Its a warm and lazy sunday afternoon, we have just finished our lunch, I’ve had the prawn curry my mom and grandma made just for me. Its a lunch I have relished. As I settle down on the bed unable to make any movement because of a full stomach, mom looks at me with a sense of satisfaction, keeps the book she has been reading aside and starts telling her story. Aaji (my mom’s mom) squints at her, her toothless mouth mumbling something barely audible, probably chanting god’s name.
“When I was a kid, baba (my grandfather) used to plan our chicken or fish lunch. It would be once in a month. He used to plan for it ... save for it. Sometimes kaka (my grandfather’s brother) used to give extra money to her (my grandma) for cooking fish. He used to work to feed five mouths, she used to cook for five people, every single day, till I got married. The first masala dosa I had in a hotel was when I got married and your father took me out for a treat . Till then I wasn’t knowing what a hotel is. I saw her cooking and washing clothes of all of us every single day. I couldn’t see her toiling, so I decided to help her. I used to help her make chapatis, tea and other small things, then go to school. I used to stand in the queue at the rationing shop for sugar and kerosene at 3 am in the morning before going to school. Primary school was government run, a complete disaster for me. The teacher used to sleep during the class. I remember Pradhan madam sleeping at 12 noon sharp and getting up exactly at 3 before the school got over. Then, when I joined high school, I was doomed, all subjects were in English. Till 8th, I was able to only speak a b c d to z. And in 8th it was all future tense, past tense, active voice, passive voice etc. I couldn’t make a head or tail of it. Still I managed to clear metric exam with all subjects pass, my siblings and peers failed !!”
Aaji interjects “पैसाच नव्हता तर काय ?, Baba had a monthly salary of 160 rs, he had to make his ends meet, when she (my mom) was born he had no money for medicines, so he asked me to take her to my ‘माहेर’, saying let your family deal with her ” I had only two sarees to wear, the most expensive was for 9 rupees, she had only two dresses I can still remember. My brother (moms uncle) was wealthy so we used to go to his place in Alibag for two months during vacation just to cut down expenses at Ghatkopar. Baba used to save for the kids’ school fees and stationary in those two months. Our neighbour used to ask me ‘cant your husband give you a new saree?’ ”
Mom starts again, she looks at the twenty rupee pencil they bought for Madhura (moms granddaughter) the other day. “What stationary ??” She questions Aaji, “Used pens and pencils ?” She continues
“Our neighbour was a Christian, he had a daughter and we used to go to her house to play, I used to see those fruits kept on the table, not allowed to touch them, while our home was completely empty and baba used to bring samosas for us from his workplace because they were cheaper at his workplace, I still remember how we had travelled to Titwala just to bring a packet of rice during the emergency, we were not having food for almost two days ..... (she pauses) I wanted to get more education, but baba simply didn’t have money for it, I look at you people, how you spend nowadays, you might think I am stingy, but its not the case, its just that we know the value of a rupee more than you”
I was lost, didn’t know what to say. My parents and grandparents have come a long long way. When I see them and see that things are completely different for them today as they were when they were young, if feel proud of them. I feel satisfied that their miseries have ended and somehow I havent added anything to it.
“When I was a kid, baba (my grandfather) used to plan our chicken or fish lunch. It would be once in a month. He used to plan for it ... save for it. Sometimes kaka (my grandfather’s brother) used to give extra money to her (my grandma) for cooking fish. He used to work to feed five mouths, she used to cook for five people, every single day, till I got married. The first masala dosa I had in a hotel was when I got married and your father took me out for a treat . Till then I wasn’t knowing what a hotel is. I saw her cooking and washing clothes of all of us every single day. I couldn’t see her toiling, so I decided to help her. I used to help her make chapatis, tea and other small things, then go to school. I used to stand in the queue at the rationing shop for sugar and kerosene at 3 am in the morning before going to school. Primary school was government run, a complete disaster for me. The teacher used to sleep during the class. I remember Pradhan madam sleeping at 12 noon sharp and getting up exactly at 3 before the school got over. Then, when I joined high school, I was doomed, all subjects were in English. Till 8th, I was able to only speak a b c d to z. And in 8th it was all future tense, past tense, active voice, passive voice etc. I couldn’t make a head or tail of it. Still I managed to clear metric exam with all subjects pass, my siblings and peers failed !!”
Aaji interjects “पैसाच नव्हता तर काय ?, Baba had a monthly salary of 160 rs, he had to make his ends meet, when she (my mom) was born he had no money for medicines, so he asked me to take her to my ‘माहेर’, saying let your family deal with her ” I had only two sarees to wear, the most expensive was for 9 rupees, she had only two dresses I can still remember. My brother (moms uncle) was wealthy so we used to go to his place in Alibag for two months during vacation just to cut down expenses at Ghatkopar. Baba used to save for the kids’ school fees and stationary in those two months. Our neighbour used to ask me ‘cant your husband give you a new saree?’ ”
Mom starts again, she looks at the twenty rupee pencil they bought for Madhura (moms granddaughter) the other day. “What stationary ??” She questions Aaji, “Used pens and pencils ?” She continues
“Our neighbour was a Christian, he had a daughter and we used to go to her house to play, I used to see those fruits kept on the table, not allowed to touch them, while our home was completely empty and baba used to bring samosas for us from his workplace because they were cheaper at his workplace, I still remember how we had travelled to Titwala just to bring a packet of rice during the emergency, we were not having food for almost two days ..... (she pauses) I wanted to get more education, but baba simply didn’t have money for it, I look at you people, how you spend nowadays, you might think I am stingy, but its not the case, its just that we know the value of a rupee more than you”
I was lost, didn’t know what to say. My parents and grandparents have come a long long way. When I see them and see that things are completely different for them today as they were when they were young, if feel proud of them. I feel satisfied that their miseries have ended and somehow I havent added anything to it.
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