greatest Grandad MUG

Today being the last day of the month, my commitment day, saying hello to all of you, dear ones. Since I am the one who has to write, your job is only to read, you have an option, not to read.

Thank you for the Deepawali greetings. Here’s mine to each one of you and your dear ones

This was a month, where two major personalities passed away, one who had global acclaim, Mr. Ratan Tata, the other, a role model for me and many others Mr. K.C. Mohan, two exemplary leaders, being human were the top priorities for these human beings. More on Sri Mohan, later, for who do not know him

One month, with my two grand children (age, 2 and one, twins an year apart) in Dubai was the highlight. The two year old calls me muthacha ( grandfather in malayalam), without understanding what it means or the relationship and the one year old makes few sounds. The one year old, Dev, crawls his way up to me and raises his arms to be picked up.The two year old, Anya, comes near me and nudges lovingly, overwhelming experience for me until I realised all the love is for my phone. It was fascinating to see how she operates the phone ( of course for this generation phone plays the role of a baby sitter), she will press the middle button which bring the home page up, she will press the folder that has YouTube icon in the crowd, eagle eyes, presses the sign, swipes the screen and she is on her way with her favourite rhymes, in just 3 steps.

Her diplomacy was exposed when we refused the phone,trying to avoid the addiction. She will scream and hate us. One year old, Dev will look at the scene, making his own sense out of it.
Sometimes she sits with her two fingers in her mouth, twirling her hair with the fingers of her other hand, in deep thoughts.What are they thinking, how do they think without words, though she knows a few words now. She says give me this, give me this, give me this, looking at the phone.

A big surprise, grandparents day happened, 4 October, Anya’s little school sent an invitation to celebrate. I attended the function alone, since grandmother had stayed back in Bangalore to look after Anya’s great grandmother, who is a month away from her century, 100 years.
I was presented a world’s Greatest Grandad mug ( the secret is I was the only jobless one present among the kids).
The one year old goes to office with my daughter, there is a creche there, we are expecting him to be regularised in some suitable position in the company, very soon.

After one month’s collection of little little moments it’s time to return, with a sad feeling of departure unlike the happiness of arrival. It was night and the kids were asleep by the time we reached the airport, all of them came to see me off. It made the parting less dramatic.

The morning after my return, I checked whether the kids were missing me. No.
What a beautiful lesson, out of sight out of mind. Kids live in the now and here. Belong to the surroundings where you are. This is life of attachment and detachment. Next time we are together we will attach again.