BY DR. SUVARNA BAPAT 

 

IT WAS bright sunny day. I was pursing my passion of gardening as it was holiday. It took me long and soon I realised I should move in as the heat was getting unbearable. The moment I entered the house I could hear some notes of English music. I wondered who had put on the music. My granny in her late 80s was engrossed in the music which was being played on her cell phone. It was a sweet surprise. I was happy that granny, had developed a new taste for music. She had visited us after a span of nearly 10 years and I could see many changes in her. I appreciated her for her taste and at the same time I tried to pull her legs too. After all she was my beloved granny. In the evening I had a zoom call with my aunty. Recently granny had visited her and had quite mingled with her sons. The moment the children appeared on the screen Granny waved her hand and said “hey guys whatsapp.” I was astonished by her gesture. Later she gave flying kisses to children and bid a good bye saying “I will miss you” in English.

 

For me it was totally a new addition to her vocabulary. Granny was giving me surprises after surprises. I loved the change in her. I have observed my granny very closely since childhood days. She had developed liking for many new things which were not her taste earlier. She was totally a new person. She had adjusted herself to the new flow. She has completely gelled herself with the new generation. She appreciates western attire, loves to eat pizza and burgers. She has absorbed all the new things that are developing around her. The change in her was clearly visible and was appreciated. Born to a traditional family in a village granny didn’t go to school. With limited resources she had all the necessary schooling at home. She mastered the art of culinary, stitching embroidery weaving etc. In short she was the master of all trades. This is what I know about granny in bits and pieces. Now she had a lean figure, shining bright grey hair, few teeth smiling wrinkled face and the zest to stay tuned was still alive.

 

We both had a gala time. She had a wonderful quality of blending with everyone that made her very special. She told me “Every time when I get up in the morning I thank God for this bonus period of my life”. “By the grace of God I am fit and fine”. “My children are well-settled and I have been given an opportunity to see my family tree grow”. She gave a contended chuckle. She said, “I have no regrets from life”. “With every smile I let go all the bitter memories and the hardships that I have faced in the yester years”. She blinked her eyes and said I am prepared for my final journey and when I will leave to the heavenly abode I will take with me all the collections of stories up there in the sky to share with your grandpapa. It was time to leave. I touched her feet and she blessed me. With a promise to visit again if her God permits. She is definitely a woman of substance. I bid her a good bye and looked up in the sky and said with folded hands “Please God give her another bonus period of life”.