It’s strange but it happened to me. Today was my grandma’s (biji) 1st death anniversary. Where mom and dad were busy collecting all the stuff for the religious offerings, I was busy in my work life here oblivious of everything as usual. Only if I knew that biji is going to visit in my dreams and we will together traverse through all my childhood memories. Strange isn't it, haven't happened before and all of a sudden at her death anniversary, I saw the glimpses of the old house in Phillaur (Punjab) where biji pitaji lived and where my dad grew. Those algae laid walls of the balcony, those curly stairs where a slightest mistake could send you tumbling down, the mud floored room next to the kitchen which housed all the big drums full of goodies, the open kitchen where biji made hot paranthas for all her grandkids, the well in the middle of the compound which was usually empty to my utter dismay, the over friendly neighbors who always used to peep through the windows and practically offered no privacy, those old aunts who couldn't get tired of giving their blessings, those street hawkers who used to do rounds of the house knowing that the kids are home, those open sewage lanes, those bright sunny patios where the vegetables were dried ready to be fermented into yummy pickles. Feels like a Ruskin Bond novel but I vividly dreamt about all of that last night. Those quiet summer afternoons where there were no soap operas and only noise you heard was that of aunt’s knitting sweaters and kids sleeping in the patios and with flies buzzing around only woken up by the noise of pitaji's footsteps climbing stairs with bag full of hot samosas and jalebis. I still remember Phillaur's lanes walking with pitaji and greeting every uncle we met on our way with a Jai Hind salute.Biji left us last year and it’s her first death anniversary today. In my remembrance of the time spent with biji and all the memories that she left behind, I wish her soul rest in peace and may she remain in our hearts, in our minds and in our dreams forever.
-Love
Anshul
(Picture of Biji and me during my weeding )
