Mom’s dua will never be empty. Mom’s talk will never go away.

what madness has this become? Where do you find so many U vows? Out of three hundred and sixty-five days, about two hundred and fifty days are spent in fasting. In this and in this you will exhaust your body. Who told you that fasting pleases God?” His anger was not entirely misplaced. Every page of the calendar contained a festival for Hasumatibehan. He thought every day was a festival. Prafulla had been seeing all this since he was a child.

Hasumatibehan used to do housework all day. In a joint family, the Jeth-Jethani, their children, mother-in-law and their own children should be protected like life. Having a servant in a small village like Lakhwad is unthinkable. Being hungry for so many days.

Prafull understood. After studying science in school, he began to worry about Bani’s health. Bewildered, he also embraced God.

Hasumatibehan was coached, ‘Son, do not speak like this for God. He doesn’t like it.”

‘So fast for God? Does he like all that?’ Prafulla was still in a rage. What else does mother do? Hsubhan became silent. Manoman started begging God. ‘O God! You are an ocean of compassion. You are merciful. There is a lot of money but no money is earned. Do not look at my elder’s speech. It is still senseless. Forgive him. I will fast tomorrow to repent for what he did.’

The next day Prafulla’s anger flared up after seeing Bana fasting. This time, instead of arguing, Hasubhan finished the matter in a single sentence, ‘Son, if you want to believe in God, believe it, if you don’t believe it, don’t believe it. I believe in God and will continue to believe till my last breath.’

Hasubhan’s husband Arunbhai, a malaria inspector, is the father of four sons. The biggest Prafulla of the four. Thus Prafulla also believed in the existence of God, but his thinking was of science. He used to say. ‘I believe in God but I don’t believe in blind worship. Morning-evening puja-recital, lamp-incense. To anoint with milk. Grind it. Offering flowers, carrying offerings, keeping faith, keeping vows, rubbing the steps of temples. Fulfilling beliefs just because the task is done by coincidence – all this is nonsense. If God is the father of all of us, then he would get tired of the devotion of so many people. I respect my father but if I get up every morning and start offering his aarti with a plate of pooja, it will take me to a mental hospital. If there is a God, let him do his work, let us do ours. What has happened?”

Hasubhene began an unstoppable, episodic series of back-and-forths. Five Mondays for the health of husband Arunbhai, a whole year Thursday fast for elder son Prafulla to score well in his twelfth board exams, eleven Saturdays to strengthen son Deepak’s weak health, Dashama fast for son Raju to become a doctor. Seven Tuesdays for the youngest son to fulfill his desire to go abroad, eleven Sundays for the eldest son Jeetu to go far: in addition to this, Hasubahen used to add an adjective before each tithi of each month from Ekam to Poonam. And then begin

A collection of them.

Prafulla’s patience reached its limits twice a year.

When Ba fasted for nine consecutive days of Navratri and twenty-one days of Annapurna Mata, the whole house was in a state of anxiety. The festival of Navratri may be missed sometimes, but Hasubhan never misses the vow of Annapurna Mata. During this fast lasting twenty one days from Magashar Sud Chhath to Magashar Vad Ekadashi, Hasubhan ate only fruits and vegetables. He strongly believed that there was happiness, peace and contentment in his family only because of the grace of Annapurna Mata. There was never shortage of money or paddy.

In time, Prafulla got admission in a medical college. Raju became an orthopedic surgeon. The youngest son became an engineer and ‘settled’ in Australia. Another son died of illness. The Vrat of Annapurna Maa was chanted continuously, varsovaras.

Dr. Prafullabhai got married. Wife Jasmina is also a doctor. After the marriage, Prafullabhai hoped that now his wife will support him, so his party will be strong, but the opposite happened! The mother-in-law and the son-in-law formed an alliance and the women’s front became stronger.

As the years went by, everything got better in the house. Sons-daughter-in-law kept enriching the house by earning well. Brilliant children also grew up in the sons’ house. Hasubhen’s mother was there. Now became a grandmother. As happiness increased, so did his devotion.

The morning of Hasuba is spent in puja-recitations, in the afternoon the doshis of the neighborhood gather and sing bhajans, in the month of Chaitra they recite Okhaharan. Sometimes Ramayana and sometimes Devi Bhagwat or Shivpuran should be read and narrated. Do not miss even one of the vows mentioned in Sanatan Dharma. Seeing Hasuba, many women of the village also started fasting for Annapurna.

Hasuba now turned eighty. Diabetes worsened. In such a situation, the vow of Annapurna may prove to be life-threatening. The story of Annapurna Devi after getting up in the morning and bathing, aarti-pooja, chanting the mantra of eating one meal for twenty-one days, worshiping the kalash set up on the first day, with the hands

Tying a knotted thread… all this is considered harmful to the body at this age. Hasuba used to feel dizzy but she firmly believed that all the happiness, peace, wealth, health, prosperity etc. in the house is due to this vrata.

Dr. Prafullabhai and his wife Dr. Jasminbehan sat down to explain to Hasubhan, ‘Baa, just do it now. You did a lot of devotion for the family, now live in peace. Even the diabetes specialist doctor treating you has forbidden you to take a lump sum. Your blood sugar level suddenly rises or falls. You can go into a coma at any moment. We join hands in requesting you to…’

Hasuba stopped the son-in-law. “Our Jeetu’s son is ready for a hearty marriage. If it is placed in a good place, I will assume that it will win the jag. After that I won’t do it. Just?’

The son-in-law understood that Hasuba would never leave the vow. Hardik means his son’s son’s son. After her marriage, other reasons are bound to arise.

Brother-in-law Dr. Jasmine explained. ‘Baa, I’m fasting for Hardik, won’t it work?’

‘You have been vowing to Annapurna Mata with me for ten years now, son! Who will take the vow on my behalf?’ Hasuba was firm on her insistence.

Suddenly Dr. Prafullabhai said what he understood. ‘Ba, this year I will perform your vow on your behalf.’

From the mouths of both the women present in the room, ‘Hain?! It rained. Baa said, ‘Son. Never did even a single thing in Tejindagi. You will not be hungry for twenty one days. And you don’t even know how to worship.

Dr. Prafullabhai sat at Baa’s feet, ‘Baa, you have fasted all your life for our happiness. Now it’s my turn. I am willing to starve for twenty-one, forty-two days to save your life. As for the ceremony, I will also perform the ceremony as your daughter-in-law tells me. Now is there anything left?*

‘The chant remains.’ Hasuba mumbled, ‘I will do it. Chanting while lying in bed will not increase my diabetes. Eighty-year-old Hasuba’s eyes shone with devotion.