Sweet jams, seasonal pickles, warm sweaters and extra pocket money — yes, I am talking about our dearly beloved grandparents. Have you ever thought when accepting their gifts that they cheer away the darkness and gloominess away from our lives? Or how they can easily kiss away all our bruises and bring a smile back on our faces with their kind words and warm embrace?

The smile on their faces, when old wrinkled hands are busy in preserving sweet mango jams and tasty pickles has no match. The dreams in their eyes, when trembling fingers are busy in knitting woollen sweaters of our new size for the upcoming winter, has a world in itself. The gentlest person on earth when smuggling some piece of enjoyment and extra pocket money for our extra expenses, is like extra happiness in our heart.

They are those who are always thinking about us. They are our biggest supporters, even when we have not done very well. Grandma never stops us from doing mischief. They let play for hours, having fun and even on our wrongdoings, they are our defence.

I never found any moment when they were not at my side and did not adore us. Their fingers combing our hair are shedding love at our forehead. Their magical kiss on our forehead is a shower of blessings. They are always ready to hug us. They sprinkle stardust over our thoughts and lives. They are the window to peep into the past and they are the wide open door to our brilliant future.

Grandparents are the second name of joy and pleasure. When we have a deficit of energy, they are always there with their morals, ready to get us back on our feet. They teach us how to regain our confidence, how to maintain our position and how to stand up for what is right. Grandparents are givers, whose treasures never end.

But, let’s look at ourselves. Have we ever tried to repay their favours, love and care? Have we ever tried to love them back they way they have loved us?

When we need a deep sleep, it is their lap which comforts us to fall into a peaceful slumber. When we need our wishes to be fulfilled, our first stop is our grandparents. I believe it is grandparents who make our homes heavenly. They are angles living in our homes.

I do have some idea of what they desire most from us. All they want is the time when we all sit together, having hot chocolate melting in our hands, busy in stories and funny jokes. Nothing makes us fall quiet except the great tales they tell us to improve our morals when it is reduced to rubbles. Their stories, and most often their life stories, are just like listening to mesmerising and enchanting fairy tales. Grandparents draw before us the portrait of family heritage, cultural values and customs. They are the best motivation speakers.

Winters are a great time to spend with grandparents as we gossip under warm quilts, eating nuts, and the happiness in summers comes to its peak when we eat a bowl full of mangoes sitting besides our grandparents.

Let me confess, it is our grandparents who need the most care from us. What we can do for them is to spend quality time with them, to listen to them and obey them. We should take care of them in all ways, especially since the adults might be busy in their own work. We should check whether they are having food properly, and haven’t they missed their medicines.

I say that grandparents bring life to our lives; they are the ray of light in the lost ruins of broken hearts. They are the fire in the gloominess which lightens all. They are the best of the best.

Have you ever thought of repaying their great favours? Just clear your mind for a second or two and think of all what they are doing for us. Then it won’t be difficult to understand all the sacrifices they have made in life to bring up our parents and are now helping in bringing us up as good people. We can never repay them with all they have done, and they are not even looking for that — all they want is a little love and time from us. So those of us who are lucky enough to still have our grandparents with us should make sure that we express to them what they mean to us.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 19th, 2020