My aaji's house used to be full of random stuff and food items cos she literally bought something from every door to door salesperson saying "such a hard life it is, we should buy whatever we can to support them". She'd offer them water, snacks, invite them to sit and rest.
Often you'd come home to find some stranger eating pohe on her couch and aaji happily buying whatever they were selling, from tchotchkes to appliances! And then she'd give it away to neighbors or relatives. Was never into possessions, my aaji. Only books and experiences.
She passed away today in Pune at 90. Sad that I couldn't visit her for 18 months because of the pandemic. But glad that I spent lots of time with her in 2019 and early 2020. 
It was a full happy life she led and all her grandkids were near her, around her and visiting regularly in the last couple of years.
She had left explicit instructions to NOT do even the slightest rituals. "Just put me in that electric thing and go home." She was an atheist who encouraged my atheism when I was younger.
It was just old age. But we did have to get a covid test done for the formalities etc. It was negative, thankfully. And you now need passes for crematoriums!
Mom said the last time aaji was lucid and communicative was when she was shown these pictures and was very impressed with rupal's Promethean achievement. 😁
https://twitter.com/gauravsabnis/status/1395959637938212865?s=19
Have been off social media all day to reminisce about aaji and one thing we'd do together often was crosswords. And today I finished a New Yorker puzzle. 😁😁
Going through the loving condolence messages sent by twitter friends over the past 24 hours and I am overwhelmed and touched. It's amazing, the deep meaningful friendships that twitter has given me. I love you all!
It's almost 4 AM. I'm at a friend's mountain cabin with 6 people and 2 dogs sleeping soundly all around me. I can't sleep because there's a cascade of never ending aaji memories. Can't call anyone cos everyone sleeping. Twitter is so helpful at such times.
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