Empty House

All but two of the relatives have gone back now.  The house is our own again.  I can hear our voices echoing around.  It seems hard to believe that in this very house two days before there were several hundred people here to attend a religious ceremony.  But it is true.

In fact, we had relatives visiting non-stop for the past three weeks.  People coming and going every single day.  My father-in-law's two widowed sisters have remained here and all the other relatives have gone away.  It is nice for my mother-in-law to have the company of her two sisters-in-law.  They have always been close to her, never more than now.  My mother-in-law cried a lot yesterday when her younger daughter, Rashmi,  left here.  I could see Rashmi becoming distressed.  I had to reassure her.  "Don't worry!" I said.  "I'm here.  I'll take care of your mother for you!"  To tell the truth, I get very emotional when my mother and I have to say goodbye, whenever we get together.  I could identify with Rashmi's emotions very easily.

I know that there will be difficult days ahead.  Nowadays, there is a lot of support around for my mother-in-law.  But in a short while life will get back to normal and she will feel very much alone.  So nowadays, I am keeping in the background and allowing the visitors to interact with her as much as possible.  Because I know she is going to need me when her sisters-in-law leave here.