Bauji
*This one is for Bauji - My Grandfather, whom I love the most. Bauji, whose striking reflection I have always wanted to be.*
You wake up in the middle of the night and smile. He is talking in his sleep again… He is scolding her again for forgetting to put salt in his food. You giggle. Its been an year since she went away. And he still cant let go. When at nights, she descends from the heavens to meet him, He just cant help arguing with her.
He starts again and then pauses in mid sentence. As if remembering something… His face contorts and you fill with sadness. He turns on his side now, facing you and you see him in his glory.
His large square shoulders remind you of your cherished throne… his large hands as he swept you off the ground and threw you up in the air… You squealed in pleasure as you flew and then landed back in his strong, safe arms. And he would hug you and kiss you and then place you on his shoulders. You would walk tall… propped up safely on your favourite seat and he would hold your hands and tell you stories.
In the morning, you smile again as he walks around, singing your favourite song. He combs his hair and folds his clothes neatly to put them back in the trunk. He then picks up the papers you left strewn on the table last night and smoothes them. He carefully piles them in a corner and mumbles something to himself. He sings again and you close your eyes and pretend to be asleep so that he would not stop singing. You love to hear him so much. Nothing could make you happier than seeing him around, full of life, taking care of you… Straightening your things. He knows you are touchy about people going through your things. But he also knows that he can take all the liberties with you.
Now as you walk with him, hand in hand and cross the road, you are proud to be his walking stick. You walk slowly, matching his pace, for he has grown old and things are not the same.
His elegant gait has become a tired shuffle but you still adore him so much. He tells you how you should be careful when you cross roads and you just smile… It’s a wonder how you can love him more with every passing day. You look up at him and he looks at you, amused. Then you both break into a smile… because you know that neither of you can ever be happier…
- Neha
Tags: family, relationships, old age, Shiv Jata Shankar, Savitri Devi Jhingon
anirudh says:
ma grandpa is dead…..and i loved him more than any one else…..u brought these tears back to ma eyes….!
January 16th, 2006 at 07:14 pm
Shashank Bajaj says:
u have brought the feelings n relationship so deeply in ur words that it touches the heart…my Dadaji is dead..i resembles him..
(There is a spell mistake ‘neatly’)
January 16th, 2006 at 09:00 pm
Isaiah says:
Lovely!!
January 17th, 2006 at 12:46 am
Neha says:
Thanks Shashank. Corrected.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Chetali says:
Neha..i just cannot tell u how much this write-up has moved me…it literally brought tears to my eyes..what added to my emotions was also that i cud imagine him with every word u wrote bout him..bravo..!!
January 23rd, 2006 at 07:10 pm
Ajay Damodaran says:
Neha.. this is a masterpiece… like all, it has literally moved my heart. Though my grandpa is not anymore, your words, i think, has relived his memories. I could attach most of the things with him. Thanx dear…
January 27th, 2006 at 02:34 pm
Neha says:
Thanks honey. I miss bauji so much. He’s not been well lately. I so want to go home. The world doesnt seem to hold much meaning anymore
January 27th, 2006 at 03:32 pm
Abhay Mehta says:
Before my birth, my grandpa had passed away, but today i can imagine what i have missed in my life, i wish i could have atleast been with him for a day.
June 27th, 2006 at 06:32 pm