To Single out one such name of the lot was Sanjivani Gawankar , close one's used to call her "Sanju" and new comers around like me, call her "Sanju Aunty" . My first impression was that she is just another "Aunty".
My First encounter with her was on the first day when we took an acclimatization walk. The moment we reached the destination we all fell down on our knees like a pack of cards . But Sanju Aunty's energy was still not down . She along with her long standing colleagues started dancing while others were singing Marathi songs . I still remember when someone said we need a girl to dance . She came running and shouted in her husky voice "Main hoon na Item girl ", and she was laughing with a tongue in cheek .Not that she really meant what she said . She just wanted to have fun and also make others day along with it . Later on , we came to know that the self proclaimed item girl was 50 years old and a banker.
Aunty Dancing on the peak ...On my every day trek , blame it on the age or the sheer excitement to see whats there beyond those lush green sceneries or those high raised tempting mountains ,but I used to be among those people in the first line of action who used to lead the trek . I used to just start running when the guide used to call "Chalo !". And then I used to find this lady hovering just around me with the same enthusiasm . She just dint walk , she was a moving bundle of energy always commenting , joking and interacting with the people around .
She interacted with those young budding engineers , She spoke to the college joinees , She spoke to the middle aged men , She spoke to the porter girls and woman and she would always be tighter with her level headed veterans. She shifted topics from engineering drawing drafters to girl friends to playing pranks with guys linking them to beautiful porter girls , to making high level serious decisions depending on whom she was interacting .
Bhagat ji and Aunty playing prank giving an impression that they were trying to escape on a slant ice on an otherwise parallel ground . At one moment , she would take care of one of those kids who came along with their troop and in another she would shift to the next kid playing with them. I wondered who were her actual kids and when someone else asked her the same question she replied "Sab mere bachein hain, Mera bada bacha idhar nahi hain bas " . I couldn't get what she actually meant at that point of time, I skipped through the conversation happening there .
Aunty kissing one of the kid on the blockShe used to ask each and every one's names , their place , their background . She used to find it difficult to remember some of our South Indian names ( understandably ) and every day morning she used to verify it with us whether she remembers the names correctly along with our background. It showed she genuinely wanted to identify and relate each one of us .
She was not well in between due to dehydration side effects , and yet she carried on with the same momentum . I used to wonder seeing the energy in her , because some of my youthful friends were themselves struggling to put one step after another . She was a fighter in her own terms . And I used to be the silent admirer of her determination .
When we reached Thila lotni , a higher altitude place in Himalayas . I and some of my friends had the opportunity to talk in length with her and other aunties ( total 5 ) . Its important to mention about others too while I talk about Sanju Aunty . All were bankers , all ex national kabaddi players . I was told , the eldest lady among them at the age of 56 was the state's prestigious Chattrapathi Shivaji awardee. I immediately knew that there is more than what meets the eye . I couldn't hold back on asking Sanju Aunty - " Aunty , how come you are here at this age, I cant imagine my mom coming here ."
She replied "Kya kare hum logon ko abhi permission mila hain , All our life we had to work and take care of our family . Now since they are all relatively settled now , its our show time .My son is in UK studying structural engineering .Just like you friends , we also came with our friends , just that we are little older than you , just a little old huh " - she giggled ". I knew that the people I see in front of me , are from those early breed of women empowerment , the original multi- taskers, who put their family in front of their desires and are no way less than the other men at work and are now present to have their share of their life , reviving their youthful days . Our conversations ranged from discussing our cultures to our careers . We had a good conversation and had a nice time . I wanted to capture this moment in my camera but I resisted to ask for one . I have to Thank Mahi here . He asked for it and said " I will take one pic ". All the aunties said "Yes" , you are also like our son's. Sanju Aunty said - " Photo zaroor bhejna humein , yaad rakhenge sabko " .
The pic on which she commented on FB " With my sweet kids , 1 to my left and 1 to my right "Days went ahead , I used to give a hand here and there and help her on the trek and we got along well with those tiny conversations on the way.
9 Days went off in a splash of sight making wonderful unforgettable memories on the way . I along with my friends were the first to leave the camp. Aunty called us ,she gave her email id , and said "Mumbai aana kabhi , directttt ghar ko aa jao , number likho mera " . She added " Mein Facebook mein hoon , mera bete se baat karthi na mai , Uss mein photo alag hain , aise track pant pahenke nahi rahoongi , usmein chudidhaar pehenke typical marathi aunty jaisa rahoongi , woh bhi mein hi hoon confuse mat hona " .
We all said Goodbye's to one another and parted our ways . At that time , we were not sure if we would see them again .
As soon as we went back to our regular day to day lives ,we were as usual busy bee's . The internet (Facebook) saved our relationships . Everyone started adding everyone , people started sharing pictures . Especially Pics from Arvindji and Mahesh were outstanding . Comments were floating around here and there
Sanju Aunty used to come online late in the evening , to talk to her son . And me being FB Savvy being online most of the times , she would ping me most of the times and ask what I am upto , She would tell how her days are going , she would say each and every person by name , ask about their well being . If she likes a status message , she would encourage our thoughts . Whenever she comes online , she would ping , and this would happen not only with me , but with each of us at sometime or the other .
Sanju Aunty is the most fav aunty among the people . She would claim , now her husband Mr. Harish ( he was not part of the trip) also knew each one of us because she kept talking about each one of us and he would relate us with our online pics . I must admit , she cant get over Mahesh's Paris Pics . She just loved it . Sometimes I got bored hearing about the same pics from her . She claims if any one comes to their house , Uncle would open Facebook and show all the pics .
Just when things were going fine , life took a complete new turn ....
In the last 6 years , for the first time I got a chance to spend close to 15 days with my family . I was at home and in comes a FB Message from one of my friend (Bhagat ji), which says "Sanju Aunty is no more " . I couldn't believe what I read and I was shell shocked . I immediately googled and I found the news article which says She has met with an accident and is no more. I couldn't react , I just jumped off my computer . I was restless ,the memories from the past started haunting me .I couldn't come to terms with the fact that the person with whom I was chatting 20 days back for long hours , is just not there anymore . I went out to change my mood , I sat at one my friends place , but I was still reminiscing all the chat conversations I had and specially the last chat excerpts . The promise she made to me " Tumhari Shaadi mein zaroor bulana ,mein pukka aaongi , Aur Mujhe South mein bhi ghoomna hain " .
I was disturbed , 2 days passed by and I was trying to divert my mind . I was talking and laughing with my mom but I was somewhere missing the other mom . If I think along , her voices would appear.Other fellow trekkers almost shared the same grievance in the mails . All I did is to refrain from using FB for some days .
The fact is that this too shall pass by . Time would finally allow pain to alleviate ,but the void created for the family members ,her son and the people in the close circuit would be irreplaceable .
I personally think it would have helped those growing kids playing hopscotch in the surroundings who would have called her "Aayi" . She would have told them how to stay grounded while you grow , She would have told how a women should manage everything . How to smile and make people smile . How to spread love .
As in mythology , Hanuman brought "Sanjivani" booti to save the life of Lakshman . Sanju aunty has lived to her name . She with her energy has given the passion to live to the fullest and spread the power to love to many people around. She is a true example of "Celebration of Being Alive".
I thought off and I thought long , This is just one angle to this story . Likewise I am sure , there would be many voices which would join me in talking about such "Sanjivani's" . All we have to do is to just learn one thing . This Life is just a mirage of Immortality and it is indeed immortal but only if you make it one .
She might have left this place , but her good deeds done , love shown , would be living with others life . And Yes , she is still alive in others life . Life is Immortal .
Life is lot of promises, dreams and memories ,
Its a mirage of Immortality .
And It takes everything away within a stroke of time ,
This is Cruelty ,
This is Life's Reality ,
But its up to you how do you make it look as Immortality.....
In Memory of Dear Sanju Aunty . Miss you and your energy around . I Mean it ! .
ఎండ వానల ఇంట పుట్టిన ఇంద్రధనుశుక్కు ఆయువు ఎంతో ,
కంటి పాపల తోటి కళలకు కలిసి బ్రతికే కాలం ఎంతో ,
తెలుపగలవా ఓ మనసా ??,
డోలలు ఊగే ఇ బ్రతుకు వరుస !!
