End of an era

 

Today my Dadi expired. She was one of the strongest characters I had seen. From managing 6 kids to a paralyzed husband for 12 years all on her own, she did it all. Obviously, she had developed hard edges, she had been rough and harsh at times. When I look back and ponder, the amount of hardship she went through was way too much and I could easily understand the reason for her pain and roughness. Despite that she has been support to all of us, when my elder brother wasn't able to settle in his college she immediately left for the college in far terrain and supported him and helped him settle well. Whenever I had to travel to Bhopal, she was always there to accompany me to ensure my safety. Countless travel and support she provided to all of us.

She accompanied me to Delhi for my first job. She accompanied me when I wanted to travel, and my parents were not able to join. She was full of life and loved to try new things.

I clicked this picture when she came to stay with me during my initial days in job.  I still vividly remember how happily she tried my dresses and got ready for clicking pictures. I was happy to see a child alive in her when she was 70.  

When she found that my aunt and uncle were not taking care of their daughter studies well, she brought her to Morena and registered her to good school to ensure that she doesn't lack behind. 

She offered all her penny to aunt and uncle so that they could take care of their family well.

There was one side of her which was very interesting, she loved playing pranks specially one with lot of drama and acting skills. Those were my fun childhood memories. Once there was bhajan event at my place and suddenly one lady started rolling her head, everybody started praying to her that devi maa has manifested in her. I was baffled as well as curious and was watching everything with full attention. In another 5 mins, my dadi started rolling her head more wildly and she shouted that deity from nearest temple has manifested in her. After hearing this, everyone bowed down to her. As a child, I was too much intrigued and perplexed with this incident. That day, in the evening when Dadi was alone, I asked her how does it feel when deity manifests in you and does it happen for real? She confessed that she was acting then I was all blown with her superb acting skills.

 There was one empty house besides our house there were already rumors of evil spirit in it. Once in the night, when it was raining heavily, we saw a lady in white saree moving on the terrace of that house. We all got extremely scared and then we formed a group to find out who was there in the house. So, we went to the entrance of that house and started calling if anyone is there. But then there were ghostly sounds and stones were thrown at the door. Gradually we were 15 knocking at the door, though very scared but determined to figure out this ghost issue. After 30 mins of struggle, we realized that one of the bravest persons is not among us. Then it clicked to us that it might be Dadi who was doing this for fun. The moment it clicked to us she came out laughing. No one dare to enter that building and she dared to scare us all by going alone. 

My uncle suffered some mental problems for years, Dadi loved him so dearly that it impacted her very much. In small towns, family deity taking over your head and not letting you do anything is not very uncommon. My Dadi tried everything to solve it. Once uncle started rolling his head and said deity had come in me. In that state, he announced countless things such as my younger brother won't be selected this year, we will be transferred to this place etc.  Suddenly, Dadi got in a different form and said that deity had come in her and somehow, she controlled everything. Later on, she confessed to me that she acted to take hold of the situation. The ease with which she used to act really amazed me. It was so hard to believe that she was acting.

For past 10 years, after suffering brain stroke, she wasn't keeping up well. Despite suffering half body paralysis, she worked hard on herself to become independent and move all by herself. Recent second stroke left her in real bad state. It was extremely painful to watch her in helpless state, at that very moment I prayed to God that a strong person like should not be seen in this state and should be freed from the life which was not only painful to her but also to people around her. 

Today after suffering for a long time, she left us. Though she had left us physically, but her strong will and personality will always stay with me. I pray to almighty for peace of her departed soul. 

Om Shanti!