K~ and Badi Naani

K~ is very pleased with her new found companion .... her Badi Naani .... she is, her Great Grandma. She has stayed with us on earlier occassions but it is only this time that K~ has connected with her Badi Naani. The week that went by has built a great bonding between the two.

Honestly, I find striking similarities between K~ and BN (Badi Naani).

To start with, both prefer food which is semi-mashed, less spicy and chilly free.

Both take the same time to finish their meals.

Both are dependent on us for their basic needs like hunger, thirst, going out etc.

Both are the same size .... well, almost! (with K~ at five years plus, slightly tallish and BN at eighty two years plus in her petite frame)

Both are extremely expressive .... especially about happiness and joy. It only takes a tight hug and a light peck on the cheeks of Badi Naani to bring about a contended smile on her sagging lips which stays there for a while .... only one suggestion to visit the park in the evening which sets her little eyes on fire with sheer excitement and her shaky hands quickly assembling her Hearing Aid into her blouse .... making her slow paced walk a wee bit faster. It is such a pleasure to witness her response to these small things that one does keeping her in mind.

But, there is one huge difference between K~ and BN. That is, the expression of pain and anguish. I cannot forget how BN sobbed quietly after reading my post "Dida" on this blog which dilated her eyes and she found it difficult to read any more, partially owing to her age. But, she did not want to miss out on reading the blog and asked me to read the rest of my blog posts, relishing every bit of it. Her laughter and smiles that followed those tears made me comfortable and motivated me to read the rest of my blog in a loud yet low voice for her understanding and we spent a lovely, quiet afternoon together. Afterwards, she spoke about her own heart felt moments .... how she lost her own mother at a very young age of twelve .... her marriage to Badey Nana (who is no more with us) at age fifteen, his extremely romantic expressions , especially a beautiful poem that he wrote for her .... her eyes gleamed with joy narrating all this to me.

BN loves to read. She expressed her growing disappointment over her failing eyesight and deteriorating hearing which is slowly affecting her favourite hobbies - Reading and Watching Television. (I put myself into her shoes for a minute .... Isn't it scary to be deprived of the two most valued senses i.e. hearing and seeing, especially when your system does not support much of other activities with growing age?) I really admire her courage and zest for life that she is still able to laugh, talk and relish her days as much as we do or perhaps more. Touchwood!

So, coming back to K~ and similarities with her Badi Naani .....

Both of them love reading books.

Both of them like playing cards for hours together.

Both of them are scared to visit the doctor ... believe me, it is true! Last evening, when we took her to the doctor, her first reaction was to visit the toilet to relieve herself of her anxiety and fear and she barely smiled till the ENT job was over! So cute .......

Both of them enjoy the rains and like the wetness of light drizzle sitting in the balcony ....

It makes me contemplate...

Do we all complete a full circle in our lives, starting off as a baby moving into childhood followed by youth and then, become a child again in our later years? We cherish the little joys and treasure the worry-free smiles exactly the same way, as a five year old kid would do. And probably, we become happy and carefree yet again.

Wonder why does it take an entire lifetime for us to finally realise that real happiness had nothing to do with those high ambitions, lofty plans and colossal desires which we fulfilled all through our life, wasting our heydays. The solace and smiles we were searching always existed in the warmth and care of our soulmate, the dream holiday we kept planning actually could have been celebrated each evening and night within our very home, the appreciation and applause we yearned for amongst witty strangers was really worth one genuine compliment coming from a true friend .... if only we cared!

Thank you K~ and Badi Naani !

I learn so much from both of you.