Happy Birthday Dad - 03/05/21

People usually say that a good writer, is one who can express ineffable feelings, in just a few words. Today, appa, as you turn one year older, as you turn one year wiser, I want to wish you the happiest birthday in the world. I know how difficult times during COVID got. I know how difficult people made life for you. Be it from Manipal. Or the Gold Coast. And I also know, that you never gave up.

I could write long stories about you. Long articles, experiences about how you have shaped me into a better person. I could make videos, like I did last year. But no. For some reason, today I thought about writing something different. About telling you how much you mean to me through a small poem. And though it may not rhyme, like most of my poems, though it may not be enough even, to show you how much you mean to me, I still thought of sending it across.

No letter, no poem, no speech or podcast, would ever be enough to express my gratitude to you. For what you have done for Maruti and I the past seven years, I can get myself to say nothing but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.

Today you turned 49

And with 49, another year wiser.

You blew out your candles and probably wish for an A-star.

You slept on the wobbly bed watching ‘Billions’, munching away on the fresh, crispy popcorn.

You wrapped Custard and Maruti around like a blanket, even though they had one.

Because you were always the Kevlar. The armour to our lives.

You curled up your toes to ease your worries, relieve the pain.

You sighed, in happiness, knowing this would be an amazing year.

Today you turned 49

And with 49, another year closer to a half-century.

Maybe you would look at the world differently now. Or maybe it would at you.

Maybe bitter gourd wouldn’t taste as bad as it seemed. Maybe you would crave for it sometime.

Maybe you would grow out of Louis Vuitton. Maybe you would plan on ways to acquire the company.

Maybe the world wouldn’t seem much scarier. Much more complex, and frightening.

Or maybe you would just grow more courageous.

Maybe life would take you places. Not England, not France or anywhere else.

Maybe it would take you closer to someone.

Maybe it is one step closer to the life you wanted.

Today you turned 49

And with 49, another year full of journals and interviews and publications and reviews.

You’d hate yourself for ever wanting to think of running away.

But you’d wonder and imagine what it would be like to have a bit more freedom. Just a bit more.

Maybe you would think about what life would hold for you after we’d go to college.

Maybe it would be you and a few dogs. Out on the beach. Comfortable. Cosy.

Or maybe you would choose your own path. From TAPMI to making another student’s career.

Today you turned 49.

And with that, another year complete.

And another year to come. Full of surprises. Full of joy. Full of sorrows and full of finance.

Today you turned 49. And with that, you wished for time to move a little slower.

No words will ever describe both Maruti’s and my gratitude and love for everything that you have done, and everything that you continue to do. I hope you have an amazing day today, a marvelous year ahead, and a supremely fruitful lifetime. Thank you appa. We love you. And Happy Birthday!