I can’t remember when Moolie started referring to a group of us as “aunts”. I guess we were older and our homes were addas on the Mudrika route where the under fed Stephanians/ D.School tribe would have a meal, endless cups of chai, alcohol if my father wasn’t around; or just to pick me up before we headed off for anda parathas at Moolchand dhaba or to our TAG lifeline at Barry’s barsati in Jangpura. I see Moolie in the lights booth at Kamani, falling in line with Dinky’s instructions, ribbing Asha mercilessly, as the trio lit up all the TAG performances to perfection.
Gentle, warm, generous, irrepressible with his puns and whacky sense of humour there is a lightness of being that is our Moolie. I cannot refer to Moolie in the past tense. I just can’t. When he was on a roll and his punning was out of control we would throw the nearest cushion, book, anything to get him to stop – but he would just throw his head back and laugh and come back with more witticisms paying no heed to the mock groaning of all his friends.
He opened his heart and home whether at D-30 Def Col or his warm lovely sanctuary in Shillong. Conversations flowed as did the rum and many funny tales of his journeys through the corridors of State and his karmic connection with the North East. He traversed all these worlds, Assam, Arunachal, Delhi, Paris with a lightness and gentleness. Now when I think about it, while many of us would rave and rant about stuff, Moolie never did. He would smile philosophically, conjure up another pun and move on. He saw it as a part of life’s rich tapestry.
Our families are close, and I have had Moolie , Nanz, Naintara and Naira standing with us in times of loss and celebrating moments of joy. Birthdays, many Xmas lunches and dinners, many Lohris, Diwalis and so very many moments when we just came together without a reason! The love and gratitude I feel for this richness and connection is hard to put in words. As is talking about Moolie as if he wasn’t there. He’s in my heart and I know in the hearts of so many of us. And he will be with us.
Tread lightly dear friend as you always have, till we meet, beyond the rainbow.
Aunt
