A date with Grandpa

A date with Thatha (Grandad in Tamil, one of the languages of India)

The school bell rang and Suraj and Abishek rushed to the car park. ’Aren’t you both taking the van today? ‘asked Akshay. ’No’ chorused the brothers, their faces lit with smiles. They spotted Grandad’s bright green Baby Hindustan in the car park and there he was waving to them.

Every Wednesday Thatha came over to pick them at school and they spent the evening with him till their parents came to pick them up. Nonny and Gundan, the dogs greeted them with wild barks and licks. After a delicious treat of Aval with coconut ,sugar and ripe green bananas the boys ran out to play on the swing and make mud cakes. Together with cousins Shreya and Sucheta they played catch and some badminton. Thatha was sitting in the garden sipping tea and reading. He had a big library and Suraj enjoyed checking out his latest addition. They discussed politics, history, religion and nature with him. Sometimes Thatha would take them out on fun trips. They had been to the railway station to watch trains, to the beach for sundal and a soak in the sea water, to the museum and also to a concert.

Today they went for a long walk in the neighborhood park. They studied the plants, collected leaves for a leaf collage and played some cricket. They were back home for a wash and enjoyed a delicious sambar sadham with dollops of ghee. As they bid Thatha farewell they thanked him for yet another ‘date’ they cherished.