Appa

Being born his replica, growing up jumping on him to now being what I am….. Appa is my strength, my Super Hero and my dearest!

He is someone who ensured we smiled before we knew to cry, we had enough before we realized emptiness and someone who followed us in every step of our life. He fought ends, worked very hard and lived a life to respect and follow. His simplicity has based such a strong foundation in our hearts. We will never ever whine for what we don’t have but will always thank for everything we have. I have lately realized how our generation has become so greedy and have forgotten these precious values. How we are always at competition with our own selves, wanting to be the best at work, home and with our friends. We have lost our own self trying to be someone we never will be.

Appa has a basic phone, 4 pairs of clothes, a loving wife and all of US. That’s his world!

You saw it in movies but we witnessed it in our lives. The first time I rode my cycle to school, I had my dad hiding behind - just to ensure I reached safe. It’s different that I fought about being embarrassed, only to realize how special I am today! He promptly took off for all our exams, sat through till we cracked our brains and never minded doing this over and over. Unlike other parents, he did not discuss the question papers with us but instead was always worried about how hungry or sleepy we were. It takes a million odd thoughts for me to believe that somebody can dedicate their whole life for the best of you.

Appa has never beaten us. Forget that, he has never clearly raised his voice against us. Not even at our worst best. So, that makes it very difficult for us to accept that the world around is not like this. I was once at my neighbor’s house and my friend was beaten with a belt for low scores at a grade test. The only memory I have of that day is panting and fleeting back home and cuddling daddy. The incident was unimaginable for me. As we grew up we knew peers who had a childhood- very different from ours We, as a family never fought or teased or made nasty comments on each other. Even to this day we find it weird that such things are acceptable! . I will never blame for being raised this way. Love is what kids need to grow up- to grow up to be humans who prioritize loving and being loved. I will never cry because it will break his heart; I will never sigh because there could not be anything better.

As kids, we approached him for everything. He was our very desi google maps, our storyteller about kings and reigns, for history of the world wars and of course our only guide for the list of Indian Presidents and Prime Ministers just before the GK exam day. So, daddy used to always write news for me in small pieces of paper and I proudly read them in the assembly hall. For all this I see Anagha use Google. But daddy did it all for us. He carried us on his shoulders, imparted his wisdom and dint care his life to see his loved ones have a new reason to smile each day.

Appa also has a great flair for music. His encouragement got me into music. Not an ardent singer myself, but for him I mostly sound like a chirping bird! Most of our Sundays were like this- he bathed and wore his bright white dhothi, forehead smeared with Viboothi and glancing the newspaper with classical music playing in our double decker. It’s sad that our next generation will never value the table drawer oozing with our cassette collection, planet M stores or recording songs on empty tapes. Not to forget, the time when there was power shutdown. All the kids in the neighborhood sat in front of our house in the veranda and sang songs. All on a competition to be the best. The very thought has drawn a faint smile on my lips today-an everyday affair back then!

All thanks to him, we experienced some of the finest places on Earth! The innumerable trips have added that sense of cultural warmth and and an aura to tell tales of different cities. From hills to oceans to cruise and sail - A tell tale travel experience. Checking off many places in my bucket list - I owe it all to him. Mom, dad, Divya and me enjoyed the finest hotels, rides, flying times and of course the yummy cuisines around. From seeing the remains of Julius Caesar in Rome to Sentosa in Singapore, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the mammoth Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the rides in Genting, being kids in Disneyland to the divine temples of South India and not the least- the hill stations! That was hilarious- we as a family went on this honeymoon special trip!! 

Cheers to the time when eating roti curry at a restaurant was a luxury, when bajaj scooter was no less than flying the emirates, learning geography was using the globe with daddy, feeling warm and protected was only in his arms and being his princess was the only fairy tale dream.

There is a rare sense of unconditional love, a point of comfort to bliss the space and a whole lot of being together. Words can only do the justice of what emotions sway my mind. Gentle and caring, smearing love and an aroma of a familiar spice. A perfect blend to be a part of him. I don’t know if we have reiterated to him of how much we love him, but for Divya and me he will surely be our hero- in fact our dearest!