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Present day

Knock knock, a nurse entered.

“Sir, I have to give an injection.” She said.

“Yes, go ahead.” I left his hand and stood up.

She walked to his right hand, and injected the syringe.

I had always feared injections, and it reminded me of the day when dad had taken me to get my first vaccination.

He knew I was scared of those pointy things; he kept talking and telling about an incident that had happened in one of the campaigns. I was totally engrossed, and by then the doctor had injected the vaccine. Few minutes later the doctor said,

“Shreyas, this is your gift for being a brave boy”

He handed me a badge which said, “Brave Boy”

“Uncle, what is this for?”

“You didn’t hesitate or create a scene to get an injection that’s why”

I was stunned and only then did I realise how it had happened.

Recollection of those memories always brought a smile.

I went back to where I was sitting and held his hand again.

I felt the grip tighten, like he held my hand too.

I looked at him, but he was still unconscious.

I was married for more than ten years now, to the girl I loved, Priya and we have a 10 year old daughter.

I named her Shreya.

Yes Shreya, dad knew why I had done that. He was happy and his granddaughter brought him joy, she smiled and his joy had no bounds.

He started to smile like old times after Shreya was born. He was alone in life and my daughter had filled his life with joy, he would look forward to see her after getting back home, he told her stories in whatever little time he got.

Shreya loved her grandfather. She would keep asking all day “Where is Dadu?”

I had fallen in love a number of times, and dad always said let me know the day you fall in love. I knew he was serious, one day when I was 18 and in my first year of college.