Constellations

“Oije bolechhile, tara dekhabe aaj.” (Remember you had said you would take me to spot the stars tonight) Munna fondly nudged at Dadu’s knees. "Yes yes. Right away! Let’s play a round of chess first?"
Munna’s mother had worked at Mr. Ghosh’s apartment for a while now. Mr. Ghosh was now a frail figure owing to the numerous chemotherapy sessions he had undergone in the span of two months. Strangely though, she had never seen him complaining about it. Everyday, the customary "How are you?" would be answered with "Getting better every day now. I will be up and running before you know it. Tell your aunty. She worries too much." Only Aunty knew better. His tired eyes, however, refused to let go of their twinkle at the sight of little Munna or the smile he would flash to everyone in the household. 
Munna and Dadu’s equation somehow brought the entire household alive. That evening, Munna noticed that Dadu had added difficulty in walking. Swiftly slipping his palms into the old gentleman’s, he whispered "Here, I will help you walk otherwise Maa will complete her work and no more star watching."
The terrace was covered in the canopy of a thick dark sky with stars studded into it. For a moment, they looked like one of those sarees Munna had seen the ladies wearing to a Wedding Hall on their way to Dadu’s home. On the other hand, his expressions somehow managed to slip Dadu into a reverie of his own. He was just as crazy about stars, he recalled with a sigh. His body was old and worn out but his heart felt just as young.
Pointing to the brightest of them all with one long reminiscent finger, Dadu announced "Look at that one, the biggest and brightest one.. that is the North Star." Munna’s mouth had taken the shape of an "O" by now. A string of questions followed thereafter. Dadu finally pointed to a cluster of seven stars, "See that one? That is called a constellation. When the stars form a group together, it’s called a constellation. That one is Saptarishi." 
"Oooohh. So are these stars friends with each other? Even I will have friends when I join school. And I will introduce you to all of them. After all, you are my first friend." Munna uttered in a joyful rush.
Dadu smiled an unusual meek smile and pulled little Munna to his lap, "Sure, Dadubhai. If your old man is hanging around till then.. or you can take them star-gazing on my behalf."