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About Grandfather

26th March 2015
Bad drawing. But drawing nonetheless.

My grandfather, 'Deddy' was a very good man. I used to think in his old age that I barely know him. In my growing up years he was already bed ridden. Deddy was the only doctor in our family, n he was a great one. He was an orthopedic surgeon. It was sometime in 2000, that he had fully lost function of the right side of his body and was suddenly paralysed.

The deddy I saw after that was a short tempered crabby demanding person, who only seemed to live for his love of food. He would need help to sit up on the bed, bathe and eat. He was like this for 12 years until I was in my 1st year of college and got the call. I wouldn't say I was very close to him, but he did talk to me a lot about his younger days of apprentice, his travels to Britain and his violin. He was very proud of me because I loved sports and he thought I was intelligent because I aced biology. But the reason I loved him was because I had flashes of memory of him loving me as a child. Carrying me around everywhere, playing with me. I distinctly remember this one day in my Margao ancestral house when he came home from the market and got me 'moorin'. It's now a rare local fruit that grows inside a coconut. After squealing with joy and running to hug him, Raina and I started fighting for the moorins. He stopped us and told raina, "darling, these are for nikhi. I've got you your favourite fish." And Raina was happy too.

This morning, 7 years after his death, I had a dream of him. It was in my house, I was walking up to my room. When I opened the door a man was trying to get off the bed with the support of his hands. He was a tall big man, but alone. I recognised him and shut the door. I looked through the keyhole of the room. This time the man stood upright facing me, a woman by his side. It was ajju and deddy. I burst open the door and flew into his arms, tears pouring through my eyes. My arms only reached his waist. He was grinning widely and ajju with him. He was standing again and this time we were going to have a better start.

When I woke up from the dream, sobbing, I realised I never got to love him or mourn him fully. And worst of all, I never got to say goodbye. I guess this is the only eulogy I can write.
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Ravi Gupta said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
March 27, 2015 at 8:26 AM
Ravi Gupta said…
Heartfelt.
I had a similar experience. Years after my grandfather passed away, I had him in my dream as a stranger. Along the whole dreaming, I felt that I knew him well and just couldn't recognize him.The moment I recognized him,I was awake.
March 27, 2015 at 8:44 AM
Deepak Prabhudesai said…
Very touching. I lost my father when I was 13. Daddy came in my life in 1985 and was more of a father than an in-law. True he loved talking about music and often we would hum ragas together when I was learning Hindustani classical music. He would share many of his experiences as a doctor and of his travels and would want to know of the new technologies that have come about. We miss him. He was a good man and loved both you n raina very much.
March 27, 2015 at 9:07 AM
Unknown said…
hey, I know this is very personal yet a very well written eulogy. But it's beautiful how the relation is painted through the subtle words which are never enough to express our love for the oldies who loved us so much. My grandfather passed away when I was 12 and was still understanding what death is. The cycle rides to the airforce base in Belgaum or the walks to the pastry shops on a winter night post dinner; it all comes back. I believe they are still watching us and making sure that we stay happy. Maybe there wasn't a need for a goodbye as their presence still hovers around us making sure we are living a fulfilling life. Only if we are able to recognize that energy and channel it into our actions.
March 28, 2015 at 3:39 PM
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