Conversations With Thatha

At exactly 3.30 in the afternoon, Thatha came out to the porch and sat on the chair, waiting for Ved to return from school. This was a daily routine. He liked to watch the slow transition of afternoon to evening. The birds which would temporarily go silent in the noon would gradually start chirping as the evening neared. Thatha also liked to see the much-visible change in the atmosphere. By 3.30, the noon would start letting go of its orange hue and would take on a gray hue, signaling the onset of evening. Slowly the kids of the complex started returning from school, yelling in excitement and breaking the silence of the past few hours. Thatha took special delight in watching the kids return home happily. He saw Ved enter the complex, his posture stooped and a defeated look on his face. Thatha smiled; it appeared as if he would have extra work to do today. Ved gave a half-hearted wave to his friends and when he reached his home, he sat down heavily beside Thatha's chair. "Bad d...

Ved could not believe it. After preparing for a whole month, when it was finally time to speak in the elocution competition, he had fallen sick just one day before the main event. And it wasn't any general sickness, he was suffering from throat infection! His throat felt swollen and hurt a lot, specially when he tried to speak or gulp any food. The doctor advised him a day's rest and told him to take plenty of warm fluids that would soothe his throat. He lay morosely on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Thatha came inside carrying a bowl of soup. "Here's your favorite tomato soup. It is the right temperature now to drink it." Thatha said, handing over the soup to Ved who took it silently. Thatha could make out that something was bothering Ved. Usually the child became very happy if he ever had to skip school for some reason. "What happened?" Thatha asked gently. Ved said in a hoarse voice. "Kanchan." Thatha looked at him in confusion. "She...