Dear Grandpa,

One of my greatest blessings has been to have you to grow up with.

Meeting for the first time with Grandma on your wedding day on the 25th of January 1954, you started a new chapter of your lives together. I am sure that at that point in time, you would have never envisioned yourself to have had the responsibility of having a granddaughter like me in the future. You successfully raised four children in loving sync with your wife, and were able to financially and emotionally support each child to fulfill their truest potentials by recognizing their abilities and life ambitions.

When I was a little girl, you bounced me on your knee and told me stories that intrigued my little inquiring mind. Your patience, accompanied by kind and impactful words, has helped mould me into a person who appreciates small, seemingly insignificant things such as a tiny blade of grass. I know deep within me that I can depend on you for a much-treasured insight on anything. For as long as I can remember, you have been a man of few words, but what comes out are truly words of carefully contemplated wisdom. Recently, I was struggling to balance my academics and excel in co-curricular activities, I had become so caught up in chasing my tail, that I had lost my orientation in life. Thankfully you saw my plight, and set me back on track again my helping me review my activities. Your advice set me thinking about leading a more purposeful and balanced life.

You remain as the only person I know who always has a smile for the world. Up till today, I can never remember a day you have shown even the faintest signs of anger or irritation towards me. Diligently, you take great pains to review my work and offer help. Between you and Grandma, you come up with good that is truly finger-licking good and adds flavour to any family gathering. Your ability to pick yourself up in the most adverse situations and keep running the race of life is truly admirable. Whether it is cleaning, gardening or even cooking, you are always there to be of help to Grandma. Your loving gestures have truly warmed my heart.

My strong pillar of support, you have made yourself available for me to lean or rely on anytime. You have made it to any and every special or significant moment in my life at your ripe old age, instilling core values within me and adding value to my life in the process. Your efforts have definitely not gone in vain, and I am eternally grateful, for it is through you that I have learnt to cherish what I have, love, and live each day to the fullest.

Your beloved Granddaughter,
Shubashri