FEELING FOR DAD... FEELING FOR MOTHERLAND
Some
two months ago, a young man called me and said, “Sir, my 11-year-old cousin
will be coming down from Dubai on a two-month vacation. His parents are keen
that he should utilize this time in India on learning some new skills… Is there
something that you can offer?”
I had nothing to
offer for a 11-year-old except something that I have been, always, passionate
about and, yes, good at. So, I said to the young man, “I can help him open up
and express himself from his heart.”
A month later,
the young man called me up, again, and said, “Sir, my cousin has come… Can we
start?”
I took off with the
11-year-old Yash. Let me tell you this: Yash is one of the most affectionate,
confident, articulate and well-loved-and-raised kids I have come across. It’s
clear from the start, that both his parents had poured on this little kid loads
of love and care… with great schooling and great thoughts. He had come down to
India with his mother, while father had stayed back in Dubai handling their
small family business. Mother would sit through the sessions and keenly observe
and learn, too. Yash was full of enthusiasm… On stage, he would unfold himself
naturally with mature gestures, eye-contact and extempore… He had no stage fear
at all and was never rattled by the presence of older kids in the room.
So, it was a
sheer delight to be around Yash in this brief journey. Frankly, I did not have
to do much with this kid… Maybe, I was able to trigger off something in his bosoms…
Maybe, I said.
One afternoon,
some days ago, Yash’ mother said to me (in Hindi) … “Sir, Yash’ dad’s birthday will
be on 15th August. I want Yash to write something nice for his dad.
Can you help him?”
“Yash, do you
want to write something to dad on his birthday?” I asked.
“Yes Sir… I want
to,” replied Yash enthusiastically.
So, I made him
sit in one corner and pour his heart out… Here is what he wrote…
Dad,
your birth date is on 15th August, when our home country had got
independence. From the start of my life, you were the first person who I saw. From
that moment, I have, always, seen you as my saviour in everything…. I have,
always, been comfortable in your lap. Whenever you are not there at home, I feel
that I am in an abandoned home… But, when you come, your hugs and kisses are so
special, that I feel like I am in a beautiful home filled with happiness!
Mom tells me, that I had a rare fever when I was a small baby,
in which, you were a saviour for me. You
had done so much for me, that I had been cured so fast. You had done/struggled
so much for me. Every time, whenever I am scared, you are the one who removes
my fear… You have, always, been calm and composed like my favourite M.S. Dhoni.
You have, always, been struggling a lot to put me in a good school and give me
a good life. Whenever I was in a problem, you were the one who helped me and
removed me through the darkness.
Dad, if you were not there, I would be blind and I would
never see all the wonderful things in my life. I would’ve never seen the
beautiful sunshine in my life. Dad, I love you from the bottom of my heart…
and, every time I thank you for this wonderful life, it will be less.
So, dad, here I am wishing you a very, very warm and
happy birthday. XXXXXX and infinite more kisses…
Your loving son,
YASH
(Yash with his parents)
Yash
hardly took some fifteen to twenty minutes to write this note to his dad. When
he had completed, I asked him to present it from the podium. There were many
college kids in the room besides Yash’ mom and me. Yash spoke, as usual, with
great poise and confidence… and made us all rise up on our feet to accord him a
standing ovation!
As Yash was
pouring his heart out on his dad, I suddenly realized, that in the room was
present a young college girl, who had lost her dad recently after a long battle
with cancer… I had no heart to even look at this girl’s face! All that I could do
was… feel for her and Yash… feel for all the young boys and girls out there… and,
above all, feel for their mothers, who wanted their kids to say something to
their dads, straight from their hearts, as Yash did.
A Happy birthday
to Yash’ dad... A happy birthday to our Mother land!
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic.: 1. PNGKey 2. Lalit Tikyani
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