Chapter 38: chapter 38

My husband's maternal grandmother was a tall, slender and dusky-skinned old lady with sharp eyes as that of an eagle's and a thin pointed nose. Her hair was white with a few strands of black. She applied keo Karpin hair oil and always kept her hair braided into a thin long plait. She was in her late eighties when she died. She lost her life partner, after twenty years of her marriage. It was after a month of my mother-in-law's marriage. According to my mother-in-law, her father was from an aristocratic family. They had been leading a luxurious life till his demise.Granny was a government sewing teacher working in a sewing institute, who had trained and graduated many young girls during her tenure under her guidance. She was not only good at making delicacies, but she also loved gardening, weaving sweaters, stitching clothes etc. She had a huge garden surrounding her cottage. She grew seasonal vegetables and a variety of flowers which added a spectacular naturalistic beauty to her entire house. The flowers and vegetables were always in full bloom. She added the best fertilisers and tended to them with all the basic requirements like her babies. She watered them twice daily without fail.Her ghee and dry fruit laddoos, and gazar ka halwa were a delight. She always used to drape a saree despite being a "Punjaban". After marrying off her two daughters and sending her son abroad for further studies, she lived alone in a cottage earned for her services to the government. She survived on her husband's and her pension. Her son used to send him money as and when she wanted as she told us but there was no validity in her statement. She was spending her days peacefully in the solitary confines of her home, sweet home.Her only son obtained the best education, married the lady of his choice and settled in Canada. He used to make frequent visits initially but gradually it declined to the minimum. Whenever he used to be in India she cooked the best food for him. She went to the market to purchase fresh meat well in advance and cooked it out of love for him. She loved him incredibly as I have never heard her speaking of his follies. He was his world for her. He used to ring her almost every day like a devoted son with his own set of obligations. His wife and children didn't maintain contact with her.When she was 87, she couldn't bear the void anymore. My mother-in-law called her to our place to stay with us. She was feeling uneasy at our place, not being accustomed to living amidst a family. So she insisted on finding some rented apartments. We have a flat located in the market, she agreed to accommodate herself there. She sold her cottage and sent the money to her son. It was the money that mattered to him always. Little did he care for his mother. She longed to go to dwell with her son and his family. Her last wish was to take her last breath in her son's bungalow in Canada.During the last few days of her life, she strived very hard for her International VISA and passport. She travelled to and fro to Ranchi in the scorching summer heat, entered government offices for her signatures and prepare the required documents. There were some hindrances in the issue of the health certificate but she managed to fare in it with her sharp wit. The health department thought it better to leave the granny fend for herself if any complications crop up.