A Moment with My Grandmother

An unforgettable event took place in my life when I left my country Nepal for the United States as an international student at Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. I left my home but also parents, friends and all my relatives in order to experience a foreign culture, custom, tradition, and new technology and to get standard and world wide accepted American education. Upon my arrival, I found myself among different faces i.e. a lot of students from all over the world. The environment was cool and perfect. I decided to live off campus. So, I rented a house and started to live there. After a couple of days, I saw an old lady playing with a kid right next to my apartment who finally became my Grandmother.

I was alone with nobody to talk to and to share my feelings with. People were busy and nobody intended to sit and talk with me. I always thought the importance of this move, this shift from southern Asia to western perspectives because it was both jarring and exhilarating to find myself changing in such a new environment. Most of the time, I used to stay in the library and the computer lab surfing the net, programming and chatting with unknown people. There were a lot of green trees and the attractive flowers with multiple colors around my apartment. Whenever I felt lonely, I passed my moments within the surroundings. Sometimes, I used to live under the peaceful shadow of the tree.

One day, as I was walking around my apartment, I saw the old lady playing with the child. It seemed that the baby was very happily playing with her. She was using words to entertain the child. The child ran hither and thither and sometimes he disappeared behind the fence and then appeared again. It seemed that they were playing hide and seek this reminded me of an event back home playing with my cousin. I was watching the event with great curiosity. I loved the way they were playing and talking. So, almost everyday, I used to be there to watch the old lady and the child play. She noticed me everyday, but she never spoke to me. One day, a little change took place in my life. The sun was bright and hot and I was just lying under the shadow of a tree, the lady came to me and introduced herself with me. She was Lucy. Days passed. We started to share our feelings. Thus, we became little closer.

She invited me to her house and introduced me with her family members. We kept on visiting each other's places and our relationship became firm. She introduced me with other neighbors, too. Lucy was 76 years old but was still working hard. She was a full time employee at a factory. She was an active, romantic, and easygoing person. As time passed, our relationship became closer and closer. I noticed her being funnier than she looked when I first met her. One day, there was a party at Lucy’s home. Many people were invited. People were enjoying the party with full enthusiasm. We were about six people at a table having a super. Lucy joked that I was her boyfriend. She was pointing at me," My boyfriend, my beloved, give me a hug." All of a sudden, my cheeks turned red and I could not raise my head. She knew I was embarrassed. Then she said, “ Take it easy, my boy. I was just kidding.”  My God, only then I breathed the air of comfort.

As times passed, we became very familiar in the very short span of time. Once she asked me what my what town was and how far it was. I said it was about 30 hours’ flight, but it took almost 3 days. She was surprised. After my college, I used to go to see my grandmother because it was fun talking with her. She told me that discipline is the key to success. We have to follow the law and order of the nation and respect our elders.

Lucy was playing with the kid I asked her casually, "Hi Lucy, do you want to go to my home country?"

"I am too old. I cannot cross this state in my entire life" she answered.

"I think you need to travel to get an experience in your life." I said to her. Lucy was folding her clothes and packing them.

"Yeah, that’s right, but I did not get a chance to go far away."

"But now you are getting a chance." I said.

"I could not go there. I am too old, and I don't like to go far from my family." She repeated the word

"Hey, Lucy, you can have an elephant ride, and an encounter with a tiger and so on." I tried to convince her.

She was just said," Oh! That’s great. But I am unable to make this trip."

Time was passing by and I used to go to her place. Sometimes she invited me for dinner and sometimes for lunch. I enjoyed sharing my ideas with her and her family. Her family treated me as if I were one of the members, and I no more felt lonely. She made me feel less nostalgic. I had heard people saying that African-American people were not good. They are dangerous and killed people without a reason, too. Some suggested me not to be close to them. But Lucy was a African-American woman and her family were black. The way she and her family treated me made me realize that color does not make any difference.

She asked me who was financing for my studies and I told her that it ‘s my parents. She suggested not spending much money because it was hard to make it. She also told me that she was helping her grandson with his study, and he was doing well. They were planning to send him to a good school. One evening, there were seven or eight people in the family having their supper and talking to each other. I told Lucy to make plans to go to Nepal. "I am too old and someone has to take care of me," she said explaining her weakness.

"You are my grandma, and I will take care." I was trying to persuade her.

"I never left this house for a long time, and I don’t have any traveling experiences, too. It may be difficult for me."

"Let’s experience it once, I bet you will like it. It is so exciting, and breath -catching." I tried to convince her, "If you want, you cannot get your life again after your death. You will be under the earth, and nobody will care your grave. You cannot get the thrilling and exciting moments later on. I believe this is the life and this is the actual time to grab every opportunity that is on our way."

She laughed and said, “There is nothing special to go there."
 "Well, would you mind telling me if I invited you on my marriage." I requested her. At the same time, Liz, her granddaughter came there. Lucy said to her," Hi Liz, Kamal invites me on his marriage. I am going to Nepal for his marriage." I also added that she would get a chance for an elephant ride and may have an encounter with a tiger.

 "Oh really? That’s great!! You are very lucky Grandma." Liz added.

"I have always wanted to go to Nepal. I have heard so much about the country from Kamal.” She said.

I had a lot of fun with her, too. But it was grandma with whom I spent almost all of my spare time. Sometimes, I joked but she did not care whatever I said. She just took it as joke. "Why not? I am your grandson, and you are my grandma. You have to see my country and my family."

"It is not so easy. What do you think?. Your family may not like me. I am black and I am sure that they will hate me. There are a lot of painful memories fresh in my mind. I have realized in my life that people do not treat us well and they still have different eyes to look at us."

"Hey, I like you, and I love you. I am sure that my mom will love you, too. And my family will love you. Then why are you worrying about?

"It’s just a joke."

"Are you not my grandma?" I asked her.

"Yes I am, but adopted, not a real one?" said she carrying the child.

"Is there any real and duplicate relationship in mankind? I have thought that you are my own grandma. If I knew it before that you are duplicate one, then I would never try to tell you so. I could not get my grandma's love because she left this world before I was born. You really don’t want to go? You really won’t go?" said I sadly.

She became silent, and did not speak for a moment. I went near her. I saw tears rolling down her chicks. I said," My grandma." I went close to her. She hugged me. I saw the tear was a more tear in her eyes. Her T-short was wet with tears. People were watching us. They were surprised at what was going on there. I did not care. Neither did my grandma. I never forget this painful event in my life.

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