Happened to read an article which strengthen this thought once again..
The incidence goes this way..Agnihotri & Tara lived in Tanzania for few months as a part of project work. Tara got the opportunity to interact with few locals.In Tanzania many locals worked as maids in the Asian homes specially Indians and even learnt how to prepare Indian delicacies depending on who they stayed with. A Tanzanian can even make puran poli or idli sambhar perfectly.
Jamma, a frail-looking Tanzanian, worked with Agnihotri family. A very simple lady, she had a serene look on her face all the time. She lit up the place whenever she smiled. She did her work efficiently and never complained about anything. Often, Tara noticed that she wore the same outfit that hung loosely on her bony structure and several times, though Tara thought of giving her some of my kurtas which she could tailor into a skirt, but somehow that never happened.
The last time she saw Jamma was when she went out in the rain. She remembered looking at her and wondering what it was like to go out in the rain without a covering and worn-out footwear. A few days later, she learned that Jamma was sick and hospitalised. She thought of going across to see her, but somehow this visit didn’t materialise, or maybe he just didn’t make that extra effort to do so.
It was Tara's birthday a few days later and she was in a foul mood as she didn’t get the ‘Tanzanite ring’ that she expected from her husband. When Agnihotri came home for lunch, tara still expected him to bring out the box containing the ring. Instead, he said quietly, “Jamma expired today.” All she could say was, “What!” Till today, we don’t know the cause of her death… was it malnutrition, depression or a terrible disease? Did Jamma know she was sick and maybe even dying? These questions still rings in Tara ears and left with enough guilt.
That was the the time I realised all about the importance of time. She had been given a chance to share something with Jamma and lost it forever. I also realised that there is much more to life than being involved with our own little worlds. There are people all around us who have nothing in life and yet expect nothing.
Time never waits for anyone or anything...act quickly before it is too late to even repend..
