Dear Dadu,

Today, you turn 90, and even though, in the last few months, you might have lost the excitement for it, I still remember how you’d recalculated your age last year, and said, “I’m 90!” and how I had corrected you- “No, you’re 89 this year, wait till next year to hit 90.”

I asked you yesternight, what you’d like to do on your birthday, if you’d like me to get a packet of Kurkure for your cheat snack, or dance with me in front of the TV as we used to do, or donate grains and ration to temples as you used to do, but you said you just wanted to rest calmly, peacefully, adding- “Of course, I’ll bless you all when you come to wish me.”

Your health is not allowing you to be the cheerful, always jolly person that you are, but I have many memories of you spreading that cheer, which I’ll cherish forever. Your hands, holding mine while cutting my birthday cake every year; your endless collection of bedtime stories, which I’d never get bored of, and even when I did start complaining about the repetitive tales, the impromptu anecdotes you’d make to keep me entertained; your childlike demands for sweets and junk food, which we’d reluctantly allow you to have despite the doctor’s strict instructions; your excitement to meet and talk to my friends; your strong will power, and your pep talks to anyone who ever feels low; your friendly banter with grandma; your eagerness to help me with my studies, especially for Hindi lessons; your pride when I’d get good grades even in unimportant tests; your stubbornness when I’d fight with you over the TV remote; your tolerance when I’d come to your room and insist that you listen to me singing, even when you just wanted to concentrate on your rosary and meditate; your daily evening strolls in the park; your funky faces you’d make while taking selfies with me, and even your crankiness and your petty arguments.

You have probably started forgetting these things, when you even tend to forget if you had breakfast or not, or when you also forgot once that the AC doesn’t play music (yes it’s hilarious and sad at the same time) but for me, these moments are ingrained in me, and a major part of my life is made of them!

I will try and make you read this, but I don’t know if you’ll read it with the same enthusiasm as you used to for all my writings earlier, but anyway, this was to pen down my love and appreciation for you, for the person who grew me up and contributed immensely to my life, as he probably did for so many others around him!