The kiss of life

Rajiv Bakshi 

SHE landed on Indian soil on  September 25, a few days before her birthday. It was a gruelling 18-hour nonstop flight from New York to Delhi. After that, another long journey was ahead — seven to eight hours by road to Jalandhar. She is an American citizen by birth as she was born in the USA.

I never had the chance to meet the young girl before. It was the first time I had set my eyes on her. The day she landed in India, I was instantly fascinated by her charming personality! I took her to the Model Town market in Jalandhar and a few other places in the city. 

  Her wish was my command. It was a joy to do her biding. She got all her demands fulfilled, as and when she made them. Being a retired banker, I spent ample time, and money, on her dresses and other fancy things she wanted. I just could not say no. Sometimes, my wife objected to it, asking me why I was spending so much on small items which were not required by her at all. 

But I had only one agenda — I wanted to impress Sunanda: the American girl with an Indian accent. She was guarded at first, not being friendly with me for the first 10 days. It made me feel sad and frustrated. I had to apply my banker’s skills to impress her! 

Then one fine morning, all of a sudden — two or three days before her birthday — I summoned courage and asked her to kiss me! I turned to look at my wife’s reaction. 

The American girl kissed me not once, but twice that day; on both my cheeks. Finally... I was ecstatic.

After that day, it became a regular feature over the next 10 days. Whenever she wanted any of her demands to be met, I would simply put my cheek forward. Unhesitatingly, she would oblige me — even more than what I would hope or ask for. It was a welcome change and a beautiful gift for me at this age. I was able to fulfil my ‘target’. The word ‘target’ haunts a banker from the day he joins a bank, up until he retires from the institution. A professional hazard one would say.

Then, the day came when Sunanda was to return to New York. I was feeling lonely and sad; kind of empty within. My wife remarked that the girl had kissed me more than even her! 

Sunanda is my granddaughter who recently turned a year old. She is a perfect retirement gift for me and my wife. God bless her.