My Ayee

This post is a humble tribute to my Ayee, my maternal grandmother. Today is her first death anniversary. Miss you, Ayee. 

My Ayee, Shrimati Saraswati Padhy, was a force to reckon with. In  fact, she still is. Though she is no more, but she lives in our thoughts AND memories...

My Ayee- Shrimati Saraswati Padhy

Things that define her

My Ayee was not an ordinary woman. She was always larger-than-life AND very enterprising.

She was like Maa Lakshmi. She was an awesome cook. She just had to touch the cooking-pot AND the flavours AND fragrance would magically appear! All the dishes would taste divine- from simple curries AND Chuda Bhaja to rich Biryaani AND Pithas (Odia sweet-preparations). Once I had eaten multiple plates of Biryaani. (I lost count how many helpings she served me!) At another time, we were tempted & stuffed so many of her pickles!

No one would go unfed from her door. She would lovingly feed everyone, even my Papa's driver or Aunt's maid! She would serve for everyone single-handedly, without ordering her four daughters-in-law to serve. I remember the Shri Jagannath Puri Temple Mahaprasad that my Ayee served us on banana-leaves. We would all sit in her giant verandah AND Ayee managed to feed us all around 30-40 members at times, AND never would there be any shortage of food.... Further, she made her daughters AND daughters-in-law AND sons AND sons-in-law all sit together with their kids, while she served!

Mahaprasad of Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, India ; Source

She cooked for 50-100 people at times! That time there was no gas-connection AND she used clay-chulhas with the refuse from carpentry-work. Ayee also set up a Gobar-gas connection smartly using the refuse from the umpteen cows she maintained! She managed a lot of property- fields AND their produce, tenants AND people who looked after the properties.  

My Ayee would never accept anything 'free'. She would always give something back. 

When I bought a simple cotton-saree for her out of my first salary, she handed over a lot of cash in return! 

When I refused to take money, she said, "You should always accept what elders give you as a blessing." 

I joked- "I can buy three more Sarees with this!"

She planted so many fruit trees like Mango, Guava, Jackfruit, Lemon, Custard-apple AND so on, that we  continue to enjoy the abundant fruits till today. She made beautiful jhoti (art patterns made on the ground during typical Odia festivities like Manabasa Gurubar) which covered entire verandah. Her favorite games were Ludo AND Snakes and Ladders, which she played with her grandchildren with utmost love AND affection.

Her Journey from ‘OR’ to ‘AND’

My Ayee took charge of life by being a strong pillar of support to her husband, my Aja (maternal grandfather). They were a made-for-each-other-couple. They made a choice, not a compromise AND left all the parental property behind. They started from scratch in a new city AND struck gold.

She was always learning AND ready to share her experiences. My Ayee always shared stories AND lessons. 

My Ayee boasts of an inspirational story that defines #UseYourAnd.

This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus.

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Wordless Wednesday