Gran Anny often visits our home. She has aged much, but there is strength in her body.
One afternoon, just after we came from school, the doorbell rang. Who was it? It was Gran Anny.
The aunt Granny, whom we all call Gran Anny couldn’t come earlier, got better with plant medicines and started a regular routine.
She had come with her helper and driver.
We were very surprised for she wasn’t supposed to visit us on that day.
We all hugged her.
Seeing us all together, she said-“I love you all very much. But please let me sit. I am too tired from travelling.”
We let her sit on her favourite chair. She rested for a few minutes and then asked mother to heat her tiffin box in the microwave. She had bought lunch with her. The lunch consisted of green salads, chicken nuggets and cooked rice.
Mother told her-“Mother, I have cooked lunch. Please have lunch with us.”
Gran Anny-“ No, I can’t. The doctor has prescribed me a preferably preferable lunch which consist of nutritious food items.”
Upon hearing her speak, we all started giggling, but a stern look from mother quietened us all.
Mother heated Gran Anny’s tiffin and served it to her on a plate. She took a few spoonful’s and then suddenly asked mother for Macoroni and cheese topped with fresh coriander.
We all were stunned.
Mother looked stupefied.
Gran Anny said–“I am hungry. That tiffin is not good for me, so please give me some macaroni and cheese, with fresh coriander.”
Mother-“ Are you sure mother?”
Gran Anny-“Yes, my palate is asking something fresh and crunchy.”
Mother couldn’t prepare macaroni and cheese, so she ordered for them.
In the meanwhile, Robin and Greta went out to play and Erik remained inside.
When the food arrived, we rushed in tell mother that the parcel had arrived.
She took in the parcel, and served Gran Anny the food topped with fresh coriander.
After half an hour, Gran Anny says to us all-“You know children, you all must have a fresh glass of orange every evening.”
It was four in the evening.
We didn’t tell her anything. We all thought that orange juice is for those who feel the need for it. We children could do without a “fresh glass” of orange juice.
So, Gran Anny asked our servant to bring four kilos of fresh oranges from the market and he soon brought it.
Gran Anny went into the kitchen and made eight glasses of fresh orange juice. We are three brothers and sisters and we live with our parents and father was at his office.
Ma was resting at that time. We woke our mother, who was extremely tired after the whole day’s work and she woke up with red eyes. We told her in whispers-“Mother, Gran Anny has made fresh orange juice for us all.”
Mother woke up with a jumpstart and almost shouted-“What?!!!!!!”
She immediately got out of her bed and went into the kitchen.
Gran Anny had made three glasses of orange juice by that time and was filling the fourth one.
Mother-“Mother what are you doing?”
Gran Anny-“I am preparing orange juice for everyone. It’s extremely good to have a fresh glass of orange juice each evening.”
Mother kept quiet and didn’t say anything.
Soon, Granny served us all the “Freshly made orange juice.”
We all sat around the table and as if drinking our evening milk, we drank the orange juice.
It was good but Granny had forgotten to add sugar in it and it tasted bland.
Gran Anny went around the table to make sure that everyone finished their glass.
At last she sat down on a chair and asked for her glass of orange juice.
We all looked at her. We all sensed something. It was Gran Anny’s specialty to forget.
Mother-“Mother,is it in the kitchen?”
Granny –“In the juicer.”
Mother went into the kitchen and saw that neither was there any oranges left nor was there any orange juice in the juicer.”
There were two oranges in the fruit basket, mother quickly took them out, deseeded them and made a fresh glass of orange juice for her and she didn’t forget to add sugar in it and she served it to Gran Anny.
When Gran Anny tasted it, she said-“This is how orange juice should taste.”
We all simply looked at her.
At six in the evening she left for her home and mother took a breath of relief and told the story of orange juice to us. Upon hearing it, we all burst out laughing.
Ha! Gran Anny had forgotten again. We had guessed at that time.
“This is how orange juice should taste”. We all mimicked Gran Anny and laughed a lot, when mother finally put a stop to it, and hushed us all.
Mother said-“Gran Anny is our elder. We must not make fun of her”.
When she left, we all felt sad. It felt as if the whole house was empty.
This time she didn’t give us any chocolates, but gave us a book which had stories of Jesus.
Adios!
Before You Travel. 