He hugged me without his warm smile that day but his embrace was warm and longer than usual. Mom informed he had stopped smiling some weeks ago. We took him to AIIMS, the oesophageal cancer was spreading fast, his voice turned hoarse and no food reached his stomach. Papa’s eyes were now perpetually moist, poignant and waiting because of the agonizing pain or the truth or both? As we got him home from the hospital, he was emotionless and stiff almost like a stone, but his puffed face donned a pleasing smile. Motionless void of any pain he only smiled.