The daughter of the family was an exceptional cook, especially when it came to making chapatis—it was an art in itself. She is the only surviving sibling now, though her health has declined. When she met me a few years ago, after I had lost my sight, she wept for quite a while. After all, she had known me since I was a baby, taken care of me, and played with me during my childhood.

The eldest brother climbed the ranks in government service and was a natural-born public relations man. If you needed anything done in Delhi, he was the one to call. His vast network of friends and connections was impressive. Despite his success, he was always smiling, approachable, and without any airs. I never once saw him get angry.

Mama was an enigma. I never heard him raise his voice or chide anyone, not even his children. Calm, quiet, and composed, he was determined to keep working for as long as his body allowed. My memory of him as a younger man is of him tying a kerchief around his head to protect himself from the sun and walking or taking the bus to work. I’m not sure how long he worked, but it was well past the usual retirement age, likely into his 70s or even later.

He was never one to complain about anything. Simply dressed and humble, he showed affection in a quiet, sincere way—never dramatic, but always deeply felt.

One story he often told us is forever etched in my memory:

"There were two friends. One was a devout believer who had completely surrendered to God, always with the best of intentions. The other was a non-believer with not-so-good habits. They both traveled separately. The non-believer found a Re. 1 note on the road and picked it up. Meanwhile, the believer stumbled over a small stone and suffered a minor injury.

When they met and exchanged their experiences, the believer was baffled and upset. He cried out to God, ‘I have been faithful to You, yet I got hurt by a stone. My friend, despite his bad habits, was rewarded with money. Why, God, why?’

God replied, ‘Your friend was destined to receive Rs. 10,000, but because of his non-belief and bad habits, he got only Re. 1. You were supposed to be hit by a boulder, but because of your faith and goodness, you escaped with just a minor injury.’"

Mama was a saintly man; one I can never forget.

Mami and her two sons have passed away. The daughter is in ill health. We are still in touch, though rarely with the daughter and the wife of the youngest son, but more often with the eldest son’s wife and his children, who are now based in Chennai.

This family will always be the closest to ours.

Continued in 195. Broken Joints - Part 1