So my grandmother isn’t the kind you get in Enid Blyton books or stories written by R.K. Narayan. She doesn’t sit us down and tell us stories on end (Dadaji did that). She doesn’t show us how to make birds and rugs from scraps of cloth (my great-grandmother did that) She doesn’t call us into the kitchen and sneak us hot mathris fresh from the kadhai ( both chachis do that).
What she does do is eat ice cream and drink Pepsi.
I haven’t yet come across a grandmother in the same age bracket as mine who does that (no offence to those with a better knowledge of their own grannies).
For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has enjoyed ice creams more than dal-roti. I remember her licking a candy stick with such pleasure on her face that it made you want to smile. And for as long, I remember her fighting with us over the ice cream too!! She isn’t like any other adult in the house. It wouldn’t be too wrong (although a teeny bit inappropriate) to include her with the children of the house. She develops stomach aches when she has to eat healthy nutritious food. But ask her what ice cream she will want to eat and her eyes light up (the little bit they can through her cataracts!!).
She will, from a choice of fruit juices, water and soft drinks, choose the one that has gas bubbles in it and then sip it with every evidence of extreme pleasure. She can compete (if goaded into it, which isn’t too difficult) with my younger cousin brothers in drinking any caffeine loaded, sugar spiked, and definitely not healthy aerated drink. You should see her go! She drinks without stopping for breath! A seriously serious achievement for someone her age!
So my dadi may not spout wise sayings at the drop of a hat, or cook up a feast for us (not anymore atleast). But she does fight with us over the last bit of ice cream in the fridge and we love her for it.
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