With a heavy heart, Rama, a 69-year-old woman, took out all her clothes from the wardrobe. She collected all her accessories and stuff from the bathroom and mirror side. She took all her prayer books and prayer stuff from the small temple in her room. She took out her empty suitcase from the store and packed all her belongings.
She kept wiping her tears, thinking how time slipped out of hands like sand. She completed the packing and went to the living room where his husband was sitting with her son, daughter in law and her 2-year-old lovely granddaughter Samyra.
"Ga-mma Ga-mma" said Samyra in her toddler accent while running towards Rama when she saw her entering the room.
Samyra hugged Rama tightly and very authoritatively said "No Go". She was trying to tell her grandmother, who was leaving for her home country, to not to go.
Rama became emotional again and instantly busted into tears. She picked Samyra up and gave her to her mother. Rama didn't have the courage to look into anyone's eyes. She rushed to the bathroom, locked the door from inside and putting her head on the door cried her heart out.
It was a tough day for her today. She came to his son's house in London, almost two years back. It was becoming difficult for his son and daughter in law to manage with 4 months old Samyra along with their jobs. So they requested Rama to stay with them.
It wasn't easy for her to leave her hometown where she spent almost half of her life and where she had all her friends and family. But her affection for her granddaughter took her to London, whom she had seen only through Skype. To her amazement, 4 months old Samyra instantly recognized her and shouted aloud in enthusiasm. When Rama held Samyra in her hands, Samyra became so cheerful and happy. Rama instantly fell in love with Samyra.
She started a new life in London with her son and daughter in law. The day when she took Samyra for the first time in her hands, became the best day of her life and Samyra became the most important person in her life.
She used to take care of her day and night, used to sing her lullabies, used to massage her, bathe her, dress her, feed her, play with her, dance with her, take her park and teach her all the new things. Samyra also loved her grandma (or how she called her: ga-mma) very much. She wouldn't do anything without her.
With time, Rama became friends with many others of her age. She would meet and greet everyone in the area and everyone would play with Samyra. Soon, Rama's husband also joined her in London. Life looked so perfect, with her loving children and beautiful Samyra.
As if time got wings, it started flying faster than ever.
One fine morning Rama received a phone call from her younger son, who lived in India. It was a good news from him. His wife was pregnant. Very joyfully Rama shared the news with everyone in the family. But, somewhere deep in her heart, she feared something.
Time passed as fast as it could. Seeing Samyra grow became the prime objective of Rama's life. Samyra grew from baby to toddler in her hands.
Something that Rama feared the most, happened one day, finally. Her younger son requested her to stay with him to guide and care for her 8 months pregnant wife with the delivery and the post-natal child care.
It was not that she didn't want to help or that she wasn't happy; but, she was so much attached to Samyra now, that she didn't have the strength to bear the distance from her. Also, she feared how her little angel, who had never been away from her ever since she came to London, would live without her.
Thinking about all beautiful moments spent with Samyra, Rama was crying inside the bathroom because today was the day when she was leaving for India. Yet again she was about to give her life a new beginning. 2 years back, she left everything and came to settle in this new unknown town. And now, when she had perfectly managed to settle, she was again going to a new town. But this time, Samyra's love was making her weaker than ever.
For the last time, she took Samyra to the park, bid everyone goodbye and captured all of Samyra's activities in her camera. She wanted to seize the moment forever in her heart, but, no kiss no hug was ever enough. She was heartbroken.
Samyra went with her parents to drop her grandparents back to the airport, where once she welcomed them with utmost happiness. Those memories were stabbing Rama's heart. She rushed the check in procedures and hurriedly disappeared into the airport without looking back. She didn't have the courage to say goodbye to Samyra who was crying extremely.
Rama didn't eat and didn't stop crying in her entire 11-hour journey.
One month later, the phone rang in the Samyra's house in London. Samyra ran to pick it up.
"Samyraaaa! My Angel! I am holding a baby, just like how you were. Come Soon. You are elder sister now." shouted excited Rama from the other end.
Beautifully worded emotions and movements between grandmother and granddaughter.
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