Meri Dadi Maa

Not for anything so big, and it is not a big deal too. Life crossed a moment, and I wanted to keep it. So I am here.

Yesterday, I came to know from my sister that grandma is sick. She ate nothing since two days. She has fever as well and is completely on bed. She is not somebody healthy to sustain such a thing. She is very old, around 82 or may be more. Her health is discouraging. I feel that we are helpless, but she is fighting the odds.

She lives in Navada(Bihar) with one of my uncle. My father lives in Bokaro(Bihar). I called my father and asked him if he is going to meet her. Dadi must be treated by some good doctor, if not in Navada, than may be outside, may be in Patna for example. He said, "Sure". His voice was humble. He was sad to hear that. I also felt bad. Night, he caught a bus to Navada. My mother gave him company. It is not a good road, as we see in NCR. It is a bumpy ride and my father is also touching the retirement age of 60. It takes almost 10 hours to reach Navada. They decided to go. Such moments pump energy to our lives, we get inspiration.

Next day morning, I mean today, I called him and he gave a smiling news. Dadi is fine. She had her breakfast. She still reads without glasses and she could eat as still enough teeth are present. Fever is gone. I was so happy to hear that. Dad said, "She is very happy to know that Vijay(My dad) has come.". Son's presence is the cure for her. That is how mothers long for their children.

He visited her after 8 months.

I asked my father, "How are you feeling?". He said, "He is feeling good.". I know, and he knows better than me, being close to your mother is something very personal and delighting. She is fading away in terms of heath and age(Love and Affection has grown up with time :-) ). All we could wish is, may she lives at least a 100 years or more.

I couldn't stop myself from remembering those small instances, when she will protect us from any punishment announced by mummy or when she will give me 'Pakwans' or 'Gulab Jamuns' or 'a rupee or half' for ice creams or 'Sonpapdi'. Sometime she will give us these sweets without letting anybody know. Since we were in joint family, things were divided once made. So she will have to give it secretly. That time I didn't know what it meant. But in today's world, I see its meaning. A simple Love is not that common now a day. She is the best Dadi.

I do not remember an instance; even my father never mentioned that Dadi ever demanded anything from them. She had always been giving. She was not less than a princess at her time. Her father was a 'Zamindar', had a few villages under him, was treated like royal. In today's world if a person has little money, she/he gets all kind of ego. But here is she, a completely different, down to earth, giving personality.

[Above : A rare picture of Nani Maa (Left) and Dadi Maa (Right).

I have decided to visit her soon. May be somewhere close to Diwali or before.

My father gave the cell to Dadi and I talked to her, just few sentences. Her voice has same affection. I am missing her.