The year we felt immense gratitude

As a child, Hargun was very close to her grandparents. ‘I’d only fall asleep to their stories.’ she said. But when she got older, their family relocated, and her grandparents went to stay with her uncle.

‘As a 9-year-old, I felt hurt being separated from my Dadi Dadu.’ Years passed and even though they visited over the weekends, it was never the same.

Right before the lockdown, they were on their monthly visit when the lockdown was announced. Initially, they went to stay at their ancestral home but when Hargun realised the period of the lockdown was indefinite, she called them and asked them to come live with her. It was the first time she’d ever raised her voice at them, but it was needed. That evening, Dada and Dadi moved in.

‘It took some time for the 6 of us to adjust in our 2 BHK, but we didn’t mind- Dadi Dadu were back!’

For her, it was like reliving her childhood.

‘Every evening I’d make chai for everyone and Dadu would narrate stories from his youth.’
Listening to their stories, their struggles and their journey to overcome them made her realise the importance of family and why it’s important to stick by each other. However, for Hargun, the best part about staying together was Dadi making her favourite food.

‘No one makes gatte ki sabzi the way dadi does, not even Maa!’ said Hargun.

Her days would start with Dadi giving her a champi and end with the entire family sitting together and talking. Before her grandparents had come to stay with them, the family hardly ever spent quality time together. All four of them would be busy–Hargun on her phone, her brother on his laptop and their parents on their own device. They’d become self-involved. But dadu and dadi’s presence itself had changed that- all 6 of them would together be engaged either in board games or watching the Mahabharat together.

‘Dadi and Dadu evoked the feeling of belonging in us, a feeling that was missing before and for that, I am so grateful to them.’

Mahindra salutes the spirit of people like Hargun, who remind us that even in a pandemic, we can find joy by being grateful for the people in our lives. #TogetherWeRise.