My dad, My hero

Everyone has a special relationship with his or her parents. All the stories speak of amazing dads who've been the bedrock of their kids' lives. I have a similar feeling to share.

While I'm an out-and-out Mommy's girl, I can say for sure that my relationship with my father goes deeper than my relationship with my mother sometimes. For one, we're made from the same fabric and when I find myself reacting the way he does I realize the reason why people have children -- so that they can leave a part of themselves around even after they're gone.

My father has always been my guardian... he became my guardian angel when I was born. When I opened my eyes the first man I saw was my Dad. Handsome, proud, happy and so gentle! In the last 21 years, nothing has changed -- neither the way I look up to him nor the way he looks at me.

My dad has always been an epitome of all that a man should be...compassionate, tough, strong, gentle, firm, decisive, understanding and above all a man of values.
I love to be with my dad; he is the one with whom I have play-fights, laugh, joke, study and hold his hands whenever I go out (even today in my early twenties...!)

Being the only girl child I was always pampered, encouraged to take up challenges. He has always supported me. As a kid I used to copy all his habits be it the way he brushed or the way he walked. We used to have play-fights whenever he would come back from work. He always gave me the best of everything without me asking for it.
He always encouraged a scientific outlook towards life, inculcated the habit of reading amongst my elder brother and me. He is a strict disciplinarian, a loving husband to my mom and a caring son to his parents. He is a workaholic, but ensures to be with us at the end of the day. The time and holidays spent with him are the best times of our lives.

My relationship with him is sweet and sour. We are the best of friends and the worst of enemies. We have several arguments, which ends only when one of us would get up and leave. Despite it all, I distinctly remember that if I felt afraid at night, I could always count on him to make me feel better (even in my late teens!).

As a kid, he would tuck me in his arms, and trust me. Nothing felt safer than that. I also remember waking up in the middle of night once while at my relative's place, and despite my mom being there, I woke him up. He quickly warmed some milk for me to drink.
Whenever mom would take bhaiya and me to our grandma's place each year during summer breaks in school, I would leave a note for him asking him to take care of himself and to come pick us up from railway station when we would be back.
I would feel sad about leaving him alone. However, on our train journey back from grandma's place, I would perch near the window of the compartment and look for him eagerly amongst the crowds. Upon spotting him, I would feel a big rush of joy and I would tell mom excitedly that dad was there to pick us up. It would light up my mom's face, and then a joyous reunion would follow.

As a child I remember always roaming around in my daddy's arms being carried by him either on his shoulders or in his arms.
I used to have ‘the time of my life’... a bird's eye view of all that one could see while being on the best seat available ... my dad's firm and strong shoulder!
Today I strive to be the strength of his shoulders because I am proud to be my dad's daughter.
Love you dad... and wish you a very happy father’s day on this year’s father’s day (19th June in India).

Please stop by and drop a word… I would love to hear from you…