So
I’m sitting at my grandmother’s feet for our customary half-an-hour of ‘Lice
Hunting’ when she scans my scalp for lice and I’ve to sit through one of her
stupid Hindi serials.
‘Why
aren’t you wearing your specs..? Can you see anything..?’ , I wave my hands in
front of her face mocking her.
‘Are
you kidding me. A blind man could catch lice off your head. Gandhiji had more
hair than you…’ , she grins at her winning repartee.
‘That’s
just mean…’ , I pinch her feet. She never lets me win. Every time I come up
with something good, she has something better up her sleeve.
She
sees me sulking and starts tickling. In between laughs I forget about being
angry at her and after a while she resumes where she left off on my head.
‘Grams…
Tell me a story.’ , I ask her.
Being
the story teller that she is, she perks up at that.
‘What
story..?’
‘Something
funny.’
She
contemplates for a few seconds with a ‘hmmmmm..’ and then,
‘Ok…..
So this one time me and your Grandpa were at this big party and just when the
hosts were about to toast their daughter’s engagement..’
‘Grandpa
farted in front of everyone…..’, I broke her off. She’s annoyed at me for
interrupting.
‘Ya,
I know this story. You’ve told me a hundred times and honestly, it’s not even
funny anymore. He farts all the time.’
As
if on cue Grandpa lets out a loud one while reading the newspaper on the sofa
beside us.
‘See,
it’s not that bad.’ , I tell her.
‘That’s
the joke, don’t you get it.? When I see Taj Mahal on TV, I remember our
vacation, I remember being there, I remember your mother marveling at the white
marble, I remember you blowing soap bubbles on your brother and then I remember
your Grandpa’s fart echoing off the walls of the mausoleum. God rest the souls
of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan.’
Suppressing
my giggles I try to defend Grandpa’s ‘honour’.
‘Everyone
farts you know. Grandpa’s just not ashamed of it…. and I admire that.’ ,
Grandpa takes his eyes off the newspaper and winks at me.
‘Following
in Grandpa’s footsteps now, are we..? Keep this up and I promise you no girl is
ever gonna marry you.’, she retorts.
‘You
married Grandpa…. I’m sure someone like you will make the mistake of marrying
me too.’, it was my time to grin.
‘Dream on kiddo. Let’s see if you
get lucky.’, saying that her eyes meet Grandpa’s and they smile.
**********************************************************************************
A week later Grandma is wearing her necklace getting ready to go to her nephew’s wedding and Grandpa is standing at the door watching her through the mirror in front of her.
‘How
do I look..?’, she asks.
He
considers it for a while and says feigning disinterest, ‘Old’.
‘Says
the man whose head looks like it’s covered by white cotton candy.’, she gives
him a look reminding him who’s the boss around home.
Later
they step out of the house locking the door behind them and get into the car.
When he reaches for the key to start the car, she stops him holding his hand….
‘And
one more thing…’, she squeezes his hand hard glaring at him and says,
‘Don’t
you dare fart in front of my relatives…’
P.S
Grandpa,
in case you happen to read this… I’m sorry….. but there’s nothing to be ashamed
of right..?