For most of
my childhood years, I believed with a certain unwavering conviction (that only
kids are known to possess), that Papa was no different than one of my bicycle
riding, hop-scotch playing, squeals of joy producing little friends. There was
something very light hearted and guileless about him that appealed immensely to us
kiddies. In a world where most fathers could be slotted in insalubrious
categories like – the irritable ones who growled at the drop of a hat, the distant
ones who didn’t give a hoot, the strict ones who didn’t spare the rod and the
nagging ones whose lengthy sermons could lull the most insomniac ghosts to
sleep – Papa shone like a solitary lighthouse whose beacon of light cut through
the densest of darkness. Far from being grumpy, nasty or even preoccupied, he
was, for the most part, full of life and mirth. Even when ensnared in a complex
web of worries – emblematic of adulthood – he somehow managed to keep up a
happy demeanour that brightened every room he walked into. Today, as I grapple
with worries of my own, I can barely keep up a façade of having my act together,
let alone ooze pure contentment and joy from within. How he did it all his life
is a confounding mystery.
******************
A couple of
decades later, at my wedding, after a rather hilarious encounter with him, a
friend of mine emphatically stated – “Your Dad is super cool!!” Her innocuous
little observation made me closely study Papa and his innate ability to build
and sustain human ties. Turns out, he is in fact the quintessential ‘Yaaron ka
Yaar’. That he can effortlessly wiggle his way into cliques of all kinds and
all age groups, acts as an apt attestation of the above appellation. From being
a hoot amidst little ones to being a worthy partner in crime to a pack of
20-somethings to being an energy packed ball of witticisms amongst his own
classmates and colleagues to being kind and respectful to the oldies, yet
bringing a smile to their wrinkled faces by cracking a joke here and a joke
there - he is a welcome addition to any gathering under the sun. It is thus not
surprising that under every second rock, in every other country around the
world; we end up unearthing long lost friends of his. And when Papa meets them,
it is almost like they had never parted. Rib-tickling anecdotes flow unbridled
and bubbles of laughter permeate every open space and every open heart in the
vicinity.
******************
This is not
to say that Papa is just about fun and games. In the face of seemingly
insurmountable circumstances, he is like a solid rock that one can lean on
without a second thought. I wonder what infinite pool of worldly wisdom and
resilience he draws from while patiently (and occasionally impatiently)
listening to other’s woes and dishing out sound advice! Sometimes, something as
simple as hearing him recite his favourite verse from the Bhagwad Geeta - "Jo hua,woh achchha
hua,Jo ho raha hai,woh bhi achchha ho raha hai,Jo hoga,woh bhi achchha hi hoga"
serves as a perfect antidote for all maladies. Just like a cup of hot tea,
spiced with ginger and cinnamon can get rid of the most stubborn of all
sniffles, a dose of Papa’s stoicism laced with veracity and a
sprinkle of love can shoo away the fiercest of life’s ogre like troubles.
******************
Now that
the sentimentalities are out of the way, let’s bring back those smiles with an
account of some of Papa’s outlandish talents. His snores, for instance, are so
potent that even the dead rise from their graves to stuff their ears with balls
of cotton wool. If you are still able to somehow fall asleep and wake up in
time, you can be privy to a magical sight – that of him enjoying a plateful of breakfast – a one-egg omelette,
a piece of toast and some almonds. Watching Papa savour his meals can make the
fullest of tummies rumble uncontrollably again. After a mandatory one hour nap
in the afternoon and a cup of tea, he gears up every day for his favourite time
of the day – squash time. On most days he dominates the squash court like a
professional player. With the zest of an 18 year old, he smashes the ball
against the red-lined wall and mercilessly crushes his opponents. His jubilation was thus not surprising the day Pranay picked up the sport. Not only did Papa gain a lifelong partner to play with but he also
passed on the baton and the great news was that it had stayed in the family.
******************
Thirty two
years ago, a pretty Pune-based damsel agreed to give up a cushy job and a
cosmopolitan life to marry a strapping young officer whom she had never met. A
quick peek at a thumb-sized, sepia toned picture of his was all she had to put
a face to the words that consistently arrived wrapped in blue inland letter
envelopes. She probably had a stomach full of butterflies and a heart full of
anxieties as she read his letters and hoped that he was just as dependable as
the frequency of his letters. If only I could travel back in time, I’d hold her
hand and assure her of the astuteness of her decision. I would tell her that she
is destined to live a happy, fun-filled life with a man who will not only prove
to be a good husband but also a loving father. He is going to be the one who
will sit by her and watch 3 hour long Hindi movies even though he can barely
stand them, just because she loves going to the movies. He is going to share
her love for travel, long drives, aaloo
bondas at train stations and shelves full of books. He is going to be the
one pulling her leg and breaking into loud belly laughs when she reacts and he is also going to
be the one melodiously singing her favourite song - ‘Heyyy Neele Gagan ke tale’ to cheer her up on gloomy days. Since time travel isn’t
yet a possibility, I will settle for the next best option, which is telling her today
– “Ma, you did well!”
