Not written a post for long, in spite of having many topics to write. This short post is something that I noticed in my daughter Pratibha some time back.
About month and half back my mother passed away. My mother and daughter are very attached to each other. Mother was almost in a semi-coma state for about 3 weeks at home. She was responding at times. Every day morning Pratibha used to kiss her grandma on her forehead and tell her "I love you Ollamma" and give her water etc. Also after returning from work, first she will go to grandma's bed and kiss her and say "I love you Ollamma". She also use to sit by her side and spend some time.
Pratibha was at work, when my mother passed away. Her mentor brought her home, and to our surprise Pratibha refused to go near grandma's body. Even she was very reluctant to be part of some rituals to the body, with no emotions. When we asked why, her answer was "Now Ollamma went to God. When Ollamma was here we took care of her. Now God will take care of Ollamma", implying that we don't need to do anything now. She did not have any tears in her eyes. To all queries, she kept saying "Why to worry, as Ollamma went to God". For her 'death' means 'Going to God in response to God's call'. Period.
Many people called us after my mother's death and almost all of them had two questions: (1) How my father is coping with the situation (after 70 years of being together), and (2) How did Pratibha take it, and reacting to the situation? Pratibha is cool, and for her life goes on as usual.
After some time she started feeling "her Ollamma not being there at home". She kept saying once in a while "Now I feel no one is at home and I'm missing Ollamma".. It was an expression of her feeling of missing her dear Grandma, and not any worry.
We the so called 'normal' people become very emotional and keep worrying in spite of having 'belief in God'.. But for Pratibha, her "belief in God" is 'real' and she is sure 'God is taking care of her Ollamma", and not worrying at all.
