GRANDPA COMES HOME

Jubin was confused and frustrated. He had spent about an hour in the gift shop and yet could not decide on a gift for his father.

- Niloy Kurmi

The kind sales lady had given him several suggestions. But still, Jubin remained unsure. He did like an item but became glum when he realised that he could not afford it.

Dejected, he got out of the shop. He drooped a little and his school bag felt heavy on his shoulders.

The gift shop was near his school and he had stopped there on his way back home. Papa would be worried. It was going to be dark soon.

"Wait," he stopped in his track and straightened up, as something dawned on him, "Isn't Koka coming to live with us today?" His grandfather must have arrived in the afternoon; his father had told him about it last night.

Jubin was a shy boy. He felt a little uneasy when he thought of his grandfather waiting for him at home. He had never really spent much time with him before. With Papa's busy schedule, they used to rarely visit their ancestral home in Assam. He had some vague memories of spending the summer holidays there.

But that was before his grandmother passed away and his grandfather moved to an old house shelter back in their hometown.

"Why can't he stay with us?" Jubin had asked Papa. But deep down he knew Papa already had to look after him singlehandedly, how would he take care of Koka too?

The last time he met Koka was one and a half years ago.

As Jubin reached the main door of his house, he felt a little nervous. He was worried about whether he would get along with Koka.

"I have to go to Mumbai for an important business meeting," Papa had told him last night. "And since Joya Baideo is on leave, I have invited Koka to come and stay with you. It's only for a week. I'll be back soon."

"That means Papa will be back on Sunday night. Phew!" Jubin sighed in relief. "He would have nearly missed Father's Day!"