My Dear Appa,

Have I ever told you how much I love you or what you meant to me? Maybe not as expressive as I could have been. And today when I want to talk my heart out to you looking into your face holding your hands, it is quite late. You may not be visible to my naked eyes, but I know you are listening to what I have to say.

Appa, you are my real hero and the best dad in the entire universe. I know this is how every girl would feel about her dad but truth is — “You are very different“.

You started working at the age of 20 and had been a busy bee all through your life. You have gone through many hardships, sacrificed your comfort, silently hedged all the trouble in life – so we could have a comfortable and peaceful life. I have not seen an Ashtavathani or Dasavathani in my life. But I know you are way more talented than those. You are a mnemonist. You could make, build, fix anything in and around the house be it with plumbing, building, or electrical. You could draw, carve, woodwork, stitch, recite from Puranas to epics to slogams to modern stories to jokes. I wish I am as talented as you are.

How can I ever forget the stories you had told me about my childhood? I have seen the happiness and excitement in your eyes and voice every time you narrated what I did when I was a child. I am so lucky to be your eldest child to have given you the first experience and small happiness now & then, and above all to have received all your unconditional immense love.

I do not remember you have a personal space for yourself. Each and every minute apart from work, you had spent it for and with us. You made our friends envy us by being our friends and spending most of your free time playing games with us. You spent almost all of your evenings and late nights playing carom, chess, and cards with us and our friends during the summer holidays. You made my childhood so memorable and sweet.

You gave extensive freedom to your little girl (me) to make decisions, and you strongly believed in her decisions. The trust you had in her is what made her choose and follow her dreams, made her more competitive and stronger in this world. You made me strong and confident by supporting me through all tough times. When I did not score my best in 12th Grade to go for engineering, you encouraged me not to worry about bygones and concentrate on where I want to be. When my life was filled with rejection on finding my dream job and when all went in vain on my effort to go abroad, you stood by me and said the magical words that I remember to date and forever — “Keep trying, Have Faith, Believe and you will achieve what you believe in“.

You taught me how to rise up and stand, no matter how deep I fall. Everyone speaks of you for your willpower and I am proud to have inherited it.

You have been a bundle of inspiration to me. I don’t need a role model, for you are mine. What else can a girl ask for or what more can a dad do for his sweet daughter than holding her hand and leading her through the path she desired?

Appa, I sincerely thank god for giving us (you and me) an opportunity to spend 2 months of our lives with each other before he destined to take you away. My home is filled with your soul and memories, the best of its kind, and will stay with me forever.

Appa, I will miss you but I am never going to say so, for I know you are present in and around me.

No matter how life goes Appa, I know you will be there as always wishing the best for us and traveling along with us through the journey.

We all love you very much Appa and you are the best of the best in the Universe.

Yours always little girl,
Paapa.

Cherish your parents. Without them, you are not what you are today. Nothing can bring back the time and love you share with your parents (and loved ones). So treasure it, I have mine!