There was an understated excitement in the air. The Badshah household was gearing up to host a special bunch of kids for a special movie screening followed by lunch. Everyone doing their bit to have my b’day celebration, my way. Hakim setting up the movie Nil Battey Sannata for drawing room screening. Kids packing the return gifts. Mom frying puris for a special Punjabi meal. 


Apparently the excitement was more in our guests' house. The kids woke their respective parents (my domestic help & driver) twice in the night, saying its time-let’s get ready for the party. As they walked in, dressed in their finery, we could sense the odd nervousness, the awe & the sheer exuberance of walking into a ‘big’ house & being greeted by a ‘big’ screen. The popcorn ‘n’ movie session was thoroughly enjoyed but going by their periodic happy gasps & beaming faces, Doraemon cartoon being played during their lunch & the return gifts emerged as winners. Won’t deny we did have our moments of lump-in-throat seeing these kids’ happy faces.

As they walked out of my house, giggling with their return gifts, walked in, a sense of gratitude. I hosted this b’day party for vested reasons. A revision for my family & me to count our blessings.

A recent conversation with my 10 year old.

Me: Am telling you for the last time... you can't split your classmates into girls versus boys. They all are your friends.
She: If that's the case, when we go near their table, why do they start whispering amongst each other..
Girl Alert- Girl Alert😶

You know you passed out of school centuries ago when essay writing from "Visit to the zoo/ circus/ railway station/fair" is now "Visit to the land of aliens/ mermaids/ wizards & witches". 

On your busiest days at work, she in her 70s, calls & asks you to immediately place an article in paper against the twists & endings of the Ekta Kapoor’s serials, she is currently watching & didn’t agree with. (Thanks to her understanding of my PR job) 

In her 80s, you offer her a Pepsi & she looks down on your hospitality. The drink doesn’t have enough ice-cubes. Snacks & savouries served without sauce & chutney are promptly returned to rectify your overlookings. You take her shopping & she dismisses the variety offered in comparison to that in the international malls she visited. Be it jewellery, sarees, suits, handbags or footwear, she had to have the best & kept a close eye on what we grandkids are wearing & using. During her stays, creams & moisturisers had to be shared in generous measures as wrinkled skin was a taboo to be seen in. Always in the party mode; outings & family reunions brought in a mischievous glee; loved to talk, gossip & laugh with all generations of her family. She’s “Nani on Wheels”- ever ready to pack her suitcase & travel. Flew to Hyderabad at age of 87. A die-hard foodie- a hard core non-vegetarian who also gorged on mangoes & mithais. Her purse always had a few chocolates tucked in. My kids shared their lollipop with her. That’s my nani for you & yes, she lived her life to the fullest.

Until Dementia struck her. In recent past, though I had to introduce myself a couple of times, in every call she asked me to come down & see her. I couldn’t as much I wanted to. That’s one regret I have to live with. Her voice calling my name out just doesn’t stop ringing in my ears.

The only thing which my nani couldn’t do in her lifetime was to go on a solo trip. At age of 90, she did that too. She took a piece of my heart & left me last week for the heavens.
If there is one thing I know about heavens, it is now a happening place.