I knew Pakajam chitthi right from my marriage into this family. We got closer when we were posted at Dehradun. We many times used to travel down to Delhi with Venkataraman ( Venkata) at the helm driving our little fiat. We used to without fail drop at Pankajam Chitthi and Chandran chitappa 's house at Ashok Vihar where Latha and Sudha were little girls busy with their studies.
Chitthi used to be picture of grace , always serving us with table full of food. The rapport was instant. She used to make us feel home with two toddlers Ravi & Raghu. The genuine concern and affection she exhibited in her nature till the last were the ornaments she was born with.
In these fast paced world where it is getting difficult to make bonds, she exhibited such bonds in any relationship which is difficult to come by in present times.
Later we got close in Bangalore where chittappa and chitthi came to settle after their long Delhi stint.We also followed suit after our many postings though much later. We often used to visit their Indranagar house where Chittappa and chitthi together made the house a cozy home. Especially when Raghu came to stay near by Chittappa and Bala mama were his local guardians. Chittappa & Chitthi too played the role genuinely and often he enjoyed home cooked food and got help to settle himself.
I also remember vividly Chittappa and Chitthi visit to Rajamundry at A.P along with the family group and we all enthusiastically visiting all the temples around Godavari river, cooking and eating together at our Rajamundry house.
Then again Chitthi had come to Rajamundry for Venkatraman's shashtiabhapoorthy when all of us traveled across Godavari river in boat to visit Bhadrachalam ( Rama's temple)
Chitthi's graceful presence had always been there on all important occasions of our life like Ravi , Raghu's marriage and our 60th birthdays and recently in family gatherings at Bangalore.
Her grace and goodness was acknowledged by Lord Himself. That her end was so well ordained that she visited both important shrines the `pallikari kavu ( family Deity) ,Guruvayur the temple very close to her heart and took leave of her mortal frame at Thirussur , the native place
She was taken gracefully by the Lord which she deserved.
I am sure she is showering her blessings to her near ones from above.
from - Rama Venkataraman
