Today's the 1st Remembrance Day of Pidavoor Amma - my brother-in-law, Padmakumar's mother - as per the Malayalam calendar and the date as per the English calendar is 11th Aug. Last year, this time, she was overtaken by Covid-19 and the post-Covid pneumonia did her in.
Actually, the 93 year-old lady was hale and hearty till the previous month, walking the length and breadth of her compound, taking in the sights. She used to interact with people who visited her - and it was a steady stream right from morning to evening, from the neighbourhood. And about a fortnight earlier to her end, the businessman - he ran a restaurant and was doing well - had called on her a trifle late in the evening. She'd gone to bed but retrieved herself to interact with him, heard his sob story about someone bothering him and had promised to take necessary action the next day.
She'd insisted on feeding him and had sent him away with an assuring pat-on-his-back saying that his problem was now her's and she'd sort it out at the earliest. He, ultimately, turned out to be the villain. He'd hidden the fact that he had tested Covid-positive that morning and was advised by the local health team to remain at home in quarantine.
Three days later, Pidavoor Amma was tested positive for Covid and was admitted in a hospital at Kollam town for illness-management. Her treatment was being closely monitored by Anjana - an anaesthetist at Thiruvananthapuram and her grandson's wife - and she had recovered fully and was shifted out of the ward. Unfortunately, she'd contracted pnuemonia which, ultimately, claimed her life. She was in the hospital for about ten days.
People had visited the house, just to have a last glimpse of her and many had wept uncontrollably, showing as to how much she had touched their lives by her behaviour and large heartedness.
She was fond of Lekha and me but what we can never forget is her seeing us driving off - after our visits - with folded hands, wishing us a safe journey.
Have been missing and will continue to miss you, Pidavoor Amma! My tears and prayers.
Tailpiece.
We'd got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 8. Drove off to Padmakumar's house and were in time to see the commencement of the ceremony. It was nicely conducted and the conductor (Karmi), Narayanan Namboodiri was a pleasant elder.
It was a thoroughly wet day and we met Karthika and her parents, her brother and many others during the course of the day and had returned to Raj Nivas by 6, in the evening.
Pidavoor Amma's ashes will mingle with the waters of the Arabian Sea tomorrow, early in the morning, at Papanasam, Varkala.
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