My favorite memory of Grandma is how she would shower us kids (I being one of the twenty) with money and gifts, every time we visited her. There were always reasons like belated birthdays, good results or simply because she was seeing us after a long time. Yet, every year she would refuse to buy slightly expensive 'Woodland' shoes for herself. Things would heat up to the extent of us fighting with her to get new shoes. But she would politely brush it off by saying that her other shoes were more comfortable. It wasn't brand loyalty. It was something that I couldn't fathom then.
Twelve years on, I am still to meet a richer woman than her. She was frugal with her needs but most generous when it came to giving her family and people around her. Her humility and the way she would pass her wisdom to me by calling me, 'Bhai' (Brother) is what I would miss the most.
I pray to God that I get some of her character. May she see us kids grow into better human beings and feel proud of us.
She will be missed. Dearly. Fondly. Badly.
