Innocence is a quality we would mostly associate with kids. Kids are ignorant enough to ask us silly questions and be innocent. As they grow innocence fades, for never to return back. It was in my recent trip to Kankavli that I realized that elderly people can be equally innocent. Just like Dalvi aaji (granny).
Laxman Dalvi, aajoba (grandpa), now a retired police employee has been a senior colleague to my father. Over time, they became good friends. Families got involved by means of monsoon trips and family functions and thus the relationship flourished further. Post retirement, aajoba and aaji went back to their native place, in Humbrat near Kankavli, to stay and started maintaining their farm and garden. Every year, atleast twice or thrice do my parents visit them at their native place. The last time I had visited them there was back in 1999. So, this time when my parents asked if I would want to join them I could not refuse. Somewhere even I wanted to visit them, and also enjoy a quick monsoon trip to the wonderful konkan region.
I was always aware about one facet of aaji, her loving and caring nature. She made sure we could relax after a long journey, have good food and self grown fruits as well. Mom helped her with household chores but aaji was always after providing us all the comforts. Very recently, they have repaired their old house into a new one storeyed mansion. The new house really looks very nice. Kitchen has a small window to peek in the living room. Window has a reflective glass, the kind of glass which we can see through only from one side and not from other. The problem with such glass is that it behaves totally opposite during the day and night. In the day, you cant see through from one side, on the night you cant see through from the other way round. So, we were all relaxing after evening snacks and tea discussing about the window and the glass. Aaji starts with enthusiasm saying, "You know, this glass is special. You can see through it from inside the kitchen but cannot peek from the living room into the kitchen.". Looking at the glass and realizing that we can, infact, peek into the kitchen from living room she says, "I guess, there's something wrong about it. The glass fitter must have goofed up!" We all just could not stop laughing about this and then explained her what was the reason behind it.
While having dinner that night conversation about health issues was taking shape. My mom appears to have a swelling on her right hand and she was talking about it. Aaji is quick to comment, "You know what, even I had a swelling and I made sure I did tests and checkups to weed out any posibilities of critical illnesses like cancer or others." Aajoba had a strange reaction creeping up on his face, we all saw that. My mom asked when did she do these tests and checkups to which aaji replies, "30 years back." Aajoba's reaction crystallized into something like, "Are you nuts!" We all burst out laughing about this and soon aaji joined us as well, realizing how humorous it turned out to be. Then, the next night we were getting ready to sleep. I asked for a blanket. Aaji came, looked here and there, took away the blanket which aajoba was sleeping with and gave it to me. Aajoba looked puzzled, like my dad and me. Aaji says to aajoba, "Dont you realize this is Rohan's blanket? He had taken it yesterday. Why cant you take your blanket? If you dont find it tell me, I'll find it for you!"
Aaji is a hard working lady. She has taken a lot of efforts to bring up 3 kids so wonderfully, that all of them are doing really well today. She has always been supportive, and has complimented aajoba very well. These years have taken a toll on her physical capabilities. However, a few things are still undeterred in her - her warm, loving and caring nature and her infectious innocence.
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