My dad , daddy ,appa, mera bap , nanna tande , na nana garu , tell me , any other
way to call you , tell me , my dear Nayna .

I cannot recall your face , your voice ,
the way you would walk , nothing ,
nothing my dear dad , nothing i can
recall , how were you .

Yes , i can only remember , you ,
you sitting in the passage , the narrow
passage of our house , smoking a beedi, ganesha beedi , smoking and coughing .

Yes , later on , on my way back from
school , to see you , bed ridden, face up , in the crowded hall of the hospital, handing out an apple . My nana, that’s all I can recollect .

You , you passed away one day , i walked
in the forefront , following the rituals , to
the end of your journey , to the blessed
earth to be mingled with .

I cannot recall , any other , even your face ,
i was then just a kid , a kid of 12 years .

Do i missed you , while growing up , yes ,
my dear dad , even today , at 75th year
of my life .
MY NANA

mk