India, June 16 -- As aisles of gift shops were flooded with Father's Day cards last week, I found myself thinking of Nachattar Uncle - the man we lovingly called "Caretaker Uncle". The name wasn't just a label; it was a testament to the quiet way he held a space in our lives and in our home. When my father was transferred to another city, he worried the house would grow cold, forgotten. Nachattar Uncle promised he would keep it alive.

Each morning, he'd unlock the door, call the maid and the helper, and sip his tea in my father's study, a book resting in his hands. He tended to the mail, answered the phone, and greeted anyone who dropped by with his warm smile. In the evening, he would call my father to share how the day had gone, and th...