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Chapter Nine.
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During the summer holidays of Naina, in 1990 when she was twelve years old, her grandmother fell ill. She was very unhappy. Anjali's only support, her mother in law, was sick, and her husband had left her to his heavenly rest Ever since, for the last four years, she was her bulwark, and Anjali found the house running smoothly. As soon as she fell ill, she needed some moral support, so the first person she thought of was Diwakar's brother Mohan. He was stationed in Jalgaon, in Maharashtra. She telephoned him, and his wife Sita picked the telephone, as her husband was in the office. Anjali informed her of the situation in Siliguri, and told her their mother in law, Radha was sick, and needed hospitalization. She asked if they could come over to sort things out. When Mohan came home that evening, Sita told him about his mother's sickness, and he felt, that his presence was needed there, so he took leave from the office, and as his son too was having his holidays, all three of them left for Siliguri.
Laxman, their son was born in 1968 and was now twenty two years old. His cousin Naina, was ten years his junior. Naina felt better, when her uncle and aunt, with her cousin visited them. She was very helpful in the house, assisting their maid and was getting to know all her favorite recipes, and how they were prepared. Anjali was mostly engaged in her out door activities, and was less involved in the kitchen work, and day to day management of the house. She relied on her faithful maid, also named Radha.
When Mohan came over with his family, the older people were busy with their sick mother, and Mohan made arrangements to have her attended to in the hospital. He took complete care of her during her illness. His wife Sita, was close to Anjali, and helped her through this traumatic period. Their son, was escorted by his cousin Naina, to her favorite haunts in the hills, and by now she had learnt to ride a horse, and both trekked through the hills, and enjoyed the fresh holiday air.
When they were alone, Laxman, asked Naina,
"How do you spend time, during your holidays?"
She told him, that she enjoyed doing her paintings of wild flowers, and made birthday cards for her friends. She also assisted their cook in the kitchen, learning all her favorite recipes. She told him, that she could cook quite well.
"What is your favorite dish ?" asked Naina.
He told her that they had mostly vegetarian dishes, but sometimes when he was with friends, he also tasted non-vegetarian food with them, and liked it.
May came and it was decided that Laxman and his mother would stay back in Siliguri, and Mohan would go back to Jalgaon and join the duty. Laxman and Naina would go every evening to visit their grand mother, and she would be very happy to see them, even though she felt weak.
"How are you two doing?" She asked them. Naina responded pleasantly telling her that everything was going on fine. She told her how she tried different types of foods and prepared them as well. The grand mother was pleased. "Very nice, Naina" she encouraged her. "Remember, that when you serve tasty food, people will like you." She told her further, as soon as she gained some strength. "This is the best way, to win the hearts and minds of people. As they say, the way to one's heart is through his stomach." Naina remembered this truth, and cherished it throughout her life.
Naina was not only good in painting, cooking and dancing but she was also very considerate, and always thought of what the others needed. Even at this tender age of twelve, she thought of what they wanted, and how she could fill those wants and this made everybody love her. She was also very generous, with her time and energy without showing that it was a burdensome job,. This she had learnt from her grand mother, who always taught her by example. This tender nature of hers came from her father and and more especially, from her grandmother. She had always thought that Anjali was her mother, as no one had told her otherwise. Her aunt Sita and uncle Mohan knew the truth from Diwakar who had told them about the whole incident, involving Supriya, and her parents, and how one lawyer Joshi was involved in making the settlement, and how he paid a lump-some in cash for Supriya, not as a compensation, but out of his love for being his child's mother. He also told them how the lawyer treated her and got married to her. Mohan had told Laxman when he had come of age. Anjali was not disposed to know all the facts, but all she knew was the name of the girl was Supriya. She always resented this little girl but they were extremely kind and accommodating to this little child of Diwakar. They showered love and praise on her, and Naina felt good.
In June, the grandmother took worse, and the doctors tried their best. Laxman sent an urgent call to his father, and Mohan rushed to Siliguri. His mother was sinking, and Naina was always going to the seclusion of her puja room, young as she was, and sitting quietly in a corner, and raising her mind to the One whom her grand mother had told her to pray to when she was anxious and lonely. She said to God, "Dear God, you know how much I love my grand mother, and I would feel her loss very much." God would have helped her, but he thought that it would serve better if he took her to himself, and Naina would start depending more on herself, and will become a wise girl, in the image of her grand mother. He knew, that all the lessons the old lady had imparted to her will not go waste, and she would be very happy looking at her from the other side.
On 6th of June, 1990 Radha Battacharya-Bardwaj, breathed her last, and they cremated her in near the Teesta crematorium, and sprinkled her ashes in the river of the same name where those of her son found their resting place..
This one experience was unforgettable in the life of Naina and her cousin Laxman. After the mourning period, and the respective religious ceremonies, the family of Mohan went back, and Naina passed her days in the memory of her father and grand mother.
Previous Chapter
Next Chapter
During the summer holidays of Naina, in 1990 when she was twelve years old, her grandmother fell ill. She was very unhappy. Anjali's only support, her mother in law, was sick, and her husband had left her to his heavenly rest Ever since, for the last four years, she was her bulwark, and Anjali found the house running smoothly. As soon as she fell ill, she needed some moral support, so the first person she thought of was Diwakar's brother Mohan. He was stationed in Jalgaon, in Maharashtra. She telephoned him, and his wife Sita picked the telephone, as her husband was in the office. Anjali informed her of the situation in Siliguri, and told her their mother in law, Radha was sick, and needed hospitalization. She asked if they could come over to sort things out. When Mohan came home that evening, Sita told him about his mother's sickness, and he felt, that his presence was needed there, so he took leave from the office, and as his son too was having his holidays, all three of them left for Siliguri.
Laxman, their son was born in 1968 and was now twenty two years old. His cousin Naina, was ten years his junior. Naina felt better, when her uncle and aunt, with her cousin visited them. She was very helpful in the house, assisting their maid and was getting to know all her favorite recipes, and how they were prepared. Anjali was mostly engaged in her out door activities, and was less involved in the kitchen work, and day to day management of the house. She relied on her faithful maid, also named Radha.
When Mohan came over with his family, the older people were busy with their sick mother, and Mohan made arrangements to have her attended to in the hospital. He took complete care of her during her illness. His wife Sita, was close to Anjali, and helped her through this traumatic period. Their son, was escorted by his cousin Naina, to her favorite haunts in the hills, and by now she had learnt to ride a horse, and both trekked through the hills, and enjoyed the fresh holiday air.
When they were alone, Laxman, asked Naina,
"How do you spend time, during your holidays?"
She told him, that she enjoyed doing her paintings of wild flowers, and made birthday cards for her friends. She also assisted their cook in the kitchen, learning all her favorite recipes. She told him, that she could cook quite well.
"What is your favorite dish ?" asked Naina.
He told her that they had mostly vegetarian dishes, but sometimes when he was with friends, he also tasted non-vegetarian food with them, and liked it.
May came and it was decided that Laxman and his mother would stay back in Siliguri, and Mohan would go back to Jalgaon and join the duty. Laxman and Naina would go every evening to visit their grand mother, and she would be very happy to see them, even though she felt weak.
"How are you two doing?" She asked them. Naina responded pleasantly telling her that everything was going on fine. She told her how she tried different types of foods and prepared them as well. The grand mother was pleased. "Very nice, Naina" she encouraged her. "Remember, that when you serve tasty food, people will like you." She told her further, as soon as she gained some strength. "This is the best way, to win the hearts and minds of people. As they say, the way to one's heart is through his stomach." Naina remembered this truth, and cherished it throughout her life.
Naina was not only good in painting, cooking and dancing but she was also very considerate, and always thought of what the others needed. Even at this tender age of twelve, she thought of what they wanted, and how she could fill those wants and this made everybody love her. She was also very generous, with her time and energy without showing that it was a burdensome job,. This she had learnt from her grand mother, who always taught her by example. This tender nature of hers came from her father and and more especially, from her grandmother. She had always thought that Anjali was her mother, as no one had told her otherwise. Her aunt Sita and uncle Mohan knew the truth from Diwakar who had told them about the whole incident, involving Supriya, and her parents, and how one lawyer Joshi was involved in making the settlement, and how he paid a lump-some in cash for Supriya, not as a compensation, but out of his love for being his child's mother. He also told them how the lawyer treated her and got married to her. Mohan had told Laxman when he had come of age. Anjali was not disposed to know all the facts, but all she knew was the name of the girl was Supriya. She always resented this little girl but they were extremely kind and accommodating to this little child of Diwakar. They showered love and praise on her, and Naina felt good.
In June, the grandmother took worse, and the doctors tried their best. Laxman sent an urgent call to his father, and Mohan rushed to Siliguri. His mother was sinking, and Naina was always going to the seclusion of her puja room, young as she was, and sitting quietly in a corner, and raising her mind to the One whom her grand mother had told her to pray to when she was anxious and lonely. She said to God, "Dear God, you know how much I love my grand mother, and I would feel her loss very much." God would have helped her, but he thought that it would serve better if he took her to himself, and Naina would start depending more on herself, and will become a wise girl, in the image of her grand mother. He knew, that all the lessons the old lady had imparted to her will not go waste, and she would be very happy looking at her from the other side.
On 6th of June, 1990 Radha Battacharya-Bardwaj, breathed her last, and they cremated her in near the Teesta crematorium, and sprinkled her ashes in the river of the same name where those of her son found their resting place..
This one experience was unforgettable in the life of Naina and her cousin Laxman. After the mourning period, and the respective religious ceremonies, the family of Mohan went back, and Naina passed her days in the memory of her father and grand mother.
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