gajra and filter kaapi

Exhaling soft sighs after what was his last sip of Filter Kaapi, his wrinkled, yet warm hands held her untired, soft hands laden with heirloom bracelets. Tender exchanges of reassurance between the old couple, left even their pale skin, glowing. Long before his last breath, she was by his bedside, amidst the deafening beeping of monitors, making her homegrown Filter Kaapi, a ritual never missed in 55 years of their marriage. 


With the agony of my grandfather's demise, came shattering the idea of unconditional love among couples for me. Love between them wasn't a feeling, but an enacted emotion. 

The anchor to my ajji's ship, was thatha. She humbled the rank holder in him, and he was the pillar to her indigenous talents.

From early morning walks, to watching daily soaps, in doing lay their love. To me it was an union of sweet-smelling jasmine gajra and aromatic Filter Kaapi. 

It was never the grand, yet shallow proclamations of love. 

Reminders to take medication, putting a blanket on as they doze off on the couch, saving that last slice of pizza, itching that one unreachable spot, holding the car door, drinking that terrible tea without flinching..in doing lay their love. 

It's everything simple, effortless, unconditional, pure till death do us apart. 












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