Little Angel

So Cute! That’s the word I got to hear about my baby brother when he was a toddler. Fair, chubby and a friendly little tot! Yes he would jump into any outstretched arms whether he knew the person or it was a stranger. He did not discriminate between people and I guess that was one of his charms that made everyone dote on him. One rarely saw him cry!

I had been the only child for ten long years after which this little darling came in our life. His antics were so unique and his pink face so absolutely adorable! I rarely kept him out of my sight. He was my adorable little angel whom God had sent to us after a long wait! Yeah, my parents did visit a lot of doctors to have a second baby and when he was born no wonder we all felt that delay was because God was taking all the time in the world (or is it heaven?) in making this special baby for our family!

When he was about one year old, we went to Khor Fakkan with a lot of young uncles and another family who were related and friends to my parents. Their son was the same age as my brother. All these naughty uncles dug up the sand on the beach and buried my brother almost till his chest! Nah…don’t worry! He never even winced! Instead he was so quite and allowed himself to be buried with such calm as if this was the best thing in the world to do! I knew he was one brave child then. The aunt’s son however kept howling and screaming even before they got his feet in the sand! My brother made me feel really proud of him that day as he made me feel on many other occasions ever since.

As I said, he would hardly cry. He was my ever smiling baby! And yet he would curl his red lips into an instant cry the moment I would keep him away from me and say “I am leaving” only to turn them back into a happy grin the moment I move towards him to hold him in my arms!

He would eat sand! Yes sand! We stayed in one of the old Arab villas in Bur Dubai and when he started walking; he would go to every nook and corner of the villa, pick up sand and sit licking it away to glory! We started adding red chilli powder to stop him from eating sand and guess what? He started enjoying chutney thereafter! Such adaptability!

In the open central compound of the villa on one side my mom had made a small kitchen garden. With all the attention and care my mom took of it the tomato trees in the garden flourished to give nice tomatoes. For weeks we didn’t need to buy tomatoes from the market and occasionally mom would make green tomato bhaji as well, until one day when my uncle (dad’s brother) in all naughtiness showed my little sportsman the green tomatoes on the tomato trees. The next thing you know is that little green tomatoes found their way to mom’s kitchen in little fair outstretched hands and a tiny voice saying “Mummy Ball!” Soon we were having green tomato bhaji almost everyday because the little tyrant did not see any fun in leaving “little green balls” dangling on the foliage of the tomato tree!

This little bundle of joy started tuning into a little brat and then a rebellious teenager and today he is an adult. For some reason I cannot see beyond the baby in him and he cannot see much in this world beyond his older sister!

For those who say little brother are trouble and we don’t want any – you miss out on an experience of life time and a love that is so unique its makes you cry every time you think about it!

The Grandparents

I was fortunate enough to see both my grandma’s but only one grandpa! My mom’s dad died when she was still in my grandma’s womb! And my dad’s dad died when my bro was in my mom’s womb! Strange that!

My mom’s mother was this old lady ever since I remembered. I guess having gone through a lot of ups and downs (major downs actually) she became older much before her age! She had cat eyes and was extremely fair. I am sure she was one beautiful lady in her younger days. My Dads mom is still living but can barely hear or see now! Old age rips you off all the glory and sometimes I wonder if I will live to be that old? I look like her – my dad’s mom. My father says this when he looks at me “look God sent my mother back to me even before he took her away” Hmmn. I guess that’s his love for his mother speaking. My dad’s father died a week before my brother was born so my brother never got to see grandpa. But I did! Again just like my maternal grandma I remember him as being old all through my life. He use to work on the ship, but ever since I started understanding what grandparents are I remember him teaching Quran to little kids in the village home whenever I went for a visit. He got sick and then died. My maternal grandma was paralyzed, sick and then died. I was here in Dubai when both died though the gap between the two deaths was more than 10 years!

I am not sure when I will be back again in India, but I do hope that I get to see my grandma (dads mom) one last time!

Old folks showing stories of years in their wrinkles which crinkle further into a smile when they see their grand children! Somehow I can never be funny when I talk of them. They always bring seriousness to my words – I guess the fact that most of them are gone and the one left might leave soon too makes it a sad memory!