Now, when it comes to idolizing someone, for the fancy Dans it might be a celebrity like Brad Pitt or SRK, or if you are sports oriented may be legends like Ronaldo, Roger Federer or Sachin Tendulkar would fit the bill, or may be the traditional geeks would pick the likes of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs as the people to be. But all said and done, all of them might be great, but each and every one of us has someone special in our lives... Someone irreplaceable! This special person(s) is someone we have always looked up to and followed since our childhood and whose name is the first to turn up in our heads in the face of adversity. Don't know about you guys, but my parents have been such a guiding light for me ever since I was brought into this big, wide, uncertain world. Our parents... The very people we talk to everyday, whom we seldom thank and whose importance we hardly ever realize... What a strange and wonderful relation to share for those fortunate enough! So, this article is dedicated to you Baba & Mamma!
Now, although I've never asked for much from my parents, always being sensitive to our finances and looking at my duty as its own reward, be it in academics or otherwise, my parents too for the most part never allowed anything to dent my happiness either. Granted I never had or even seriously wished for such materialistic luxuries as a Play Station or an Xbox or an iPod, but the basic necessities were always more than covered, for which I'm grateful. And I surely haven't been impeccable, probably being quite a handful to my parents on numerous instances too. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to paint a real-life portrait of my parents, trying to acknowledge just some of their sundry contributions. At first glance, one would say that our small family looked pretty much the same as any other. My father is a government officer and my mother portrays the character of a typical Indian housewife. And although almost every parent has to make some sacrifices for rearing of their children, but doing so without the tiniest bit of hesitation year after year, is something that I truly admire!
We took up residence in Pune when my father was being handed disparate postings every few months or so, to ensure that my education wouldn't get disrupted at any cost, thanks to which I was able to complete my entire schooling at the very same school undisturbed. Back then and even up until the early 2000s, I remember we had an old rust bucket of a second-hand Premier Padmini, which my dad hesitated to park near my school gate alongside even the mundane Skodas and Mitsubishis, although I never had any qualm in that regard as the only thing one should be proud of is doing his best with the circumstances presented. As I used to explain to him, businesses always have an underlying tendency to treat people in accordance with what they stand to gain from them, but that cannot form the basis for self-worth. We didn't socialize much either with many of the affluential families of the brats in my class, as most of them met at swanky private clubs with exorbitant membership charges, our school being one of the most sought after and me having gotten admission there purely based on merit, just grateful for being able to afford the fee. I also remember forfeiting a school organized trip to Australia without even asking my dad, as I knew it would burn a hole through his already burdened pockets. Oh! And who could forget the huge round of mocking applause I was greeted with, on getting my first rudimentary phone during my late teens, which I brushed off with a smirk the sport that I was... Even now, braving the frosty winters and sweltering summers of northern India without a temperature regulating appliance of any sort, I just feel humbled thinking of all the underprivileged who study by the streetlight.
When my father was transferred to Mumbai, he used to undertake intercity travel on a daily basis, slogging to and from work covering a total of about 400 kms. with a time implication of more than 6 hours each day. Despite his busy schedule, he always tried to finish his chores beforehand, so that he could get a day off during any event relating to me, be it the annual prize day ceremony at school or the Christmas choir. Similarly, my mother has a Master's Degree in English and could perhaps have outdone many others in any associated job interview, but instead she decided to stay at home to augment my upbringing, never letting me feel neglected. Although some would term it as professional lethargy, the demands of child nurture is not something I can comment on at this stage. And if you think that this was going overboard, you could tell my mother that and get ready for an hour's lecture! Even today, after almost two decades, you would see the same relieved expression on her face when my father and I return home safely, just as it was in the old days.
Although I admit my parents have been a tad bit too restraining at times, even perceived by a few as infantilizing, I predominantly looked upon it as an attempt at good parenting, an intention which has become my driving force today. No matter how tough a situation I might be in, no matter if no one supports me, and no matter if nothing seems to be going my way, because the deeply rooted vision of my parents' smiling faces is always enough for spurring me on! Honestly, I could go on writing for ages if I were to throw light on every small highlight, as a single article or blog truly does no justice to the incomprehensible magnitude of what they mean to me. Needless to say, my parents are priceless to me and not a day goes by where I do not strive to repay their debt. Every so often I have flashbacks of occasional unintentional impoliteness towards them, which still hurt be it justified or not. We must remember that what leaves a second's impression on some, might leave a lifetime's impression on others.
So, today I say this publicly to my parents that:
"I love you and I assure you that as long as you are there for me, I'll always be there for you too! Thank you for being MY GUIDING LIGHT!!!"
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