Bon anniversaire Papa! Feliz cumpleanos El Papito ! Selamat ulang tahun Papah saya! Gratulerer med lagen Min Papa! Any which way I try.. any country I visit.. any language I use.. French.. Italian.. Indonesian.. Norwegian.. every single 30th of April.. my wishes for the happiest birthday ever remain the same to you Daddy!!
Ever since I could read and understand a
calendar, the 30th of April was always my MOST IMPORTANT day of the
year! It was a day to celebrate you.. the wonderful dependable knowledgeable open motivating generous practical soft-hearted wise and hardworking you!
Birthday gifts would be wrapped.. birthday
cards would be bought.. a birthday poem would be written.. a birthday cake
would be ordered.. a birthday dinner at a fancy restaurant would be demanded
(by me) and graciously hosted (by you).. birthday hugs and kisses would be showered
upon you until you almost begged for mercy from the veritable onslaught of love!!
In retrospect, it couldn’t have been easy for
you.. a man who wasn’t openly demonstrative with your affection.. to have a
daughter that was a complete walking and talking hugs-and-kisses demanding machine! Now
that I’m older and wiser, am both - amazed and amused at the things that you’ve
done (out of choice) and had to do (out of compulsion) just because I was (and
always will be) your darling daughter!
Let’s flashback to just a little over four
years ago when you were in hospital.. Dr. Gandhi had told me that you weren’t
going to make it.. and that I should call friends and family who would like to
meet you to the hospital.. and so I did.. You were way too smart not to figure
out why so many people (some of whom you hadn’t seen in years even) were coming
to meet you.. but with your usual common sense and amiability.. met them
graciously and spoke to them all.. gave stock market recommendations.. opined
about the budget.. etc..
It was in that last six days of so many
visitors that people told me stories of how you had helped them.. how MUCH you
had helped them.. how you had given them their first chance.. maybe their
second chance.. how you had inspired them.. and how you had led by example!
These were all revelations to me and I was genuinely unaware of how my father
who didn’t talk much or communicate much.. had formed such strong bonds and
connects with people!
It has happened so often with me that I say
something.. or do something.. and people (friends, family, colleagues and
neighbours) say “That’s JUST what Narendrabhai would have said or done – you are
truly 100%your father’s daughter!” THAT is a badge of honour that I wear with
the utmost pride and joy!
Had circumstances been different and you had
been with me today.. it would have been something like this.. You would have
called me to come and sit with you.. narrated little snippets of important news
to me.. showed me ads for new junk food products and soft drinks being launched
and told me to go buy them at the earliest.. cajoled me to let you eat “dahi”
with and ice cream after lunch and dinner (both of which were bad for you).. gotten
misty-eyed as you read the birthday poem and cards.. admonished me gently for
spending too much on the birthday presents (but felt very happy inside).. and
succumbed graciously to my barrage of hugs and kisses!!
The greatest blessings of my life have been
the times we have spent together.. cracking jokes.. watching TV.. talking about
life, love and everything in-between.. discussing food until we were both
drooling (!!).. when you were proud of me being called to the Disney office in
Hong Kong for an interview.. when I qualified as a teacher.. arguing about political
beliefs.. and although I didn’t really like it when you were angry with me.. am
grateful for the lessons you taught me too!
Your wisdom.. intelligence.. problem-solving
skills.. patience.. determination.. compassion and quiet sense of humour made
you one-of-a-kind! On your birthday,
know that you have left really big shoes to fill.. but am trying my very best
to live up to your ideals.. and always will do whatever I can to make you proud
of me and say (with a twinkle in your eye) “That’s MY girl!!”
Happiest Birthday ever to you Daddy.. and be
at peace.. wherever you are.. I love you and miss you every single day.. but I
know that you’re right here.. watching over me!!
A REQUEST :
Please type your name at the beginning of the
comment so I know who you are!
A TIP:
Type your comment in the box.. press the
Comment as option : type your name.. and then click on Publish.. that’s all
there is to it!!
Mana
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, uncle !
Your daughter sure makes you proud !!
As I said a while back, he taught you well... And as he is watching over you, he is so very proud of you. He has taught you well, and you've been a great student and learnt well. That is a wonderful birthday gift!
ReplyDeleteKANAN NAIR
ReplyDeletePallu...this is such a heartfelt tribute! It tugged at my heartstrings and left me misty eyed!
Narendrakaka shall dwell in your heart forever! Smiles in Heaven as he showers his love and blessings on you! Feeling so proud of you! Continue to cherish him and his glorious memories!
Chandni
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday🥰
Papa ki pari😘
"The right of your father on you is that you should know that it is he who brought you into existence, and you are a branch of the tree of his life.”
ReplyDeletePallu you did whatever possible to keep him happy and he will be proud of you in other world too.
You can still do more for him by connecting with his friends and loved ones, which I guess you must be already doing. My Prayers is every father be blessed with daughter like you.
Sushi
ReplyDeleteMy fondest recollection of your dad are the multiple road trips with your family where he included me where he would sing the 60’s songs always the English ones even making up songs about ypu to keep ypu calm
And amused on long stretches of meandering roads as he drove - you were clearly the apple of his eye , the twinkle in his life and you cared for him as a loving daughter till the very last days . I am sure you miss him tho life must go on knowing that you did your best and beyond .
R P Singh.... Beautifully narrated Mam...Happy Birthday to Sir!!!lots common even my Dad was born in April.
ReplyDeleteI have read it .loved it. The innocence and love of a little daughter in each line. So beautifully penned. A Father and daughter share a super special bond which only another daughter can understand. By following dad's ideals you are making him super proud I'm sure. What more would he ask for..Must be just reading it and blessing you hundred folds for being the person you are today .Strong compassionate and a pillar of strength for all around you .😘🤗
ReplyDeleteLive and hugs
Anu
That was a very sweet tribute, Pallu!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully described your relationship with him a fitting tribute with so many beautiful memories - I am sure he is feeling v proud of you !!! Amita
ReplyDeleteJaymin
ReplyDeleteFather daughter bond is so strongly apparent in this emotional dialogue.
God bless
Roshan Billimoria said :Pallavi, your ability to write is amazing. You really know how to love.
ReplyDelete