A LAST GOODBYE
He was a part of my unknown vision of the world outside my mom’s little womb. My storyteller. My guardian to school. My charitable friend who gave my Rs 5 everyday for the samosas in school. My carrier for a Band Stand sea view in those toddler days.
His grey hair…His moist eyes…his cricket fever…now that he’s gone…a lot of these small big things take me back to the days…when he was so much around.
He cried on so many occasions. I saw tears when I passed my tenth grade with distinction. I saw tears when I opened my eyes after a major accident that could take away my life. One element…Thousand Emotions.
He died a not so peaceful death. Cancer was eating his system at 80. I knew his pain. But couldn’t do much about it. He complained of pain equal to a thousand scorpion bites. I knew it must be bad. But I didn’t want to imagine.
One night he went off. I felt numb. Cold. Sad. Hurt. I cried but not the Indian conventional way. For the first few days…I couldn’t accept he wasn’t around anymore. And then…it was a crisis situation for everyone. And I decided- INEED TO BE STRONG!
Here I am today. Back to the suburban life of Bandra. Meeting my friends. Loving my people. Telling them about the latest addictions of Good Life. And suddenly I meet Sev Puri Chacha.
His rare quality- He gives me a free puri everytime we meet. He asks me- Aur Dadaji kaisa hai?
I give him the answer, he wouldn’t want to hear. He turns away his eyes, pauses a minute and tells me- Who Bahut acche the. Tumko bahut pyaar karte the. Kitna roye the jab tum hospital mein tha. Kitna khush huye jab tumko noukri mila.
He tells me a lot more that take me down the memory lane. So much…so much!
I am heading home now. My cell buzzes and its mom. “Hi Mom”
How long?
Half n hour possibly.
Come soon. Dad’s waiting for dinner.
Ok. Mom….
Yes
Dadu loved us so much…so much!
His grey hair…His moist eyes…his cricket fever…now that he’s gone…a lot of these small big things take me back to the days…when he was so much around.
He cried on so many occasions. I saw tears when I passed my tenth grade with distinction. I saw tears when I opened my eyes after a major accident that could take away my life. One element…Thousand Emotions.
He died a not so peaceful death. Cancer was eating his system at 80. I knew his pain. But couldn’t do much about it. He complained of pain equal to a thousand scorpion bites. I knew it must be bad. But I didn’t want to imagine.
One night he went off. I felt numb. Cold. Sad. Hurt. I cried but not the Indian conventional way. For the first few days…I couldn’t accept he wasn’t around anymore. And then…it was a crisis situation for everyone. And I decided- INEED TO BE STRONG!
Here I am today. Back to the suburban life of Bandra. Meeting my friends. Loving my people. Telling them about the latest addictions of Good Life. And suddenly I meet Sev Puri Chacha.
His rare quality- He gives me a free puri everytime we meet. He asks me- Aur Dadaji kaisa hai?
I give him the answer, he wouldn’t want to hear. He turns away his eyes, pauses a minute and tells me- Who Bahut acche the. Tumko bahut pyaar karte the. Kitna roye the jab tum hospital mein tha. Kitna khush huye jab tumko noukri mila.
He tells me a lot more that take me down the memory lane. So much…so much!
I am heading home now. My cell buzzes and its mom. “Hi Mom”
How long?
Half n hour possibly.
Come soon. Dad’s waiting for dinner.
Ok. Mom….
Yes
Dadu loved us so much…so much!
There’s a pause. And for the first time since that incident we both cry together.
Thanks Sevi Puri chacha. For unlocking these tears. They needed a release.
Bye Dadu…Miss you so much…so much!
