Cheeku,
There is a small quiet valley, tucked away in the midst of the high sand dunes and the forest cover of keekar and wild grass in the Unti khet where you spent a lot of time with your friends. I sometime descend into this valley and feel the peace of eternity surround me. Somehow, it seems the place when you must come to rest now and then taking a break from you blazing travel across creation.
Very close to this valley, on the other side of the dune, your retreat_Anirudh’s Retreat is being planned. A kind of home that you would love, a home with a character. On this last Sunday, everyone got together for the foundation stone laying…the set of friends who always revolved around you,: Kashyap, Sardara, Deepu Bana, Tubby, Chota Gaurav-with Karishma, Priyanka, Somya. All the rishtedars were there, the large family that amused you, intrigued you and shaped you in some ways…Dadi, Som Bhaisaheb, Bharat Bhaisaheb, Munna Dada, Anusuiya Bhaisaheb (who so often sat reading your palm), Akar Bhaisaheb, Vijay Bhaisaheb (your great ‘friend’)…then there were those who you always saw around in Dadi’s political ambit but as also those very close to the family: Mahavirji, Bhairuji, Bhanwarji, Ram Swaroopji (who you always thought perked up at the sight of women even though he couldn’t see well!)…they were all there celebrating the occasion, celebrating life, celebrating Anirudh and his spirit…
Time flies, Cheeku. Things change, the world changes in all its colours. As I grow older I see generations passing. Suddenly an entire generation simply disappears into history…and I realize how close I am getting to being just that!
But you have immortalized yourself…your laughter, your contagious joie de vivre…your spirit…these are forever…
Love
Dad