Ever since Vani went to school in Ekadia, Jayabhen used to come to work at home. Then Avni graduated and got married. At present, even when Pier has come for Avni's delivery, Jayabhan's work is still going on for Sulubhan there. Jayabhen's two sons are also married and they have a lot of sons and daughters there too. They do not like to sit. Yes, they are starting to show some white streaks in their hair, but they are still alive. Giving delivery tips to Avni like 'keep walking in the morning and evening, don't lift weights, don't bend down, drink more water etc…' Jayabhen was also present at the delivery when Avni got gold at full time. When he came there, he brought his son's daughter five years old Anu. If we give her biscuits or toffee, she would sit outside the room and play. Anu would stare at the blond Sonu as Jayabhen massaged and bathed Sonu and then did arm and leg exercises. Anu was dark-skinned and Sulubhan did not particularly like her. They kept him away from Sonu. One day Anu said to Avni, 'Didi, sonu te di' dazi, will you bring me the kaleem (cream) she used to apply to her when she got a burn?' Avni replied, 'It is a cream to apply on Dazaya. What do you do with it?' Anu said, 'If I get burnt somewhere and blisters are left on my hands and feet, Mahala papa-mammi don't take me in kholi (lap) and don't oil me either. If you apply Kalim, the stains will disappear!' On asking Jayabhen, it is known that since Anu's elder sister has scars from childhood, no one calls that girl with an ugly face in the house. Avni felt the pounding of a hundred maund rock in his chest. – Tushar Desai (Ahmedabad)
commuting
After traveling back and forth to the US three times a year, Amarbhai Ashabeh was exhausted. Especially the pain in Ashabehan's knee had increased. For one thing, the grueling sixteen-hour flight journey and the three-hour motorway journey home from the airport would have left both of them exhausted. He wanted to get rid of bags of luggage from home, snacks, packets of snacks, Ankoor's friend's belongings and taking trolleys to the airport to weigh the bags, standing in line for half an hour for the tedious procedure of immigration after landing in Atlanta, all these now he wanted to get rid of. Another five years had to wait for the green card. If you go to US, you have to 'miss' all the events of your relatives and caste here. If you come and give back, you have to go. The morning garden group programs of both of them and Ashabhen's kitty party programs also used to rotate. The charm of retired life at this age would have been lost somewhere in this coming and going. Even in the US house, when Ankur-Shweta Bey went to work, both the household chores and the responsibility of taking care of their grandson Aarav got tired in the evening. After a long deliberation, both decided not to go to the US until they got a green card. If Shweta finds it difficult to take care of Ankur and Aarav, Shweta should not work and focus at home. Amey Ankur's salary package is huge. Both of them made a video call to Ankur-Shweta on a holiday and calmly explained all these details. Both of them felt wrong, especially Shweta was more annoyed. Ankur calmly explained to him, 'If Shweta papa retires from bank service now. Let us now let mom and dad live their retired lives in peace. Dad taught me I.T. It has taken a lot of effort to become an engineer. Have done overtime in the bank. Have revealed with me during the exam. So now we let them sleep happily. If that is the case, you should say bye-bye to the job until you come to an understanding.' 'Every year we will go to Ahmedabad, go to a hill station with mom and dad and stay at a resort. People will also like it and our circle of friends in Ahmedabad will also meet.' Shweta also liked this idea. He wished Dad a happy retirement. As the big burden was lifted from Amarbhai's head, both became relaxed. Shweta faxed her resignation to her company the very next day. Ankur-Shweta also became 'relaxed'. – Renukabehn Desai (Ahmedabad)
True Shraddha
Which was the faith of Sagar. Sagar laid paper in the morning. Keeping the image of Ma on the side, incense and lamp were lit. Sukhad changed his necklace and sat with folded hands holding a plate of food in front of Maa's photo. There were tears in his eyes. He said, 'Mom, you are always in my heart. Not a single moment of life goes by when I don't remember you…! I wish, Ma, I wish I could bring you back…' saying, he started crying with his face in his palm, 'Ma, Sagar can come back to this house.' His wife came and said. And holding both of Sagar's hands and placing them on her stomach, she said, 'If you don't insist on sonography this time.' Sagar Ekitshe kept looking at his mother's image as if his mother was saying 'bring me back right?'- Daksha Ranjan (Ahmedabad)
Adoration
Every time when Payal is walking around in Navratri, everyone's attention is attracted by hearing its clang. This year Payal did a one and a half day learning class for the new step. Also shopped for Chaniyacholi and colorful dresses. At first, it was fun hanging out in the North group, but on reaching home, the clock ticked. Payal, the only child of Aradhana and Prakash, was sleep deprived. 'Mom-dad are you still awake? Worrying wrong.' Payal babbled. Prakashbhai says, 'Garba Bandh from tomorrow.' 'Both fast Navratri at home, worship mother in temple and do not trust daughter.' Hearing the ring of truth in Payal's words, mom and dad made a decision. From the second day onwards, dressed up in the most beautiful clothes, Garba went around to greet the Navratri occasion. – Kishore R. Tandel (Navsari)
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
