Remembering Maa...in fragments.
Today’s Facebook 'memory feed' reminded me of an important event of a friend. Two years back. In Kolkata. Two years back when I was staying with Maa at the Nursing Home. By that time the big C had already taken away Maa’s ability to talk (and walk), but not her sense of humour! She communicated well through glancing, staring, and mostly blinking!
So, two years back, on this day, when I was a tad bit late reaching Maa’s room from the friend’s event, I got the stare of my life. Maa kept staring with her glaring eyes, which could easily be translated to “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ???”
I have grown up seeing সাপের পাঁচ পা on various occasions, for instance , when I couldn’t cram up a history answer on the Great Wall of China (that was in class III), “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I had no clue how to solve a math problem (I’m still clueless) “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I couldn’t let go of my Walkman, “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I had worn one of Maa’s perfectly dry-washed saris (just before Madhyamik),“সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I skipped my science tuition,“সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” . You get the picture. I was never allowed to go out alone at night in Kalyani, and here I was, out at night (it was hardly 10) in Kolkata! Frankly, I thought she would be asleep by then, but I was wrong. I opened the cabin door, and there she was, all up, waiting for me! Later the nurse told me how Maa kept looking at the clock.
She was well aware why I used to go out often, and why I couldn’t skip that particular event of that particular friend! She kept giggling like a kid for a while when I told her why I was late that night. Mothers are always good at guessing!
Maa kept me entertained all those months in that tiny little room we shared at the nursing home. I miss those awful Star Jalsa serials I had to watch with her. I miss bringing French Fries for her from the Park Street McDonalds. I miss exchanging my spicy food with her bland custard. Even now when I pass Gorky Sadan, I miss room number 504.
I miss a future with you, Maa.
But I guess, it is between the memories and the missing, lies a comforting warmth. And I can live with that, I suppose.
So, two years back, on this day, when I was a tad bit late reaching Maa’s room from the friend’s event, I got the stare of my life. Maa kept staring with her glaring eyes, which could easily be translated to “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ???”
I have grown up seeing সাপের পাঁচ পা on various occasions, for instance , when I couldn’t cram up a history answer on the Great Wall of China (that was in class III), “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I had no clue how to solve a math problem (I’m still clueless) “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I couldn’t let go of my Walkman, “সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I had worn one of Maa’s perfectly dry-washed saris (just before Madhyamik),“সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” ; when I skipped my science tuition,“সাপের পাঁচ পা দেখেছো ?” . You get the picture. I was never allowed to go out alone at night in Kalyani, and here I was, out at night (it was hardly 10) in Kolkata! Frankly, I thought she would be asleep by then, but I was wrong. I opened the cabin door, and there she was, all up, waiting for me! Later the nurse told me how Maa kept looking at the clock.
She was well aware why I used to go out often, and why I couldn’t skip that particular event of that particular friend! She kept giggling like a kid for a while when I told her why I was late that night. Mothers are always good at guessing!
Maa kept me entertained all those months in that tiny little room we shared at the nursing home. I miss those awful Star Jalsa serials I had to watch with her. I miss bringing French Fries for her from the Park Street McDonalds. I miss exchanging my spicy food with her bland custard. Even now when I pass Gorky Sadan, I miss room number 504.
I miss a future with you, Maa.
But I guess, it is between the memories and the missing, lies a comforting warmth. And I can live with that, I suppose.
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