Dear Thatha,

You are being missed. Not just by the family but also by the Maalish wala.

I had seen him the other day. He was wandering aimlessly in the ground floor. It’s always nice to see him though.  Amma handed him some money. He would spend it on buying some cheap liquor and spend the rest of the evening soaking in memories, perhaps or wandering about finding another person to do maalish for.

I still remember how he used to tell his woes to you and like a magician you had a solution even for his problems. Some silent jokes you men cracked and laughed aloud. I never understood why you would be so excited to talk to him.

You will be delighted to know that when he heard about you, he was sitting there all day and drinking. He was a man of few words and never spoke much to any of us. He silently followed us.

Perhaps, that liquor of his will calm him and his wandering mind from his henpecked wife who would be upset at his talent which is no longer of use as apart from you, there are very few people who get a private maalish done. Else, everyone runs to these massage parlours and gets them done at exorbitant rates.

Who would hire a half-drunk, henpecked, dhoti-clad massage man even though he would do it perfectly and ensure your bones are strong till your last journey.

Is there anyone?

Yours always,

London