This tribute is by Shalini, my late brother Raj’s wife for her mother Meena.
Meena Chitta is someone who always amazes me with her ability to stay in touch with her inner child. She’s not just like the little kid who’s excited to try something new, make friends wherever she goes and hang out in a room filled with completely different people without finding any difficulty to connect with everyone, but she keeps her body fit everyday too. She sees the benefits of hanging around young people during her yoga classes or her morning walks as she’s becoming more capable and happier.
Yes, she is a busy lady, but what I admire about her too is that she is also as ready to completely slow down and take a nap whenever her body or mind needs it. In her case, sleep is medicine. She doesn’t feel rested; she takes a nap. She has a headache; she goes to bed. And this has always been her way of being. Today, I see how sensible that attitude is. A good sleep later, she is recharged and ready to go.
I also must take a moment to thank her for being our brother Raj’s companion when he was sick. In true Meena Chitta fashion, she took it into her stride to be a good companion to Raj in his last years.
Here is the text that Shalini penned down for her mother.
A Tribute to Mum:
The Meticulous Heart
Mum has a rare gift: the ability to bridge the gap between people. Whether she is speaking to a child, a stranger on the street, or someone of high status, she treats everyone with the same simple-hearted trust. She finds the goodness in people almost instantly, a quality of hers that I genuinely envy.
The Art of Detail
She believes in the beauty of presentation. You’ll rarely find her without her bindi, kajal, and powder—a testament to her self-respect and her love for "dressing up" for the world.
That same meticulous nature carries over to her kitchen. To Mum, cooking isn't just a chore; it’s a process. She refuses to hurry or compromise, ensuring every dish has that specific, soulful taste that only comes from patience.
A Pillar of Patience
I’ve watched her navigate the most difficult times with an incredible capacity to listen. Whether she was telling stories to the children or patiently absorbing Raj’s sarcasm and whining during his treatment, she remained a steady presence when others might have walked away.
Looking back, I realize how much of her life was defined by duty.
The Working Parent: As a child, I felt the sting of disappointment on those Saturdays when she couldn't pick me up from school because she was home catching up on the endless cycle of chores.
The Burden of Tradition: I often wished she had embraced more independence or convenience—whether it was traveling on her own after Papa moved to Bahrain, or simply choosing a "one-pot meal" or a simpler outfit than the omnipresent saree to make her own life easier.
I’ve been by her side through most of the highest peaks and the lowest valleys. While our paths and perspectives have often differed, I carry a deep respect for the woman who stays true to her simplicity, her rituals, her kindness to others, and care for her family.
#tribute #mother #mom #mamanjetaime #mothersday
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