My first memory of my grandfather is him asking me a maths question and me dodging him. It ain’t the earliest memory but I remember it quite clearly. How he used to ask LCMS, HCFS, and how I learnt nothing from the great man.

He has been a hustler all his life. I would be lying if I say that he always had a comfortable life. He went through the trial and tribulations of life with a wide smile and exuberance. He once shared with me how he dealt with life and people pulling him back. I don’t know if I’m ready to share his answer with the world right now.

He was an unapologetic foodie who always ate in moderation. A singer who made few songs his melody. He was a dedicated husband, appreciative of his wife. A father who provided to his children beyond their wildest imagination and a Grandfather who took care of his grandchildren with utmost love and support. A Mathematician who romanced logic and numbers and an individual who had faith, fears, optimism, honesty, compassion, self-awareness, tolerance and competence.

In the last decade, I took him to the doctors, Operation theatre, Temples, Weddings and what not. I measured his blood pressure, got him his medicines and had long conversations with him. Also, we had conversations before this but the last decade was specifically the period when we talked about many things and also agreed to disagree on a lot of stuff.

At this point, I’m also very thankful for my parents, who have without any expectations have taken care of him and my grandmother, more than anyone in this world would have.

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It has been one month since he has taken this journey to the infinite and I’m still heartbroken and scared that many of our conversations never met their end. What I know right now is that he had a lot to teach us and I’m sure he’ll keep guiding and teaching us from the beyond.

We love you, Dada Ji.

More on him later.

JD.