He shuffled his pocket to find the key. Unlocked the door and went inside. As he turned on the light at once a feeling of nostalgia swept over him. He could see himself at the dining table eating his breakfast dressed in uniform while his father read the papers. His mother busy with the morning chores.
He put his bag down and stopped to look at the old photo frames. The family in Dehradun enjoying a holiday. He went to sit down he didn’t know where to begin. His father had just passed away and it had been twenty years that they had never spoken to each other.
His father had wanted him to be a doctor. He was a young boy drawn to the arts. One day he just decided to pack his bags and leave his mother funded him for a year till he found a part time job to pay for his course.
He had never looked back since. He had his own family now. They had never met father.
He closed his eyes and thought of better days. His father had bought them a gramophone and they had about two vinyl records to play. It was a simple time with no telephones, no technology ruling your life. He remembers the moment his father taught them how to play it and the melody that followed left everyone Ma who loved music and him in complete awe. Dad smiled as if he were the magician to bring this gadget home and let it play sweet music.
They played the records over and over. Mornings began with it.
He opened his eyes looked around wondering where to start to sell off his parents cherished treasures. He remembered the time that he did want to return but father was so hurt that he had left and was now even successful. He didn’t want to see him at all. Mum secretly had met her grand children and they were very fond of her.
He felt a pang of shooting pain because he hadn’t spoken to his father for so very long and now he was gone.
He started to sum up what he would do with their valuables. He opened the living room cabinet and laughed at the things they still held on to. Old cassettes, a sewing machine that belonged to his grandmother. His eyes fell upon the gramophone. He was surprised to see it there because he always thought his father had given it away. He carefully brought it out. Found a duster to swipe it clean. The box miraculously had those two records tucked inside.
He wondered if it would play and took the record which was his favourite. He let it drop and it played a little scratchy but the room filled with What a wonderful world. He closed his eyes and remembered the moment of pure joy that his father had given them all huddled around the gramophone waiting for the magic to begin.
He missed his dad and the only thing still connecting them was an old sweet tune.
What a wonderful world!
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