"...my blessings are always with you"

[ding]... and the door opens. Its great to be home after 3-4 weeks! Mom, dad, sis... everyone is so happy! The TV's playing loudly, but who cares... and then I move in. My eyes fall on that part of the room where someone, who is as happy as everyone else in the room, is eagerly waiting for me! A broad, shy smile on the face that's seen so many things, makes me realise my importance... its him... my 'Ajobaa'...

<a few years later>... and I think of watching the Marathi VCD that my dad has sent to me from India. Sipping coke and feasting on the self-made breadroll I put on the CD... The CD's playing... suddenly a drop of tear rolls on my cheek... I miss him. All the memories, lying in dust, suddenly get washed by a strong force of water, some of which has come out of my eyes in the form of tears... I close my eyes and I see the part of my house where a man with white hair and creased body used to sit and smile whenever I returned home...

<flashback>... he handed me the Rs.100 note and said to me in a breakin voice, "Jaa, ek masta ice-cream gheun ye... party pack" ("Go, get an ice-cream... party pack"). I could not take this... I returned the same note to him and said, "Asude ajobaa, mi aanto, tumhi hey theva" ("Let it be grandpa, I'll get it, you keep this")... I ran to the ice-cream parlor and got the newest flavour. That night the ice-cream tasted awesome and everyone enjoyed it a lot...

... and it was time for me to leave. Had to catch the 6 am bus to Pune since I had to be in office by 9:00. I wear my shoes without putting on the lights cause he's sleeping there. But I can see the eyes open and looking at me... They are saying something... "Lavkar ye parat..." ("Come back soon"). I understand what those eyes are saying to me... "Chalaa ajoba... yeto mi. Kalji ghya" ("Ok grandpa... I'll be back soon. Take care") He sits up and gives his blessings to me. And I leave...

<today>... i still have the kashmiri shawl he had gifted to me before I left for my first job to Hyderabad. He had gone to the market himself and got me the shawl. Dont know how much he bought it for but I know its worth - priceless!

Miss you ajobaa... really... wish you were with us at the time I left India and even when I come back to India...

~me