Daughters Let Go Of Their Fathers’ Grip, But Reside Permanently In Their Heart

The bell rang announcing the day’s end and all the tiny tots cheered and jumped in excitement while waiting for their parents to pick ’em up. I too waited, a lot. You were late that day.

In the crowd full of a lot of mothers lifting and tightly hugging their kiddos, I saw a calm man. He stood there, silently, and gestured me to come, sporting an innocent smile. I was taken aback. But then there was something about that man that made me look intently towards him. Those silent eyes said something that only my heart could listen, and I knew it was you, papa. I couldn’t recognize you mainly because that was perhaps the first time I saw you without your moustache. And also, because I was just 4 with a poorly developed memory bank.

There was no lifting me up out of glee.

No hugging me on seeing me after a long day. No expressions. At all.

But,

You had held my bag the minute I reached near you.

You pulled me back to safety when I couldn’t care less for that car approaching us while we were crossing the road.

You made sure I sat carefully and properly on the back seat of your scooter.

You asked if I were fine, and soon…

We were home.

And that’s what mattered; reaching home with dad, following a silently jolly, scooter ride.

That’s the thing with dads. They express love, in the most original of ways. No matter how strong and complex are the tides of emotions running inside their sombre exterior, they never find it easy to say, “I love you kiddo, I miss you.”

Their fatherliness is impressive and every bit of heart-warming…

Remember those times when your mom was not at home, and your dad handled the kitchen and made sure you ate all the three meals? The taste in his cooking was a refreshing break for you. Wasn’t it? But for him, it was more than just handling the duty of taking over mother’s tasks for the time being. It was his hidden love that wouldn’t have come out if it weren’t for no-mama-day at the house.

They never have to use words to express affection.

They just have to be a ‘father’. And that’s all that counts and carves memories of a lifetime in your heart.

I remember, I never even spoke with my father much until I was 15. More so, the first words that he spoke with me up front, made for a scolding because my report card was not frame-worthy. But, all this while, and in fact, even before he taught me how to ride my bike, I knew he loved me eternally. I was convinced. He never told that to me, but it showed. It showed in the silence he kept.

It showed in those football sessions we had with no exchange of words whatsoever. It just showed.

But, when they talk, they give advice that becomes your guiding torch for life.

You forget all the quotes said by the most famous of personalities. But you remember what your father said. A father truly is a man of few words. And when he lets ’em out, he makes sure they matter.

I was a tough kid to manage. And just when I knew my bipolar won’t let me survive my 12th, my father said this to me:

“Put in your best efforts. And when you are convinced that you have put in your best, let your hopes fly away like a balloon. The rest will be taken care of. You focus on doing your job. I know you can. I trust in your capabilities more than you trust yourself.”

And, to date, I live by that motto. It gives me faith when the clouds don’t seem to fade. And if my tombstone has to carry a quote, it would be this advice he gave me.

Not that no one else ever said that, but when such motivating lines come from fathers, their value increase by multifold.

With a few words and a lot of smiles, fathers shape your life.

They teach you how to think and never what to think.

They give you freedom to find your true self,

Their teachings carve your personality to an extent and you can’t feel happier about being dad-like!

They drive you around, but make sure you grow into an independent woman.

They help you tackle your woes bravely by urging you to get up on your own each time you fall.

They help you be tough, and remind you soundly when you start to become rough.

They never demand any respect from you. But you do respect them because they deserve it.

Every bit of it.

And that’s the thing with the father-daughter bond. It is hard to sum up exactly why are they so special. But it is not hard to understand why. Sure, same goes for the sons, as well. Dads are special, to all. And we don’t need a Father’s Day to tell them what they mean in our lives, because…

They are, our pillars of support for life.

You let go of his finger years back..but he is still there. Right there. Hoping, and praying, and wishing nothing but the best for you. And  no matter how many times your life collapses around you, he will always be there. Either in physical presence or in the form of the life-guiding advice he has left behind for you, he WILL be there.

Because, you can take off from under his shade, but never from his heart.

But yes, you can never put a pin on who loves you the most.

Mumma and papa, both are special in their own unique ways, but together, they are the best team you could have ever wished for. Not that you had a choice, but you know what I mean. 🙂

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