Bhagirathi Aunty And Her Harmonium

Dear Cheenya sir,

Perhaps the fights kept their marriage vibrant - she might have seen no reason to keep the harmonium if she cannot feel the same vibrancy no? Old people (not you!) can be very interesting tell you My own grand mother who is 94/95 almost always complains with "Oh Bhgavantha! Why have you kept me alive still? Have I not suffered and seen enough?" in a very dramatic way every time her grand children call and we are too many to count. Then again, come a wedding in the family (considering the number of us cousins), she goes "Oh Bhagavantha! Please keep me healthy to help me get through this wedding. Thank you for all your blessings." All we do is laugh heartily never failing to remind her that all her complaints will disappear when she hears of a grand child's wedding! I have to tell you that I feel incredibly lucky to stil have her and I am glad she is not the bearer of bad news. All she is interested is in the welfare of her very large family. I was thinking of grim reaper as you described Bhageerathi aunty!

Forget the abhorring serials, sometimes being off internet/social meda gives me so much of quietness that I remind myself to do that as often as I can. Thank fully, I don't have much to share or exchange and happy to be in my corner. So you are right in telling aunty that it is not her, but the serials that could be the culprit.

 

Dear Mr Cheeniya,
After reading your snippet I am very much worried because Bhagirathi aunty told you that so many people kicked the bucket. Definitely there will be shortage of buckets for those who are willing to kick the bucket.
I feel that when a person has completed the duties he/she would have the option to kick the bucket as and when they wish. Alas! We have not been given that choice. I know that as and when we enter the world our departure date is written.
My mother who left this world after she completed 93 years and was adored by her relatives, friends and all used to say that Chitraguptha had misplaced her expiry date chit.
I wonder longevity is really a boon or bane.
PS

 

Dear sir,

Put this way, I can see how I might have misrepresented what I wanted to say.

The fact that we all enjoy reading you so much, makes you very interesting - not to mention the wise owl persona!

 

How did I miss this Bhagirathi aunty? If I skipped the harmonium, it still makes sense because I am tone-deaf but Bhagirathi aunty, how?

I love your blogs for two reasons 1) personal anecdotes, relevant citations and pointers to world mythology 2) below William Burroughs- styed naked truth

You relay such incidents out loud for others to cross-check. Do I indulge in such appraisals? O'yeh, big time! I am not active on social networks but people I know are. Occasionally, they pull up the profiles of common friends to comment …”she used to be rail thin ...look at her ....she used to be greasy haired ...phoren and look at her permed hair ....she used to look like a doll ...look at her." I am sure the reciprocal comments will be no different on our drab appearances ..."she used to have glamorous hair that is reduced to peach fuzz now ...phoren and she has a tattoo now". Funny, we assume we are aging more gracefully than the rest whereas everyone is going down the same drain.

I look at the mirror and pat vain, huh! I still look like a college kid.
The mirror might be smirking back, what a hag I have to reflect everyday.

More on harmonium later.

 

Dear Cheeniya Sir,

I wonder how I missed this interesting rambling of yours. I am sure it must have been so irritating to listen to the laundry list of your friends who have kicked the bucket but considering her age, you can excuse her. In our family, there is a talk that male members either die between 60-65 or else live long life. I am right in the middle of this age range and I am not too concerned about how long I live. Rather, I am worried about how happy I am as long as I am alive.

Having met you in person and read everyone of your ramblings, I know the sense of humor you possess in you despite all your health issues. You are going to live long no matter what anyone says.

Harmonium is my favorite instrument and I would have gladly taken it from her had she told me she was going to throw it. What I don't understand is why someone should insist on not playing harmonium because Nehru didn't like it. Perhaps, she threw harmonium away to accompany her husband to remind him about her.

I am wondering what was going to be your response when that elderly lady asked you, "Is this your wife?". You left it in suspense. It amazes me when people ask, "how old you have become?" Aren't we supposed to get older as we progress in our age? We are not Goldie Hawn to remain young forever.

Viswa