Tender Ties...

Back to the Mrs. Grover mentioned in my last blog - when mom walks the catwalk.
She was the granny who used to faint during rehearsals and still went on to win the first prize at the Beauty pageant cum fashion show!

After she was declared the winner, she burst into tears, right there on the stage. Not just a sprinkling of ' joy and victory' but a torrent - and despite the fancy get up she suddenly started looking her age again. The organizers were at a loss what to do with her when a man went on the stage to get her. He looked old too - but better 'preserved'. He hugged her and tenderly kissed her forehead and just held her till she gathered herself. " What a unselfconscious and caring husband !" I commented - no, that's her SON someone corrected me. OK - that made sense, if she was in her 80s the son would be post 60 too - and sons CAN publicly hug and kiss their moms ( Nikky sonnie - are u reading this??)

Later my mother introduced me to a young girl and told me this was the grand-daughter, and it was HER clothes and her ideas for granny's grand evening. She used to accompany her granny EVERYDAY to the rehearsals and when she had her crisis of confidence, or felt physically weak, the grandaughter would pep her up, bolster her confidence and keep her going. It used to be very touching to watch , everyone remembers... she talked to ger granny like a mother talking to her young child " come on Ba, just this one more time..then we'll go home and I'll press your feet ..."

Not that the girl had no life of her own - she is a travel and tourism post grad and is flying to Dubai shortly on a new job. But for those days, she was completely at her grannie's disposal.

Mrs. Grover's photos with her glittering crown were flashed in all the newspapers the next day. But I couldn't help thinking - the REAL jewel in her crown is that gem of her grandaughter, who needs anything else when one has her?

In contrast was Mr. Palonjee Dinshaw - the almost 90 guy who was crowned the 'best' among the guys. He had an unsteady gait but a jaunty walk ! He used to 'totter' briskly, humming loudly the song that used to play for him " babuji dheere chalna - " Everyone thought he was a jolly old fellow, till he made his 'victory speech'.

" Hi - I am Palonjee HASSANJEE Dinshaw - son of Hassonjee as u can see from my name? I want to ask youngsters today - why don't you say your father's name anymore when you introduce yourselves? Are you ashamed? Now that you've made something of your life, do you not care to aknowledge WHO gave you life?"

" Listen to this old man's request... always remember your parents with gratitude!"

His voice broke and he became emotional too then. But I couldn't help noticing that no one came to the stage for him. After a few moments he collected himself and walked off the stage. His jaunty step was gone though...