Summer vacation was an oasis,
deservedly off books and no classroom.
But for the short meal breaks,
much of time between dawn and dusk
was in the streets of the neighborhood,
or at the dusty playground thrashing a cricket ball.
No life’s stressors at play, and
no clue how many hours in a day.
Abundance of joy in every heart,
plenty of smiles despite dripping sweat.

He was sure of the time when the mailman
rang the bicycle bell to alert his arrival.
Narein refused to collect the mail.
He just couldn’t relate to a certain name,
although the mailman called it loud and clear.
He always knew them only in a kinsman form,
him as Grandpa…and her as Grandma.
When the boys retreated to their abodes,
Narein found comfort and love in them,
his two pillars all through the vacation.

A perfect home for summer,
thriving with cousins every nook and corner.
Desserts and juicy mangoes came first,
when kitchen stayed open round the clock.
Narein indulged in the race to storytelling,
while cousins teased his loss in Monopoly.
All was fair and square,
no strings whatsoever,
and nothing taken to heart.

When summer drew to an end,
when bags were packed and byes were bid,
there was still joy and warmth, all intact.

There were two things Narein knew,
deep in his heart he will sorely miss.
Evening strolls with his Grandpa,
to the bakery around the corner.
smitten by the aroma of fresh baked bread.
Resting his head on Grandma’s lap
watching television or reading a book.

Next summer was only a jiffy away.
There was the encouraging sign.
That was the unwavering spirit.

A whole generation of time passed.
Grandpa and Grandma moved on,
after growing tad bit older, and
a whole lot more warm and loving.
Narein was now quietly tucked in,
at the cusp of a new kinship relation.
For him, it was all receive back then,
Now…
It ought to be balanced,
with substantial amount of give.

As he reflected and went introspective,
and lowered his cuppa on the table,
it quietly dawned on him.
Grandpa and Grandma –
when they worked life in tandem…
How they looked enough alike,
to the cup and saucer.

Photo Source: Google stock images