They called it Diabetes Mellitus
My first memory of her was when my father dispatched me & my little sister
To Ahmedabad and get to know my relatives..She was the centre of my life those two months!
My Fathers younger brother was inseparable from my father
They loved each other deeply..
My Aunt, Pushpakaki as we called her was an epitome of generosity
Their house would be filled with relatives from the village
Some studying,
Some looking for a job,
Some waiting to find a groom,
Some just hanging around..
It was a small non decrepit house
But it was a huge home
For my Aunt had a heart larger than any I have known,
She would be working day and night feeding her loved ones
Never complaining...Always smiling
She was always the life of the home
Sundays we would walk a couple of miles
Have one Dosa and one ice cream
Because that was all that my uncle could afford
But the simplest things in life gave them sublime joy!
She would be ready with Tea for me every morning
With Mango Juice and Chapatis every afternoon
And a heavy snack and a dessert every night
She said she had to add at least 10 kgs to my thin 54 Kgs before I left
She actually added 15 before the summer was over !
I could barely fit into my clothes! My uncle had to buy me new ones!
I never looked back after that! I kept adding it up!
That was my aunt..Lively, feeding, loving and with huge heart..
God gave her children after 14 years of marriage!
Two lovely kids
A Daughter and a Son
But I think she got kids late because she had so many other kids to take care of
Relatives
Relatives of relatives,
Students,
Servants
Everyone who came to her for help
She just gave it.
I know of at least 50 of them she took care of
All of them were deeply indebted to her
For her care concern and affection
I stayed in Ahmedabad for 2 years after my graduation
She would insist I stay with her on weekends
She would feed me
She would wash my clothes
She just took care of me
Not much was said
But love just flowed.
I always felt loved and special in front of her
She never valued people with their money and their achievements
She just made every one feel equal
And loved for
I always thought she loved me more than anyone else
I was wrong
She made everyone feel that way
As we all settled in to our lives
She was there , but in the background
She was suffering
She never ever complained
Her spirit for life was unbreakable
She just suffered with a smile
She was just silent when it was too much to bear
I don't think I did justice
I think I should have been there to tend to her
I should have been there to take care of her
I failed in looking after her
I had begged her to come to FLAME in my Chopper.
She never made it.
She bore her death with the same smile and lively spirit she lived with
She embodied values that will remain closest to my heart
Values of helping others selflessly
Values of valuing people without their finery's and money but by their character
I know she is meeting my father and telling him
I am worried for your brother
The days will pass for him
The nights will be impossible
What will the man who spent 60 years with me do alone
Without the 2 people he loved the most
His wife and his brother
Life has strange ways
But she left an indelible mark on all the lives
Her Daughter , Son, Grandchildren and the entire extended family
I salute the woman who first taught me
The joy of giving selflessly
And charity without any expectations
I salute you Pushpakaki....
Pushpakaki passed away on 22nd August 2011
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