So I've wanted to write a post, actually a few posts here for a long time. I have tried starting something many times but haven't been able to proceed at all. Maybe because all of those were forced attempts and so the words kinda dried up real quick :-)
But here's one that's flowing rather smoothly as I travel back home from the other home :-)
I was thinking that instead of a full, long, topical, meaningful post, why not I share with you and you share with me some anecdotes from our lives! Hehehe!!
Life is full of big, special, life-altering moments - but life is really lived in the smaller, every day moments and memories, isn't it!
So here's a small memory blast from my past!
When I was younger, my eldest mama (mother's brother) used to suddenly drop by to our home many times, if he was anywhere in the vicinity. Now this Mama of mine - well - words can't do justice to what kind of person he was and the life he led. Suffice to say, he was the black sheep of the family. It's hard to say it like it is - but, sadly, we nieces and nephews also weren't particularly fond of him. However, family is a strange thing. You don't even know what bond you have with someone or how deep a relationship actually runs, until it's tested :)
Anyway, so, when he would drop by, he would generally come for not more than 15-20 mins. My paternal grandma, unfortunately didn't approve of his visits but my grandpa was always cordial.
My mother would feel awkward I think (in hindsight) but she never let it show. She would make him some tea/coffee everytime he came and it would always be accompanied with some dry snack. He would gobble it up quickly and make small-talk with me. I don't remember at all what we would talk about. But it was fun. I was very attached to my maternal grandparents and my 3 cousins, so I know that I always asked about them. They all lived together. And then I think we spoke a lot of random but interesting-to-a-kid kinda stuff :)
Then it would be time for him to leave. By this time, I would be primed into the conversation and would feel really angry that he's leaving just when things were becoming interesting. But he would have to leave anyway. My mother would ALWAYS hand him some money at that time and tell him in a stern but kind voice to either use the money well or give it to my grandma but not waste it. He would nod ever so sincerely. The fact that he never followed through, is a different story :-)
And then he would leave. Mom and I would stand in our balcony and watch him go with a wave. Sometimes, I would notice a small tear in her eyes. I don't know what these visits meant for my mom.. But for me, it was someone coming from the land of my grandparents and my cousins. I remember that in a few of his visits, I have hurriedly written small notes for my cousins in torn pages of rough books. There was no way to know if they ever received it, read it or knew about it in those days of no phones or communication. But it was like a messenger had come and I had a message to send :)
Those visits stopped long ago. Mama is long gone too. But these random, fleeting memories come by suddenly like a gush of wind sometimes.
As I travelled today from one place to another, I saw a roadside thela (stall) selling men's handkerchieves. The signal was red and we were parked right next to this thela :-) One particular kerchief was dark blue with black & red lines. It was the same one like what Mama used to carry always :-)
And just like that, I thought of my Navin Mama and said a small prayer for him :-)
It's your turn to share your story :-)
