A short story: Dumb Charades with my Grandma…

Every day, after my grandmother’s hearing ability has faded away, it’s become a routine for me to play Dumb Charades with her. She could hear until she was 75; now, she can’t. I’ve begun learning a unique “silent yet loving” language, not sign language.

“Do you know how it feels if you can’t hear a single thing but you can speak anything? It feels bad. You just want to die,” she said it with a smile. She blessed me for taking her to the temple where she can meet God on Earth, as she said. I just nodded, feeling numb. I felt dumb.

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I started losing my hair when I was just 10. I had thin hair. I knew I would be bald even before 25.

Right from the moment I started high school to college to wherever I went, I kept getting, “Where is your hair?” I didn’t have any answer. I would hate myself for never being able to look handsome.

Then, I met a girl; she said, “I love your bald look. Love yourself, Bhavik.” I am 31 now. I love my ‘Bald/Bold’ look, answering everyone’s ‘Where is your hair?’ question with “It’s with my wife.”