Remembering Chhote Daddu

what to say

a loss of words

virus came

virus went

took our beloved Chhote Daddu

C. Daddu

Grandfather

Uncle

Husband

C. Daddu

what to say

He was beautiful

we could spew anger for eons against this virus

we call it SARS-Cov-2

we call it Covid-19

we also call it cold-blooded abomination

but it isn’t enough to bring our C. Daddu back

what to do

grieve, remember, cry

remember.

remember how he used to play Chess, Scrabble, video games?

remember how he went for long walks early in the morning

as the sun let loose its light to highlight his brilliance?

remember how

remember everything

remember his glorious life

his kindhearted nature

his ever-loving smile

then i ask

what is life

how is life

why is it so short

so unpredictable

oxygen

why does it take only one day

to go from 92 to 22%

why does it take one night

before your entire world turns upside down

what else can we use to describe it

what else can we say to justify the void

that has been left by our wondrous C. Daddu

all due to a virus

but alas, there is no time

to condemn

to argue

to be frustrated

for our time is short

and our lives limited

we must remember

honor

love

C. Daddu, thank you

for being with us

for sharing your exceptional gifts of

courtesy

compassion

resilience

you have been our best friend

our supporter

our grandfather

we know you are watching us from somewhere above

your classic grin

that heartwarming laugh

you’ve given us so much

we promise that we will always remember you

Godspeed.

by Archit Kalra