For Subhadra

Posted in remembrance on her first anniversary...

Monday morning
Divya is presenting at the Morbidity and Mortality conference
And I’m trying to finish the prayer book revisions
Before going to see Subhadra and meeting Thanku for lunch.

Then Thanku calls -
Subhadra had collapsed
911 and hospice were called;
Hospice or the hospital?
Om thriyambakam yajaamahe

I need to drop everything and run
But I’m not showered or ready;
Deepa calls - she will go over to Saline;
She finds Shankar alone at home
After Subhadra has left in an ambulance for the hospital.
Om thriyambakam yajaamahe

Thanku and Rajan go to the hospital
Subhadra is alert and signs her own papers
They find her a room - 1115 in the new tower;
Deepa and I start making kanji for Subhdra
As we wait for Geeta to get here.
Om thriyambakam yajaamahe

Monday afternoon
Shankar and Raj are at Subhadra’s bedside
As is Lakshmi – Subhadra’s star student and physician
Subhadra is comfortable and resting.
Om thriyambakam yajaamahe

Deepa takes Shankar for a long lunch
Geeta talks to Subhadra and I keep her hands warm
Prasanna Vijay Revathi Omana spend time with her
Subhadra has her eyes shut but can hear us.
Om thriyambakam yajaamahe

Monday evening
Subhadra left us.
She waited to see Nanu and died peacefully with no pain.
Vijaya and Swamy drove all day but could not get here in time.
Thanku and Geeta got flowers and some prayer books
We gathered in her room -
Thanku Geeta Raji Prasanna Shanti Omana Indira Deepa Raji Anitha Lakshmi and our husbands
We recited three prayers:
A selection from the Bhagwad Geeta, Ayigiri Nandini - Subhadra’s favourite - and

Om thriyambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushti vardhanam, urvaarukamiva bandhanaath mrithyormuksheeya maammrithaath

We worship Lord Shiva, the three-eyed one, the one who is the master of all senses and qualities and the one who is the sustainer of all growth. May he release us from the bondage of death as a ripened cucumber is released from its stalk and may he grant us immortality.

It is so final, said Deepa, as we said our last goodbye and left her room.