Gentle as the breeze, strong as the hills

 Today on her seventh mensual death anniversary, let me remember some of  her early days. 

Due to Papa's honesty and genuine sincerity, there used to be many transfers in his job. Suddenly, in their early married days, Papa was transferred to Bijapur, a very tough stay for her as in that muslim dominated town, women were not even allowed anywhere near the dehliz.Nor did she know Hindi well.

Then suddenly there was a transfer to Nanded, so very far way from her maternal home, Pandharpur. The only daughter of a big family, she had never stayed alone so far away. She was hardly twenty three-ish.

Then at Nanded in the seventh month of her first pregnancy, she developed a very high fever. The doctor was sure the baby would not survive. Papa somehow nursed her back to some normalcy. 

The doctor clearly told them that she must not travel. So in the first fortnight of the ninth month of her first pregnancy, they had to travel in the horrible April heat from Nanded to Pandharpur on a meter gauge train. Those days she used to be very thin.

The very thought brings tears to my eyes. Such, such were the times then that after reaching Pandharpur in that terrible condition,  two/three weeks later, she *walked*  (!!!!!)in to the hospital for her first delivery! 

Raju was born exactly a year later. Things were comparatively much easier this time, but by that time, Papa was transferred to Nashik.

That year, it was so cold in Nashik that birds, she told me, fell off branches,  dead due to cold. Must have been difficult bringing up a new born baby and a year old daughter in that condition. In a way, Papa took over my responsibility.

Neither Aai nor Papa ever complained of their difficult lot. Neither she nor he bitterly criticised the elders who misbehaved with them both, every which way, emotional to financial.

Instead, she came up with very creative solutions to every problem. So what if there was no mixer, she could prepare idli batter in her own unique way!

They had a big box to pack up all the what-not's, as there were constant transfers. It Used to double up as the sofa, very neatly put!

They were never stingy. But they knew the value of money. They sure had to, of course!

She never once bothered him for new sarees, jewellery, and such stuff. Was always content. Instead, she herself used to stitch lovely clothes.

They both tried everything for us, often sacrificing their comfort in the process.For our education, they chose to live apart, she taking care of three children, growing up, and he living all alone in awful places due to the transfers.

But her jolly temperament never much diminished. They both had a zest for life.Neither showed it, but both were hyper senti.

Things must have been really tough often, but no complaints, no regrets.

They celebrated their living in their own simple but meaningful way. Indeed gentle as the breeze and yet strong as the hills was she, my Aai, and her consort, Papa

Pratima@parent proud