दीवाना मस्ताना

दीवाना मस्ताना 

DJ Uncle/Pappa

I remember the first moment I met Pappa - don’t remember the date or year but I do remember that specific moment. As I do with most people I meet, I hugged him and said, “Hello Uncle” but then something different happened. He hugged me back and held on to me, for a few moments.  
Aaah...Finally I had met someone who could return my kind of झप्पी 😊 We hit it off instantly! 

All the times we met, the few evenings spent together over drinks/dinner or gupshup/music, the energy was electric. There was something magical to hear his stories and enjoy his childlike excitement at almost everything. He was always, always impeccably dressed with a crisply ironed shirt, hair neatly combed, and a dash of cologne/perfume.. He could teach these younger guys a thing or two for sure! Sometimes we would just sit listening to and singing old hindi songs, other times he would talk about his wife and how much he missed her, and at other times he would say wonderful things about me 😊; one thing common across all this was our hands held together all the time. He sure knew how to boost someone’s ego and make them feel special and on top of the world. And I for one wasn’t going to complain about that! Of course, I knew that that’s how he made everyone feel - extra important and special!

When I visited Mumbai in 2014, he pre-poned his trip by a day to come all the way from Aurangabad to meet me. I was thrilled and a bit overwhelmed by his affection. My dad and I visited him at his son’s house and he was beyond thrilled, pampering us no end. He had also instructed his daughter-in-law Radha and granddaughter Aakanksha to buy me a dress and get dad a shawl. His eyesight was much weaker but the bond as strong as ever. He loved chatting with my dad as well just like so many friends he would make instantaneously. I remember him asking me to postpone my flight so I could go to a hindi music show with him 😊..and the sad look when we got into the elevator to leave...and of course he insisted on having his driver drop us home instead of letting us leave in a cab. He would not take no for an answer and there was no arguing with him for sure!!

What a beautiful अनोखा love connection we shared!  A special connection filled with a father's love, a friend's non-stop गपशप and मस्ती, reflective moments, and a shared zest for life and living.  Brings a twinkle in my eye and warmth in my heart even today as I think about him.. 


ना उम्र की सीमा हो, ना जनम का हो बंधन ......

Somehow in all that time, he hardly ever spoke about his own accomplishments. I never knew the fearless firefighter and heroic leader,  just the passionate, दिलखुश, romantic, ज़िद्दी, दीवाना,  who never liked to say goodbye.. A total people person - all heart 💖.

Thank you Uncle for all the moments of love, laughter and अपनापन ...What a blessing!  I’m sure you’re planning parties wherever you are, forming eternal connections. Remembering you fondly with one of your favorites - फैली हुईं हैं सपनों की बाहें, आजा चल दें कहीं दूर…