Dhodda.....

I am not a lucky soul who got to stay with grand parents... Presently I have only one dhodda (dad's mom) who is really old n bed ridden.. I lost my other Dhodda (moms mom) when I was in UKG... But I remember so much abt her... Even now I feel so damn proud abt her... She is a grand mom abt whom u would have read in books... A super lady....  She was running her fish business... She got her 7 daughters married in her earnings.... She did not have too much support from Ajja (moms dad) wrt to financial matters... Dhodda was a sweet heart... She would go to sell fish in the market... She has her butti which she would fill with fish in the morning n take it to the market.... This butti had a dedicated place in her house.... When dhodda would return her butti would be filled with sugar cane and mango's  :) She was not generous enough to distribute all that she has got to us... She would hide some to give it to others as well. ( i am sure she would give it to those men who worked in the ice plant next to our house).. So we had to ROB to get a good share of what we want.... Dhodda had the habit of chewing pan... N her pan dabba was a car for my bro... So everytime we go we would spoil her pan dabba.... Dhodda had a dog and cat, she would talk to them as if they were just another member of the family... N I think Ajja or Dhodda would feed the crows also daily.....

As far as I see its not just her 7 daughters n grand kids who love her so much... I see all 7 uncles have such immense love n respect for her.... During our yearly get together in May... I could see one uncle taking the dust off her photo n another one suggesting we buy a nice new mala for her photo... I have never heard any uncle tell one negative thing abt Dhodda....

Since dhodda did not have sons she was always partial towards male kids.. There is joke that runs in the family that if a thief comes to dhodda's place, she would offer him food n fish just caz he is a Male.... 

There is a nice big picture of Dhodda n Ajja in Hejmadi house... The last time we had a family meet in Hejmadi house, Suche n Me were fighting over  whom Dhodda is smiling at in the picture... I am sure she was cing me n smiling :) There r so many times when I have just wanted to hug that photo tight...

I feel jealous abt Sashi Siri, Suche, Suji, Suju n Sow... They are older than me n they got to see more of Dhodda.... :(  I miss Dhodda so so much...