
She told me one day about a place where she wanted to go, It was a small house by the lake with the trees swaying gently to the breeze. The butterflies would dance around the colourful flowers. I denied existence of such a familiar place in my memory. But, she assured me about such a scenic utopian place.
Yesterday, she breathed her last. Her wrinkled hands held mine at the time of death.
I was always around her when she needed me, but this time she had made up her solo plans.
She had begun the journey to her Paradise.
Her late husband, my grand dad was eagerly awaiting her with flowers in his hands and a tear in his eye.
No comments:
Post a Comment