(EXTRACTS FROM THE CHRONICLES OF “A Tribute to my Mother” by
Devraj N Aiyar “, a book in honor of his mother C GOMATHY NARAYAN)
February 7th, 1983
For the first time in her life, she got dressed to attend a job interview. Earlier her friend Maria had informed, that the only teacher for the kindergarten at the ‘Wees English High School’ at Thane had left on a family emergency without prior notice. The school authorities were fervently seeking someone to fill that slot. She wore an old saree, ironed well, matching blouse, faded slippers and handbag. That was the best she could manage. Her hopes of being hired was next to none but she was determined to try. She took the bus from home feeling a little let down. No one at home imagined she stood a chance. With no suitable qualification or experience, barely able to communicate in English, the possibility of her securing the job was unthinkable. They loved her but were reluctant, to accompany her to the school.Her husband Narayanand her two sons Dev and Ganpat, even joked about it. The bus ride took 30 minutes. Her world was full of insecurities. Financial conditions at home seemed to deteriorate each passing day. Her husband, Narayan, was jobless for the last 3 years, all her jewelry either sold or pawned. Paying rent, their children’s school fees and providing food was a daily challenge. They were drowned in debt.
As she alighted from the bus and climbed the stony path, towards the school, feeling extremely nervous,she did, what she always did, in the face of challenging circumstances. She prayed to Lord Ganesha.
HE had never let her down. But today…………
,The interview was brief, the school seemedvery desperate, yet they asked her to conduct a live class to evaluate. She walked into the classroom, her heart pounding. Earlier her friend had advised to read so loud that all the kids would pay attention. She did just that.She had a pleasing personality with aninfectious smile, the children took on immediately.
The principal Mr Raghunath asked her to stay back and continue for the rest of the day. She was too nervous to let him know that she had come unprepared. Her family would be expecting her back. Nor had she carried any lunch.
She held a few more classes, some drawing lessons, generally keeping the kids engaged. The final bell rang at 3.30pm and the kids started to leave with a “Thank you Teacher”. Her heart swelled with pride.
Suddenly, the head mistress Ms Susamma appeared and congratulated her with the good news. The school had decided to hire her. Her eyes welled up with tears. Silently she thanked the Lord. It was His doing.
She climbed down towards the bus stop and what she saw left her stunned and speechless. Her whole family were waiting to receive her.
They had called up the school and found she was conducting a class.
Lots of hugs and handshakes. She had done the unthinkable.
With the minutest of details, she narrated all that had transpired. Her worries vanished as she basked in thisunfamiliar terrain of glory. This morning they were all too embarrassed to accompany her. Now they were proudly escorting her back home.
April 16th, 1983
It happened just over two months after she was hired at the school, around 11.00pm.
Narayan had gotten a job a month back. It did not pay much but kept him from getting depressed. In the past, he had worked as the Manager at Ace Plastics, Thane a company owned by Mr Sawant, the son in law to Mr Naik, thenChief Minister of Maharashtra.
Narayan had headed that unit for over a decade and enjoyed several perks at that job.The company shutdown on account of labor strike.
Those days, at home, Narayan always kept ready stock of Haywards, a popular
whisky in India. It was a strong brew and priced very reasonably. He used to gulp down more than a few pegs every night. Once Ace Plastics shut down, he developed the habit of drinking both at noon and evening every day, before lunch and dinner.The state of unemployment aggravated his addiction to alcohol.
His health had also suffered immensely due to his drinking habits. In the end, he was forced to quit for both health and financial reasons.
His new job did bring some income to the household but it was a major compromise to his ego.The scaling down in his career bothered him a lot. He never mentioned it to her, butshe could sense it every day he returned back from work, at his friend Abraham’s office. He had generally become quieter. It also bothered him that she had taken up a job on account of his long spell of joblessness. The family was going through severe financial stress and he silently blamed himself for it.
That night he was lying down watching her as she finished washing the utensils and wrapping up all the chores of the day. She suddenly heard him gasping for breath and rushed to his side. He was struggling to breathe. She screamed, as he laid his head on her lap as if trying to rest. Her elder son Dev in the adjacent room rushed in. She asked him to fetch the doctor.
The next 20 minutes transformed her life forever.
The doctor confirmed, Narayan hadsuffered a massive heart attack, it was too late. He was gone. She couldn’t believe, it was happening to her. He was just 42. With their combined income, they were all geared up to come out of this financial mess and start afresh. It would take time but at least they were all together. Narayan had promised to take all of them to South India, their native place, during the next holidays. She was looking forward to that trip.
One instant, the horizon appeared very colorful. It seemed like life was getting back on track. The next moment it was all over. Her hopes were shattered, dreams crushed.
She was all alone with two sons. They were 17 and 10.
She was only 38.
2021 April 30th, New Jersey
38 years had passed since Narayan passed away. It didn’t seem that long.
These days, she stayed with her younger son Ganpat at his house at Parsippany.
His elder daughter Aishwarya had turned 12 just a week back. His wife Ranjini had delivered a healthy and beautiful baby girl Annanya on September 15th, 2020 and the entire household revolved around her.
Both Dev’s wife Usha and Ganpat were born on Sept 15th. That was a coincidence. Annanya’s was planned.Thus, three members of the family celebrated their birthday on Sept 15th.
Dev lived at East Hanover just about 3 miles away. Today he picked herand drove her to the eye specialist at NYU Langone Eye Center at New York. She chatted jovially as they crossed the Holland tunnel into New York. Time and again their conversation would get interrupted with calls from his office. She would wait and then continue exactly from where she had paused. He would listen attentively and ask her questions. Yet she knew his mind was elsewhere, his office and business drew all his attention. He dropped her at the building entrance and returned 20 minutes later. He had circled several blocks and found no spot to park. Knowing, she was waiting, besides getting late for the Doctor’s appointment, he had risked parking at a ‘NO PARKING’ zone. She was a little alarmed. He casually told her a parking ticket could be the worst that could happen. She simply nodded and did not reveal the displeasure, she felt.For her, it was always black or white, right or wrong.
At the hospital, they asked her to produce details of any medication, she was taking. She had anticipated this and carried a strip in her bag to show the doctor.
To keep her BP under check, she had a tablet of Amlin 2.5mg, everyday.
They conducted all the routine eye tests and Dr Leila Raju assured hershe was doing great. The next checkup was due only after a year. Back in India, they had indicated a possible cataract surgery. This came as a big relief.
On the way back, they stopped at Ganesh Dosas at Newark Ave, Jersey City, to grab her favorite Dahi Vadas. Dev ordered for a masala dosa and medu wada.
The food was very average. They were the only two customers at the restaurant.
Although Dev kept insisting, she didn’t feel like having a coffee or tea.
It was past 3.00. Both her sons and Usha worked at the same office. It was their own business and one of the vendors had gifted a “Panchmukhi” Ganesh idol, which was at the office. It had come on a Tuesday and considered very auspicious.She longed to see it. It was a ten minute drive from the restaurant to the office.
The office was always super busy. Every year, she would accompany her sons to the Diwali Pooja and the party after that. She would meet all their colleagues.
The large office and warehouse building never ceased to amaze her.
It always reminded her of the distance they have travelled in life, together.
Ganpat and Usha were busy when she walked in. They came to greet her and all of them chatted for a while as she narrated the events of the day.
It was a big relief to know she did not need a cataract surgery.
Usha made a fresh pot of coffee for her and Dev. Hers would always carry an extra spoon of sugar. She loved her coffee sweet.
It was past 4.00pm. It was planned that Ganpat would leave early and take her home.Dev and Usha would stay back and wrap up pending work.
Before leaving, she took a final look at the altar, the idol of Lord Ganesha.
HE had never let her down.
The authors note
So, Mum It’s hard to thank those whom we love the most, the family closest to us.
We believe they owe it to us. But before this moments pass, let me express my heartfelt appreciation, respect and love for the awesome mother and human being you are.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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