She passed away at the ripe old age of 91, with no regrets. I know, because she said so, many a time. Our expected life span is probably around 70-odd years, in most cases. And some of us are afflicted with ailments large and small, in our old age. Barring a pace-maker in her heart, she had none of those ailments-in fact, she treated with homeopathy, many others who needed help, till recently.
The pandemic actually gave me a chance to meet her more often than otherwise, as I got stuck in Pune and was teaching from there, my classes at IIM Indore. So it was that we celebrated her 91st birthday on August 10, with a Zoom call the previous day, and a cake-cutting on the 10th with a couple of cousins. She was happy, and listened to a few Youtube videos of her favourite Hindi songs from yesteryear.
Of course, she led a remarkable life, first as a medical student, and then at CMC Vellore for her housemanship, and then as a doctor at Dhanbad/Katras in the coalfield hospitals, before moving South. I was born at Kothagudem, in the Singareni Collieries regional headquarters. We moved to Bellampalli and Ramagundam along the way. She (and my dad) settled in Pune in 1989 after retiring, and lived in the same house till Nov. 2020. She travelled a lot, when she was mobile, visiting my brother in the US a couple of times, and Malaysia and Rajasthan with a travel agency. Also spent time at Hyderabad occasionally, at my sister's. Had a Bridge-players' club going at her own house till 3 years ago. Regularly hosted visitors who came from her past, relatives included. Food and laughter was always on the menu.
Her life was fulfilling, and happy. What more could we ask for, as her kids? She wanted to be home, not in a hospital, at the end. She got her wish. Some pics..
Wacka-doo with her niece, my cousin a couple of years ago.
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