The chill of winter is well known in North India. The winter becomes even worse when cold wind originating from Himalayas descends and hit the plains of North India. It is common to have temperatures nearing freezing during the months of December and January. It was a similar cold day which was sure to have a chilly night ahead. Village was looking forward to have a good rice harvest this year. My Grandfather had been to a nearby village to attend a wrestling competition and preferred to stay there for next couple of days with his friends. Hari was in usual self and kept mostly to himself. Shyam had been to Gorakhpur to find someone who can get him in army. It was common for him to stay there in the night with his Aunty and her children (My grandfather’s younger sister) and help her in her vegetable business. Aunty’s husband had died at a young age due to an unknown disease, probably tuberculosis. Now she was alone with her two children who were very young and needed her at home most of the time.

My father was very much at unease and something was not good. His mother was very pale and tired that day. He sat close to her with Chandra and asked if she was feeling better. As darkness grew, the chill increased and they all moved closer. Chandra lit the night lamp kept in the corner of the room and waited for instructions from her mother for anything more. The night was unusual as it was the first time in their memory when the kitchen fire was not lit. My grandmother slowly called - “Ram, please come close to me. I want to talk to you a lot of things. Don’t know if I can see you grow up but I want you to become a big man. Something like Collector Sahib. I am so weak that I cannot give you anything but promise that you will keep my word. I want you to be an officer and a big man.” My father, probably could not understand the gravity of the words that time. However as a boy of about six, he still was matured enough to understand that something was amiss. He replied “ Yes Mother, I will. I will take you to my big house and a big car and get you good clothes to wear. I will also take you to good doctor.”