Lockdown tambola and Ma’s zest for life
“I’ll give you a video call at 6.30pm and we will play tambola on your dad’s birthday,” my octogenarian Ma’s call jolted me out of the lockdown complacency. Lo! At the appointed time, we siblings along with our kids came online. After the customary greetings, we were all set to play tambola.
Ma announced the rules and Papa started calling the numbers in his sonorous voice: ‘Two little ducks’, ‘one fat lady’, ulta pulta’. The kids were beaming ear to ear, while Ma and Papa were super excited and as soon as the game ended, the prize money was electronically transferred. That’s it.
Ma and Papa have their share of age-related problems yet their indomitable spirit and adaptability sent me down memory lane.
As a child, in fact even now as a mom of teens, I have always admired my working mom. At a tender age, I loved to watch her dress up every morning. Her perfect sindoor bindi, coiffured chignon, perfectly draped saree: crisp summer cottons, wispy autumn chiffons or rustling winter silks and smart footwear. She was not a fashionista but her poise and understated elegance made her stand out.
Our home ran on precision of the clock. Everything had a stipulated time – wake-up time, meal hours, and bedtime. I always felt, and I still do, our home was well organised and better managed than that of my friends. Things had to be kept at their proper places and we sisters as kids chipped in our bit, folding our sheets, spreading our wet towels etc. Our uniforms were always ironed and shoes polished. We would pack our school satchel and take out the uniform before sleeping.
We had our indulgent moments but seldom behaved like spoiled brats.
A short nap in the afternoon and she was there to help us cruise through the homework. We were never despatched to a tuition class nor did ma rush to a kitty or ladies club rummy session. She encouraged us to participate in all co-curricular activities and many a times my elocution sessions were held in the realms of her kitchen.
My friends were welcome anytime and every time. They would drop in, raid the kitchen to satiate their hunger pangs and laze around in peace. The aura of our home and her culinary skills were a hit. My tiffin was always a treat of care and affection.
Ma not only pursued her hobbies, attended summer schools she encouraged us also to spread our wings. She led me to the boundless world of books and sowed the seeds of the wondrous world of plants. She inculcated a happy-go-lucky spirit in me and instilled discipline in my life. She balanced home and career with remarkable aplomb that I always aspired for a career. In the ’70s, when not many women opted for a career or rather basked in their husband’s status, Ma managed the tight rope trapeze with flourish.
While many are finding hard to survive during the harsh restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Ma has taken it in her stride. She has gone hi-tech. She repaired her sewing machine through online tutorials and voila the masks she stitched!
While Ma is going strong with her grandchildren with exemplary zeal peeping into their online classes and connecting electronically with her family, I would qualify the litmus test if my daughter reiterates the same sentiments. Love you, Ma.
MA AND PAPA HAVE
THEIR SHARE OF AGE-RELATED PROBLEMS YET THEIR INDOMITABLE SPIRIT SENT ME DOWN MEMORY LANE