The Grand Feeling

It was 2:30 in the morning.  Comes the message from my son “We are extremely blessed and absolutely delighted to announce the arrival of our daughter….. “ .  There was eruption of joy.  My aged parents too were waiting for this news.  My daughter kept on asking every now and then in the night regarding any message from her brother.  She too was jumping with joy.  I was not sure what’s the feeling that made her jump in joy.  Her becoming an aunt? Getting a new member at home?  Whatever it be, it was a “Grand Feeling” for all of us.  Heart suddenly filled with moments of gladness and delight. 

Yes, ‘Grand Feeling’.. Me, my wife and my daughter in law’s parents became ‘grand’ parents.  Just like us, it’s first experience for them too.  My mother-in-law got promoted to “great grand mother”.  Though my parents are already great grand parents, this was very special for them as the baby is in the Kamath clan itself. 

I was closely observing the way my son and daughter-in-law were experiencing the pregnancy.  Away from us.  Doing everything by themselves, the way they want.  No pressure of any do’s and don’ts from anybody.  I’m sure, they enjoyed it to the fullest.

It took quite bit of time to sink in the ‘grand’ feeling.  My mind went back many years.  Days I spent with my ‘grand’ father, who was my friend, philosopher, guide and role model, during early years of my life.  I use to hang around holding his hand wherever he goes. Being with him was my first ‘grand’ feeling.  I imbibed ‘the values’ of my life from him.  Many many instances of me with my grandfather flash-backed in my mind, a unique bond, that can’t be expressed in words.

Now I’ve reached the other end in my life.  I’m grandfather to a new born.  Mind traversed through many instances of ‘those’ days and landed at present.  The ‘grand feeling’ multiplied many folds, when I took the baby in my hands.  Both my wife and daughter on my side, son and daughter-in-law in front, and the baby in my hands; I felt the miracle of her charms.  Tender feelings are hard to express. I realized what a long life is for.  

Mind started flying form present to future. Baby’s growth started flashing - crawling, standing, walking, running, speaking and all other expressions.  What I'm dreaming is a ‘grand’ bond between us - the grand father and the grand daughter - a bond that is built on trust, a bond that gives her comfort, and a bond that makes her lean on me.