In the era of the pseudo-candid, this stands as a genuine portrait of my father with my son caught in a moment of elation. Though this was clicked more than a decade back I often witness such moments between the two even now. I always wondered about the formula of this distinct bonding between grandparents and grandchildren: the “grandbonding “. I so very dearly cherish the same that I had with my grandmother who is no more.

In the melange of my memories, lucid are those days that I spent with my grandmother during summer vacations. Though the periods that I had stayed with her were not that long I clearly realise that the impact that she made in my life is huge. May it be the hobby of growing vegetables in the backyard and the joy of plucking them tender, fresh and green for the dish of the day or jotting the to-do-things and striking off the ones when achieved with a subtle yet proud smile. I still remember the stories that she shared with me in the wee hours before sunrise, still in bed, sipping steaming hot black tea; the stories from her own life, like pages from the journey that she strolled through, some bright with bliss, some soaked with tears, some spiced with tattles and some drenched in painful mislayings. I used to be half asleep during the story time but surprisingly I recollect most of them and still feel the essence of the emotions that she shared through her stories, both delight and agony equally well. I now feel guilty on being quite indifferent and emotionless while listening to her stories way back then, I wish I showed some empathy to her with kind comforting gestures.

Admonishments from my father were not uncommon for the very fact of me being a naughty nut in my childhood. I still savour the sweetness of the whispers and warmth of the hugs from my grandmother during such gloomy hours when she used to fondle my forehead saying “It’s ok, don’t bother’. In such solace I was curious on how she understood me way more than my parents did.

Unforgettable are the precious culinary lessons that I learned from my grandma; may it be a sophisticated dish or a simple savoury. She adorned a smile of fulfillment when she watched me relish the “special” food she prepared exclusively for me. Words fall short to express how much I miss those flavors she passionately served on my plate.

Many of us might be able to relate that most of these “grandbondings” are rooted in explicit biases. You can easily spot that grandparents are often unapologetically partial to one particular grandchild. It might go so far that it might create much embarrassment amongst the grandchildren when prejudices are overtly expressed by the grandparents. Nevertheless, priceless is the fondness that a granchild with such an affectionate grandparent enjoys.

While gazing at a lonely bright star in a dusky dark sky ,a wistful wind passing by reminded me of how much I have inherited the thoughts and tastes, likes and dislikes, habits and manners of my beloved granny who seems to be living through me now and may be forever in the generations to come.