Old Bachelor Boys and Their Changing Tides

Old bachelor boys are free floaters. They are swayed in four directions by the petty waves of circumstances, emotions, sentiments and changing winds.

Unlike the poor familywalas, who are anchored to their liabilities, tensions, pleasantries, problems and issues of children and other relations, they are voyaged instinctively by the circumstantial gusts.

I have two uncles belonging to this free-floating category.

Sometimes it can be very annoying and taxing while coping with the tsunami-like surge of their reactions, both sympathetic and irritating. But that is what being a free floater is all about.

They might lead you to the brink of craziness sometimes. For example, on occasions when, unjustifiably, you are standing vis-à-vis their relations, your relation with them is shaken precariously, because they—what else do you expect from the free floaters?—shake and sway, creating ripples around, splashing the cold water of anger, and sometimes real, unpretended hate as well, in your face.

You are left gasping for breath.

But such instinctiveness on their part should not become a lasting block of your heartbreak with them. As it stands, nothing is permanent with them.

Next time, you are sure to be drowned in the sea of sympathy and kindness. Their voices will be choked with real pain at your loss. Tears will surge in their benevolent eyes.

How can you escape being swallowed by the big tidal waves of this genuine emotion?

Such are my uncles, Uncle Jaisingh and Uncle Satbir, and such are their reactions, belonging to both ends of the emotional spectrum.

Though often problematic, it is worth savouring that emotional cocktail in the company of old bachelor uncles.