It was 31st December evening. Hari (3192) and I thought we would re-invent our skills with carrom board. As we were collecting the coins and striker from Club House Security, we saw Viswanathan escorting his mother to the Club House reception for her to spend an hour with her friends. All of them meet there unfailingly for a chat. I waved at her. I was about to go to her and tell her that I would visit her the next morning for the New Year namaskaram which my wife and I do every year if she is around. But the thought of selecting a good carrom board, before others did, made us hurry upstairs. I wish I had a premonition of what was in store for her for the morrow.
Meenakshi Mami, or Mani’s Athai, as she is fondly known to me and my siblings, she was hale and hearty, though past 89. She had her dinner, which she takes unfailingly at the appointed time, howsoever interesting the programme in TV might be at that time. She went to her room to pick up Maha Periyaval’s book on religious teachings. Usha was tidying the kitchen after dinner; she heard something fall with a thud. She rushed and found Amma lying flat on the floor with the Maha Periyaval’s book on her.
Viswanathan sought Hari (3192) and Venkat’s help (3174). She was rushed in the ambulance to the hospital in Kanakapura Road, and they followed it in car. Alas, the hospital authorities declared her ‘brought dead’. The trio attended to the rest of the formalities.
‘Anayasena maranam…’, is how one prayer to Lord starts, meaning ‘Give me death without pain’. And that is exactly what she attained, in full measure. Earlier, as she headed home from Club House, she bid farewell to her friends: ‘okay see you tomorrow,” having the least clue that the next morning her friends would come to her home not to greet her for the New Year, but to pay their homage.
As we waited for the priest to report for the rituals, one of those present who had a better knowledge of spirituality than most of us, explained the nuances of jeevatma, paramatma, mukti, karma, prarabdha karma…
Mami never spoke unless spoken to. And when she replied it was monosyllabic. Whenever we visit her/them, she would be busy writing ‘Sree Rama Jayam’ in her notebook. What a beautiful handwriting. Once she completes eight or ten notebooks, she probably would have them sent to some institution who supplied her the stationery.
The SFV Vedic Group of which Viswanathan is the current Team Leader, cancelled the day’s chanting session, for everyone to be able to be part of the last journey. The security staff deserves special mention for a very good job they did in ensuring that the mortal remains were carried in the lift without any hitch.
Viswanathan whom I have known to be brave and bold, was seen crying uncontrollably like a child. Luckily, bravo, Usha took charge of the situation. The relatives of both Viswanathan and Usha had arrived by then. Members of the SFV Vedic group with their spouses and many of Viswanathan’s/Usha’s SFV friends paid their last respects to the departed soul.
Om Shanti.
