04 Oct I am because he is!!
Fifteen years back, when I was wanting to stay back in Chandigarh, he forced me to move out from here, for better exposure, to broaden my thinking..And today I’m so Thankful to him for he let me have my own experiences and my own shares of ups and downs that made me what I am today..Confident and Independent. Yes, I’m talking about my father.
It was first time in so many years that we both stayed together for a complete month..Thanks to the Lockdown. How much ever we (my brother and I) disagree with him on a lot of things, but many out of them are the mains for me today.
Many years ago, when we were struggling to adjust with our losses, he was laying the foundation for us. He made sure we learn how to cook and clean (for our survival and not to please others) despite of having a help at home.
I remember when I first made arbi ki sabzi. It was he who taught me how to make it.
He taught me how to drive but made sure I took the rickshaw/auto to commute for the longest time. I got a mobile phone much later than my peers. I wasn’t allowed to stay out till late or party like my friends did. There were deadlines even until I got married.
But what he’s given us is much more. He’s made us experience life. He’s always pushed me and my brother to move out of our comfort zone. He’s let me experience the glam (or not so glam) life of Mumbai Media Industry, when I used to leave home at 6 in the morning and come back at 1 with a 2 hour commute each side. He’s made us travel. He’s booked me a Cupcake Icing Class in a country where I knew no one, only because he saw the passion in me and wanted me to learn as much as I could. And that class made me fall in love with the art of Cake Icing.
But there’s one thing that I couldn’t learn from him..infact not able to learn that even now and that is being Practical in Life. My emotional side takes over always.
Today, I see him enjoying his life on his own terms. At 63, he loves to travel, loves to try new recipes, be it cooking or eating at a new place, he loves meeting people, turning them into friends and has the art of being in touch with them for years. He has a bag full of experiences to share always.
The amount of energy he has at his age, I guess I have only half of that. For the one month I stayed with him after Hunar was born, he has been a great support. From cooking, doing the dishes, cleaning the house to taking care of Hunar and playing with her, while I would sleep, he has done everything. After a long day, when I would be dead tired with a newborn just not ready to sleep, he would take her in his arms and move across the house until she would fall asleep.
Here’s wishing him a very Happy Birthday!! I really wish I am able to become more like him and care less about people and more about my own well being and happiness, because in the end..that’s what matters!!
Parneet Chandok
Posted at 20:18h, 29 MayIt’s an amazing post Avi.I had tears reading this