BABLI MASSI

I have an aunt who is like a second mother to me. When I was a baby she played with me incessantly. I played with her more than I played with my mom. Apparently, we were attached at the hip when I was very young.

My father went through a long two and a half years where we assumed that his illness would kill him. WE PLANNED FOR his death. We did not want it by any stretch of the imagination, but we were making arrangements.

AS ADULTS Babbli Massi is the family member we have who has helped us through all of our trials and tribulations. She has taken care of our family during our difficult times in every way that you could imagine possible and has not asked us for one single thing in return. She has never mentioned to us how much she has given to us in mind body spirit and in practical ways, but she simply gives and gives and gives and does not ask for anything in return.

WE DON’T DESERVE HER. She is an angel that has descended on our family to help us through our toughest times and she is still currently doing everything in her power to help my father’s transition from the nursing home back to home. If we didn’t have my auntie I don’t know what we would do, literally.

Above is a picture of my auntie and I. Both of us are unmarried Indian women with no children. Perhaps only the two of us can understand what that really means living in Indian culture. Hell, it means the same thing in American culture. We know what people think and say about us, the pity, the judgment they have for us.

But look at us.

My aunt is a successful pediatrician who practices medicine literally around the world, in America and India, she is literally world-renowned in her work. She is world-renowned in her love of Sikhi or Sikshism or Gurbani, she is a Bhagat. She literally prays day and night or does some sort of seva or service.

I am a college professor, I’ve worked for the University of Detroit, Baker College, and many other schools in the tri-state Michigan area. I’ve written two novels, 3 screenplays, two television shows, poetry, songs, and a memoir.

Just because my aunt and I did not take the traditional route does not mean we are failures as women. YOU DO NOT have to bear children to be successful as a WOMAN.

THAT’S all I have to say about that.

THank you Babli Massi…for teaching me that…for teaching me how to be a woman…

Nina