Gratitude, Dad
Dear Dad,
Today, on Father’s day, I take a moment out to pen down my gratitude.
The first thing I want to thank you for is my fantastic childhood. Being a fauji brat was the best thing that could have happened to me. It has given me more friends that I can count on. It has shown me places and instilled in me values that I am trying to pass on to my own kids – honour, bravery, brotherhood and solidarity. From you, I get my love for reading and sports. I think you probably handed me a book right along with my milk bottle. You also raised me to actively participate in sports be it basketball, squash, badminton, volleyball or any other. These courts were where I learnt to cement the rules of friendship and team spirit and I owe this learning to you.
Dad from you I also get my immense love for nature. While other families would sit home and rest on weekends, you would take both us kids out for picnics, treks and nature trails. What a beautiful world you opened up for us! We may have hated giving up our Sunday siesta then but today I am thankful. Those Sunday afternoons exploring the countryside, just walking for miles and miles, instilled in me a deep love for nature. God knows how many bubbling brooks we must have seen in the hills, just gently tinkling. And the trees, Oh God! From fragrant pines to statuesque eucalyptus, from the stoic Banyans to the ferns dangling from cliff crags; it was nature at its best.
I also get my love for animals from you. For as far back as I can remember I have been rescuing baby animals. You taught me to care for them with gentleness and empathy.
Another thing that you have passed on to me is your wanderlust. And, that I am truly and deeply grateful for. You have shown me the length and breadth of India and that too on road. What more can an avid traveller ask for! I vividly remember the long road tour of East India – Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim, Assam and of course we capped that off with Nepal and Bhutan. It’s my best childhood memory.
Today of all days, thank you Dad...Thank you for being you but more than that, thank you for making me , ME.
Your daughter.
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