Dadaji
My
Dadaji( father’s father) is one of the most handsome grandfathers one can ever
have. Right from the time I was in school, my school teachers, to friends
and even older ladies in the building
drooled over him. Over the years he has learned to take all that attention
quite naturally with his sweet smile and unique sense of humour. Dada is some
one who loves food, sweets are his biggest weakness and he proclaims to hate
chillies, but secretly relishes them when no one is watching.
Watching
Dada and Dadi fight is nothing less than a television soap opera, Their fights
and arguments range, from Grandpa
drooping food on his shirt, not having the shirt collar straight or
finishing the fruit or sweets, Dadi had
kept aside for Bhuji.
The Mahabharat happens when Dada does not allow
Dadi to watch her favourite Gujrati serial or Dadi on a rare occasion
captures the computer to play some games. Its amazing as Bhuji has now even got
a separate television for Dadi.
After
we got married every time we went to meet the Grandparents, Dadaji insisted we
order Domino’s pizza, as he loved to have pizza, basically like a kid Dada
always liked us to order all the stuff which is forbidden to him. I enjoyed
doing this, because as a kid Dadaji
would secretly buy me a chocolate every day although it was not something
appreciated by others at home. Thanks to Bhuji, Dadaji moved on the technology
platform many years back. Although he has had a bit of a set back after his hand injury, but he enjoys
skyping and playing games on facebook. Dada also spends time watching movies,
cricket, doing yoga every morning with a special instructor. When we go to visit them in Bangalore he likes to
dress up in his lovely red shirt similar to Prashant`s and go out for a stroll. Even when we go out,
Dadaji gets so many compliments,” He is so cute’ the words are so common.
My
Dadi( father`s mother) is one of coolest grand mothers one can ever have. She doesn’t believe in the conventional Indian
philosophy that girls should spend the rest of their lives making rotis,
and producing children once they are married.
She believes in the philosophy of live and let live. Even when I was growing up
and was in college she never bothered to ask why you coming late, what are you
doing etc. Dadi`s house was a no
questions asked house, you could go and come anytime you want. Dadi secret love
is ICECREAM. You can give her ice-cream anytime of the day and she will have
it. She is very particular about what
she likes and what she does not. One time they had a yoga teacher, for some reason she did not like her so she
decided she would not learn from her. If she doesn’t like the tea the maid has made, the poor lady is in
trouble, not only would she have to rectify it but also hear about it for a few
days.
On
celebrations outside, sometimes she can surprise you by asking for some
champagne or a spiked drink. She is
quite fond cappuccino, and would not
mind having a cuppa any time. She enjoys visiting fancy restaurants which Bhuji has made into a
annual weekend activity and if the Dhokla or roti in the buffet spread is not
made properly she will call the chef
and tell his which ingredient he/ she
should add to make it perfect.
She
spends most of her time watching Gujrati television soaps & cooking shows,
Knitting for her loved ones, getting the kitchen in order( driving the maid), shopping
for vegetables on Sunday( apart from ordering the driver& house help to bring some
vegetable or fruit everyday) keeping a track of the hissab, playing games on
the computer, doing yoga and
rejuvenating at the spa every forthnight.It all sounds good, but it must be
really hard for her physically to manage
with her weak feet and her fragile health.
She
too has had a fascinating journey of her life, growing up in a traditional
wealthy family, marrying a young man from the northern part of the country,
building a life together with Dada from scratch(no money, no house),
amalgamating the northern flavour & western culture that my Grandpa brought
in with his travels from abroad and his multinational job with Marshals &
Ape Bellis. Putting her heart and soul in bringing up the grand children in India and the USA
Nana Nani
My
Nana Nani( Mother`s parents) on the other hand have choosen the spiritual route
in their lives. They spend most of the time attending or hosting classes at
home on religion and philosophy. But there life style timings is no less then a
teenager. They wake up around 7:30-
8:00am, than they watch tv, around 10am
or so they have a snack and coffee, take a bath around 12noon, nani cooks,
while Nana does the pooja, then they have lunch around 3pm. They sleep upto 5pm
and longer on days when they don’t have a class. They have dinner watch
television, chat with people on the phone and
then pray for one hour. They don’t sleep before 12:30am or 1 each day.
They too have their battles, but they are on other things like Nana taking too much time to get ready, too
much waiting for lunch, paying the carpenter more money, going to someone
house, the menu for the tea party etc
As my Grandma( Dadi) oftens put`s it let us do what we want, this is our second
childhood. After all they have gone through many ups and downs in their life,
this is their chance to enjoy, and each one of us who have grandparents should
go out of our way and making it memorable for them and help them live the life
of a GrandagerJ.
These
Grandagers are not too demanding, they don’t want anything but just our warm
love and affection. After all a lot of beautiful memories of our childhood are
painted with their love.
