It was an old house—the one I used to live inbuilt by my grandparents when they moved here to start a leather business. I never considered it home until I lost it. Its absence made it more present to me than its presence ever had. Now I was returning, not to reclaim it, but to see it one last time before it would be razed down and replaced with an apartment complex. Twelve years ago, I lost my family to Covid-19. Right before the pandemic began, I remember a conversation I had with my father.
“Sixty years is the life span of a concrete house. This one is around 48 years old. So in 12 years, we’ll be moving out,” he said.
“To where?” I asked.
“Well, let’s see,” he said lightly.
“Maybe to a beach house in an exotic location. Or maybe a summer cottage with lace curtains, and a library with a fireplace.”
Then he winked.
“Or maybe we’ll just move in with you.”
“Why me?” I asked. “Why not with
Shreya? After all, she’s older.”
“She’s too messy,” said my father. “We don’t want to keep tripping over a pile of dirty laundry in our old age. We’d rather stay with you.”
“Shreya,” I hollered out to my sister, listening to Pink Floyd on the verandah. “Appa says you’re too messy.”
“Ya,” came her dry response. “Tell me something new.”
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 19, 2021 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 19, 2021 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Ram temple not an issue in south
Much has been said this election season about the alleged north-south divide.
Haute and sweaty
In Mumbai, where I live and work, there is a severe heatwave going on. The highest temperature this month has been 40 degrees, sweltering and humid for the coastal city.
MOVE AWAY MARY!
In many parts of the world,unique names are becoming popular
CALL OF THE WILD
Tejas Thackeray, the younger son of former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, shares his passion for wildlife conservation and photography
CEPA and beyond
Bilateral trade between the UAE and India has grown almost 16 per cent year-on-year, touching $84.5 billion
Brash and raw
When I chanced upon Raj Narain, who humbled Indira Gandhi
Lone voice of dissent
“I am keen to invite Parakala [Prabhakar] to Mumbai… What do you think? Do you know him?” A friend asked. No, I don’t know the man. And no, it is not a good idea to invite him, unless you want to invite trouble, I replied.
Modi and the Muslim syndrome
I have long been intrigued by the prime minister’s desire to hug every passing sheikh and sultan and his contrasting contempt for the ordinary Indian Muslim.
Assam Rifles not trained to guard borders; need separate force for Manipur border
Imphal is blanketed in darkness. The sun has set a little too soon in the valley, but N. Biren Singh is yet to call it a day.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SENTINELS
Manipur government wants the Assam Rifles replaced, but the Union home ministry is focused on upgrading infrastructure and connectivity before deciding who guards the state