I was on my vacation home, baby sitting my newborn nephew when I heard the door bell. I opened the door to see a familiar elderly person, probably of my grandpa's age. I was struggling to recal his identity when I heard my mum's voice. "Aaiye chachaji!" And the way she addressed him, mapped in my mind. He was my maternal grandpa's childhood friend. I have heard stories about him and his children from my mom n uncle; my maternal family and they shared neighbourhood during their childhood.
So, we greeted him and invited him in. While my mum went in to bring some water and snacks for him, I started to talk to him. I knew he is a very scholarly person like my grandpa and we share one common intrest - literature..writing..abstract..
He told his purpose of visit was to invite us to his book launch. What!? He is like 80+ (touchwood) and he is launching his own book!? I have never considered age to be a bar for a writer but still!! I was already impressed; blown by his spirit, rather! And not only this, the enthu, with which he was telling me about how he has written that biography of his father, was just overwhelming and equally surprising!! He had the excitement of a child, the vim of a teenager, passion of a youngster, experience of the mid age, crisis of old age..but instead of being nostalgic about all these, like most people of his age would do, he relived everything and channelised all he has lived in doing what he actually wanted to do!!
Sometimes we give ourselves too many excuses for not doing the things we want to do.. And since we know our SELF, we fool ourselves easily..
The elderly man left after sometime..but I am still thinking..who is younger..Me or HIM!! Definitely me, by age..but indefinitely him, by spirit!!
Inspiration Courtesy : To Nirbhay Nanu!! To My nanu, who is an equally YOUNG man!! Nanu, your legends will be penned down soon ;) To my Nani, for making my maternal family, what it is today..And to my Mum..for making me a part of such lineage 😊 Mum, I can never write enough of you.. :*
