Dear Appa and Amma

Dear Appa and Amma

The George Washington on the 1 dollar note never looked more ugly. Ray Romano's jokes fell flat. Rahman sounded Cacophonous. My Manager as usual barked. Why? The 8000 miles difference between us never felt so long in this whole year than today. I miss you both on your wedding anniversary.

Its ironical that in all these 25 years of life I manage to remember only a handful of days. Some of them draw a smile, some embarrassing, some heartfelt, some just fine and so on. Its amazing how one person can shake the foundation of another. Like in the Karan Johar movies people do not become onion-eyed, wobbly, utter paragraphs of "how-much-i-love-you" tall tales and exaggerate them. Its like a mutual understanding between the parents and their wards for their mutual love and respect that they share.

I will start with Amma...because I started from you. Don't worry....I am not going into the "I-can-never-repay-your-nine-month-suffering"..because we both know that I cant :-). Its a pity that your soulful rendition of "Gokulatil pasukalellam" found an audience in the four walls of our house as my lullaby. Whatever little musical talents I have, I owe them to you. I still remember how you panicked when I came home in my first standard with a shirt which was red due to the injury to my head (probable cause of insanity?). I still remember how much you struggled to teach me the difference between the roman alphabets "b" and "f" and how every time I would make the same mistake and look at you innocently like Puss-in-the-boots. Every time I would screw up my maths paper and come home shuddering how you were going to be upset with me. You never had problems with brother Girish as he was one sincere kid who would finish his homework and lessons while I was one naughty brat who would run away to play cricket when unattended. I still remember the days when you woke up the whole night when I looked like on the verge of death finding it hard to breath due to eosinophilia. It seemed more painful looking at you than suffering through it.

To appa....you gave me a name and made me what I am. The streets of Gandhidham would tell the stories when you would carry me to Chawla cafe and buy my favorite Thayir vadai. In spite of the meager salary in the earlier days you would buy us Tinkle, amar Chitra katha, Chandamama which helped me spin yarns for the history paper and essays (and now in my blog :D). You were such a chain smoker that I and girish would make trains out of the Wills packets in the drawer. You taught me my unforgettable lesson in self control and will power when you gave up your almost 25 years of smoking because you didn't want to set a bad example for us as we grew up. I have just one grudge against you....that you work even now even though there is no need for it. I guess its hereditary problem as grandpa worked till the age of 70 and you seem to follow suit. I am pretty sure that my wards are going to have the same problem with me as well :D.

The day when I got placed in the campus, I felt like Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption. Now that may sound like very exaggerated, but for whatever we have been through in these years, it did seem like a redemption. The order that I received was a testimony for your sacrifices and not for my skills or talent. The first time I got a saree and Shirt-pant for you both, it felt like I had conquered the moon. Every time when I call you, you ask me if I eat properly or not. I realized after a long time that I have been such an insensitive prick as I have hardly asked you if you take care of yourself. I would never know that "Why do all the moms on the world never seem to take care of themselves"?

They say that "A good marriage is at least 80 percent good luck in finding the right person at the right time. The rest is trust." I now know what it means. Here is to your marriage anniversary...and many more to come.

Your loving son
Harish

Good News: This is not a story. My parents are indeed celebrating their wedding anniversary on May 19 :-)
Bad News: I turn another year older on May 20 :-(