Granny.

            Memories. How enlivening they can be, when they call out to us from our distant past, and add a touch of freshness to our lacklustre lives! Memories,  of  people from our past, who no longer share the physical world with us; memories of the warmth and  the love they showered on us. Is there anything else that can bring an instant smile to our faces,overwhelm us with a deluge of emotions, and quench our thirsty souls, leaving us refreshed and  invigorated?   Many a times, when I am lost in my thoughts,  I revisit  my past, and,  am at once enveloped in a snugness, like the comfort of a  soft old blanket, stashed away in the attic, to be retrieved every once in a while, and used as a cocoon in the cold days of winter.
             SInce quite some time, these memories have been of my grandparents. Their love, their indulgence, it fills my heart with emotions that I haven’t experienced in quite a long time.  I have forgotten what it feels like to be pampered silly by a pair of soft, wrinkled hands, and cuddled in their  cushiony warmth, listening to stories of kings, queens and scary demons, being fed my favourite food prepared with such love, the taste  lingers for days to come.
           I remember my dear old granny – my mum’s aunt. A cheerful old soul, she had a ready smile that reached her eyes and touched our hearts.  For me, she was the epitome of affection. Not once did I see her feeling gloomy, or even angry with us kids. So patient, so understanding,  such an empathetic human being – she really was special! Every time I think of her, her smiling face comes to  my mind, and fills my heart with happiness. It has been long since she left this world, but, her memories are very much alive in my heart.
          I still remember my childhood, when holidays spent at her place were filled with joy. I didn’t have many cousins to play with over there, but I had her! We would stand in the balcony of her fourth floor apartment, chatting endlessly, watching the world pass us by. Some of the memories of those days are so vivid, I even remember what we said to each other, the clothes we wore, the food she cooked for me…the list goes on.
         The quaint  old apartment building she lived in, now stands dwarfed by a cluster of modern high rises.  Yet, there is a charm that this old timer exudes, that hasn’t faded with time.  The warmth that emanates from this old structure (nearly fifty years old!)  matches the warmth that I experience when I think of her, of her love, which, too, hasn’t faded with time!  I know she is somewhere around – an angel,  looking after all of us, which is what she did when she was with us. I know, I will meet her again, some day. Until then, I will visit her in my memories, and come back refreshed.
        Miss you, aaji!