We have heard of Ashvamedha yagna, done by kings in Tretayug and Dwaparyug. Well, in
Kaliyuga listening to a mantra is equal to 100 yagnas. So, when you know you are nearing
one end of this infinity loop of time, it’s better to take the advantage of discount our Yug
has.
The day had finally come.
As Maa ji and Babu ji were getting older the necessity and eagerness of hearing shri Bhagvat
had taken over them. Engulfed them so they were blinded to anything else. As the
excitement cascaded, we all were brimming with new life- the pandal was glinting with all
kinds of lights, every step felt like velvet under the beautiful rugs. Flowers bloomed all over.
The sacred kalash seemed to spread calm and peace everywhere while gentle breeze spread
the scent of vishnupriya Tulsi across the sky filled with saffron flags of Lord Hanuman. Finally,
the ever so revered scripture-shri Bhagavat Gita was brought, oozing with energy as if
somehow it had lived through all these years, I’m sure I could feel the apsaras and
goddesses smiling upon us.
Maa ji and Babu ji sat at the feet of their guru shri Vyas ji Vinod ji Maharaj to gain the
ultimate knowledge of life- they say god’s grace multiplies if your ancestors too listen shri
Bhagavat’s teachings with you- keeping this in view, photos of my grand mother-in-law, her
husband and my beloved brother-in-law- Ritesh, were also placed at guru ji’s feet.
It’s been years since he is gone, but his image never leaves my mind, it’s like an imprint of his
cheerful, selfless face is etched in my eyes- face that can’t smile anymore, and I despise
cancer for snatching away that smile from us. But that’s where I make the mistake- to think
the smile ended because the person isn’t here anymore. We think it’s the end but the truth
is-Death was always there but never meant to be an end.
As it turned out, mantle of responsibilities of the young widow and two little grandkids fell
on Maa ji and Babu ji.
Vyas ji had an interesting way of emulating the katha that engages and teleports you to a
different dimension. I could feel the divine presence right there. Days went by and the
Parikshit parasang- story of Parikshit came up. Due to a curse, the king Parikshit had only 7
days to live after which a snake would bite him causing his death- but he doesn’t fight the
inevitable- even though he has so many riches, instead, to create a fruitful life and make
penance, he heard the Bhagavat purana. Within seven days his ego, fears, desires,
attachments, attractions faded away. So, when death knocked on his door, he was the purest
form of his soul and achieved enlightenment. This story stirred something inside me and I
wasn’t the only one- Maa ji and Babu ji were also covered in tears.
Soon these seven days passed as well, with godaan, dravydaan-feeding the cattle and
donating - and everything in between.
Maa ji and Babu ji then passed on their responsibilities to their eldest son- Mukesh, so they
could be engrossed in the divine, realizing that responsibilities are meant to be shared and
passed on at the right time- kite flies high when we let go a little.
His children have grown up and he has become a father figure to his nephew and niece as
well. Laughter, smiles and playful screams of children echoes up the whole house on family
occasions. Creating a music which sounds like a happy family. The kids don’t demand fancy
cuisines, rather I treat them with handmade snacks- poha and samosas which they cannot
get enough of. Maa ji and babu ji feel ecstasy on witnessing the loving family- a goal only a
few in life are able to achieve.
As life moved on, our daughters were placed at respectable positions; niece and nephew, in
good colleges. With our united strength we had come a long way. My sister-in-law grieved a
love that was too short, a death that was too early, a life that was never meant to be, she
grieved her husband’s death but she picked up herself, she learned to work and worked. She
is at a good place now. Maa ji and babu ji who witnessed corpse of their own son, now seem
to have come to terms with it and embracing their grandkids relieves them of all the
worries. I keep in mind everyone’s needs and bind them together, what, when, where, how
and how much is required- and it doesn’t feel like a burden when everyone respects you,
your work and care about you; it induces some special energy in me, perhaps fuelled by
love. Mukesh never lets adversities undermine him. He believes that there are immense
opportunities and God never closes the door on you. With this far sightedness we have
made this house a home. A home that is built upon love because there are too many reasons
to fall apart but only one to stick together and that, is -love.
And you might think where the story is? What the point of all this is? Who’s the hero and the
villain? That’s the point, sometimes the hero and villain are the same, sometimes there’s no
hero and no villain; we always expect some dramatic, life changing, shattering things in
every story but the truth is most of our life stories don’t have that; we live a mundane life
but there are moments that shape us, define us and we look for them in a story.
And… where’s the end?
We mistake an end as necessity, full stop as a requirement for closure but time is not linear,
rather in the shape of infinity marking all the yugas. Even if we die, our stories don’t. they
are just waiting to be taken up again, be remembered just like we are remembered. Stories
never end; we just stop being a part of it. So, there’s more in my life because this isn’t over
yet…
-Anupam Kumari
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