Appi thatha
It has been a month since thatha passed away. Sometimes, if someone asks me where he is, I still instinctively say "mama's house" (my uncle's house in the next street). It's so hard to believe he is gone.
Thatha's whole life circled around his beloved Mylapore. One of the nicest things about thatha's life was, till his end, he could independently walk between his son's and daughter's houses, which were about 5 mins walk apart. Summer evenings remind me of him enjoying the lovely sea breeze and bringing ice cream for us, his grandkids. I haven't been able to buy a new book since his death; for, I would always read books and then discuss them with him. The other day, I came across a book which I'd dissected with him last year and I could still hear his voice in my head, giving his thoughts and ideas.
My thatha was a revolutionary man. He learnt to use e-mail before most of his grandkids. He learnt medical transcription when he was past 70. During his last few months, he started using Ubuntu 8.04 and enjoyed learning how to use the new operating system!
I have always had a taste for exotic, different cuisines - italian, mexican, lebanese and even Subway sandwiches! I realize now that many of these have been introduced to me by him. For the rest of my life, I shall recollect him when I eat Pepper Jack cheese for it was he who introduced me to it.
He could educate one on any topic in the world. Dinner conversations with thatha always promised to be a storehouse of knowledge. He would talk on a variety of topics from his times with his grandmother, to a topic in medicine, to an interesting article in the Hindu.. what not!
In a way, it gratifies me to think that, even on his last conscious day, he still went through all his routines - the Hindu crossword, Thursday prayers, Sudoku. He enjoyed his biscuits and filter coffee till the very end.
I should've written this long ago. Even now, I am finding it difficult to frame this post because I feel like crying. Although, I know that he lived a full life (he saw my marriage!!) and he did have a relatively painless end. I love you thatha...
Thatha's whole life circled around his beloved Mylapore. One of the nicest things about thatha's life was, till his end, he could independently walk between his son's and daughter's houses, which were about 5 mins walk apart. Summer evenings remind me of him enjoying the lovely sea breeze and bringing ice cream for us, his grandkids. I haven't been able to buy a new book since his death; for, I would always read books and then discuss them with him. The other day, I came across a book which I'd dissected with him last year and I could still hear his voice in my head, giving his thoughts and ideas.
My thatha was a revolutionary man. He learnt to use e-mail before most of his grandkids. He learnt medical transcription when he was past 70. During his last few months, he started using Ubuntu 8.04 and enjoyed learning how to use the new operating system!
I have always had a taste for exotic, different cuisines - italian, mexican, lebanese and even Subway sandwiches! I realize now that many of these have been introduced to me by him. For the rest of my life, I shall recollect him when I eat Pepper Jack cheese for it was he who introduced me to it.
He could educate one on any topic in the world. Dinner conversations with thatha always promised to be a storehouse of knowledge. He would talk on a variety of topics from his times with his grandmother, to a topic in medicine, to an interesting article in the Hindu.. what not!
In a way, it gratifies me to think that, even on his last conscious day, he still went through all his routines - the Hindu crossword, Thursday prayers, Sudoku. He enjoyed his biscuits and filter coffee till the very end.
I should've written this long ago. Even now, I am finding it difficult to frame this post because I feel like crying. Although, I know that he lived a full life (he saw my marriage!!) and he did have a relatively painless end. I love you thatha...