Category: Stories About Appa
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The “Adult Orphan” Syndrome
The author reflects on the recent loss of their mother, who battled Parkinson’s disease, and the earlier loss of their father. The piece explores the profound emotional void left by their parents, while also celebrating their love and partnership. The narrative emphasizes coping with grief through cherished memories and a…
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Our Two Appas
Every year on 19th April, the day my father passed away back in 2009, I slow down, centre myself, focus on my Appa and in minutes, a story weaves itself from my subsconcious to my conscious mind, to the fingers flying on my keyboard and to a post much like…
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On Appa’s Principles of Money Management
When Amma developed arthritis, and had to go on an annual basis for treatment to an Ayurvedic hospital in South India, it fell to me to help my Appa with the household chores. I was all of twelve I think, but I never thought to question this arrangement. Questioning Appa…
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Fourteen Years Without Appa
My Appa passed away on April 19th, 2009 Till date, it is hard for me to say or type these words. I think all of us expect parents to remain eternally alive. No matter what the level of closeness, affection or interaction we have with our parents, there is always…
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When I Wrote Letters to Appa
Today is Appa’s 85th birth anniversary. Thirteen years ago, he left us after a valiant battle with cancer. Towards the end of that same year, I began to put my thoughts around this phase of his life in the form of a book. It was very painful to write but…
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Appa’s Love for Singing
A few years back I wrote about Appa’s love for music and the range of songs and music he loved to listen to. Apart from loving to listen to music from some of the greats, Appa was a singer in his own right too. He did not have any formal…
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How I Caught the Book Bug from Appa
I came across a post yesterday on social media which said it was World Book Day and that the theme of the year was “share a story”. I am an avid reader of books. In fact my day isn’t done unless I’ve read something. I will literally not be able…
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Why Appa Takes Full Credit for my Typing Speed
It was the early 90s. Computers and IT as a career had just begun to make an appearance in the Indian career scene. I was pursuing a degree in Commerce and it seemed to make perfect sense at the time to sign up for a computer course if for no…
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On Appa’s Birth Anniversary
Happy Birthday AppaIf you were with us todayYou would have turned a ripe old 83And we would have heard you exclaim“I’m 83 years young!”When we called to wish you Happy Birthday AppaWe’ve missed you these last eleven yearsBut somehow, when we really need youYou’re right by our sideYour laughter echoes…
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Appa’s Cup of Tea
For as long as I can remember, Amma and Appa had a routine when it came to the consumption of tea and coffee in our household. They would have coffee bright and early in the morning, which for them was 3 am. After tackling breakfast and lunch preparations for the…
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Appa and the Art of Shopping for Produce
By this point you all know that in my eyes and in the eyes of anyone who interacted with him, my father was a man of substance. For me, he was also an influential and inspiring presence. He did everything with style and panache. He could even transform the simple…
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Appa and our Love Affair with Parsi Dairy Farm
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to take a day tour of my beloved Bombay thanks to a couple of my dearest friends who were visiting the city and wanted to see it from the eyes of a couple of Bombayites. We began from Chembur and reached CST Station…
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Appa’s Love for Music – Part 3
Author’s Note: Catch Part 1 and Part 2 before you read on! As I continued to pick what I felt were Appa’s absolute favourites that should be showcased and celebrated as immortal and evergreen musical achievements, my sisters too chimed in. What started as an attempt to bring Appa’s music…
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Appa’s Love for Music – Part 2
Here’s a link to Part 1 in case you missed it. Appa sang lullabies to us when we were growing up. Later, we would hear them as he held one of the other of his grandchildren in the crook of his arms and stood, legs slightly apart, rocking them from…
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Appa’s Love for Music – Part 1
Author’ Note – I have included a YouTube link of Appa’s top five songs. Do listen to them to fully be part of the music experience that was Appa. With all the talents that Appa possessed that I’ve been going on and on about, it is no surprise that he…
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The Day I Took Appa for a Drive
Appa was one of the most judgemental passengers I have ever met. No matter who was driving, Appa would spare no words or gestures to point out every deficiency in the driver. Whether it was speeding, or failure to avoid a pothole, or breezing over a speed breaker when clearly…
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Appa and Expressions of Love
I am inwardly laughing here… the beginning of this tale is similar to the one I wrote about Appa and his art of diplomacy – there wasn’t any diplomacy to write about! Well, you’re just going to have to humour me and read on about the absence of expressions of…
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Appa and the Art of Diplomacy
This story should actually end before it even begins. If I had to describe Appa’s diplomatic side, I would have to end this tale by saying that he didn’t have one. But humour me. And read on anyway. It is absolutely fascinating how much our parents influence and shape our…
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Appa-Isms – One for the Tough Times
Life is not always fun and easygoing. At each turning point at life, we all encounter roadblocks, stop signs, situations where nothing seems right and no option seems viable. Very soon, helplessness sets in and despair robs us of all hope. Dreams turn into nightmares. Appa dealt with these moments…
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Appa and the Fifty-Fifty Toaster
I grew up in the 80s, that period between the slow 70s and the booming 90s when the world was near perfect. Technology was unheard of, everything was done by hand and took a lot of effort. Nothing was ready made. Eating out or using ready-to-eat products was unheard of.…