“Jai Shree Krishna Mamoo. Shu khabar che?”
“MISSTTER DALAAAL! Jai Shree Krishna”
“Jo, Aa Youtube joya kariye che. Khabar to tara paasey hoy.”
“Tu gaadi ma turn marto lage che.”
This is how our conversation would begin, every Tuesday, without fail. I would reach the first traffic light from office, and my finger would automatically click Mama’s picture.
There are lifetime full of incredible memories with Mama. And there are a few special ones that stand out. Here, I am sharing a few memories and rumblings of the mind.
Remembering Dear Bharat Mama…
“DUS ROTLI KHAY – ENE DUS RUPIYA – DUS ROTLI – DUS RUPIYA -DUS ROTLI – DUS RUPIYA”
Mama would announce at Baa’s home in Goti ni Sheri. All of us kids were at the table – struggling to eat. BIG MONEY – 10 Rupiya was the motivation. Every kid would keep a count and update Mama. “Mari 7 thai gayi”, “Mari 9 thai gayii” “Mari 3 vadki”… I still don’t know how we skinny kids ate 10+ rotlis or how we had multiple vadkis of Russ, but we did. It was all because of Mama. After the full meal, Mama would then fulfill his promise. It was not a joke. Kids made money. That, was Mama.
During Mama’s childhood, the Diwali fireworks would be distributed to all the siblings (Mamas, Mummy and Masis)
Panna Masi would save her share of Diwali fireworks so that she could light them after everyone. Mama would offer fireworks to Panna Masi to light during Diwali. Days later when Panna Masi would be ready to light her own hidden fireworks, there would be nothing in her basket. ALL GONE! KHALI.
Panna Masi would later realize that Mama offered Panna Masi the fireworks from her own basket during Diwali.
“Fodi nakhya.” That, was Mama.
Most of you may not know this. Mama used to work as an announcer for the Ahmedabad railway station. He never worked “at” the railway station, but he would make the announcements from the lavatory in Goti ni sheri home.
“BOMBAY SE AAANE WALI, AURR AHMEDAABAAAD KI OAR JAAANE WALI GADI AAJ 5 GHANTE DERI SE CHAL RAHI HAAIII”.
Sitting outside in the chowk(open area), everyone would laugh at his loud announcements from inside the toilet.
“PLATFORM NUMBER 5 PER AANE WALI GADI AB PLATFORM NUMBER 2 PER AYEGI…”
These announcements happened daily.
“Mama yaad che kevu bolta hata? I asked, while driving, mimicking his announcer tone.”
“Haaara… Mara beta mama ni patterdi fade che! Hara taro mamo chu!” and we would laugh.
That, was Mama.
Mama visited us in Bhopal during Raksha Bandhan in late 80s. It was a surprise visit. While walking the streets of The New Market with Mummy, we passed by a music store. I was looking at the Michael Jackson music cassette. I wanted it. Mummy said no. It was loud and clear No. Mama went inside with me. “Chal lai le aa” he said. With his lower lip tucked under his teeth he would say to me. “Hu taro Maa – Maa chu. Bey-bey(2) MAA barabar chu taro.”
When Mummy was worried about my progress at school. She would share her worries with Mama often.
“Viral bilkul pan bhanto nathi,” she would complain.
“Aa chokro tu maney aapi de. Hara ne hu 10,000 Rupiya ON ma lai lau. Ane kai nai kehvanu. Aa Maro chokro che!” he would say, pinching my chin.
When we were ready to move to Ahmedabad, Mama was the one who was instrumental in finalizing “Param Anand”, our home in Ahmedabad. He was the one who arranged and worked on how the finances were to flow. The evening before the vastu in 1993, he was the one who bent down on the driveway and washed the floor himself. No, he did not allow me or Bhai(RoshanBhai) to clean it. “Aa taru kaam nai. Agho ja!”
I cannot forget that sight. That, was Mama.
There were lots of ups and downs over the next few years in his life. Living in a new country wasn’t easy, but he was always the same Mama. Same energy. Same love.
Once when he was on the Washington DC bus tour, I was excited to know how his tour went.
“Buses badhi up-to-date che Washington Ma. Kehvu pade,” he said.
“Lincoln Memorial kevu lagyu Mamu?”
“Salu bau chalvanu che… atlu chali chali ne gaya ne badhi sidiyo chadine uper pochya, to haru ek putlu hatu. Hara ena per kabutara hagta ta!”
“Hu? Kothu! Washington DC.”
I remember Mama every time I see the Lincoln Memorial.
“Mari kale US Citizenship ni exam che,” Mama said.
“Mamoo, baddhu yaad kari lidhu?” I asked.
“Na bhai na, baddhu ShreeJi karse. Mey mara Shreeji ne chopdi batadi didhi che. Je thay te!”
After the exam:
“Shu thayu Mama?” I asked.
“Mane kai yaad nohtu. Mey kidhu I FORGET. Api didhi pela a citizenship…”
“Maro ShreeJi maru dhyaan rakhe”.
“Avey India jaishu to Pepsi na cogla karishu” he would say and then laugh, winking his eye.
Talking of food. Russ and Rotli was his absolute favourite. Daal vada, Gota or newspaper full of fafda had a large space in his heart, and his stomach. But… Hershey (“Saali Hershleey”) was loved and worshipped, and so was the candy Hi-Chew. Costco store in USA had stopped carrying it.
“Aa Modi election jiti jaye to Hi-Chew thi celebrate karvu che,” he said.
And he got it delivered online before the election results.
“Mama, hava ma udayi Hi-Chew?” I asked.
“Na Bhai na! divas ni 2 khavani…Khotu nai bolvanu. Bau saras avey che.”
Every time he would call, he would talk to Arjun in his own tone. Making a sound from the gullet (like a pigeon). Typical Mama tone.
“GU – GU – GUGUGU?” Mama asked
“GUGUGU GU!” Arjun replied.
“GU GU GU. GUGU!” Mama said.
“GUGU GUGUGU” Arjun laughed.
Arjun calls Mama GUGU Mama.
Talking of names, he lovingly named most of the kids in the family. Grand kids were not spared either.
Our names: Kanti Kachkach(KetanBhai), Shanti Satpat(SamirBhai), Bhajiyu(PoonalBhai), Olu khay Kholu(RoshanBhai), Bhadli(RoopalBen), Manchu Darji(NiravBhai), DasBhai/Pagal/Google(Viral), Madaliyu(Jeenal), (N)Okia(Rohan), Lalio(Aashvi).
“Aagla janam ma tari jem haru computer aj karvu che. Tari jem betha betha ASDFG ASDFG karya karvanu.”
“Ayi jao ne mama. Fatafat sikhi jasho. Sathe ASDFG karishu. Tamne koi kai puche to bathroom break per jata rehvanu.” I had said.
“Na bhai na…. agla janam ma karishu”.
“Pacho hu jato raish tyare tu mike laine bolje: Mara mama to OM(aam) hata, ane mara mama to OM(aam) hata…”
That, was Mama.
All your bhanis and bhanias miss you, and Priti Mami. Mama, I know, you are at peace where you are.
Sharing some pictures:
“Bau Hi-Voy nai karvi. Kudrati badhu chalaya kare. Aapde joya karvanu.” he would say.
“Jai Shree Krishna. Phone karto rehje…” he would add before hanging up.
With love,
Das Bhai, Pagal, Google.
YOU ARE MISSED.