Little Bryce was two years old when Dad announced that it was time he saw his paternal grandmother. “She is the only grandparent you two boys have left” he said. “She hasn’t been keeping well these days and has asked to see you, especially little Bryce, who she hasn’t seen at all.” The family made plans to fly to Delhi in the soon-to-arrive Ganesh holidays.
At the airport, Sahir was enthralled with the huge jet that was going to take them to the capital city. He greeted the air-hostess with a ‘Namaste’ as he entered the plane, drawing a broad smile from her. Bryce was being his naughty self, running up and down the aisle before a stern shout from his Dad sobered him up. They all settled down, Sahir and Bryce taking the window seats, so they could peek out at the marvellous scenery as the plane whizzed past over the vast green terrain.
“Fasten your seatbelts. We will be landing soon.” announced the pilot. “Welcome to Delhi. We hope your stay will be a pleasant one.” The plane plummeted towards the runaway and made a perfect landing. Sahir’s mother said a prayer of thanks as she unfastened the seat belts and they exited from the plane.
Nani lived in the interior of the city in a place called Friends Colony, so Sahir and his family had to hire a prepaid taxi to reach the apartment block. They unloaded their luggage and rode the elevator to her flat, which was on the seventh floor. For Bryce, the ‘lift’ was a new experience. He was awfully silent and scared, so Sahir held onto his wee hand and reassured him. They alighted and Dad rang the doorbell of Nani’s flat.
“Aare, beta - bahu. Aap log aa gaye? Andhar aa jao.” welcomed Nani in a feeble, delicate voice. Sahir looked at her in surprise! The Nani he remembered had been strong and her voice was commanding then. What had happened to his Nani, he wondered. The sickness must have weakened her.
Sahir’s mother touched her mother-in-law’s feet and received a blessing. Sahir hugged his grandmother and Bryce shyly held out a hand. Nani tugged them both close to her and kissed them tenderly. Tears welling up in her eyes, she held on to them for a moment, then she wiped away the tears with her pallav. Beckoning to her bahu, she said, “Ashu, go to the kitchen and bring in the sherbet and snacks. The servant has prepared and laid them out on trays.” Then she shepherded her son and grandsons to the living room and invited them to make themselves comfortable.
The young lads feasted themselves on mithai, samosas and drank the wonderfully chilled sherbet that Nani had prepared for them. Their stomachs full, they were sent to the bedroom for a short nap, while the adults discussed serious matters.
“Ma, I think it is time to consider leaving Delhi and coming to live with us.” said Dev. “After all, there is no one to look after you here. The climate and natural beauty of Goa will surely revive you and keep you healthy.” His mother seemed reluctant, but the couple persuaded her to come and try it out for a while before she made up her mind. Giving in, the elderly lady agreed to come with them.
When the boys heard the good news, they were excited. Sahir, who loved his Nani dearly, had tears of happiness in his eyes. He recalled how his Grandpa Arnold, who had no one to care for him, had accepted him as his grandson. “I will look after Nani just like I look after my Uncle Arnold.” the little boy thought to himself.
The family visited the famous tourist spots and bazaars in Delhi before they all returned back to Goa by plane. Nani was travelling for the first time and she was terrified! She clasped Sahir’s hands tightly at takeoff and touchdown, exclaiming, “Oh my God, I’m going to die, I’m going to die!” Sahir was quite amused but he did not show it.
When they finally reached the village, Nani was delighted to see the cows and goats. She said in a wistful voice, “You know, when I was a little girl, my parents lived in a village like this in Punjab. We too had cattle and fields. Now all that is gone forever.”
Soon, Nani took to the place and, when it was time to go, she had made her decision. “Beta, I think I will accept your kind offer and come here to be with you all. After all, home is where the heart is. And for me, my heart is my family. I will settle every thing there as soon as I can. Maybe in the Diwali vacations, you can come and bring me back to be here forever.”
Dev hugged his mother-in-law and promised to do so. Sahir was the happiest! “Nani must share my room” he told his mother. “She tells such wonderful stories, Mama, just like you do.” He couldn’t wait for the next holidays and for his NANI!
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