SHARU STORIES - EPISODE 1

 There is no parallel to Amma in the whole world.  Very active, social, shrewd , farsightedness, naughty and above all very fast in all her actions, whether it is cooking, walking and  planning everything.  Always ever smiling, caring for others and you can keep describing her with no end.  If only she was more educated she could have become a CEO of any Corporate.  

I used to have lot of friends right from the school days. Some of them come home with me sometimes  after the school as they love Amma's Dosai and Sambar.  She would not ask a single word  why I brought them but would serve them all with a smile.  There are many instances worth remembering . But I would like to narrate some of them which comes my way

When I passed out 8th class I need to chose between Science and Commerce.  Only those who did well in Science and Maths in 8th class could take Science Group.  I did well both in Maths and Science but chose Commerce group as I was allergic to Maths.  Many of my close friends joined Science group thinking that they would become Scientists.  But what happened was most of them finished their 11th Class with Science and took up Commerce in College as they realised Commerce had more value those days for their future. Ultimately , they all came visiting me to my house and wanted to know what Commerce was all about.  My mother never knew about these technical things but could make out that they all came for some assistance from me.  She said, "ultimately you all needed Raju " as these friends never visited me  during their 9th to 11th class.  The beauty is she was smart to understand without even my telling her.

Most of the household work like going to ration shop, gas agency and all little errands my brother only used to do while I enjoyed  fun with my friends and mostly was out of house in the weekends or evenings.  Inspite of this my Mother always had some extra special affection for me and would never complain .

I used to get irriated and return home from the school and shout at her showing my Lunch box leaking and spoiling my school books whenever she made Bangan subzi as the oil content spills on into the school bag.  She would just smile and repeat the same another day.

She had been making coffee and serving me every day right from the day I started taking morning coffee.  It went on for many years without any interruption. It would be very hot and well brewed to my taste.  I still remember the first day after my marriage , she was waiting with Coffee and confused whether she should give me or my wife.  I could see her disappointment  at not being able to serve coffee to me as usual.

I bought  new Two -Wheeler and gave her a ride to buy vegetables .  She was enjoying the ride but suddenly i did not  find her in the back seat.  I was shocked but relieved to see her buying vegetables.  When I slowed down due to traffic she just got down to buy vegetables.  When I told her not to do this   she just said  that I only stopped without giving any importance to it.

She loved shopping.  No bargaining.  Whenever we visited for any marriage in some other city, she would buy things for all her grandchildren . Enakku Naalu Pethi ore Peran. ( meaning 4 grand daughters and onl one grandson) she would tell the shopkeeper innocently.  Appa always used to complain that she never  bothered  to bargain.  Appa loved carnatic music .  He used to sing nicely and followed it by seethi (whistle)  He was a big fan of all carnatic musicians .  We went for a Live concert of renowned Artiste  M S Subbhalakshmi.  He wanted her autograph but had no paper on which for her to sign.  He just got it signed on a Rs.10 currency note and used to preserve it proudly.  Mother coolly took it out and spent on vegetable buying. When he came to know he was in full anger and they did not talk to each other for some days.

The medium of communication between my father and me was thru my mother only .  Whenever I sit for studying and I had the habit of studying loud, my father used to start singing loud without bothering whether it could affect my study.  Mother used to tell him " Raju is studying, please dont sing loud.  It would be alright for some days and again the same thing.

She was very friendly and never had any hesitancy in talking to any strangers.  Once we were going to Delhi from Bangalore with family to attend my niece wedding.  While we were in the bus inside the tarmac to reach the Aircraft, mother got a place to sit near a North Indian lady.  It was just five minutes journey from the Boarding of the Bus to the aircraft.  I saw her talking to that Lady fully involved.  By the time we reached Delhi, that North Indian lady came upto my mother and sai "See you" as if they knew each other for long.

During my brother's wedding bharaath, it was very cold evening in Delhi.  I was walking alongwith my Mother and suddenly I found Mother's shawl was missing on her.  I asked her " where is the shawl" she said she gave to another Lady walking who was half her age.  Mother said she was shivering so I gave her my shawl.  Such was her generosity.

When I was rejecting girls one by one for marriage  she was very upset and when I found one, you must see her face . Full of happiness.

One day after coming from office, I knocked the Door. Mother opened and said "Andha Ravi Chetthupeyittan" ( That Ravi died) I was shocked. I asked who Ravi.  She pointed to the T V and said this Ravi . So much involved with the Serial.

When my daughter was born, I and my brother- in -law Hari reached home from  the Hospital to announce the news.  Those days no phones etc.  My mother opened the Door and when I said a baby girl, I still remember her face full glowing and her happiness knew no bounds. She rushed in and brought a spoon of sugar and gave it to us,  She immediately wanted to visit and see the baby.  She started visiting her friends to convey the news with full enthusiasm.  She used to love taking the baby in the "Pram" and baby would shift her head up to see her Dadi with an enchanting smile.  Wonderful moments those were.  

In the Lions Club whenever we had a family invite, she would be the first to reach there with matching saree, blouse and even a matching hand bag fully made up. 

During my children school days, she would call me in the office and complain that children are not eating etc. etc. 

Once she started crying when Harish, my Son  was late from College.  

Most of the time when I was back from college, my house would be locked.  She would have gone on a visiting spree to her friends.  I had to knock seven doors to find her .

More to come