Yesterday was my Daadi's (Grandmom) birthday.
She was one of the meanest old woman I knew.
She loved late nights.
Loved her morning tea with Marie biscuits.
She hated waking up early.
She had this big fat diary in which she used to scribble away vigorously. It had poetry... random thoughts used to be penned in it. And the daily expenses as well. She loved reading fiction.
She loved listening to the radio. She loved bitching about the neighbors... She disliked most people she met :)
She was the Hitler Daadi. She died at the age of 75. She loved chewing tobacco. There were a zillion fights at home with my dad over this. She would bribe my youngest cousin (then all of 9 years) to get her tobacco.
I hated her most of my under teens. But when I turned 13/14 she was the one who introduced me to A movies. Coz she needed company to watch and understand English movies.
When she had her stroke she was paralyzed. She would only allow me to feed her. I was just back from finishing my MSc. Situation at home was tense coz of and my relationship with my boyfriend (now husband). I remember her telling me one day... "You really love this boy? Will he keep you happy? If yes then don't fight. Just lie low... these people will come around. Just be sure that he is worth the effort."
I just followed her advice. Things just fell in place.
When she died... I cried so much.
Today when I look back.... and when I see things in perspective... I think I am more like her than anyone else in the family.
If I am even 0.5% a woman that she was... I think I am good to go.
Today 13 years after her death... I am listening to the radio... I wish she was here to laugh at all the stupid people along with me.
Daadi... You were a spunky woman. I am lucky to have known you. To have really seen you for the woman that you were. I am lucky that you unknowingly shaped me for what I am today.
That is sweet Bandi... now I know who has trained the Bong babe ;0)
ReplyDeleteI did not remember it was her birthday yesterday...but late at night just remembered her suddenly and thought that if she was alive she would have been almost 90. Difficult to imagine her like that :) one day i was coming back from tuitions and met her at the mudir-dokaan buying something...and the first thing she said was - dharaar daam ta boddo bereche :) No hello or kothay jachhish :)) Straight to her point.
ReplyDeleteIt takes us years to know people and see them for what they are. Sometimes we never do. I am proud to call her Dadi :-)
Pompy
Lol yeah that was daadi. Curt. To the point. No nonsense. But now when I think back I think she had a wild streak in her somewhere.
DeleteShe sounds like a tough old bird -- and you were lucky to have her in your life!
ReplyDelete