….Her Last Account

My Dear Reha,

How can I miss the ‘weird’ hand written material of your Meethi Ma ?

It was this handwriting I would make fun of, many a time. It was this handwriting I would never understand without Her prompting me…off and on……..But you would always side with your Meethi Ma and would always remind me of my poor scribblings instead…….which I would never concede. Then, your Meethi Ma would stealthily slip to the kitchen and both of us would fight it out…..till a stern voice from the dining room would call us, ‘Dinner is ready !’

These fights and dinners would have gone on and on …..unabated….. till eternity……..till one day I found that the same handwriting has become divine….…. a treasure to keep……….so close to me….so close to you…..and so helplessly rare……..

Look what I have got….

The account of monthly household expenditure She had maintained religiously. Look at the month….it is June 2015…….look at the days……..going up to 11th June 2015……Remember ???….It was the last month of Her life….She was not well and we had called all…near relatives….. on these days…… to see Her……before Her final journey……

Don’t miss the start….Om..and the first outgo is for Rs 2000 without any particulars or date…..this is meant for charity……She would keep aside a specified sum for God from out of the entire salary….… that I would give Her…( I said entire salary — — it would give me the opportunity to demand ‘my’ pocket money from her…..)

Since Her right hand was swollen due to mastectomy, she would wear sleeves for couple of hours during the day. Now the swelling had reduced to a large extent and new sleeves were purchased based on fresh measurements. She was never cowed down by the disease. ‘On 5/6/2015…..two sleeves…’.

Me and your Meethi Ma went to Rattangarh on 5th June 2015 for two days on a divine journey for an undefined purpose……..she was weak but happy. It was the last train journey and both of us spent good time together….why we went and what we did……I think I will share with you in details some other time but yes… it was a lifetime journey through the deserts of remote villages of Rajasthan…..She wrote beautifully …’.on 6/6/2015…expenses for Rattangarh…’

She would never take non vegetarian food and all ‘Chicken etc’. expenses are for you……..

Her last writing is for ‘shagun sent for Nanhi’…..on 11th June 2015.

Did you notice something ????….I could read Her handwriting of my own…..without Her prompting…..

Love.

Dad