My Mother.... My Hero

A new word needs to be coined and added into the dictionary to describe our mother. Awesome, beautiful, strong, don't even begin to describe her. Those of you here today who know her, know what we are talking about. But for those of you here, who never met her I shall speak on behalf of my sister, Jeejaji, Siddhartha, and her babies Zoey and Nayantara. 

A running joke in the family possibly , and certainly for Didi and me has been, mum you just sit on your bed , yet if she isn't we would get upset as to where she was!!!! And then when we think about it, she was always on the move in her earlier days, and once she found papa she just enjoyed not having to be anywhere but home.

SSP, grand central station . For no matter which part of the world you came from, Patti was always there. Till a few years ago, it was the permanent address for many. And that just tells us one thing, she's always been relied on. 

No one puts it better than Zoya when she tells didi, Nana really listens. The hours and hours mum has spent listening to us, advising us, giving us the raised eyebrow look, smiling at our silly stories and woes, patiently, quietly and always saying the right thing. 

Everyone always has had there special place that no one can touch. The list is of family and friends is endless. The concern mum has for them too. 

Here is what I know about our mother, she's been a fighter, she's taught us to live and let live, to love, to move on and forgive. To let go of that, that makes us unhappy. She's baffled everyone with always being content and happy no matter what has come her way. 

We have gotten so many mails and calls and messages from all over the world, her friends from her child hood, the airforce, family and friends of hers and papa's  and while all special and true i'd like to share what her nephew Abhay has said. he says - I have such wonderful memories of your mother. In fact all of my memories of her are positive which I don't think I can honestly say for many others. She had this amazing ability to make you feel , she would always be there for you, no matter what, and that made people feel safe Around her. I certainly did. 

Uncle Shashi wrote - patti was such a lovely person. Always so warm, affectionate and cheerful. She always spread laughter whenever she went. 

Mum's circle of friends over the years Included many wonderful doctors  , Dr Tiwari sent didi a MSG a few weeks back saying - taking care her of her is my duty and I and my team do it with a passion. She is the sweetest patient I have ever looked after. She has taught us bravery, resilience, humor in the face of distress and magnanimity. And last night he sent us a MSG , some of it was - she taught us many things merely by the way she lived her life. She could sprinkle the conversation with such high class humor. So well spoken and graceful. Etched in my mind forever. 

On a lighter note , mum is a shopaholic  ! And yet not once has she shopped for herself. It's always for others. No getting gifts coz u have to. Care and detail of what would the person want. What suits them best. What would be nice. Everything has to be done in time , with patience, concentration to detail. 

Those who have been home have  eaten well for she is the most amazing cook. As our many in our family, but with the pan India influences that she has , it's just always been finger licking delicious !!!!!!! Whenever we go out and order the same things we are disappointed. 

Silly random thoughts maybe ? But isn't that what matters most???? The little quirks, the memories, the laughs, the tears, the silent moments of just being together. 

I can't speak of her in past tense, for she will always be, as she has always been our guiding light, our anchor, our mentor, our everything. 

And didi and I will continue learning from her to be better human beings. 

All our lives we have heard and seen amazing love for papa and in the last few weeks the same expressions of love for mamma from all over the world. How very blessed we both are to have been loved by two such beautiful people. 

We are happy. She is Dancing somewhere with our papa.  In her words, this too shall pass, we shall learn to live with our grief, for we are, our mother's daughters !!!! 

So today , do go and say cheers to her, For she is smiling , wherever she is.