"The hardest of all is learning to be a well of affection,and not fountain,to show them that we love them,not when we feel like it,but when they do"

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Saturday, May 14, 2011

To 'Dada'

I don't know what compels me to write this after so many years but something in the back of my mind makes me wish to do this.Though i have never engaged myself in writing something in person as in about myself or share something about myself but today i am doing it for the first time and let's see may be for the last time.


My grandfather..he had expired a longtime back.The only relation i remember having with him was that he used to be around with me and we used to just sleep together side by side..saying or speaking nothing at all.I never used to talk with anyone at my home until and unless i wanted to.So all in all reserved.So was he,he never said or asked me anything just that sometimes used to call out my name.Everyday in the evening time we used to have shondha(evening time) at our home (we have it now also) it was specially done by my Dada as we call him in Bengali.Whenever he used to return with the barkosh(a wooden plate) black in color having little pieces of fruits placed on them,i used to be the first one jumping around and asking for one of the little pieces.Whenever the conch's echo was heard i knew he was done with the boi kaali(to worship a particular deity the ritual performed in the evening) which i used to call book black after i learnt English a bit as in Bengali boi means book and kaali means black.My favorite was the mango and still is.But interestingly being a child of the age 4 or 5 you really can't distinguish what is profit and what is loss for you so whenever i used to know that mango is being cut for the boi kaali i used to wait for the seed wrapped up in little bit of pulpy mango and not the other two parts which were cut and separated from it.

Sometimes we used to smile at each other out of no reason.I had seen him deteriorating in his health and as a child i had no idea what exactly was the problem with him but i knew that something was not correct when he stopped doing the boi kaali.

I just have one snap(which is now lost and image captured by my memory remains) of him smiling and sitting by the side of my Thamma(grandmother) with me in his lap and my cousin brother in Thamma's lap.I wore a polka dotted pink color frock,he a plain white panjabi(a loose fitting long cloak like top) and pajama(loose fitting lower),my Thamma in a saree (i don't remember it's color)and my brother in a shirt and shorts(i don't remember it's color either).Interestingly of this image i just remember what my Dada and me wore and i specifically remember it was my birthday and he was trying to pose while pushing inside the piece of cake inside my mouth.

Another sweet memory that i have beside me is the best possible dessert i could have ever had in my life.It was really simple but i don't know my Dada made it just fabulous it was nothing but some sweet and sour apples shredded nicely and done something after that(that something still remains a mystery to me as he expired before i could have any knowledge of the technicalities of things being made and destroyed).
I loved it and i still love it and i still have the taste of it sometimes lingering in my mouth..
I named it on my own and my elders at home still address it with the name i had once given that unique and delightful dessert which was 'Swadd' ..

So this is for my 'Dada' :) . .You are or you are not but in memory you are and will remain. .

P.S.-From some days i have been sleeping on the same side of the room and bed as i used to with my Dada so maybe he has thought of knocking me to just say a hie to his memories :)

14 comments:

Eon Heath said...

Hey, Hi
something personal and beautiful...memories are something to be cherished for the beautiful people in it...
:)
a nice narration, willsurely make us think of someone similar in our lives...
beautiful...


Regards,
The Silhouette...

Saumya said...

childhood memories are the bestest treasures....esp those with the grandparents!!....god bless ya :)

the other side of me said...

Hey there,

Lovely post.reminds me of my grandfather.Sadly he's not here anymore:( He's someone that i've always looked up to :)

You have a beautiful memory of your grandfather.i think you are really missing him and I'm very sure 'dada' misses you too!!

Take care :)

Blasphemous Aesthete said...

I think this is the first time I am reading something personal from Alcina. :)

Lovely read :)

Cheers,
Blasphemous Aesthete

Anonymous said...

I fell this and can relate. I had a great grandfather who I saw all the time growing up. He never talked he just sat on the couch and watched everyone. Once we were alone and out of nowhere he asked me about school. Then he told me a story about him getting into trouble at school. He had a gleam in his eye I had never seen before. He is long gone now. But when I think of him that is what I remember the story and gleam.

The Enchantress said...

Touching...

Childhood memories stay with us forever..

Nice blog....Following you..

Simran said...

Beautiful memories poured with lot's of affection!

Alcina said...

@Eon Heath
Happy that it can make you think about someone like this in your life too..

Alcina said...

@Saumya
Yes they are :)
Thank you..and god bless you too!

tc

Alcina said...

@the other side of me

Yeah may be he is missing me if he does exits still somewhere :)

thank you so much dear!

tc
<3

Alcina said...

@Blasphemous aesthete
Written in the beginning already :P

thank you!

Alcina said...

@swan
I can completely join with your words :)
Thank you!

Alcina said...

@Nikita
Yes they remain forever.. :)

thank you so much..and so happy to know that :))

tc

Alcina said...

@Simo
Bingo baby! :)

thank you..

tc