Appa used to love ironing his jeans. Smart creases. And, he was particular about how the jeans were ironed. All of us in the household have heard him given detailed instructions to the istriwallah on ironing jeans. We had also seen him iron them himself, to get it just right. He was fastidious, and particular about his jeans.

We used to laugh at him. ‘No one irons jeans’ we would say. ‘Only A**holes iron jeans, he would counter’. And, we would laugh even more. ‘One day, after i am gone, you will understand the value of ironed jeans’ he would retort. And, we would laugh even more.

I got my jeans back from the dobhi. Nicely ironed. I am going to tell him about the way I like my creases. Some family traditions have to be followed. I am sure the old man is guffawing away up there. Guffawing “only A**holes iron jeans”.