Saturday, June 18, 2016

The Day He Cried.....

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Whenever I think of my father, I remember his laughter. It was loud, uninhibited, and infectious. It reflected his carefree self in the most beautiful way imaginable. He was a man of few words. He would talk less, but whenever he did, it bespoke wit and wisdom. His personality had a charisma that made me want to be like him. It would often fill me with a strong yearning to see his confident gait, his appealing nature. There was something definitely addictive about him. And it wasn't just me who was charmed by him. One could say that being a daughter I was biased. But there were others around him, who met him and were awed by that star quality oozing out of him.

Being a workaholic, he would spend hours in his office. His office was another place that I absolutely adored. It was full of books. I would step into the office and be surrounded by them, wondering if one day they would be mine to read. I wanted to be a lawyer too, like him. In my imagination, I would wear a black coat and fight cases, winning them all the time, like him. I would win smiles, win people, be famous like him.

Needless to say, he was a strong man. He would never show his emotional side. Or perhaps, he did not show it in front of us as he thought that his sadness would pain us, or his fears would scare us. He was a human too - he must have had all the emotions we all have. But he was careful, I guess, always laughing, always smiling, always confident - even when he lay on the hospital bed, readying for his surgery. When he was diagnosed with brain tumor, it was a shock that shook us terribly. Mom cried. My brother hid his emotions and put on a strong face, but it all reflected in his eyes. I cried too. I had been like my father, shielding emotions and never crying. But that day, I had cried too. He stroked my head and said, " I fell sick at the wrong time." My brother stood beside and we both held his hands and could not say anything. He promised he would be fine. 

And he fought. A man of his strength would never give up easily. But being a human, he fell prey to side-effects of therapies, strong medicines, and surgeries. His smile never faded. My brother got married, and so did I. As my visa papers were not ready and my husband was flying back to US, I was not leaving my home right after marriage. I remember the day I got married, and told my father," I will be back in an hour." He smiled and shook hands with me. We were together. He never said anything, not yet.

The day I left for US, his health was not that good. I was leaving to a far-away place. I had wished it to happen, having chosen my husband. But it felt strange to leave my home, my ailing father, my anxious mom, my  brother, my bhabhi, and their newly-born daughter. It was a feeling only a daughter could understand. I worried about them, but like my father, expressed it not.

The day of the departure holds no memories other than that of tears held back, and goodbyes waved. My father had again not been that expressive. I knew not what he was feeling. But after having gone, he cried. I did not see him crying. But I can feel it, his tears and his pain. He cried and told and my mom he felt that with his daughter gone, everything was gone. As I write this, I cry too. I cry out of helplessness of not being able to hold him, and hug him. I did not know then that I would never see him like that again. I did not know then that after almost a year, when I would return, he would be unconscious, preparing for his final departure. I did not know what I had wished for in going away. Since then, I am scared to wish for anything. For I know not, what my wish will bring, if fulfilled. 

But I miss him. Every single day. His laughter, his black coat, his books, his office, his warmth. He never spent time with me like mothers do. He may not have changed my diapers like my mother did. He may not have spent sleepless nights trying to lull me to sleep. But he did run to the doctor in the middle of the night when I fell sick. He taught me to smile, to fight in every circumstance. I can never be as strong or charismatic like him. But I am forever his daughter, a gift I am thankful for. I carry his name proudly, hugging it as the only bit that is left of him. 






‘This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.’

24 comments:

  1. My eyes are swelling with tears Sunaina and parents are irreplaceable and the loss is permanent..a painful and poignant remembrance of a man who is your idol, icon and everything ...

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    1. Thanks for those beautiful words dear. Parents are so precious. And yet, we fail often in fulfilling our duties towards them.

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  2. Very touching, Sunaina.
    Hope there are no tears in any Dad's (or Mom's) eyes.
    Parents are God's gifts. Wherever they are, whether on earth or in Heaven, they take care of us...

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    1. Yes, they indeed are gifts. Thanks for the lovely words Anita.

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  3. Hey... need to reach out to you... can you help ??? Mail me? shalinids21@gmail.com

    PS thats a lovely post...

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  4. Written with a lot of affection and understanding, it makes a beautiful reading.

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  5. Nice tribute comes from the bottom of the heart

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  6. Hey Sunaina! It's 3.15 AM in India and I'm crying fiercely while reading your post. Coz I'm missing my father, his black coat and his office full of books. Yes, it's true! I lost him 17 years back, when he was only 56, and died in the court-room because of cardiac arrest. When he left this world I was not around him. Like you I had never seen him crying except when I left home after getting married........ It is my story. Many similarities.... like I still possess my maiden surname, not my husband's. I'm getting extremely emotional, as if I'm Sunaina, or it's written by Sangeeta. I can't comment as a reader, as I'm missing my father badly after reading this. Thank you for writing your memory so beautifully. :(

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    1. Cannot tell you what I feel reading this....mailing you my reply.....Lots of love to you Sangeeta....

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  7. "I cry out of helplessness of not being able to hold him, and hug him. I did not know then that I would never see him like that again. I did not know then that after almost a year, when I would return, he would be unconscious, preparing for his final departure"- Lovely post...

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  8. Lovely Sunaina,sharing lessens the pain they say.Hope writing this made you a little lighter.

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  9. It breaks our heart to let such a great man die. The way you described your father, he must have been a charming man. Every word of your post is filled with love and it shows how much you miss him.

    Take care...hope you find peace.

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  10. I lost them when I was 14 :(

    http://inthebothv.blogspot.ae/?m=1

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    1. Hugs to you my dear....! I can feel your pain....

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  11. Hugs, Sanaina. Your post brought tears. I'm blessed to have both my parents still around so it's hard to imagine how difficult it must be for you, especially since you live so far away. I've watched my uncles and aunts grieving over their parents like you have over your Dad and know it's incredibly difficult.

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    1. Cherish your moments with them....You are one of the few lucky people who get the love of their parents.....My regards to them as well.....!

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  12. A nice tribute to your father. After reading your post im too reminded of my father and how much i miss him.

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    1. Thanks Durga. I can understand your feelings.

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