When you have a lot of things to say about a person, have you realized you do not know where to start? And worse still, where to end!
When I was small, everyone talked about mom looking after me but he was there to look after me when no one was looking. When I was having problems with Math and Science, he was the patient teacher. When I needed money for the hot samosas at the school cafeteria, he gave me money without asking a question. When I demanded an increase in weekly allowances, he never budged so that I could learn to save. When I reached adolescence, he took all my emotional outbursts and still managed a smile and suffered alone. When I left for college, he consoled mom when he was crying inside. When I left for higher studies, he pretended to be busy so that he would not have to bear the pain of being away from me. When I bought him a gift from my first salary, he showed it to everyone like a small kid. When I returned back, he showcased me proudly to all his friends. Today he gives importance to my opinions like a second self.
To everyone, a dad is someone who is not around a lot. Someone who goes to work the same time you leave for school and gets back much later than you. Someone who worships work and respects it. Someone who keeps a check on expenditures and draws the line between luxury and moderation. Someone who likes to read his morning paper with his coffee. Someone who does not like to be disturbed when the news is on. Someone who maintains an account of day to day expenditure. Someone who never discusses problems in front of the kids. Someone who is always practical. Someone who has a wealth of experience in holding and pulling a family through thick and thin. Someone who does not support boyfriends or girlfriends. Someone who has the super sense to spot the good and bad qualities in your friends. Someone who does not opinionate unless asked for. Someone who will not hesitate to do anything when it comes to providing the best education for his kids. Someone who gets your daily meal by spilling his sweat and blood. Someone who always cries inside and never on the out.
Yet, he is always the under acheiver of the family. A mother's love is truly alturistic. But no one ever talks about fatherly love. The truth of the matter is, why do we look upto our fathers the way we do? A professional and a practical man who would call a spade a spade. Maybe because, a motherly love is more coaxable, makes you feel more secure?
These were some of the thoughts that ran through my mind as I was watching an episode of The Wonder Years, where the dad has been portrayed as a closed man. I thought of mine while watching that episode and my entire life flashed in front of me. I thought of how I gave him joy, how I caused him pain, how I hurt him and how I respect him. Family ties tend to strengthen over distance. Mine surely has.
When I was small, everyone talked about mom looking after me but he was there to look after me when no one was looking. When I was having problems with Math and Science, he was the patient teacher. When I needed money for the hot samosas at the school cafeteria, he gave me money without asking a question. When I demanded an increase in weekly allowances, he never budged so that I could learn to save. When I reached adolescence, he took all my emotional outbursts and still managed a smile and suffered alone. When I left for college, he consoled mom when he was crying inside. When I left for higher studies, he pretended to be busy so that he would not have to bear the pain of being away from me. When I bought him a gift from my first salary, he showed it to everyone like a small kid. When I returned back, he showcased me proudly to all his friends. Today he gives importance to my opinions like a second self.
To everyone, a dad is someone who is not around a lot. Someone who goes to work the same time you leave for school and gets back much later than you. Someone who worships work and respects it. Someone who keeps a check on expenditures and draws the line between luxury and moderation. Someone who likes to read his morning paper with his coffee. Someone who does not like to be disturbed when the news is on. Someone who maintains an account of day to day expenditure. Someone who never discusses problems in front of the kids. Someone who is always practical. Someone who has a wealth of experience in holding and pulling a family through thick and thin. Someone who does not support boyfriends or girlfriends. Someone who has the super sense to spot the good and bad qualities in your friends. Someone who does not opinionate unless asked for. Someone who will not hesitate to do anything when it comes to providing the best education for his kids. Someone who gets your daily meal by spilling his sweat and blood. Someone who always cries inside and never on the out.
Yet, he is always the under acheiver of the family. A mother's love is truly alturistic. But no one ever talks about fatherly love. The truth of the matter is, why do we look upto our fathers the way we do? A professional and a practical man who would call a spade a spade. Maybe because, a motherly love is more coaxable, makes you feel more secure?
These were some of the thoughts that ran through my mind as I was watching an episode of The Wonder Years, where the dad has been portrayed as a closed man. I thought of mine while watching that episode and my entire life flashed in front of me. I thought of how I gave him joy, how I caused him pain, how I hurt him and how I respect him. Family ties tend to strengthen over distance. Mine surely has.
