In my grandmother’s shoes

Aaji had held important posts in big offices but how did her journey begin? Sneha finds out...

It was only when my grandmother was taken to the hospital that I learnt who she was. Till then, all I knew was that Aaji had held important posts in big offices and that she liked to sit beside the window and listen to children walking to school. Her favourite saying was, ‘Make the most of your opportunities, because not everyone gets them.’

But now I understood how much I missed her. I wished she was here, sitting in her chair, smelling of sandalwood and coconut oil. Tears filled my eyes and I stumbled forward to sink into her chair. I sat there, longing for Aaji. Gradually, I realised that something under her cushion was making an uncomfortable lump.

It was a faded and worn blue cloth bag. I had often seen Aaji holding it, a faraway look in her eyes. The bag was small and embroidered on it was Aaji’s name. The neat stiches spelt “Shashi”. Sniffing sadly, I ran my fingers over the stitches. The walls of my house melted away.

Instead, I was walking towards a small building with a red-tiled roof. I was carrying a new bag, with a slate and a piece of chalk in it. Tai had given it to me, saying, “Look, I’ve put your name on it!” I looked at it sadly because I couldn’t even read my name. But, if all went well, I would soon learn to read. It depended on what happened in school. “Hurry,” my uncle said. “I’ve travelled all this way just to enrol you in school!”

“Let me talk,” my brother whispered. Heart thumping, I followed Kaka into the school. The children stared at us and I stared back, wishing I was sitting on the floor with them, my slate balanced on my knee.

“Masterji,” Kaka said, “these are my cousin’s children. He passed away last year, and I’ve come here to settle things. Here,” he called to us, “tell Masterji your names!”

“Rajendra Patil,” my brother announced.