The Grand Ager( The older version of a Teenager)

Watching Television in the middle of the night, secretly savouring a candy or ice-cream, ordering Domino’s pizza at a drop of a hat, fighting over the control of the remote control or computer, this traits sound similar to that of any teenager isn’t it well all of these are some of the traits of the Grandager-My grandparents. I can say so with complete authority, as I am one of the very fortunate grandchildren to have both my paternal and maternal grandparents alive. They are all in their late 80`s close to making a century and its fascinating to see their changing behaviour from time to time. Here is a glimpse of their colourful life’s.

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.

 Dadi

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.