The Other Family

The Other Family

Family! I hear this word and a smile draws upon my face. I’m sure it must be the same for most of you. So, what exactly is a family? Who makes a family what it actually is? You look up a dictionary and it defines family as: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head or a group of persons of common ancestry.  Yes, of course on the surface maybe this is exactly what a family is but I’m sure this is not what occurs to our mind when we think of a family; our family.

To me a family is a place where we can be our true selves. It is a place that nurtures us into the wonderful individuals we are, that corrects us when we are wrong, criticises or advises us when we become too full of ourselves, comforts us when we feel too feeble, supports us through thick and thin and loves unconditionally. It is a very special kind of bonding; a bonding of love, care, understanding, belief, hope, faith, compassion and trust. Of course anger, hurt, jealousy, competence etc are there too but never without a dose of love and care. A family includes parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and pets and so on.

But today what I want to actually write about is not this family; I am here to write about my other family. And this other family includes the little things that have made my family complete, that have given my family a meaning and millions of memories to ponder, chat, laugh and share a tear upon.

I can never forget and part from the first doll my father gifted me: Daisy. I still clearly remember how happy I was when my father bought her for me and also how my mother would help me dress her up. The ice cream my Dadi would make for us. It has  been years since I have had it but till date I remember the taste it had, the way it would melt in my mouth and most importantly the love and affection with which dadi would make it, cooking for hours on the gas and how after every meal she would give it to us. It was the yummiest ice cream I had ever had and will always continue to be so.

My book collection: from my first novel, Heidi, to the latest ones; looking at them fills my heart with a sense of pride. Believe me whenever I feel a little low, I go see my books; read my favorite parts in them and I feel happy again. I also have this milk mug of mine since class three. It has always been my favorite. It has these three different kinds of houses imprinted on it and as a little girl while I would be drinking milk I would always think about which one I would like to stay in. I now keep it with me in hostel. Then, there is this one family photograph that my mother always keeps somewhere in the drawing room and every time that I enter home, I always look at it. The teddies that I keep with me, gifted by my dearest friends, the hankie my badi nani gave me, the old scarf my mother used in her younger days, me and my sister’s baby clothes, the old jewelry boxes, etc etc etc.

There are so many of these little things, without which home wouldn't seem like home to me. I can go on and on about them. The ones that I mentioned are probably the closest and most special to me. Even in my hostel room I have many of these little things; things that remind me of how lucky I am to have certain people in my life, that remind of me of the reasons that have made me what I am today and that remind me how beautiful life is every time I look at them.To me they are like a blessing, like a bond that has added so much more meaning to life and I thank God for them. These little things, it's like they add different colours to our house or my hostel room rather my life, making it more vibrant and cheerful! With them around me I can never feel alone; they make home feel so much cosier and safer. They mean the world to me and form a very essential part of my existence. And for as long as I live, I will always cherish them. After all they are like a family to me; my other family!

Dedicated to my beloved dadi. Not a day passes by when I don't remember you. You inspire me. I love you.