Vivid Imagination

Dear grandma

"Grandma, tell me how you and Grandpa met," I asked her, and as soon as I did, she smiled and closed her eyes, drifting into her memories. "Grandma, where are you lost? Come on, tell me how you met Grandpa," I asked again, unable to hold back when someone falls silent like this.

"Oh, child, I'll tell you, have some patience. You kids these days don't have any patience," she replied.

Grandma and I are best friends. Grandpa passed away a long time ago, back when Dad was just a child, so Grandma raised Dad all on her own. I never got to meet Grandpa, but Grandma always tells me stories about him. I love talking to her-she's my best friend.

"Oh, Saru dear, where do you drift off? Are you listening to what I'm saying?" Grandma asks.

"Yes, Grandma, I'm listening. Please, go on," I said.

"Your Grandpa was quite handsome and charming when he was young," she says, telling me about him. But look at me-I'm so captivated by her face that I can't focus on anything else. She's so old now, yet still so beautiful. Her hands tremble as she gestures while telling her stories, and her wrinkles form when she smiles. Despite all this, there's a unique glow on her face, and there's no doubt that she must have been stunning in her youth.

"Of course, Grandma! If you're so beautiful, then Grandpa must have been handsome too," I said.

"Oh, be quiet. You know, all the village girls were crazy about him, but he only had eyes for me," she said.

I started laughing, not because it was funny, but because teasing Grandma is so much fun. "Oh, be quiet, you don't understand. When I was young, I was no less than Aishwarya. Your Grandpa was head over heels for me for a reason," she said, trying to hide a smile. "Yes, Grandma," I replied, managing to control my laughter and agree with her, but she was still giving me a look. Finally, she gave up and continued with her story.

"Your Grandpa was a true city gentleman. What do you call it...awaaaa...rrrrrrreness...something?"

"Oh, Grandma, it's called 'awareness.'"

"Yes, yes, that. He used to spread awareness about mental health, going from village to village. He worked for some NGO. One day, he came to our village too. My father was the head of the village, so your Grandpa used to visit our house often. Whenever no one else was around, I would go to him and ask him lots of questions."

"Wow, Grandma, you were amazing!" Grandma was so daring even back then, while I sometimes question if I'm truly her granddaughter.

"And then, he ended up liking me, and one day, he asked my father for my hand in marriage," she said.

"Oh, Grandma! You're blushing! What did you say to Grandpa?" I asked.

"What else would I say? I'd be a fool to let such a good man slip away, so I said yes. Oh, leave all that, now tell me why you're all dressed up today."

"Oh, Grandma, it's nothing. Mom just told me to wear this."

"You and your mother! Why did she tell you that?"

Oh, my sweet Grandma, even when she's angry, she looks so cute.

"Oh, Grandma, today is..."

"Saru, sweetheart, how much longer will you take? Come down, it's Grandma's death anniversary today," calls out Saru's mother from downstairs.

Oh, Mom never lets me have any peace! "Grandma, I'll come back and talk to you later. Bye, love you."

"Yes, yes, love you too. Now go, or your mother's voice will make me die all over again!"