Follow - on.

Today two very small but big things happened..

Oxymoron, you'd say.. Explanation follows..

One of my father in law's cousins is in town. So hubby and his brother decided to invite him and his son for breakfast. While telling me more about him, hubby said he was dear to my father in law and that's why they wanted to invite him.

So I prepared 3 South Indian dishes and hoped they have a good meal.

All went well and they left and while clearing up, I thought of a person whom Maa looked after like a daughter. Impulsively, I picked my phone and dialled her number.

Her name is Almelu, she was house help for my aunt when we stayed in the same building. She may have not worked at home too long but never refused to help when Maa called her for extra work and just asked her to step in and have tea/lunch.

She fondly called Maa - mummy as she lost her mother when she was a little girl. Her aunt used to work for us and she got Almelu along many times. When she grew older, she started working too and thus the acquaintance.

Its still all fresh in my mind, her conversations with Maa, the way she used to look upto her. How she adored her just for being a pure, calming soul in this unjust, cruel world. She would apologize unstopably when she couldn't come over and would go back grateful when Maa told her "It's okay if you don't come to work, but make sure you come and meet me once in a few days."

I could sense exhilaration in her voice when she knew it's me. We exchanged pleasantries and I told her I just thought about her and called.

She told me how Maa used to call her to meet every 20-25 days. She fell quiet after saying "I don't get a call so frequently from home now and I miss mummy so much.." but I miss her so much. I told her to go home when she can and meet didis and bhabhi. I politely hung up as I found myself at a loss of words to continue.

Tears rolled down and I realized how people who are gone are still remembered and loved. There are people(other than blood relatives) who think about them, miss them, look upto them, talk about them and silently pray they were still around. I asked myself "What would they have done?" and someone from within answered, "They cared!"

They cared for everyone irrespective of their social stature, their distance or even them being close or far off relatives. This also reminded me of one of my maternal uncles, who by the lineage was far but called Maa fortnightly to give updates about what's happening in his life.

He actually eloped and got married and Maa was the first person who he called to inform about it. I reckon sitting next to her when she picked the landline and she almost shouted. She was so happy and upset at the same time..

I was somehow very happy and proud of hubby. He may not have something great but grabbing an opportunity to maintain his father's bond with the people he cared about touched my heart differently today.

After talking to Almelu, I felt bad for not calling her earlier. Sany and Chetan are good and making and keeping relationships, just like Maa. I have been secluded in many ways, but now I want to make sure to talk to these few people who were very very dear to Maa so we can remember her and I can keep her alive.

A small gesture, a phone call is all it takes for us to follow on our parents' footsteps. If that little something makes a difference to someone's life or even brightens the day for someone, we should not let that chance go.

Making donations and having prayer services for the departed mean special undoubtedly but making their special ones feel connected is inexpensively priceless.

I doubt if I'd ever be remembered and missed so fondly after becoming inanimate but while I'm here, I will make sure to keep Maa and Papa's good deeds in practise..

I'll try my best to be the person you were Maa. Please continue to bless us from above. May you shine on.. Lots of love..

GOD BLESS!!

CHS