I love you dad for you are the strongest person in my life

As kids, the strongest action hero that we all have seen in our life is not superman or Batman but our dad. I love you dad as you were the one who taught me how to stand up against the bullies in the class. I still remember when a guy in the neighbourhood was stalking me. It was you who gave me the strength to confront him and from that day he just vanished in thin air. Whether it was riding a bicycle or driving a car it was you who gave the first lessons.

I love you dad as you are not only my pillar of strength but also my best friend and counselor. I could share most of the secrets with you that I was scared of sharing with mom. Whether it was my first crush or the college I wanted to go you were always standing behind me like a rock making my life so much easier.

I love you dad for you are the smartest

In my childhood days I would see my dad dressing up in a perfect attire while going to the office. He had great taste and I loved the sky-blue collection of his shirts from pinstripes to solid ones. So particular was he in his dressing that every morning he would polish his shoes, select the shirt and trousers, take out a matching tie and get ready for office. While going to parties he was always in casual wear. But still, his selection of jeans with a matching polo t-shirt would make him stand out in a gathering.

He was fond of watches and perfumes and on my birthdays and special occasions he would present me a Gucci or a Davidoff. Maybe he wanted that my life should always smell good. Buying a gift for my dad was always easy. It was a watch, a perfume or a blue-colored shirt and he would just love it. It was a different matter that our pocket money was never sufficient to buy that expensive gift but we always had a bank (mom) coming to our rescue.

Thank you dad for adding the fun quotient in my life

Every weekend he would take us out for dinner. It could be either a Mughlai or a Chinese or continental. He was a big foodie. On one hand, he loved the Big Boy lamb burger of Nirulas ( A Delhites favourite joint of the past) and on the other hand, he enjoyed the crispy shredded lamb at Golden Dragon. I love you dad because you were the one who taught us to appreciate good food. Somewhere all those joints that I visited with him in my childhood have become my favourites.

Vacation was so much fun with dad. His favourite destination happened to be Goa. Mom on the other hand preferred exploring India. Her choice would vary from a hill station to the backwaters of Kerala. But Dad was not so much experimental. He loved vacationing in Goa year after year. On mom’s insistence, the family would vote for the destination. In the end, dad would swing the vote in his favour by bribing us and we all would land up on the beaches of Goa.

I love you dad but please don’t change

But with time things have changed. Now, dad leads a retired life. So many times, when I come home to visit him, I see him sitting quietly watching a movie or reading a book. It’s like time has drained him of all the energy.  When I ask him what gift he will take on his birthday he just tells me that there is no need to waste money. Instead I should save it for my children. Sometimes I wonder if he is the same person who loved throwing lavish parties on his birthdays.

His favourite shirt colour is still blue though he has developed a new liking for whites. It seems that with age his colourful life is becoming staid. He is no more interested in going out for dinner and prefers home-cooked food. Whenever I insist on a family dinner at one of his favourite restaurants, he will just tell us that you people carry on while he will stay back.

The wardrobe reminds of his earlier days

You open his wardrobe and will find a huge collection of ties hanging that he doesn’t wear anymore. The watches that he was so fond of are still there in his drawer. Some of them have stopped working and are hungry for a new battery. There are times when I feel that the watches are asking me what has happened to their owner. Why is he not interested in them anymore?

Mom on the other hand has still the same energy levels though at times she is worried to see a different side of dad. Sometimes I wonder what should I do to see dad of younger times. I hope the personality that is embedded in my mind doesn’t fade away with time. I love you so much dad so please stay the same as always.

The roles have changed

There was a time when at the slightest of injury he would nurse us immediately. He would get a first aid box, rub an ointment, and put a bandage on the injury. Times have changed and now I have to take care of him. If he has to get his eyesight checked or has an appointment with the dentist for a root canal treatment he will look forward to my visit. Probably he will never admit but more than the doctor’s medication it is my company that makes him feel better.

He used to be tall but now it seems he has shrunk in height. The only gift that makes him happy is either a set of new reading glasses or a pair of sneakers for his morning walks. So many times, I have planned a vacation to his favourite destination Goa. But somehow, he will refuse on some pretext or the other. Many times I feel as if I can just press the refresh button and all of us can land in Goa.

I love you dad and I can understand that age is not on your side but please be always on my side. There is no place safer than your arms and there is no better reward than a warm hug from you.

Click on the following links to read such similar stories on my blog:

My Papa is the best and will always remain the best

The Journey of Life with parents by your side