In Memoriam

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30th Jan 2008. 8:30 am...An hour back, i got to know that Hina Goswami ji passed away last night..You might wonder who was Hina Goswami...no, she wasn't a politician, a page 3 celebrity or an actress. She was an old lady who lived in the senior citizens home Gharonda, in Chhatarpur, Delhi, and who came to Zindagi Live old age episode.....

After the shoot, we had been in touch with her...infact, the Zindagi live team had celebrated Diwali at Gharonda...She was very happy that evening..we made her dance and that beautiful smile on the wrinkled face said it all..She was over-joyed...

My next meeting with her in Dec end was bit strange. After 3 hectic schedules of Zindagi live, i took a 10 day break in Dec. I happened to visit a friend in Chhatarpur that day, and it suddenly struck that since i have come this far, let me go a little further and see hina ji as well....To my surprise, the moment i entered Gharonda, the first gentleman who saw me, said...Richa..oh Hina ji has been remembering you for past 2 days...and i thought...isn't that what people call telepathy...

She was unwell, weak that day...i could feel that she wont live long....Perhaps it was too cold for her last night.

4 days later, i guess 2008 had begun, i got a call from her that she has got me a gift and i should go and take it...Today i regret that i couldn't go myself but got it picked up...She had sent 2 shawls, and chocolates for me....All through January, my ill-health kept me on bed-rest. My visits to hospitals didn't let me visit Gharonda..

I want to confess that today i am angry at myself....i want to cry aloud...i want to say sorry to her for not being able to see her once again...Wish there was a way to know that this is the last chance...

But theres something i still owe to her...in our last meeting, i asked her what music she wanted to listen to..and she asked me to send her an audio cassette of Bade Ghulam Ali...

Hina ji, i promise you today that this music shall be played for you in your prayer meeting at Gharonda. We'll be there...

Zindagi Live team bids goodbye to Hina ji with tearful eyes...May your soul rest in peace...Your loving smile and warm hugs will remain with us forever....