& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

My Beloved "Bua"

by Sayeda Choudhury
THAT day was very bright and sunny. I was expecting some of my close friends for breakfast. As I was preparing some special dishes for them. I suddenly realised that I did not look after my garden for the last few days. I ran to the roof to have a look at my tiny but neat garden. Inspite of my unavoidable .negligence, the plants looked fresh and lovely. It seemed that they felt my presence and were smiling at me. I started watering them and then under the bush something caught' my eye. It was an old. broken pair .of glasses. I stared at it for sometime and then tears started streaming down my cheeks. I could not resist it. It was my "bua's" glasses, a beloved person who filled my life by her ceaseless devotion and unending love and care. The memory of those twenty-five years came flooding over me.
I remember so vividly the day my "bua" came to our house as an "aya" for our eldest son Aflak when he was only a year old. Her first appearance made me a little apprehensive as she appeared weak and fragile. She could not see properly as she had developed cataract in one of her eyes. But ignoring all these difficulties she began taking care of our son. And In no time she became our son's best friend. Steadily she gained strength and energy. She was blessed with very cheerful and lovable disposition which distinguished her from other persons. And above all her outstanding devotion and obedience made me very attached to her. I could not imagine myself without her. Since then she started living with us leaving her own home and family. As days went by. she was burdened with more duties with the birth of our daughter Tahia and our youngest son Albab.
All these three were growing under her tender care, profound love and affection.
Gradually as d^s passed Into years and as the children grew up to be able to take care of themselves without help, she began to retire from her riormal duties and became their guide and companion. Among our three children, Tahia was her favourite one. ft was now our turn to take care of her who had always taken care of us. But whatever little work she liad. she used to do It with great care. Making the Tahla’s bed and keeping a jug of water on her bedside table was her only work which she used to do without fall. A vision of my dutiful and cheerful/bua" comes before me again and again. Her sweet voice still rings in my ears. She came from a completely different world, yet how she had adjusted with our way of life became a part of our family. I marvel.
Slowly old age was catching up on her and she was becoming late in getting up in the mornings. One day when I was occupied with my work, she suddenly came running to me and we hugged each other not knowing it would be for the last time.
The following week she became critically 111. The doctor came but nothing helped her. If only I could comfort her. I thought. That night she breathed her last.
In death she looked so frail but a heavenly smile was still on her face. Tahia stayed beside her death bed for the whole night, motionless, only with tears In her eyes. It was a heartrending scene to witness.
Many years have passed but her fond memories are still with me. The lesson of sacrifice that she had taught unknowingly Is the beat lesson that 1 have ever received from anyone.