Papaji: The Grand Old Man

Papaji had been unwell for a month or more and was bedridden. If it is of some consolation, he received "Mukti" from this worldly hell of diapers and support. Also, Dad would now have more peace... Even after his emergency eye operation, he was unable to rest as prescribed by the Doc. He had to get up at night and look after the two of them.

I was going to Delhi to meet Papaji primarily, but it was Bhabhoji who embraced Death before him: I remember him saying to her at Lodhi in colloquial- "Tu pehle chal. Hum sab tere peechey hain!" and so it happened. It happens generally that when a couple have lived their life together from a very small age till maturity, even death is not spaced very far. Even though they were cribbing all the way, they were resolved to live together and die the same way.

Papaji had bouts of consciousness and then delirium. Something that Dad says he was trying to maintain through homoeopathy - Fart! I would rather trust allopathy in this regard. Also, his manner of defending Homeo treatment was stronger than the improvement in the condition of the patient. He was in some way asking for their death just as he saw it coming. Death is not fastidious and it came as it had to. In my opinion it only became more ardous. It would have been graceful to accept nature rather than try to contort it.

Well as of now Dad is alone... all alone. New avenues have to open and he has to look freshly at life- for his life is still there despite of the deaths.

Bhabhoji : My Grandmother, My Mother

Well, it happened then. It had to, one day but I guess we were waiting for it. And 84 is quite an age as it is: Especially after a complete life... Great Grand Children and all. She was just over and out I guess. Been there Done it All!
Its odd to look from a very rational point of view for many reasons: Firstly I was her grandson-even though when I would put head before the heart I would be called heartless. Secondly, there would be some natural bias in me which I don't recognise. Thirdly its a matter of death and you have to be careful. Anyway, this is what happened: I only came to know after she was gone-even though we had rescheduled our tickets we only came after two days. Only regret was that Dittu was not witnessed in person.
I was unaware due to two reasons... both generated by Dad. One he never told me that they were unwell(reasons unknown he would give conflicting news to keep me confused). Secondly, if you cry wolf for years... it really does not matter when the wolf arrives, and thats exactly what happened.
Now, she was someone who had kept the clan assimilated for decades- each suggestion,decision and activity was routed through her. Even though she was uneducated her mind was open and she possessed something what I would call a heart of Gold. And now when all is over a void seems to have taken place. Never have I seen her in a position of pompousness and self righteousness. God Bless Her Soul.
Pious she was. Atma Ram is the part of the sternum bone which is said to surface only in certain individuals' pyre. It speaks volumes of their virtues.For her it was completely formed and set apart from the rest of the ashes. She made her her mark even afetr death.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori: If one lives well what matter how one dies.