New Delhi, Aug. 28 -- Ud jayega hans akela, jug darshan ka mela...; The bird will take flight alone; this fair of the world will fade away.

Four days have passed since the call from Delhi, but time seems to have folded in on itself. The air is quieter, heavier, charged with her absence and yet humming with her presence. Usha Bhua -- radiant, rooted, and resplendent -- lives in every corner of memory, every echo of her voice, every fragrance of food she loved to cook, every note of music that lingered in the air long after the song had ended.

Her life was a melody. She spoke with the music of rivers -- words soft yet strong, flowing and unhurried, carrying wisdom without weight, kindness without condescension. Her voice had that rare cad...