The Complete Man

by Dipan Vaishnav

“Look, Grandpa, I too have a white moochh like you have,” enthused my 7-year-old Rahul, as he gulped down a glassful of doodh.

“Oh, my good boy,” says my father. “Milk and nutritious food and exercise will help you become big and brave soon. And then you will have the real, thick black thing. You will be a man, my child.”

“Da, tell me more about the days of the war.” Their voices faded as they went into the living room.

Father is a war veteran having fought on several fronts and is mighty proud about his very masculine possession, his thick, curled moustache.

“Bachcha, I have told you all the stories now,” says the retired General to Rahul.

“Oh Dada, I am a big fan of your stories and your moochh. You know when I grow up, I will have a much bigger and thicker one. And I will scare the people around me. Tell me more about your moochh Dada. Please.”

“There’s nothing that I haven’t told Rahul about”, thinks the old General.

“My moustache has been my prized possession. The biggest, fiercest, and the most powerful set of whiskers a man can get. Oh, that time when I came close to losing it…I went undercover and they said I’d have to change my looks…no disguise would work with my ‘trade-mark’ moustache.

“Then?” 

The old man wanted to rest a while and yet not displease Rahul. He had an idea.

“All right beta. Let’s do this for a change. Why don’t you tell your Dada about your moochh. Why do you want one when you grow up?”

“Ah. Good idea. You know Da, I will grow a big, thick black moochh and I will also join the army. But Dada, I do not have any moochh toys to play with.”

“That’s interesting, what kind of toys and games can you make about the moochh?”

“Papa, why do you have these long and big moustaches?” I remember asking, as a 7-year-old, when he was a Captain.

“Son, a moustache is what makes a man. This is a sign of my power, my position, and a symbol of my strength. Besides, son, remember this always: a big, rolled-up moustache is the nishaani of our khaandaan. We must continue the tradition which is passed on since generations.”

A tradition I had turned my back on… oh, how we had argued on this issue!

Rahul’s innocent chatter brought me back in the now. 

“Dada, I saw this wooden balance at the fair. I can make one in the shape of a moochh and call it ‘The General’s Balance’. I want to make a moochh see-saw. I can make games like a big bumpy water slide.”

Rahul’s imagination knew no bounds and while he continued to throw ideas Papa indulged him, listened to him, and participated in his conversation.

Earlier in the day Papa and I had had a chat.

“We must let Rahul know…”

“Oh relax. Rahul is only a child. And don’t worry, I will manage that.”

All through this conversation between Papa and Rahul, I kept wondering how we are going to break the big news.

As if on cue, Papa glanced at me and then spoke to Rahul, “Beta, as you are growing up now, you must also know that everything changes, and some things have to come to an end.”

“Oh Dadu why do you say that?”

“Bachcha, I am planning to start training for special combat skills using martial arts, like Kung Fu. And this will mean exercise and removing my moochh and hair on my head too.”

Bursting into laughter Rahul says, “Wow. I will do that too. With you. I don’t have a moochh anyways.”

After exchanging hi-fives, Papa asks Rahul to get ready and complete his school homework. Promising to play again, later in the day.

The next day, Rahul greeted us at the entrance and saw Papa walking in, slowly. He had shaved off his hair and his moochh. 

“What happened Dadu?” “Oh, the first day of exercise was tough. But I will be fine. We will practice together. Right?”

As Papa settled down, Rahul was beside him and they continued the conversation about Papa’s ‘new looks’ and his ‘new exercises’.

What we did not tell Rahul is that this was the first day of Papa’s chemotherapy.

This story was written as part of the Writer’s Gym program for those who’ve completed the Short Story Writing Workshop. It has been edited by Rashmi Bansal.