Speaking of newspapers

While travelling to London on last weekend, I came across this man who was totally engrossed in reading a newspaper. 

An actual newspaper, not the e-version.

 I must tell you Dad, I missed you so much in that moment. 

This man was surely enjoying his daily dose of news but not as much as you used to. 

Do you remember how religiously you had taught me '5 tricks to fold a newspaper neatly'? I have learnt those tricks for my lifetime. 

Do you remember waking up on Sunday morning

 and tiptoeing onto the veranda to grab the big fat 'Times of India'? 

After tossing it onto the kitchen table you would flip through each of its pages carefully, scanning superficially once and then reading in detail again. 

As years passed by, you had to use your reading glasses 

and I adored that look of yours! 

The look where you glanced at the newspaper through the glasses 

but looked at us from over them. 

Reading a newspaper was like a momentary reprieve from the world around into world beyond.

 I read newspapers mostly on my laptop or Kindle now. But scrolling down the screen just ain't the same. Flipping past various supplements of the actual newspaper was much more satisfying and pleasantly mysterious than rapidly clicking on 'Most Popular Headlines'. 

I am  definitely switching back to 'your' way of reading the newspaper. 

I can still feel you reading the newspaper sitting cross legged on the floor besides me. 

How I wish I could live that moment just once more!

Baba, it is not the same without you around.