শেষ খবর ~ last memories

my mothers side belonged to the same district but near estuary and during monsoon it is only water water everywhere beyond the steps of residence. the name of the place mrigaya. they were perhaps 6 or seven brothers married 6 or 7 sisters. all the brothers died in cholera epidemic. my grandfather died when my didima was perhaps 26 and having 6 children. didima proudly used to tell, her husband was graduate unlike my grandfather who failed to graduate. father side, my grandfather was a successful lawyer. he was set up into his business with house pond office by his father in law who was a Jamindar ~ landlord but with philanthropic bend of mind. he established the high school of this region kishoreganj, a subdivision of mymensingh the largest district. he also condoned all in his territory of all money they owed to him before his death. my thakuma was illiterate but knowledgeable in family matters. she was very broad minded and kind hearted. ancient. she was fond of pan betel nut and chewing always out of habit. i spent lot of time when she was old and about blind from cataract. she did not like any medicine at all. mother devotedly looked after her without complaining ever. she had lot of mantras that she would recite before sleeping for the good of household. they are loud utterance for any suspicious characters waiting outside for people to sleep. didima lived till 97 years old. essentially she did all her work herself that included cooking for herself puja and looking after food of her aging sons living with her. she was literate and performed all pujas according to almanac. the day we should be leaving her premise, depending on the direction of travel, we have to take leave from her puja room within auspicious hours and not reenter the same. her puja usually was many hours episode every day. her eyes was always shining like stars. i was born in her house when my mother left her husband's home one last time and started living with her in 1950. my grandfather came to divided india when i was 12 years. he died within 2 years. i went to see him in kolkata with my family and stayed with him for about three months. he died shortly after in 1964. i never saw my grannies ever complaining or grieving. thakuma died amongst us in baranagar. for about three days she was in a dream and preparing ordering food for many many guests in all hours. i was unable to sleep; i called her and asked her if she was desirous to eat; she was in her senses and retorted if this the time for her to eat! she was giving last feast to all she knew in her life. she never talked philosophy in her life. my didima read for many hours gita. i asked her once why she reads gita.she said, gitagitagita.... tagi tagi tagi ~ renunciation.