I call her my friend because there is always an inexplicable bond of friendship between a granddaughter and a grandmother. The fights, the arguments and the funny conversations never cease to amaze me. The way that she grasps the goings on in my life, the way only I (and not even my parents sometimes) can understand few of her musings and the synchrony that we can tune into is completely unique. This is the bond that has provided me with immense learning.

My earliest memories of her are that of her returning form work with a bag full of gifts. Each month like clockwork, she would get me and my sister some new toy in the block, or new clothes. It was a routine she had of never coming home empty handed. Each day there would be some sweets or savories for us in her bag when she returned form work. Me and my childhood playmate Karthik would welcome her at our gate with a salute. It was probably something we had learnt in school and wanted to try out at home.

Speaking of toys, she had her eyes set on getting us a train thingy that went up down zig zag in a fascinating manner. It ran on batteries and had an entire train journey from tunnels to bridges and stations to mountains. I recall it as it was on show at a famous toy store in Mysore back then called ‘Tip-Top’ on Sayaji Rao Road. Somehow we never got around to it. I guess she retired by the time I got that train. Instead, she went on to buy me a bicycle even before i asked for it.

She loves buying stuff for family. she adores it and till today despite all the changes in our lives, that is the one thing she continues to do. As her kids, we enjoy it too! she loves spending to the point that she is often accused of being a spendthrift. She has her little cute idosyncrasies. For instance, I'd never understand the logic behind sorting coins based on their denominations and keeping them in different parts of her little coin purse. She has a fascination for crisp new notes. Sometimes I think she spends money at times just to get rid of the crumpled greasy ones.

But till today she has stayed the same. Her habits may have changed, lifestyle varied but deep down she is still the same person she was when she walked home with gifts for me and neetsy.

Sharada- a symbol of strength and determination.

I now begin to share some endearing stories and learnings that have been passed down to me from my grandmother- Sharada G Shinde. She still continues to do so and I am very grateful for that. In doing this, I am also going to talk about her, her life and the inspiring person she is.

Cheers to ajji!

There is not a single spiritual tangle that the Geetha cannot unravel.
Derive fresh joy and meanings from it each time you read it.
- these are her thoughts on what Mahatma Gandhi had said.