That evening

It was getting dark and I was tired of playing with my new video game. Its then I realized I haven’t talked to my grandfather the whole day. I felt bad for being so selfish. I had totally forgotten him after I had got my new video.

I ran out and found him sleeping on the chair in the porch. His face looked so wrinkled. He was old…very old man. I loved him a lot and called him “big pa” as he was pa of my pa. I was so stupid back then.

I went close to him and gently hugged him. He didn’t move. I went closer and asked “Are you sleeping big pa?” He opened his eyes and looked at me. O dear God, I could see tears in his eyes. I couldn’t understand why possibly he would cry. I climbed into his laps and asked “Are you crying big pa? Why are you crying?”

He denied. But I was grown enough to see him hide his face in his shirt and wipe his tears. I felt bad….very bad. I had known my grandpa to be a very strong man. A person respected and loved by everyone in the family. I didn’t expect him to cry. I knew no reason for him to cry.

Tears welled up in my eyes too. I hugged him very tightly. I was feeling scared. I felt responsible for his tears. If I hadn’t been so selfish in last few days and had not spent the whole time with my new game, he would have smiling as always. I promised myself that I would never again leave my grandpa alone and will always be with him.

Today when I am grown up and going to the city for higher studies I remember the promise I had made to myself that evening. Grandpa is no longer with us. But his memories will always with me.