It feels immensely wonderful to know that everyone remembers her as the sweetest person on Earth, and the one who always had a smiling face. She also had an extremely strong morale that I always looked up to.
Being a deeply loved person, she easily won everyone's heart she crossed paths with and was the go-to person for everyone in my family. To me, especially, she was always there, as a mother, a friend, a shoulder to lean on, a travel companion, and through many other roles. No doubt she won all awards, 'best mother', 'best wife', 'best daughter', 'best sister', 'best daughter-in-law'. Beyond managing all these roles impressively well, she was also extremely true to herself, and an honest and a confident person. Family and traditions were very important her. But she was also an independent woman from start, who made sure to procure the role of an Accountant in the Central Government before getting married.
To me, she became the most prominent person in my life. Since the time I was born, I can't think of a single time she wasn't there for me. When I was little, I remember how she used to become a child herself while she played with me. She also always helped me with my homework. She made sure to share good values and principles as I grew older. She attended every one of my PTAs, accompanied me for all the important exams I took up, and stayed up all night along with me to help me study for them.
As I grew up and graduated college, we enjoyed each other's company so much that we always stuck together. Be it anything, shopping, watching a movie, travelling, gossiping, we were each other's go-to partner. We had each other to get through any painful challenging time. There was almost nothing I could hide from her. A rare point-of-view, darkest secret, wildest fantasy, I could share them all with her. She was grounded by her traditional believes, but she also understood and accepted her millennial daughter, indulging herself in pop culture, modern music, and western food. No doubt that she was my personal shield who always protected me, but she also trained me well to face any hurdle that came my way. If I have enough strength to deal with her loss today, it all came from her. She was always a fighter who achieved whatever goal she aimed for. Even during her final days in the hospital, the doctors commended her to be one of strongest patients.
Apart from all the mainstream qualities, she also had the best sense of humour. She was annoyingly organised and punctual with everything and I used to always try my best to keep up with her. She was an avid reader who couldn't go to sleep without reading a chapter. Her hobby was passed on to me too as she read to me every night as a kid. As I grew up, we shared common literary interests and Sydney Sheldon was our favourite author. She was also a kind of person who never failed to surprise you. She was tenderly kind and soft by heart, but must have also possessed a broad, strong mind, as some books she read are not for the faint heart.
I would proudly state that anyone who got to experience her love and care are the luckiest. Her love was immensely pure and unconditional. Just before Covid knocked us down, I had applied for a master's programme. On a day when she was hospitalised, alone, probably in pain and fear, what she remembered to ask me was if I had accepted my university offer. Even though I blame the universe for taking her away from me so early, I am eternally grateful that I had someone so extraordinary and legendary as a mother. Death may think it has separated us, but there is no separation from her, as she continues to exist through me.
Comments