Wild thunderstorms were raging loudly with rainfall pattering down in complete melody. Adhir, seated in a taxi, was going to his ancestral home in Rabindra Nagar after a gap of eight months.

There were an ocean of memories crowding his mind about his grandfather whom he fondly called Baba, and it was difficult for him to focus on any one of them.

The vehicle passed by the Midnapore head post office where he used to frequent to send letters to Rumi. She was posted in Kolkata after successfully clearing the Civil Services Examination. Back then, Adhir’s parents did not approve of an inter-religious marriage. It was his grandfather, Surendra Brijwasi, who convinced them to look beyond religion. After intense arguments for two years, Rumi became a part of the Brijwasi family.

The taxi driver interrupted Adhir from his thoughts, “Sir, we have arrived at Rabindra Nagar, do you know the way from here?”

“Yes, keep going straight, I will guide you.”

Adhir was his favourite among the fifteen grandchildren from five children. Although, he never announced this favouritism, it became unknowingly evident to all the family members.

In the mornings, Baba would recite the prayers to the idols of gods neatly stationed inside a temple shaped structure. He would instruct Adhir through his eye and hand movements to circle the lighted incense sticks around the idols and keep ringing the copper bell at the same time. After the prayers, Baba would distribute jaggery as prasad. In the afternoons, Adhir would wake Baba for two rupees when the sugar candy vendor would arrive at the front gate. Then at five in the evening, they would walk to Purana Chowk to buy vegetables and fruits. On some days they would pay a short visit to Sohan Babu, Surendra’s closest friend and Adhir loved the besan pyaaz pakoda at his place.

Baba, a retired professor of Philosophy, would coach students three days a week on the subject for free. Adhir would sit attentively listening to him during some of his classes. He later accepted the Arts stream and much to the disappointment of his parents, he majored in Philosophy.

When Adhir started earning from his teaching profession, he wanted to do all he could for Baba.

Surendra had grown old and developed problems in his knees. Adhir gave two lakhs of rupees from his savings for getting his knee replacements done.

“I don't need such expensive treatment, beta. The pain will heal naturally.”

Adhir still insisted and when he checked after a few weeks, he learnt that Baba lent the money to Sohan Babu for his grand-daughter, Sudha’s wedding.

“I had given it especially for your surgery! Why did you give it away?”

“His family is going through financial difficulties, and the groom’s parents were demanding dowry which Sohan’s family could not decline.”

“Dowry? All your life you have been against this practice and now you are supporting such draconian practice?”

“Beta, sometimes we cannot fight for our virtues and beliefs. Sudha had faced several rejections earlier due to her dark skin colour, so, they had to give in.”

“I will give you the money when I come next.”

“No need, beta. My walking stick is more than sufficient for me. ”

Adhir was extremely agitated and felt extremely deceived.

Adhir’s next visit was along with his two-month-old baby boy. Baba took hold of him and gifted him gold anklets.

“Why did you spend so much money? This was not necessary!”

“This is your money! Sohan returned part of the money.”

“I am taking you to Kolkata for the surgery.”

“Beta, I don’t want to get operated. I cannot live with artificial parts inside my body.”

“It will get worse if you don’t!”

Baba patted his back, “I can bear the pain, it’s better this way!”

“He fell on the bathroom floor yesterday and fractured his right knee.” informed Adhir’s mother, four months after his visit.

“I had told him so many times to get operated. All this happened because he never listened to me and his knees wore out.” vented Adhir.

“Will you come to see him, beta?”“I can’t Ma. I’m quite occupied.”

“Ok, here I’m giving the phone to Baba, speak to him.”

Surendra held the instrument next to his right ear and said, “Hello! How are you, beta?”

“I’m fine Baba. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m a little unwell but otherwise ok…So, you will be coming during the DurgaPujo, right? Bring your family along. We will go to see the cultural programs.”

“It won’t be possible, Baba. I won’t be able to take holidays from work.”

“I miss you a lot, beta. Come home soon.”

Three months passed. “Baba is still bed-ridden. He was asking about you last night.”

“Is there any further complication?”

“The fracture hasn’t healed and now, his left lung has degenerated!”

“Does he still smoke?”

“No. He left after Shyam babu was detected with lung cancer.”

“He might be smoking when no one’s around.”

“Don’t say that! Are you coming to see him or not?”

“Now, take this right and stop at the first house on the left.”

The driver stopped the car beside a house named Kailas Parbat.

In the last one year, Baba had become frail and weak. A man who had an elephant’s memory before was gradually caught with dementia. He had been bedridden and could barely keep his eyes open. On rare occasions that he did, he would only look for Adhir.

Adhir walked inside and saw a room full of people sitting across each other in silence. Baba’s body lay there lifeless. He breathed his last the night before Adhir’s arrival at Rabindra Nagar.

Tears rolled down his cheeks and all the memories with Baba came to life. He regretted not arriving a week earlier and losing a lifetime opportunity of being with his beloved Baba.

He climbed over the cemented staircase towards Baba’s room. He sat on his bed and started crying uncontrollably, feeling remorse about the bitter conversations he had with him during his last days.After a few minutes, his eyes caught sight of a greeting card he had made for him on his seventieth birthday. Baba had carefully kept it inside a glass cabinet displaying the front-page art of a bouquet of flowers coloured with pencil colours. He took it out from the cabinet and read the last line of his handwritten note at the bottom on the third side of the paper card.

It read, “You will and always will be my favourite person on this planet!”