Precious Keepsake

5th June 2025

My close ones are aware of my bond with my grandparents. I have mentioned it multiple times through my blogs and social media posts, and will not hesitate to if it fits the context. It was after Ma left us in 2024 that I realized why it is important to hold on to things and people. People may leave, stop existing, but the memories wired with them never fade or disappear.
Ma was fond of crocheting. During one of my visits, a floral crochet bookmark that hung inside my then-current read caught her attention. She held it for 2-3 minutes, examined it carefully, and the next time I spoke to her after 10 days on call, she was ready with 50-60 flowers. Cheekily, she said, "Now tie these flowers in your favorite patterns and make as many bookmarks as you want out of these flowers!" I was in awe of her energy and creativity. She sent me those flowers and time passed by. I could not make those bookmarks to show her before she left. And today, on random afternoons, I take them out of the locker of my cupboard, to spend a noon with her and sniff her presence.
After she left, the otherwise scattered family had gathered for her last rites. That day, in her absence, everyone got easy access to her much-treasured cupboard to see what was there, what can they claim to be left for them (she did not make any will) There were diamond studs, ruby ring, Bikaneri muthia (a special type of bangles), a lace of pearls, and few more things. The ladies in the house were discussing what should be given to whom. I was listening to all the conversations keenly, I did not have much to say as the grief of her leaving had already given me the shock of the most beautiful piece of my picture-perfect childhood being lost forever. In all the chaos, an old shawl from the upper shelf of the cupboard fell. While the ladies continued their conversation, I picked that shawl up, carried it with me, and packed it in my bag. Months later, my mom asked, "You are not smart. She was so attached to you, you both had such an amazing bond. You could also claim something precious. Why did you settle for that old, torn shawl?"



I was not surprised, but I had a reply. "A glimpse of that shawl instantly transported me to my childhood, I was reminded of seeing Ma wrapped in that shawl early in the morning chanting her bhajans when I used to be half asleep. I was reminded of that train journey when I complained of cold, windy weather, she immediately took it off and wrapped it around me. There was no way I was going to claim for anything else, the shawl is more precious than the things you all kept bidding for." "You are crazy", she replied and the conversation ended there. I have many days with the shawl too.

This blog is a part of #BlogchatterWeeklyBlogHop