My grandfather

He is quite the man
We keep talking and thinking about him recently
Yesterday I learnt that everyday he would go to Ramu's house to rest before he goes on to the rest of the day
I hadn't known that.
Been 15 years since his passing.
I wonder how he felt at my place.
Valued or like a burden?
I dont thinknwe made feel like a burden. But I dont how super warm and welcoming we were.
My dad would spend at least half hour a day with him every evening.
We gave him room his bathroom prayer room
Important festivals would be under his direction or blessings anyway.
Ponngal deepavali pillayar nonbu .
He likes his serials and some movies
I remeber vividly enjoying the movie priyamanavale with him
Me nursing my own heartbreak
Watching a couple break up and get together
Each word in the song weighted with meaning, for me
He just absorbed. What had he been thinking of?
First all for the girl
Then all for the boy
His emotions up and down at the directors call
It's the only movie I remember watching and enjoying with him
Other memories
As a 6 year old. Watching the advert for cod liver oil
Orange and black cover and an old man on it, silhouetted. Watching just a little afraid. And my grandfather lunging at me playfully. His eyes big.
A game for him and granddaughter.

I remember his love for the lottery
4d
Asking my brother and me for numbers
I'd always give him the number 3. My birthdate..and fav number of course.
He had lovely meaningful eyes
His eightieth birthday.
My parents in India getting me engaged.
And I nearly forgot his birthday.
He said he was going to the temple that morning. And it didn't occur to me why. Giddy as I was with new love , my to be engaged
Then at 8pm or so I remembered.
Got a cake. Called up my cousin
And had a surprise ready for him at around 10 or 11pm when he came home.
He was happy that day . Like a proper surprise. Where he thought people forgot his birthday. But hadn't.  Ha. Ot was his last birthday. 6 months to the date,  he passed on.

He never went to India, convinced that doing so would lead to his death. But he came for mine. And he did pass on.
Health? Age? Belief?
But I was blessed. So blessed. I received his  blessings. And my great grandmother's blessings too. And saro'a grandmothers blessings.
These count.  They do.
And he never badgered me about having a baby in the few months he was around after my marriage. Sep 5. He passed on on Jan 7. Aged 80 years and a half.