Recall

15 Dec, 2024

Recently i watched a movie with name called
How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

This is a tale of greed, love, and sacrifice centered around a grandmother, her three children, and her grandson named "M".

Grandma, a strong-willed woman, had lived alone for years. She had three children: two sons and a daughter. The eldest son was well-settled and financially secure, but the younger one struggled with gambling and debts. Her daughter, M's mother, lived modestly and was the only one not driven by greed. M, her grandson, was ambitious and lived with her mother.

One day, Grandma was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and the doctors gave her only 11 months to live. This diagnosis brought unexpected visitors—her two sons, who hadn’t visited her in years, now came regularly. Both were waiting for her to die, eager to claim her property.

M, though initially greedy, moved in with Grandma under the guise of taking care of her, secretly hoping to inherit the house. Grandma, however, was sharp and quickly realized why everyone had suddenly become so attentive.

Despite her motives, M genuinely took care of Grandma. He accompanied her to chemotherapy sessions, cooked for her, and spent evenings playing cards together. Over time, M formed a deep bond with his grandmother, and his initial greed began to fade.

As Grandma’s health deteriorated, she made a surprising decision. Instead of leaving the house to M or her well-off elder son, she decided to give it to her struggling younger son, hoping it would help him get back on his feet. M was heartbroken and felt betrayed. In his frustration, she left Grandma at the hospital, unable to understand why he wasn’t chosen.

After selling the house, the younger son, true to his nature, squandered the money and put Grandma in a nursing home. When M learned about this, he was filled with guilt and sadness. Realizing, how much he had grown to love her grandmother, he decided to take her out of the nursing home and bring her to his mother’s house.

In her final days, Grandma lived with her daughter and M, surrounded by love and care. What M didn’t know was that Grandma had been quietly saving money for her in a bank account. When Grandma passed away, M received the inheritance, a final act of love from the woman who had taught her the true meaning of family.

This story is a poignant reminder of how greed can blind us, but love and sacrifice have the power to redeem even the most selfish of hearts.

This was one of Grandma’s last moments, and it brought back memories of my own mother. My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which later spread to her intestines. Her journey through the illness was long, painful, and full of love and sacrifices—just like Grandma.

The picture below shows my mother during her treatment. A ryle's tube had to be inserted from nose when she could no longer eat through her mouth. In cases of stomach or intestinal cancer, blockages prevent food from passing, and patients vomit if fed orally. Liquid diets are given through these tubes, but in worse conditions, even that fails, and food is administered intravenously. My mother was eventually put on IV feeding.

This photo was taken two winters ago (2022) when I was staying with her in the hospital. I remember telling her she looked beautiful that day, and she smiled. I’d never kissed my mother before, but that day, I kissed her cheeks and forehead. I told her she is the only person I loved in this entire world. She smiled again and said, “I know. Your actions speak for themselves.”

I never thought she would leave us. In cancer treatment, some chemo drugs work while others fail. One night, I was sleeping on the couch in her hospital room, waiting for the doctors to try a new drug. I had just ordered food online when the doctor came in. I requested him to try another drug, but he was blunt and told me she wouldn’t survive more than a month. His words shattered me. Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn’t eat that night. I returned the food to the delivery boy and told him to keep it or give it to someone in need.

I had cried before, but this was different—this was heartbreak. I felt as though I hadn’t done enough for her. I remember the first time I cried like this; it was when I first heard about her cancer. It was April 2020, during the COVID lockdown. I was stuck in Bangalore, far from home, and couldn’t immediately be with her.

For two days, I cried in bed. But I’m grateful to have friends who supported me. One of them even suggested we ride a bike across state borders to reach Indore. Though impractical, his intent gave me hope. Eventually, I managed to secure travel passes to cross Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. My friend and I hired a cab for an exorbitant amount—₹40-50k—but it was worth it.

We reached Indore in May 2020. I arrived home at midnight and fell asleep. The next morning, I woke up to my mother’s hand on my forehead. She looked frail from her chemo treatments, but she smiled when she saw me. That moment brought me so much joy.

My mother always valued mental health over material things. She wanted her children to be happy, healthy, and close to each other. From May 2020 to December 2020, her treatment included multiple rounds of chemo and surgery. I still remember every detail vividly—it’s strange how some memories stick.

In February 2021, she was declared cancer-free. Everyone was overjoyed. But our happiness was short-lived. By the end of 2021, the cancer returned. Oral chemo resumed, followed by mainline chemo. She always slept beside me. If she felt pain or discomfort, I’d wake up immediately to give her medication. Sometimes, she’d hold my hand, gently caressing it, and whisper things like, “Take care of your father,” or “Never fight with anyone.” She’d always wait until she thought I was asleep to say these things.

In mid-2022, my brother got married, and my mother was so happy. You wouldn’t have guessed she was ill. But after the wedding, her condition worsened. By December 2022, she was admitted to the hospital again.

Chemo sessions are usually day-long events, so hospitalization isn’t always necessary. But because her cancer had spread to her intestines and she couldn’t eat, we had to stay in the hospital. I stayed with her from evening till morning.

One night, the doctor told us there was no hope—she wouldn’t survive more than a month. Those words broke me. I had so many plans, so many things I wanted to do for her, but none of them would be possible.

She often encouraged me to travel and explore the world. She’d say, “Travel with your wife someday and see the world.”

In late December, after 20 days in the hospital, the doctor advised us to take her home as we are wasting money by just keeping her in hospital. He said treatment could continue at home, but there wasn’t much else they could do. We told her she’d be fine and brought her home, hired 2 nurse for day and night shift and turned part of home to hospital.

One of the nurses became like family, bonding with my mother. My mother confided in her that she wished to recover, just once, to see me get married. But that dream remained unfulfilled.

She passed away at home, surrounded by family, after 25 days. I remember that last night vividly. I was running around looking for medications, but even with them, she didn’t regain consciousness. She passed the next day.

My mother was an incredible woman—an ideal mother, wife, and professional. She balanced work and family effortlessly and dreamed of giving her children a good education. It was she who encouraged my brother to attempt the IIT entrance exam.

I wish I could have done more for her. While I carry regrets, I also carry her values and dreams in my heart. I’ll strive to live a life that honors her love, strength, and kindness. I’ll try to be a better, healthier person and a good human being.