Remembering My
Grandfather
Written By:
Zehra Nasirali
For: Mrs.
Arrowsmith
Course: ENG-OAI
Date: 8th
February, 2001
My dearest grandfather was a very humble gentleman and idol of mine. His name was Mohammad Ali Nasser and his demise in 1999 came as a big shock to me. From the little time that I had spent with him, his death has become one of the biggest losses I have had so far. My grandfather entered the world in 1918 and would have been 83 years of age had he be living this May.
Grandpa Nasser was one of the few successful businessmen of his times. His set of six brothers ran a business that dealt with expensive stones like diamonds and rubies.
They also had a leading brand store in furniture that was international. My beloved grandfather was a tradesman who travelled the world. He traded with companies such as
China, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. As a result he picked up Japanese and was able to converse fluently. My grandfather's fame expanded greatly over time; he himself came from a high-class society, as his father, my great grandfather, was a Member of Parliament in his time. There are still people today who gasp when they hear that I am a descendant of the Nassers of Pakistan. However, I am not flattered to be known as the granddaughter of a wealthy and famous businessman, but instead I am proud to be associated with an individual whose charm and charisma lured many.
The mansion that Grandpa Nasser owned contained well over 35 bedrooms. –About 48 nephews lived in that mansion, some with their parents. There was yet another division of the mansion where a guesthouse of six bedrooms was never vacant. My grandfather was known for his generosity till his last days. He was god fearing and thus very clean at heart.
I cherish the moments when I would have my face in my hands and be mesmerized by some of my grandfather's life experiences. I was quite young at that time and do not remember specific stories; however, I do remember that I would not leave his side for anything. I would even stand outside and talk to him through the door if he went to the washroom. Thus he called me 'monitor' since the age of two. My sister was known as "prefect" because she would write up math sums and slide it under the washroom door to keep my grandfather occupied and engrossed with her at all times. My grandfather was a gem of a person and I miss him sorely.
My grandparents were the cutest couple. They loved each other dearly and were each other's life. My grandfather was very proud of my grandmother; I remember him continuously tell his 8 children, 'She is my wife!' When my grandmother passed away in
1997, my grandfather was into a coma. Nobody told him that his wife had passed away because he was too frail to handle a loss. He only came to twice during his coma and all he would say was my grandmother's name. As time passed on, he lost his eyesight, power of speech and willpower to live. Within a span of six months from my grandmother's demise, my grandfather passed away. Although the last time I saw him was at the age of
11, our letters, phone calls and his picture on my bulletin board keeps him alive in my heart.