The last moment

 The Last Moment 

 The week has arrived, finally after our Christmas parties. Disha and myself had so much fun with our friends. On Saturday night, December 16, 2023, I spoke to my grandfather and shared about the Christmas party and showed him our Christmas tree. My grandfather's sister's family visited them at that time. On Sunday evening, I was sick and slept early in preparation for school the next day. The following Friday, we planned to travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I was excited thinking about that and I slept. 

At 4:24 AM, Monday, December 18, 2023, my dad heard some bad news from my uncle that his dad (my grandpa) passed away because of a cardiac arrest. When I heard the news I cried in disbelief and my dad was very sad and confused because my grandpa had no issues. Usually, it was my grandma who had issues because 30% of her lungs got destroyed in 2016 and she is on supplemental oxygen so she can breathe normally. After my dad got me ready, I ate breakfast. My friend's mom (Sravanthi aunty) helped us in getting things done. My friend's dad (Ravi uncle) got the Dunkin breakfast for my dad and mom and dropped us at the airport. My family, my uncle and my aunt went on an airplane called Air India. My cousin, Moksha couldn't join us because she didn't have a visa. She would get an emergency visa and would join us 2 days after, with her aunt. It took an eternity for us to arrive in New Delhi. In the New Delhi airport my dad said “This is the best airport for 5 straight years and the cleanest airport for 3 consecutive years. My uncle and aunt were going straight to Hyderabad but our family is going to Mumbai, waiting for 5 hours in New Delhi. We finally got on the plane for Mumbai. My dad and mom requested airlines to put us on a plane that would take us directly to hyderabad but it didn't happen.

We waited the whole night in Mumbai. In Mumbai, I saw that this was the best airport in terms of size and region. Then we ate at a restaurant called Zambar Tiffins. Then we waited to catch the flight the whole night and only the next day, December 20th, 2023 at 6 AM, we were on our way to Hyderabad. Did you know I was in 3 cities in 1 day? I was in New Delhi the capital of India, Mumbai the entertainment capital of India and Hyderabad the I.T. capital of India. Then, my maternal grandma, Padmaja picked us up with my mom's cousin and we all went to my other grandma’s apartment to see my grandpa that passed away. I saw him from far away and he was kept in a freezer box. I was so sad and I couldn't control my tears because he is not there anymore. I cannot talk to him. I can only talk to my grandmother. Then, my dad and I went to my grandma's room. Later my dad and uncle performed the rituals and shaved their beard, mustache and hair and burned my grandpa with sticks, fire and dried cow dung. The next day, my dad and uncle took the ashes and mixed them in a river named Krishna as per Hindu rituals and traditions. 

The same day, mosquitoes bit my arm and hand but I couldn’t notice it, then I noticed it, it was the itchiest thing ever. The next day, we pretty much did nothing except that my dad and uncle went to the Nityakarma (a 10 day obligatory Vedic duties that need to be performed by sons of the deceased person). My dad and my uncle are performing these duties for 10 days for my grandfather. To conclude this Vedic duty, arrangements are being made for 12th day which is December 29th. Family and friends will be attending this event in the memory of my grandfather. The next day, I did my routine. Then, I read the Panchatantra book every day that I maternal grandmother gifted me. It has 365 stories in it and, each story is a maximum of 2 pages and, each story contains a moral. My dad and uncle brought Irani Chai, Osmani Biscuits and Fruit Bread everyday, I tasted all of them. Moksha joined us at this time ans we use to have Chai together. Three days later, the cooker flew and landed on the ground while they were cooking quinoa. It was new to them to cook quinoa. I am glad nobody was near the cooker. The next day, me and my cousin ate homemade fries, nuggets and mango juice. 

On the main day (the 12th day), my dad and uncle did some stuff for hours together that a priest advised and recited that you should do when people pass away in Hindu culture. Then, we saw a baby cow (calf) and a mommy cow and we put turmeric on the cow’s. We donated the cow to help my grandfather's soul cross the Vaitharani river by a magical cow. I liked the baby cow because it was so cute and the mommy cow was a bit aggressive. 

Then, I met a boy named Saket who is just 14 days younger than me. The next morning, I had cereal for breakfast. The next day, our family went to my mom’s mom’s house as we have to spend a night away from home. There, we met a girl named Rishika who was 16 months old, she was so cute. She is my mom's cousin's daughter. The next day we went to a restaurant named Telugunes, the food was delicious, the food was served on a banana leaf and, they had amazing art. On our way, we went to the Ambedkar statue in Tank Bund. The Ambedkar statue in Tank Bund, Hyderabad, is mostly bronze of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a key architect of the Indian Constitution. The statue stands tall on a base, signifying Ambedkar in a determined pose, symbolizing his helps to social justice and equality. The site is a significant landmark and a praise to his effect. Finally, we came to my grandma’s apartment and, we ate Indian pizza. 

I met my dad's cousin (Durga's) 9 year old son, Karthikeya and we hung out several times. My dad played games with us and it was so fun. I also played Cricket and Soccer with him on my Ipad. I met my dad's cousin's daughter named Mahi and she called me Maurya bava. She was very nice and funny and played with my sister. The next day, my dad found $212 in my grandpa’s pockets when he was arranging the clothes to donate. So, my grandma gave me, my sister and my cousin, Moksha $70 and, $2 as left over. That evening, we went to a restaurant called Vivaha Bhojanambu. They gave food on a big banana leaf. 

On our last day, January 4th, 2024 friends and relatives came to wish us and at 4:30 PM, we went to the airport and flew to Abu Dhabi. When we landed, my dad got stomach cramps. We went in the medical office for an eternity and we went on an airplane that would take us to Chicago. On the airplane, I just slept and played games. In the Chicago airport we picked up our luggage. Then, we planned to take an UBER to our house but, we could only do that in Terminal 2 but we were in Terminal 5 so, we had to take a train to Terminal 2. Finally, we went home. All in all, this was not a fun trip and I never want this to happen again. My recent fond memories with my tatagaru below:

                    Me tasting Irani chai for the first time with my tatagaru- December 2022

                                                         

                  My grand family- the last picture I had with my tatagaru on December 26, 2022

Here is the letter I wrote to my grandmom on the day we left Hyderabad (I translated it in Telugu) 

నాన్నమ్మ కు ఉత్తరం

హాయ్ నాన్న అమ్మా, మా తాత చనిపోయినందుకు చాలా బాధగా ఉంది. మేము మీ కోసం ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఉన్నందునe  మీరు ఒంటరిగా భావించరని మేము ఆశిస్తున్నాము. U.S.లో మనకు మంచి సమయం ఉంటుందని నేను ఆశిస్తున్నాను. బై!!

From: Maurya Koduri

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