A letter to S.S. Baba!

S.S. Baba & Me!

Heaven.

22/08/2025

Dear S.S. Baba,

How are you? It’s been 8 years since you left us. I still remember that day, but I chose to play the cassette of happy memories that I have with you in my mind every time I am reminded of that day. 

Happy memories begin from my birthdays, when you and Aaji used to come from Aurangabad (then). Your shopping on the journey, especially the goodies you got from Lonavala, always excited us as kids. The colourful jelly chocolates, the golden and silver coin chocolates, and one thing that always looked thrilling but tasted okayish was the three-colour jelly custard (I still remember that pink colour used to be a litchi flavour), and your favourite bakery products! You were so far-sighted that you gifted me a computer set; probably only you knew back then that I would become a computer engineer in the future. Additionally, you gave me my first big cycle, the green Hercules cycle. I was so excited to have that cycle! Birthdays without you are not the same, but I still get your gifts (from the LIC). Got one today also, thank you for being there, S.S. Baba!

You remember that summer vacation when we used to watch C.I.D. from morning till night. I was not allowed to watch C.I.D. at home because I used to be afraid at night, so it was banned in our house. But in summer vacations, when you had the remote control and nobody scolded, that is when I watched C.I.D. with you. I took maximum advantage of that and caught up on all the episodes that I missed. You sometimes used to rewatch some episodes just for me! We had a watch party when it was not even a thing!

I miss those slow post-lunch afternoons, when everyone in the house used to be in deep slumber and you sat on your chair in the verandah, with Kaluram (German Shepherd) under your chair, and I sat/lay on the swing, looking at the road in front of the house, just being in the moment. I don’t recall what we talked about or how we passed time without internet/mobile/earphones, but then it’s hard to believe now for me too, that there was never a dull moment with you. And when everyone fell asleep, you used to ask me to get Glucon-D from the fridge, and we used to have the chilled Glucon-D powder for desserts and your favourite Polo mint. Though I hated mint, I always thought that maybe this time I would like it, and I still don’t, but honestly, I haven’t had polo since then. Perhaps no one offered it to me like you did!

By the way, I read the two classic books of Marathi literature this year. I had heard this so many times that you were a writing intern with V. S Khandekar when he wrote Yayati and Amrutvel. After having read both these books, I wish I could discuss those books with you, as you were working on them with the writer; this is in itself such a big trivia.

The last conversation we had on the landline was after my 10th board results; you were so happy with the result that you promised me a party, which never happened, so remember you still owe me that party. All these years, I have been receiving your gifts every consecutive year. This year, on account of your 90th Birth Anniversary, I have a gift for you, my first book, my first collection of short stories,  ‘The Local Tales’, is coming out on your birthday, i.e, 9th September 2025. I wish you were here. Whenever someone praises my writing, Mumma and Pappa always attribute the entire credit to you, and very proudly elaborate on how stalwart a literature scholar you were. My eyes always well up with pride when I listen to your anecdotes from them. I would be extremely grateful to God if I were even 1% of what you are. 

I hope this letter reaches you on or before the 9th of September 2025, so that you can read my stories and review them too!

Yours only,

Siddhi Amar Bhosale

P.S.: Writing my full name, because you liked it this way!

The Local Tales (1st Draft)