- 32 -
On Sunday morning, Ramesh had just come out of the bathroom when Vinay’s call came, “Jija Ji, by what time are you reaching?”
“I’ve no programme.”
“But Didi was saying that you would come today.”
“Rani had asked me to come but I hadn’t confirmed. How is Maa now?”
“Maa is quite fine now. After Didi’s arrival here, she’s getting adequate moral support. If you permit, may Didi stay here for another week or so?”
“Why not? She may stay there as long as she likes.”
“If you had come, Maa would have been happier. She often remembers you.”
“I’ll definitely come. I’ll plan shortly.”
……
On Wednesday, Ramesh was still asleep when the ringtone of his mobile started buzzing. He picked up the phone half asleep. Vinay’s name was flashing on the screen. With a choked voice, he told that Maa had passed away. Ramesh just uttered, “Oh!” Vinay further told that cremation would take place around eleven o’clock. On hearing this, Ramesh hurriedly got up from the bed. He called his driver and told him to come as quickly as possible because they were to leave for Bathinda immediately. He kept down the phone and went to the bathroom. After bathing etc., he informed Anjani and Sanjana about their Nani’s death and that he was about to leave for the cremation, which was likely to take place at eleven o’clock.
When Ramesh reached, preparations were being made to lift the bier. He got down from the car and went straight to Vinay. Vinay said in a tearful voice, “Jija Ji, if you had come on Sunday, Maa’s wish to meet you wouldn’t have remained unfulfilled!”
Patting Vinay’s back, Ramesh said, “Perhaps God didn’t want it that way! You yourself had said that Maa was much better. If I had even an inkling that Maa was about to leave us so soon, I would’ve come immediately.”
A relative separated them. Four persons put the bier in the cremation van. A few relatives and members of the family including Vinay and Rani sat in the van. Friends, relatives and other members of the family left for the ‘Ram Bagh’ (Cremation place) in different vehicles. After the cremation was over, the relatives and members of the family came home. Rani was still surrounded by women relatives. After lunch, barring a few close relatives, all others left. Then Ramesh met Rani. It is very painful for a person to be separated from the mother forever, especially for the daughter. As the grief-stricken Rani hugged Ramesh, her pent up emotions suddenly burst out in tears. Amidst sobs, she said, “Maa kept remembering you on Sunday.”
Ramesh consoled her by patting her shoulder and after a few moments, separated her from himself. He started thinking - ‘Even though Rani has accepted my decision to divorce her, yet the way she hugged me, it seems as if she has not severed her ties with me completely.’ He felt happy inwardly.
In the evening when she was alone, Rani sent SMS informing Alok about her Maa’s death. After a while, Alok sent condolence message and enquired about the date of ‘Antim Ardas’ (Last Prayer). Rani informed him about it and requested him to come by bus so that they could return together in her car the next day.
******
