Goodbye Nanima!!

My Nanima - Deviben Ashwinbhai Joshi, passed away on 14th Jan 2009, at 1835 hours. She suffered badly for the past one month as her body had almost collapsed. She hardly ate or drank. But in these hours of slowly preparing to leave the world, she was surrounded by her entire family.

My Mom is heartbroken today. She couldnt take her eyes off the body and burst into tears as my mama(s) prepared the body for its final journey. While my mom and masi(s) clinged onto her till the last moment, she was long gone away from this world. My dad told me that according to Mahabharat, the bhimshmapithamah, died at the same time on 14th jan. Bhishmapithamah, had the power to choose his time of death and chose the sunset time on Makarsankranti to breath his last. And my nanima too died at the same hour on the same day. I am glad that it makes my mom happy a wee bit as she starts getting use to not having her mother around.

My mom fondly called nanima "mother"... in a perfect anglecised manner... My Nanima has to her credit, the task of bringing up 6 children successfully. Her five daughters, have been a pillar of strength for each other and teachers by profession. Each one of them learnt so much from their mother, that the reason behind them being successful and proud mothers today, somewhere lies with their upbringing by my nanima. 

I vividly remember how my nanima would exclaim, "radha... radha..."... everytime i goofed up or came up with a smart statement out of her imagination. She sat me down once at Gaurav's wedding (Gaurav is my cousin) and told me what actually makes a woman. She told me that a woman is the strength for the family. She has this capacity to put everyone in the family before her and still be happy just with the fact that she was useful to someone in some way. She told me it was equally important to be well behaved, well mannered and be seen as someone as a dutiful daughter, wife or mother. I was just 22/23 at that point of time... I hardly understood the depth of the matter... but i have grown and i will always treasure her words.

She was indeed the strength behind her family. She helped her children and society in every way possible. She would give me money, even if she hardly had any left on her. I also remember her steel cold glances at me when i would do something that she wouldnt like. And in the last few years, as she struggled with her memory... she would look up at me from her bed, her eyes would widen and while i held her hand, she would smile at me... a small bright smile to tell me that she recognised me. 

I am glad i visited her several times over these few years. I am glad that my nanima had her entire family around her when she was breathing her last. I am glad that people remember her as a pious lady and someone who helped each one of them in one way or the other...

Here's hoping that wherever she is right now... she's comfortable and happy.. and if she's reading my blog... i want to tell her that i will always remember her and tell my kids about her. 

Take care... OM!!