Remember Samson? That mythological character whose magical powers lay locked in his tresses. Without those tresses he was powerless…

Our grandmother (aged 97) has a similar relationship with her radio. She simply cannot be without it. That little box is her constant companion. She goes from room to room with it. Consequently she is up to date with current affairs, weather report, cinema news, latest songs…and what not! When it does not work – she can raise hell – as I found out.

So on Sunday I, as always, was the first to wake up. I was doing my morning exercises. Deep breath, feet up in the air and whoaaaa…suddenly she was there – standing right in front of me. She is so thin and light – that she makes no sound when she walks. Startled by her presence I goggled at her from my compromising position. She was in front and I could not put my feet down without hitting her!! So I stayed that way, hoping she will move.

“Take a look at this. It’s not working.” She complained like a little child, thrusting the radio at me. Like it was all my fault or something!

I requested her to move, sat down and took the radio from her. I fiddled with the knobs. Turned it this way and that. Tried tuning it. Adjusted the volume button and it went “khrrrrrrrrr” angrily. Lowering the volume, I tapped it a couple of times. It moaned weakly – but nothing much happened. So I shrugged and said – “maybe the battery is gone.” And handed it back to her – thinking my job is done.

She did not go away.

“Change the battery and give me.” She insisted.

I was like – I’m, the middle of my exercise routine…anyways I did get up and went to look for batteries. She followed me suspiciously. (Like she was pretty certain I would not do it for her). But I sincerely looked for the batteries – in the drawer where we usually store such hardware. Nope. No spare batteries.

She peeped in too and through her misty cataract afflicated eyes she spotted a battery pack.

“There it is.” She exclaimed.

“No no patty. Your radio needs the big batteries. These are the small AA ones. We don’t have stock of the big one. Let the shops open I will buy for you and come.” I assured her. It was 5 am.

“But I need to have the radio on. Kalki Bhagwan is going to come on air at 7 o clock.” She said stubbornly.

I rolled my eyes. Kalki Bhagwan! Just then, fortunately, my father in law got up. She pounced on him with the radio. She did not allow the poor man to use the loo. Together we inspected it. Tapped it. Fiddled with it. Same conclusion. Battery needs to be changed.

“Ok so call Ramu. He has batteries in his house.” (Ramu being the nick name for my father in law’s older brother.) Granny said – like she was the only one with bright ideas at 5 am!

My dad in law was appalled. “I cannot call anyone at this time. You have to wait. We will call them at 7 o clock.” He said sternly.

“But Kalki Bhagwan is on air at 7 am.” She repeated.

And yeah, we rolled our eyes together!

Of course, Ramu was called at 6 am. The call frightened the elderly uncle (you know how old people worry if the phone rings at an ungodly hour!). They thought something was wrong with someone. Ramu uncle fired my father in law for calling at 6am for BATTERIES?? Dad quickly handed over the phone to his mom. The mom and son had an interesting conversation:

Granny: “I asked him to call.”

Pause: while uncle must have replied

Granny: Yes I know it’s early. But I need either another radio or new batteries

Pause: she listens

Granny: Yes but Kalki Bhagwan is speaking at 7 you see…

Aiyooo! Yet again we rolled our eyes. Phone call was quickly ended – after granny was assured that anyone was welcome to come and collect batteries from Ramu uncle’s place.

My husband (who also doubles up as a driver – according to him) was woken up at 6 am on Sunday morning. I was wondering if I had woken him up to go get batteries for my radio from Ramu uncle’s place – what would he have done? I shuddered at the idea! As it were he could say nothing. There was dad looking apologetic and granny looking like it were her birthright. So the poor chap was wrenched out of Sunday slumber and barely allowed to use the loo. “No need to brush and all” granny gave him concession. He sleepwalked to the car. Got the batteries from grumpy Ramu uncle’s place, we replaced the batteries and handed over granny’s power box to her! She gleefully retired to her room. Soon and we could all hear the radio loud and clear. Kalki Bhagwan was preaching!!

And that was how our Sunday began. Interesting eh?