Photographs are not mere captures of moments of our past,
They are moments enlivened by memories that thrive as long as we last.
After rummaging in my grandparents' ancient, dusty attic
for almost three-quarters of an hour, I emerged with a victorious smile,
blinking in the sudden light in the sunny, fragrant veranda of my grandparent’s
large ancestral home.
With my hair dishevelled, dusty face and fingers, and
almost untucked shirt, I must have been a scruffy sight but the lightness pervading
my heart let me see beyond all of this. Thumping on our spacious swinging bench
under my favourite mango tree and placing my rather heavy object of search on
my lap, I began to go eagerly through it. My grandparents’ album! Replete with
memories that allowed me to see beyond the wrinkles of their old age, as doting
angels determined to ensure my joy. My chance to see them fresh and young, as
individual personas before they were bound by responsibilities.
I had hardly started when my grandparents arrived on the
veranda searching for me. Poor souls, they had been anxiously searching the
entire house noticing the sudden quietness, wondering what had happened that
had quietened me!
On seeing me with their album, the joy on their faces was
unparalleled.
Pulling them both to my side, I began flipping through the
album. Here was my grandpa standing with his gully football team, here looking
up at me with all the confidence in the world was my grandma posing on her
convocation day, photos of my newly married grandparents, how young they
looked!
Some photographs brought forth anecdotes, some inspired shy
smiles and some, peals of laughter. It was great to see my grandparents who sat
together only to disagree on the most trivial of things, suddenly chatting so
animatedly, remembering the days of their youth, the days when they too, could
be carefree.
This little incident led to me realising the joy of small things, the joy
of those little diversions, which, in a seemingly monotonous routine can awaken
us to the joy that comes in living, not just by continually aspiring, but also by
pausing for a moment to look back at the moments well spent and cherished
with the people we own, the ones for whom we can proudly say,“That person is
mine!”
******
Brought
something new for you this time! For a long time, I’ve been thinking of
bringing something different for my readers, and this piece seems to be the
best thing to take the first step towards a new journey. From now on, I, your
blogger, shall be bringing forth not just book reviews, but also different
pieces that I keep writing. Hope you’ll keep showering this new endeavour with
the same love you’ve always given to my book reviews, and maybe even more!
Love,
A Readaholic’s Panorama.
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