The
almighty took away the unconditioned love from my mother… but He gave me
abundant affectionate love in form of my grandmother (father’s mother) and aunt
(father’s sister). These two angels showered unlimited love on all my siblings. My granny and aunt were not educated but were smart enough to realize
that I was hungry for mother’s love and care… both these ladies took
extra care of me and never let me be alone and sad. I felt, I received a
special attention from them. In spite being in a large joint family, where
everyone is equal, I was the favoured child of my aunt as well as granny.
There
was a special bond in all members of a joint family, every thing and everyone
was shared. Mother was not only ‘Mummy’, she was also a Kaku, Vahini,
Jiji, Mai… in relation with other members. Similarly, father was not only ‘dad’
or ‘papa’, but has also a kaka, bhaiya, Bhau. Aajoba, Aaji, atya, Kaka,
kaku all under one roof and very affectionate with each other. The system was unlike a
square modern family of Mom, dad, pappu & guddi of present times. I always missed
my aaji and kaka during my illness and difficulties.
Once
I had an accident during cycling and had a deep wound on my leg. In my pains I
was crying for my kaka and aaji, not for my mother. My aaji was by my bedside
all the times, with atya relieving her for few hours. I was told that both of them didn’t sleep
a wink for all those 5 days when I was unconscious.
Later
I had a bad appendicitis attack, which was complicated, and I was in hospital
for a while. I was surrounded by all my loving and caring family, Aaji, Kaka,
kaku and atya. I like to remain forever indebted to their unconditional love
for me.
-RP Bhoraskar
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