Happy Father's Day

 Dearest Daddy

Miss you so much on Father's Day. Even though we haven't been able to spend it together in a while, it was always special, marked by flowers send by me, cake sent by my brother and the call wishing you Happy Fathers Day.

You would play Bridge and proudly show the bridge players the flowers I had sent. And share the cake my brother had sent. The small joys of life. 

On this day i remember all the special things we did together and the things we never got around to doing. 

-Going for the first Jurassic Park in Chanakya cinema

-Teaching me driving and then getting me an instructor when i was too nervous

-Going for concerts together in the Ram Navami mandal

-Playing tennis in Dulwich park

-Watching movies together

I never got around to learning how to play bridge from you. Though i was always fascinated that you would  play for hours together on Sunday with your friends. 

I never got to get career tips from you on how to navigate the politics at work. You had a much much more stressful and difficult job in the Police, and the decisions you made and the people you spoke to as a Diplomat are much more difficult and life changing than the small decisions and problems I face in banking. Still would have loved to get some advice on the struggles i face.

Am happy though that I got to sit with you and work on your autobiography- that way i learnt so many interesting things about your career and your life- such a colourful and fulfilling life you had dear Daddy, not only working hard, but maintaining relationships with your friends, promoting the arts & music in Singapore and India, looking out for all of us. 

Love you Daddy. Please bless us as always. 

Happy Birthday

 A different kind of birthday where I learn to be grateful for the things I have and yearn for the things gone by

Grateful to spend the birthday with my family and touched by the special things they did. Hubby tried to bake two cakes which collapsed miserably and finally ordered my favourite variety - strawberry shortcake

The girls made lovely birthday cards

Manju bought me flowers

We had a lovely dinner in a Greek restauarant

Went to Sreenivas Perumal temple, which coincidentally was the first temple I went to at 40 days old

Missed my Daddy's call. Always the first to wish. Super enthusiastic and full of greetings. Miss you Daddy.

Apple of my eye

 My heart is heavy. I have not grieved enough. My beloved father passed away in September'24. Though his last few years were not exactly what he would have wanted for himself, or what we would have wished for him, it is still a great loss to have my darling father, my personal cheerleader pass away. 

I was always the 'Apple of his eyes', his darling daughter who could do no wrong. He was proud of all my successes however small they were. When I was working in Citibank he would proudly proclaim, my daughter, Vice President in Citibank. When i was a homemaker in Zurich, he would say, my daughter who brings up two lovely children, drives on the cold snowy roads and runs a house by herself. And most recently when i got back to work at DB he would again say my daughter, VP at DB. 

He supported me immensely in my studies and my career. With my Mum he would land up in Zurich, in London, look after the children, be at home, while i pursued one job after another, struggling to get back to full time work and climb the career ladder. He would gladly take on the most strange requests - I'm worried my nanny cannot drive the two screaming girls alone in the car- can you go with her for the first week to make sure she's driving the car confidently. Or, girls are getting bored, go walking with Mummy to the swimming pool and oversee their swimming lessons. 

Daddy would happily wait to watch Chota Bheem or Karadi Tales with the girls, and then later in the night some Hind or English move with me. If i was coming come late at night in Bangalore, he would be waiting till I reached home. 

Any trouble I had in my studies my Dad could solve. I don't like law college, am coming back to Delhi - no problem go do Maths in Stephens. Maths is so tough I'm going to fail, no problem, will find a tutor for you. Of course I was totally pampered but that's ok because once I got married I was not pampered even for a minute. So in life's overall balance i think it makes up.

What do I regret most, that I didn't spend more time with my Dad in the last few years. Work was just too all consuming and if not working then looking after the kids. Am glad I was able to help Dad write his autobiography but I never got the chance to learn bridge from him, speak to him about his police days, go for some concerts with him or watch some last few English movies with him. 

Miss you dear Daddy.  Keep looking out for us as you always do.