My grandfather was in the army and after his retirement he settled in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. He had four daughters and a son. My Mom was his second child and she was younger to my mamu. Nana also played a very important role in our upbringing. In those times, I used to write letters in English and he used to reply me back. And mostly some of our summer and winter vacations were spent with Nana and Nani only. My mom brought her youngest sister Sunni along with her and she finished her Senior Secondary classes in Meerut only. One morning when my dad was running and searching for her, found that she took her suitcase and reached Nana’s place without informing my parents. She was feeling alone in my house with no friends, so she had left. Later on she got married and has in all four daughters among whom there is a set of twins. My mamu had one daughter and a son. And another mausi of mine has one daughter and a son. All were settled in Eastern UP and only Sush has chosen her career as Nursing. In the beginning, she did a few jobs in private hospitals only. Later she was transferred to Nana’s place. She too had a big social circle and is very efficient in her work. She plays a very important role in our life which you can judge later. Whatever was there but we all three have a special place in our grandparents’ heart and even mausi loves us so much.

Sush took a nursing course and now she is working in a government hospital in Eastern UP. She got married in her early 40’s, actually she was enjoying her life as a free bird, while suddenly during her computer classes she was introduced to our mausa ji. And four years back they exchanged rings with each other. Mausaji is from Western India , and thereafter I believed that Marriages are made in Heaven and are celebrated on Earth. She is very regular in attending Sunday’s church. Her life partner is also of the same kind. Both of them are serving God and his followers sincerely and honestly. As my nani is diabetic, mausi is the right person to take care of her.

Nani is a lady of strong will power, who has seen many ups and downs in her life. Being a Taurean, she is a hard working lady. She has given her children a good and a meaningful life. Once I saw their marriage photograph, in which the year was mentioned as 5th OCT, 1953 and I asked them that when we are going to celebrate their 50th marriage anniversary? They were really happy.

Whenever we go to nani’s place, every time there was feast organized of our choice which makes us feel special. The only thing was that I was pure vegetarian, and they always make or order only matar paneer of my taste. But mausi used to take us to market and we had chaat, pastries, kulfi and there was a restaurant named CHAWLA’s that I appreciated a lot for gulab jamun and chole bhature, and nani used to give us company. Their place is famous for Dinanath ki Lassi, which we have also enjoyed, a big glass with chiraunji and malai in it, which is very filling. It was so much fun every day and the vacations came to an end. During nights , butter chicken and kababs were served for Honey and Chuttan and this was appreciated a lot by them. Nanihaal is a place where one can have full enjoyment with no homework at all. Sometimes we were there for movies, shopping for Jeans, t-shirts, coats, pullovers etc. And then by the end of the vacations Nana used to drop us at our place. Every year we attend church on 25th December with delicious cake, and even we used to visit KALI BARI every year.

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