I showed the son a text message capturing a conversation between his cousin and his grandfather, Balu Thaatha. Balu Thaatha has the unique capacity to morph into a 5/10/20/60/80 year old depending on his audience’s mental acuities and potential for mischief making and taking.
“I found your Hero pen – therefore, I am a hero.”
“Thaatha! You are just a zero, not a hero!”
I felt for the old man.
“Serves Thaatha right!” said the son rolling his eyes.
“Why?! Poor man is not a zero! Though without zero, civilization will be a zero.” I mused and the son laughed.
“True! True! I meant – serves him right to be at the receiving end of this. He thinks he is Dr Seuss amma. He told me the other day that if I eat jhangri, I will not be angry, as when you are hungry you get angry! What even is Jhangri?” said the fellow.
“Diabetes in squiggles!” I said and the pair of us guffawed.
Later that day, we were going through the book, Grandude – by Paul McCartney. The Beatles star is quite obviously a fun and dedicated grand-father (grandude) and his book outlines the adventures he has with his grandchildren in their quest to find their grandmother, nan-dude.
We fell to discussing the son’s own wonderful grandfathers again: Raju Thaatha & Balu Thaatha. Both loving in their own ways, and exhibiting a pick-and-choose of characteristics between them: sincere, playful, caring, hearty, engaging, mischievous, witty, booming, quiet, talkative, reserved, humourous, erudite, and so many more.
“You will be a wonderful grandma – like a pirate grandma or a nan-dude!”, the son assured me.
I glowed – and said, “Really? Would I be a ninja grandma or a butterfly grandma?”
“Yes – and also a toucan grandma, and a whale grandma, and a tree grandma. You will be a fun grandma. Don’t worry – I have confidence in you. “ said the son. He was licking an ice cream with obvious relish, and no doubt the fact that he was allowed ice cream on a cold day by his indulgent mother colored his opinion of me.
“Marvelous books, isn’t it? Really – I am glad there are books outlining the special grandparents-grandchildren bond. I wonder whether there are good songs, and dances showing that.”
“I am sure there are. Just need to look.” he said stoic as ever.
We were discussing the books:
Both books are such joys to thumb through. Light-hearted and joyous, they highlight the beautiful bonds between grandchildren and grandparents.
Nourish-n-Cherish 