“Jinab-e-Aela” this is how he used to start a conversation. My father’s mama ji (maternal uncle) Abdul Majeed Bhat was about 80 year old, but yet an energetic person.
Bhat was an influential businessman. He established a sweet and bakery shop–Majeed Sweets– in the main market of Pulwama town around 60 years ago. The scrumptious sweets made by him were famous in the entire town.
I clearly recollect his enthusiastic morning and evening bicycle rides; even in his declining years he loved to pedal through the streets of the town.
On every Eid, his bicycle bell rang at the door of my house, signalling his arrival. Bhat then took a look at our house and then he would give his suggestion.
His suggestions were always valuable and even on trivial matters, he led us with the examples from his own life.
He loved talking about the days he was down and out, and worked as a manual labourer in Punjab when he was quite young.
“I hardly used to get a half of bread and a cup of curd those days” sharing his life experience once he said.
He was adept at giving suggestions on how to survive in hard times. In 2019 Bhat complained about physical weakness, which escalated further as days went by.
After visiting many doctors and hospitals his family ended up in Tata Hospital Mumbai where Bhat was diagnosed with cancer.
But it was not the end he got treated and went through a series of surgeries and he almost recovered fully.
On 7 July 2022, in the dead of night, Bhat complained of uneasiness and his son took him to District Hospital Pulwama where doctors found his oxygen saturation level below oxygen below 90%. The doctors clapped a oxygen mask to his face but to no avail. It plummeted further and on the morning of July 7 around 8:30 everyone was left in shock when a doctor after checking on him said: “I think he is no more”.
Rest in peace Abajan you will be remembered and missed by the people with a sweet tooth in the town.
