Dad....I finally grew up :)

I have lived 1/3^rd of my life and recently had something that I thought was my life’s biggest achievement. As a kid, or right from childhood humans tend to show to their connected ones what they think is an achievement by them. Be it a small win when you are 5 year old in a street football game or may be a small airplane made out of paper.

I don’t remember but am sure would have definitely run to my mom and dad to show something that I achieved. I showed them my first trophy, showed them my name in the newspaper, showed them my medals, showed my paintings…jubilated that they would acclaim my achievements and that they would be the only one on this planet to be more happy than I was.

But couple of days back I did something that at this age I would rate as my biggest achievement.

I grew old. Old enough to carry my father on the backseat of my bike. Bike, that I had bought from my first job.

This might sound funny, but I sensed the feeling of being grown up right then and never before it.

All these 25 years I was towed by my father to whichever place I had to go, my school when I was studying, parent teacher’s meeting. When I missed my bus, a cricket session at friend’s place ( dad would drop me ), to the relatives’ house, to almost anywhere that I needed to go, he would carry me on the old scooter that we have and I would always be need to towed.

Living in Pune from past 2.5 years now, I recently bought a house. Did something big and wanted dad to be here at the time I was doing something big in my life. Went there to pick him up from the station ( got his tickets booked ). He was a bit hesitant thinking he need to sit behind me, grabbing the rear support tightly he agreed ……. I can start the bike.

First few minutes were shaky for both. It was very different for me. Someone who held me, supported me while I learned that bi-cycle was now sitting behind me on a two wheeler. It was indeed very different.

I never drove over 35 Km / h, as he never let me do that. After three days, I was easily riding on 50 and he would not hold the rear of the bike tight anymore.

Those 3 days I carried my father to everyplace that we went, talked to the contractor, builder myself, worked everything right in front of him and he was mutely watching, his son grow up.

Handling the labor, carpenter, painter everyone who was involved in construction of my house all alone. He was there but he never intervened. and the reason ……he wanted me to do things. He wanted me to know the world. He wanted to see his son tackle the world as he did when I came to Delhi from a small village that still doesn't have the electricity when he was nineteen. Got this brother and sister married, bought a house of his own and got himself married. Raised my brother and me and gave us the best education though it was proving very costly.

Right now, in front of me....he was standing.....mutely.....wet eyes...... looking at me....

I could muster nothing but a smile to see his head up high. I knew I grew up today.

( just a flashy me in my new house ) :)