In Memoriam 2023

 

छोटी बातें

छोटी-छोटी बातों की हैं यादें बड़ी,
भूले नहीं, बीती हुई एक छोटी घड़ी।

A few things in the mind this morning.

Those MBBS exam days when Baba would be there in Mumbai. The ride on his motorcycle to and from the exam hall in South Mumbai to Vile Parle. The chicken sandwich from a Parsi cafe I got to munch on the way sitting behind Baba as he made way between cars during evening rush hour. Just him being there boosted my confidence. 

Many years later at home in Bakersfield. Those weekend mornings when Baba would be looking in the pantry and getting some rice flour and cream of wheat (rava/ sooji), throwing in cumin and chopped chilies, then whipping in buttermilk and making fresh ghavan. He took so much joy in serving them one after the other to me and his son-in-law and grandkids. “Wait, a fresh one is coming. This is crispy.”

Just pure love.

Feel grateful to have experienced love through life. 

Three years now without him. 

Just physically absent.

There for me always. 

It was my turn today to make the ghavan for him.