Happy Father’s Day, Dada!

Dearest dada,

Memories are a funny thing. What you think is a simple moment, can sometimes leave an impression and stick with you for a lifetime.

I remember one such moment, when I was 13 years old. I was a huge Harry Potter fan and the 3^rd movie had released not too long ago.  I wanted to watch that movie with the kind of desperation only Potter-fans would understand, and I remember an evening when you came home and said, “I have something for you.”

Hidden in a bag was a DVD copy of the movie.

“Thank you, dada!”  

I was ELATED.

“It’s okay.” You said with a smile. “But you also have to study, okay? Don’t watch it all the time.”

Of course, I watched it all the time. About 500 times. Maybe more.

When I was back home during university breaks, I remember getting up to the sound of you singing while cooking dosa and chutney for me.

“In honour of the daughter coming back home.” Mamma would say, rolling her eyes, and I would laugh along with her as you did a dance jig and served me food. I probably never told you this but some of my best memories of ‘home’ are those mornings because if love had a face, it would be yours as you smiled and served me that 3^rd and 4^th dosa, even when I said I was full.

As I grow older, I remember more of those instances, more of these moments and what they signify.

I remember being upset because I didn’t do well on a math test and how you diffused the tension by saying “If everyone comes first in class, who will come last? Sometimes, it’s okay to be last.” with a grin.

It was a moment when you could have been angry, could have made this a ‘lesson’ for us, but you instead chose kindness. You chose to smile and joke, this time and countless other times so that when I look back now, my memories of you are always ones where you are laughing or making others laugh.

If that is not a life to be proud of, I don’t know what it.

Over time, I have come to realise how downright lucky we are as a family to have you; someone who is loving and kind and gives so so generously.

So, as we celebrate Fathers Day today, I’d like to say, thank you, Dada…for everything. There aren’t enough words I can write for all the things you have done for us and all the ways you have cared for us.

Hope this moment is as special as the countless moments you have given us<3