Mavshi

When I was in college be used to do group studies. One day for our group studies we visited our friend Mita's house. We directly started with our studies and that went on for approximately 1 hour. After that we need it a short break.

Mita went into the kitchen and returned within a few seconds. A couple of minutes later we saw an elderly women with hunched back entering the room. She was carrying a tray with glasses of water and plates with some snacks. She served this to all of us and promptly left the room. She reminded me of my own grandmother whom I had lost previous year. When we were done with our snacks I got up to keep my plate and cutlery in the kitchen. Mita told me to leave it there. The same old woman appeared again to pick up the plates. Looking at her physical condition I felt like she should not work and she should rest. I asked my friend about her. Mita told me that she was a distant relative and she had been to their house to help with the household work.

Mita explained further to me because I was concerned about the woman. Mita had been calling her Mavshi (meaning maternal aunt in Marathi). The woman was a distant cousin of her mother. Mavshi used to stay in Goa. She did not have any relatives apart from Mita's mother. When Mita was a toddler, her mother asked her distant cousin "Mavshi" to come and stay with them in Mumbai. Mavshi happily came to Mumbai and started living with Mita's family. She took on the role of caretaker, cook, and nanny.

Mita told me that as long as she remembered she had always seen Mavshi as an old woman. She had never seen her as a young woman. Mavshi was old but she wanted to remain active. She had always been working in her house. In her youth she had worked at the rice fields and hence housework was a piece of cake for her. Mita's family did not oppose her decision because after all it was very helpful for Mita's working parents. Mavshi would cook and take care of the house while everyone was away.

Mavshi had been well cared for at Mita's home. Her parents treated her well. Mita too treated her not like a house help but like a relative. Afterall she was related by blood. I had met Mavshi at several occasions whenever I had visited Mita's place. I even spoke with her however she could not understand Marathi properly. She was from Goa and could only understand Goan Konkani. However she was able to understand "Thank you" which I would always say whenever I would visit Mita's home.

After college Mita and I chose different career paths. Our meetings and communication became distant. Yet one day, Mita had texted me, "I wanted to let you know that Mavshi died yesterday. She was unwell for a couple of days. Her last rites would take place at her native village in Goa. I informed you because you would always show care and gratitude towards her".

After reading that message I felt really sad. I was not related to her yet I felt a very prominent affection towards her. I felt sad because we had lost one of the very good people from this earth.