A Funeral, a Denture and Mischievous Monkeys - By Bhavna K. Mehta

Written By: Bhavna K. Mehta

Category: Memoir

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In her evocative memoir "A Funeral, a Denture and Mischievous Monkeys," Bhavna K. Mehta offers a heartfelt glimpse into family dynamics during a time of mourning. Submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece captures the balancing act between grief and humor in a large, vibrant family. Through her narrative, Bhavna invites readers to experience the cultural rituals and unexpected moments that define her family’s journey through loss.

About the Work

Bhavna K. Mehta’s memoir blends a poignant narrative with lighthearted anecdotes, capturing the essence of family gatherings during times of sorrow. Her vivid storytelling brings to life the contrasts of solemnity and unexpected humor, underscored by the mischief of monkeys and the mystery of missing dentures. The piece reflects on cultural traditions and the enduring bonds of family, offering a touching reminder of life’s unpredictability.

A Funeral, a Denture and Mischievous Monkeys by Bhavna K Mehta

Original Submission by Bhavna K. Mehta

Hashtag Kalakar Submission 2 for 2026

A Funeral, a Denture and Mischievous Monkeys by Bhavna K Mehta

We were sitting in the lounge at the main house. The room was cramped as four of us, nephews and nieces, were squeezed on one couch. My mum’s eldest brother, my Pratikmama, and one of his oldest friends were seated on chairs and talking. On the second couch, my Ashokmama lay sleeping. Every now and then, we looked up from our phones and tried not to laugh as odd sounds escaped him while his dentures shifted with each breath.

“Any danger of him swallowing the denture?” I asked.

“Unlikely,” my Pratikmama answered. “The sensation of choking will wake him up first.”

“That’s a relief. We don’t need any more drama.”

Ashokmama continued sleeping peacefully, happy that he was able to grab a catnap.

Families get together for births, marriages and deaths mainly. The larger the family, the bigger the chaos that ensues. Sometimes it’s happy chaos and sometimes it’s dramatic and explosive. I come from a very large family. My mum is one of nine siblings. She lost her youngest sibling when he was just five months old and she was seven years of age. Although she was quite young, her memory of the day he passed away are remarkably clear. Currently, there are eight siblings, and mum is the second youngest in the family. Mum is retired so you can imagine that my uncles and aunts are getting on in age. The youngest is fifty-nine years of age. We are fifteen cousins in total. When we all get together, it’s difficult for us to be quiet for long even when the occasion demands it.

2025 started out on a sad note. My mum lost her brother after a lengthy illness and I lost my Ravimama. We had visited him in hospital, and I knew that the outlook was not good as his vital signs were weakening rapidly. The doctors prepared us for the inevitable. The funeral was scheduled to take place in Durban, his birthplace, and the extended family members made their way down to the coast. As my uncle was a prominent priest in the community, the funeral was huge. My cousins and I are all working so we were down just for the funeral and the pouring of the ashes into the ocean the next day at the Sivananda Temple *Ghaat.

I was accommodated with my parents at my Mum’s sister’s home not far away. Late that evening, my Mum got a call from my Ashokmama. He had a problem. His dentures were missing. Everyone at the main house had launched a massive hunt for his lost dentures but there was no sign of them. Did any of us remember seeing it anywhere? We offered some suggestions: “Did you look in the cabinet? What about the windowsills in the bathrooms? Maybe it fell behind the headboard? … A picture of the denture’s container was sent on the family WhatsApp group.

The next morning at ten, the entire family was gathered at the temple ghaat to perform the ashes ceremony. The atmosphere was sombre but peaceful and holy. I had not witnessed such a ceremony before, but I experienced a sense of closure. As we walked back to the car park, my mum asked my uncle if he had found his dentures. I had never seen Uncle without his dentures before, so I had to stifle my amusement when he spoke and gave us a toothless smile. He indicated that the massive search for the teeth had not yielded in the finding of the missing item.

During lunch, the topic of the missing dentures came up again. Someone said that it was possible that a monkey may have taken the dentures away. It was well known that monkeys were everywhere in Durban and they were broadly viewed as a nuisance and a menace, coming in their big numbers and destroying plants, annoying those who were at home during the day and terrifying some of them. People recounted incidents of monkey mischief and havoc created. Even my Mum recalled an incident when a monkey entered the upstairs bedroom she was sleeping in, after my grandfather’s funeral in 2011. In terror, she had screamed until the monkey finally left through the window it came in. An elder in the family had suggested to her that Lord Hanuman, the Monkey God and servant of the Lord had come to pay his last respects to her noble father. While this interpretation made her feel good, she couldn’t stop shaking in fear when she relived the incident.

That evening, the family and close friends sang hymns of peace in the home. This is a cultural practice that takes place in the evenings, until the twelfth day after the passing away of a deceased male. Hindus believe that the soul hovers during this period and is only free to move into the next realm when all the funeral rites are completed. The hymns remind one that the soul is immortal and the body is mortal; that our future births are determined by the actions one performs in one’s life, and we should, therefore, perform good deeds to earn salvation. The hymn singing brings peace and solace to those who have lost a loved one and encourages one to contemplate on God and our purpose on earth.

That evening after supper, the family sat together recalling special memories of my uncle. Despite the sadness of the loss of a loved one, we felt good that he had led a rich life, had served his community with devotion and loved his family unconditionally. We all agreed that his religious sermons would be remembered for his oratory skills and his insightful understanding of the scriptures. He had lived a good, meaningful life and had touched the lives of many.

A close family friend stated that he was going to go with his flashlight into the garden, and look for the missing dentures, in case, a naughty monkey had taken the plastic container which had my uncle’s dentures and then discarded it - when it learned that the container and its contents were not edible. The fear was also that if the dentures had landed in the bin, the garbage would be collected the next morning by the refuse collectors and then the dentures would be lost forever. But then the rain came heavily. We decided to sweep and clean up and re-arrange the furniture neatly before we retired for bed and to resume the search in the clear light of the day.

My aunt, who is a little OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) started moving furniture and got down on her hands and knees to clean under the heavy couches. And lo and behold - there lay the plastic container with the dentures intact inside. The casing had clearly fallen through the side of the couch where uncle had been sleeping earlier, slid down to the bottom and landed on the floor. There were sighs of relief and loud laughter.

An apology was even sent to the monkey kingdom in the universe for branding them as the culprits for the missing dentures.

……………………………………………………………..

Glossary

Ghaat - A ‘ghaat’ in Hinduism refers to a set of steps leading down to a body of water, typically a river, which are used for bathing or performing religious rituals, mainly in India.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating the diversity and richness of literary expression. Participants from around the world share their distinct voices, exploring themes of identity, culture, and creativity. This competition serves as a global stage for writers to showcase their talent and connect with a broader audience, fostering a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bhavna K. Mehta for sharing her memoir, "A Funeral, a Denture and Mischievous Monkeys," with the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her narrative beautifully captures the complexities of family life and the unexpected moments that bring light during times of loss. We are grateful for her contribution to this literary celebration.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.