Week 17 of 2025, Sunday to Saturday, April 20th to April 26th.

Ajji is among the stars now. 84 years, Age related multiorgan dysfunction. As I said last week, she had lost her will power. She had started blabbering, instructing where to burn her body after death. She was repeatedly asking my amma to prepare ‘kuchlakki anna’ and ‘chitranna’ as if those were her last wish. Doctor had no hopes. We were expecting her demise. We wanted her to leave this world with no suffering. She was in ICU on the night of 21st, By morning she was on ventilator, not responding to anyone. We brought her back home. She left on Monday, 22^nd, morning at 11.20. She left in peace, after completing all her duties – dividing the farm among my appa, kaka and atte; constructing new home for my appa; playing with Dhruva. She even had kept money for her own ‘Tithi’! Brave lady!

My Ajji holding Dhruva,

She loved me very much; Complaining about family members, Taking big decisions, Sharing her sorrows- I was her go to person. Nurses treating her in ICU said she was calling me, to lift her up from the bed. That was the kind of attachment. This was the first time I saw/experience someone dying. I was courageous. I didn’t cry when ajji died. I think I am big enough to face such hard truths of life. I feel sad she is not with us now. I also feel relieved she didn’t suffer. Such a death is a luck! Appa and kaka are now doing her ‘Apara Kārya’-After death rituals, which will continue till 14 days. What happens after death is a mystery. Amma was saying Ajji’s soul is looking over us now, searching for an opportunity to get into human body. She can see us, she can hear us, but we can’t. Whatever it is, her memories with me will last FOR EVER.

Expected deaths are a comparatively easy to digest than unexpected ones. With Dhruva around, it is more easier. Not only for me, but also for everyone at home. I am getting back to the reality slowly. As I said my appa and amma are now busy with Dharmic rituals, which is very tiring, I thought me and Dhruva shouldn’t be burden for them. We left ‘Kabbe’, We are now in ‘Hosaḷḷi’ our home, at in-laws. We got a grand entry by our pet dogs. At Kabbe, we were afraid of our pet dog – nāṇu. He is too ferocious. Here in Hosaḷḷi the dogs are ‘Saadhu’. Dhruva will now enjoy playing with ‘Bow Bow’s.

Our pet dogs, golden one is ‘Monkey’, she is a granny now, black one is ‘Kariya’ her son, striped one is ‘Manchu’ her daughter, Other two are Manchu’s Kids, ‘Mintu’ ‘Chaaru’ and ‘Chandra’.

I was in Kabbe from last 7 months. Now suddenly in Hosaḷḷi. Home is Home. I blended in aram-se. My daily chores of plucking flowers, cleaning room, going to farm, gardening is back. I am a proud plant mom, with over 250 variety of Cacti and Succulents, 150 variety of indoor plants. I am seeing them after long time, they have grown up crazily. I am busy now with propagating them. Meanwhile our polyhouse needed repair. My bhāva (Brother-in-law) Suneel has a business of polyhouse fabrication. He sent his workers, for repair work. They all are from West Bengal – working with us from last 8 -10 years, very skilled. As usual, I am amazed at their monkey skills, hoping on just the metal skeleton of polyhouse.

‘Hoo chobbe’, basket full of flowers plucked for Pooja.

Polyhouse repair by ‘Subrato’ and team

Mounica and Nandini from AccessAgriculture Hyderabad visited us on 24^th. As I said last week, me and Sujay are their ‘Entrepreneurs for Local Access’, under SuATI Scheme with German government. They have given us a Projector, to use during our training programmes. They were here to check the progress. We had organised a program for women of ‘Kankoppa village’, to create awareness about rural self-employment. The program was a hit, many showing interest in starting small scale food industries. After the program we made these Hyderabadis to taste our rural cuisine. They enjoyed eating ‘Tellevu’, Mango ‘Rasaayani’, Kokum, jack fruit, jack chips, ‘Todedevu’, ‘Appehuli’, ‘Tambuli’, ‘Appemidi pickle’. They toured our farm. Very surprised to see the organic farming approaches we are following. Areca, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Black pepper, coffee all the crops were new learning for them.  

Mounica and Nandini at our farm

Awareness program for the women of Kankoppa village

I completed reading magazines. I am taking Japanese classes now. On Duolingo. Lessons have started with ordering food at restaurants. This was a sudden random plan. It is really fun, learning language is like a game here. Why Japanese? just like that, I like Japan (After India) and Japanese. ‘nīruʼ in Kannada for water is ‘MiZhu’ in Japanese, ‘chaʼ for tea is the same in Kannada and Japanese, ‘Anna’ in Kannada for rice is ‘GoHaN’ in Japanese.! I am finding Japanese words similar to Kannada.

I am busy next week. May 1^st is my friend Suhasa’s wedding. 2^nd is my ajji’s ‘Shraaddha’, 3^rd is ‘Maasika’, 4^th is ‘Vaikunta Samaaradhane’. I want to attend all days without miss. Hpoing to learn the meaning and significance of these Dharmic rituals.