Conversations With Thatha

The day Ved had been dreading had come finally. He had bid goodbye to his best friend of four years from school. Today Ayush had attended the school for the last time, visiting with his parents to collect his transfer certificate. It had been a chaotic and messy goodbye, for a large group of kids had gathered around Ayush to send him off. Ved didn't get a chance to talk to him properly. Now, when night had descended and the complex slowly retired for the day, he sat outside at the porch, staring into nothingness. Thatha came out and sat on his wicker chair beside Ved. He watched the kid in silence for some time. He looked at the sky, as if searching for inspiration from the Great Beyond. As usual, not a single star was visible. What happened to the stars? Were they even there? "I don't feel like going to school tomorrow." Ved said in a low voice laden with grief. "What is left now there? With whom will I enjoy?" Thatha looked at the child and w...

  Last night's rain had been a deluge. Heavy thunder and lightning had left their marks on the earth. The complex wasn't spared either. Few trees outside the complex had fallen prey to the deluge. The morning after, the schools declared holiday and office employees were told to work from home. The kids got hyper-excited about the unexpected holiday. By nine in the morning, the whole lot was out on the complex's park, wearing raincoats and playing games. The committee members of the colony which included Ved's parents had assembled at the premises to take stock of the situation. Thatha strolled around watching the aftermath of the rains in concern. Ved left his friends and rushed to him. "I love unexpected holidays!" He hollered in excitement. "I have already told mom that I am not going to study today." Thatha smiled and shook his head. Trust kids to find any excuse to be happy and more importantly, to skip their studies! Ved held his han...

It was a rainy night. Thunder rumbled in the sky and lightening created day out of night. Thatha and Ved were sitting on the later's bed, snuggled cozily under a blanket. Thatha was reading aloud from a book of Enid Blyton. Usually Ved was very interested in listening to the adventures of the Famous Five. But tonight, the child seemed restless. He kept shifting in his seat. "What happened? Are you feeling bored?" Thatha asked in amusement. Ved snuggled closer to him which only meant one thing. The child was feeling scared about something. Thatha held him in his arms. "Are you feeling scared?" He asked gently. Ved nodded. "Everyone in school is talking about the war happening between two countries. I am scared. What if they attack us too?" Thatha smiled and ruffled the child's hair. "We are safe. Don't worry." For a while they sat in silence broken only by the pattering of the raindrops outside and the occasional rumble o...