This was imminent and it had to happen. Aatreya has relocated and this has left in a void in appa's life so much so that an otherwise quite appa has come to acknowledge Aatreya's absence. Appa has always been patient with kids whether his or otherwise. He has had never differentiated babies on the basis of sex and coming from a man who hailed from the generation that he did, that's quite remarkable. He could take to kids of all forms and whose tales of crankiness came in all fonts. He has been a man with loads of patience and thats inspiring. He has been an amusing tale master, a perfect raconteur one could say.
I dont know if in years to come Aatreya would acknowledge this man who has put in everything to bring this kid up along with his kid-sister in his own inimitable way, and in a manner that is truly inspiring. May be appa would be forgotten in times to come, and will be remembered as an old man who was once kind. One thing I know for sure is appa would be there till he can for all these kids, and Aatreya moreso.
Probably he saw me in Aatreya.
I would never know...
