From my heart to yours- An open letter to my Father

A public declaration of love- the purest kind.

Dear Papa,

To be able to word this unfathomable surge racing through my heart for you is an arduous task. I shall nonetheless endeavour to do so, for this is how you’ve raised me- to try and conquer the formidable, but mostly because the world should be cognizant of the glorious person that you are, someone I have the privilege of calling my father.

The Indian society dictates a paradigm- of fear for their fathers in their daughters. So you can imagine my delight in being the maverick, but I cannot take full credit for this. The fact that I can be candid about my thoughts that are often accompanied with equal doses of rebuke and appreciation from your end, pleases me ever so much. Our living room tête-à-tête constituting advices that we have dramatically dismissed as sermons, are what have led us on through a whole lot of hell, not that there was much of it that we had to experience, thanks to you.

There are a lot of comforts life has to offer, but none compare to your embrace. Every time I plonk my head on your lap while you nonchalantly stroke it, I experience an inexplicable bliss, often accompanied with a wave of slumber, and it is one of my favourite moments of the day. The glint in your eyes and a mischievous smile spreading on your face when you narrate your childhood adventures, your enthusiastic participation in all things recreational, your endurance and patience in dealing with three headstrong women (which, in my opinion, is award-worthy), are a few among those stark qualities you possess that hands down make you the best person of this universe.

You are my first choice of partner for several things- from watching Marvel, DC and other action movies to making fun of all the serials Maa watches, apart from talking about books, history, mythology among other things, clearing my head of all the trash, sorting out petty differences and so much more. It is insane, how close I am to you. It is even crazier to imagine my life otherwise.

You have perennially provided your unrelenting support to my dreams and aspirations without doubting or questioning my ability of achieving them; you never let any tangible get in the way. Every time there came a juncture in my journey when I knew I couldn’t hold it together, you have stood like a rock by me, furnishing your moral support that has more than encouraged me to move further. Despite the never-ending tensions that I may have supplied, you have never let your trust in me falter. You let me discover myself at my own pace, never thrusting anything upon me while I ventured into my little adventures.

You are quite literally our Sun- pristine, radiating warmth, without which we cannot thrive. You have brought glorious technicolor to all our lives. I cannot thank you enough for all the known and unspoken sacrifices you have made and still make for me.

Today, I want you to know that I am there for you, whether you wish or ask for it or not, in all your ups and downs, achievements and struggles. Notice how I did not use the term ‘failure’ since you are not the kind to treat it so and let it deter you from what you aspire. That’s the kind of man you are.

And I truly, relentlessly and unconditionally love you.

Your Pyaara Bachcha.