Death Anniversary of my Mother

Today is the first Death Anniversary of my mother, I can never forget this day, she passed away peacefully after having spent hardly 24 hr on a ventilator in Delhi on 4th Jan 2022 Night. As I sit down to write this note, I can feel multiple emotions ranging from sorrow, deep loss to Joy and happiness. She was definitely a woman of different Era, An epitome of Dayanatdari (Uprightness), Rawadari (Tolerance), Tehzeeb (Etiquettes) and Kindness, She was always ready to help other with her limited means, She was an excellent cook and a superb homemaker, She was good at Soz - Khwani ( Art of reciting Elegies ) Above all, she was a master at self- deprecating humor, she wouldn’t hesitate to make fun of herself. She was way too tolerant than any other woman of her times. Her Urdu was Chaste, She always spoke kind words to everyone, Even to those who were not so kind to her. She was always the first to say salutation even to her younger ones. She had a self-written Urdu Directory for herself, Every Sunday, she would make a point to call almost all close relatives just to seek their well-being. Everything was good till my father met with an accident in 1991. Pappa started mis-stepping with occasional bouts of free fall. He was advised Neurological consultation which ultimately led to his failed spinal surgery. My father walked to his operation table for his spinal compression surgery, but couldn’t move an inch post 5 hr procedure. It was a failed surgery for sure. But, the Neurosurgeon at GB Pant Hospital Delhi falsely assured that everything is right and he just needs the right physiotherapy to be able to walk again. But this was never to happen and my parent’s collective ordeal started. This was when Ammi dedicated herself to the services of my father completely. Owing to prolonged critical care given by my mother, my father recovered to a certain extent but his mobility was limited till his last breath. After the passing away of my father in Sept 2020. Ammi was devastated, she confessed to me one day that she had lost the purpose of her life and within a span of 16 months she left this world too. Sometimes I feel that you have to be old to understand what the real problems of ageing parents are, seeing ageing parents is not a good sight to hold, All of our lives we are always in search of super heroes to seek motivation in life. We read books to appreciate the character and adulate them. But we grossly fail to see that super heroes live within our own families. Needless to say, they are our parents. The Lessons of strength, selflessness, Unconditional love and extraordinary care taught by them are priceless. I was born to one such parent. I am writing this for all those, if you are lucky that either both or one of your parents is alive, try to spend as much time as possible with them, they are in a stage of life where every day is unpredictable for their health. Let them know that they are the best and what they did for us was the best. They are our real super heroes. This was for you Ammi. You mattered more than any other woman in my life, Rest in Peace wherever you are. Miss you every moment.