(For my beloved aunt, who passed away this week)
Don’t Forget To Take Biscuits
Our Gorikhala ate green chillies,
popped them in her mouth like sweets
When I was 6 and my parents were away, she looked after us for a month, and I watched in wonder as she popped green chillies in her mouth, and smiled at me afterwards
Her voice was pitched, her expressions liquid, her love intense, her life a climb
The last time I saw her, her lids were low,
her head bent,
the colour drained from her face,
and yet, yet, she said to me,
‘Don’t forget to take biscuits, to eat there. Take biscuits. You must not get hungry’
Our Gorikhala was fierce,
Proud
Stubborn
Loving
Generous
Grand
She cooked mushrooms in butter and red chillies for me,
leaving the others aghast that so much mushrooms were cooked just for me
She gave and gave and asked for nothing in return
She loved and hated fiercely, no half measures, that Miajaan jaath that runs through our veins
Stubborn, even in the end, she refused the treatment, preferring to go than to live half a life.
She was loved
Oh so loved
I close my eyes and see her. She was grand. Beautiful. Full of love and giving
She was light,
our Gorikhala
This is such a beautiful and sad post. I'm sorry for your loss