Happy Birthday, Apapa.
New Year's was always an extravagant affair in the family because of you. I'll never forget 14th April, not just because its the start of the New Year - also because it's your birthday.
From the minute we arrive in Klang, just before lunch - I can already smell your cooking from the front door. Apachi opens the doors for us all the time, and you are busy working your magic in the kitchen. Its a feast, it always is...there's rasam, and vegetarian chicken curry, tahu curry, vegetarian mutton perattal, all kinds of vegetable, sothi, fried potato perattal, kesari, payasam..it goes on and on and on.
We'd walk in and run to the back of the house, to see you in your space, cooking something delicious. After that brief hug, you'd shoo us away to the hall to watch TV or just talk to Apachi and everyone else while you continue to prepare lunch for us.
And then, lunch is ready.
All the food is laid out on the dining table for us to take and eat at will. I always noticed you'd make us all take our food first, before taking your own plate. We'd sit together, at the table and later moving to the front of the television when we take our seconds. One plate was never enough!
Then you'd cut us some fruit, and hand us some special chocolates that you would have bought and kept away for us like you always do. We'd be resting in the hall, talking and reading the papers, and attending to those random guests that used to come over; usually your old friends or Papa's old schoolmates.
Teatime was when Apachi would make her famously delicious drinks for us, with the kuih to accompany it. I remember cutting small cakes for you.
I'll never forget that contented smile you always had, after this day comes to an end. I'm so glad, that I was so blessed to have been your granddaughter. Your immense love for the family was what kept us all together, Apapa. There will be nothing like New Year's in Klang.
For you, I promise to uphold and follow the traditions you have continuously practiced till it was time for you to see Swami again.
Happy Birthday, Apapa. And a very Happy New Year :)
New Year's was always an extravagant affair in the family because of you. I'll never forget 14th April, not just because its the start of the New Year - also because it's your birthday.
From the minute we arrive in Klang, just before lunch - I can already smell your cooking from the front door. Apachi opens the doors for us all the time, and you are busy working your magic in the kitchen. Its a feast, it always is...there's rasam, and vegetarian chicken curry, tahu curry, vegetarian mutton perattal, all kinds of vegetable, sothi, fried potato perattal, kesari, payasam..it goes on and on and on.
We'd walk in and run to the back of the house, to see you in your space, cooking something delicious. After that brief hug, you'd shoo us away to the hall to watch TV or just talk to Apachi and everyone else while you continue to prepare lunch for us.
And then, lunch is ready.
All the food is laid out on the dining table for us to take and eat at will. I always noticed you'd make us all take our food first, before taking your own plate. We'd sit together, at the table and later moving to the front of the television when we take our seconds. One plate was never enough!
Then you'd cut us some fruit, and hand us some special chocolates that you would have bought and kept away for us like you always do. We'd be resting in the hall, talking and reading the papers, and attending to those random guests that used to come over; usually your old friends or Papa's old schoolmates.
Teatime was when Apachi would make her famously delicious drinks for us, with the kuih to accompany it. I remember cutting small cakes for you.
I'll never forget that contented smile you always had, after this day comes to an end. I'm so glad, that I was so blessed to have been your granddaughter. Your immense love for the family was what kept us all together, Apapa. There will be nothing like New Year's in Klang.
For you, I promise to uphold and follow the traditions you have continuously practiced till it was time for you to see Swami again.
Happy Birthday, Apapa. And a very Happy New Year :)
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