Few days back my brother was telling me to write about all those selfless women (special breed) in our family who are becoming more and more rare in the current times , the ones like my Kaku, Mom, Akshata’s Mom, Mami who are always in the flow, non-distracted, grounded, honoring the daily routine “dincharya” of everyday life. These ladies are amalgam of all the goodness, duty, sacredness, generosity and altruistic nature of existence. They symbolize the air that nourishes us , helps us breathe. My Mavshi belonged to the same genre, a doer, caretaker, creator, benevolent, openhanded persona. Sometimes I wonder when we cross the bridge will God ever ask what did you build? If the answer is an empire vs a community, he might just favor the latter homely soul.

What can I say about Mavshi , my journey with her started long before anybody else’s. I was the first kid on my mom’s side, apple of everyone’s eye, pampered and a bit spoilt. Mavshi worked in Sasoon hospital at that time and often Aba and I went to pick her up. We went to hotel “Savera” nearby where my favorite dish was “dahiwada”. . Often times when I wake up I can still clearly see Queens garden road, “Alankar” theatre , Pune railway station , my grandmas apartment on the top floor. It was me , Vasanti , Pushpa Mavshi , Bhai, Nandu mama , Aaji and Aba . That was my first family and it will always be.

If there is a concept of parallel universe where one can coexist in a dimension beyond space and time that’s where I would like to be in that 2 room Aaji and Aba’s minimalist flat. Even back then Vasanti Mavshi was the one with a strong purpose , she used to come home from work, help aaji in cooking and cleaning. After chores we used to all sit together and watch Doordarshan. Sunday was special , Aba would ride his bike , get a live chicken, clean it himself and then fiesta !!!😋

Mavshi’s name is derived from the month Vasanth which means Spring. She had all of those qualities spring is associated with like rebirth , growth, renewal, nurture, awakening, devotion. Spring is when the cold ceases and flowers start to blossom, temperature is optimal. “She was like that blooming flower with subtle dew sparkling, every butterfly lingered around her as it made their heart sing.”

Rebirth: We all come and go , it’s the law of nature. The new flowers bloom and the old withers. Mavshi was born on Sept 4th. She added new life and beauty to the Kasle household. Her long hair , dusky skin , infectious smile attracted everyone to her like a magnet. We all were infused with her companionship in the form of food, blessings , laughter, affinity, empathy or just plain warmth.

Growth: One beautiful quality of Mavshi was she grew in every role that she played. To my mom she is a sister who was always present. Mommy being the oldest had responsibilities. She used to oil and braid Vasanti’s thick hair into 2 pigtails. They used to share clothes, school supplies to save money. Mavshi washed clothes , made chappatis , swept the floor , packed lunch of her siblings at a very young age to support the household, as money was scarce and everybody pitched in to make ends meet. Their goal was flourish with the parents. No ambush, friction, back answering, disobedience existed back then, life was simple.

Renewal: Vasanti blended in, she renewed vigor , a sense of well-being into all of her relationships. To Aba she is the daughter who abided by and never revolted. To Aaji she is the shadow hovering in the kitchen , smelling the aromas tasting the food, setting the dinner table, sorting the spices. Modak was a signature dish that she made so many times on Sankashti for her family , friends and above all for God. It was as if she was constantly renewing her faith , friendships, relationships and taking them to the next level. To her siblings she was the anchor to hold on to. Whenever my mom had health issues Mavshi was always there sending food , staying overnight, inquiring on the phone. Any festival or puja in the family there she was the first one to reach to get started on “sheera” a traditional offering to the deity. She also helped my uncle Nandu mama and Viju mami to settle down in Sagar apartments as newly weds and taught Mami several cuisines over the years. It feels as though “Till yesterday Vasanti was just a phone call away, we can clearly see her standing there, her voice ringing in our ears , like a ray of light that doesn’t perish coming through another way.”

Awakening: Mavshi always wore that beautiful flower in her hair, matching with her saree , a jasmine, rose or a plumeria’s fragrance blending in with whatever was seasonal and in abundance. She never fantasized over bigger , richer cravings. Her pleasures were simple an afternoon nap on sunday, visit to Moraya Gosavi temple on Sankashti, , Gobi Manchurian or a Man-chow soup, a bright colored saree, a cup of tea. Not many people reach their full potential in a lifetime but she did , a soul awakened to the divinity within herself.

Nurture: When Mavshi got married her name was changed to Dipti Prabhu. The transformation from Vasanti to Dipti may seem seamless but for her it was hard at the beginning. Suddenly from a close knit family she came to a much larger extended family with little privacy, around the clock work, additional members from her in-laws side to take care of and feed, yet she never complained. The most educated in the clan Dipti (which means light) was the torch bearer on the side of Prabhu’s as well. Tushar her first son was the most darling adorable kid but Mavshi was mother to all, she cared for everyone under her roof. Praveen, Soni, Devendra, Shailendra, Ratna tai, Bappa kaka , Valanju kaka, Mohan kaka, Rashmi Mavshi all were welcome with an open door policy. At times she may have been overwhelmed , tired , lonely in the crowd but her infectious smile never dampened. In her book there was no procrastination , distraction , comparison or lofty goals just diligence and perseverance. Siddhant her second child came a bit late but nevertheless Mavshi poured her heart and soul in his upbringing. She ensured her kids got healthy, home cooked meals every single day and helped them with their studies. No fancy classes, no summer camps , no grand vacations except occasional trips to the native place thats how she raised her kids to be responsible and respectful. I can still remember Mavshi running to catch the local , coming home putting her gown , making tea and heading to the kitchen.She always lived in the moment balanced and poised.

Devotion: How can I not write about her relationship with her beloved husband , her soul mate Narayan Prabhu. They were made for each other. Dipti and Narayan were like 2 sides of the same coin. She supported Prabhu kaka from the get go. She saved money by being frugal, worked hard until retirement, supported his many passions like selling mangoes to customers by importing them from villages, building a farm house, buying a new flat etc. Prabhu kaka wanted her to visit Bandivde more often after his retirement but she stayed back in Pune to take care of her grand daughter Saavni and to support Sonali in the household work . An excellent grandmother and mother-in-law she played all the roles whole heartedly. Even when she was sick she was thinking about her home , her kids and held on till she finally could see Prabhu kaka for one last time. Her devotion was boundless even towards the almighty as she never stepped out without applying haldi-kunku to her forehead. This perhaps served her to transcend to whatever comes beyond the physical realm, a new journey , a new beginning. My Mavshi a bohemian, loving , dutiful , compassionate traveler we celebrate your story on the eve of your birthday.. like a poem that can be sung again and again…

Vasanti. You are like a piece of bergamot Once smelled can never leave the heart. Traditional, bohemian spring Untethered memories cling . Heading to Hanuman temple with some oil. Darkness to light , you lit the soil