It was that time of my childhood where my pretentious pain-in-the-ass behaviour was reaching new levels every single day by pestering him to buy me a luxurious petrol drinking, environment polluting, cash gobbling motorcycle when I had just bought a perfectly working eco-friendly, fat burning bicycle a few months back. I was riding my cycle to my school and tuition centre every day, when he was not available to drop me. I annoyed the hell out of him by negotiating everything that he asked me to do only if he bought me a bike. I’m not sure how normal people would react to a situation like this but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t define his reaction as ‘normal’. Firstly, he didn’t beat the shit out of me, which itself is abnormal if you ask me. And he actually bought me a TVS heavy duty for my next birthday when we were in a financial position where all we could afford was 3 meals a day and a shelter on top. I gave him a displeased look when he gave me the TVS. I realise the worth of it now. Many years later.
It was that time of my childhood where I was enrolled in practically every single extra curricular class available in my locality and I was searching for new excuses to skip classes every single day. Stupid young me thought of himself as a perfect liar coming up with brilliant excuses such as ‘stomach ache’, ‘hit my toe’ and ‘twisted my arm’. He pretended to believe me so that I wouldn’t feel bad about being caught lying. But when my apparent toe was hurt, he would take me to the karate class in his cycle, wait there till it completes and bring me back. When my stomach ached, he would give me a placebo induced medicine and make me to go play the keyboard. If he hadn’t done that then, my life wouldn’t even be a fraction of how interesting it is now.
He talked to me about films which are currently one of the very few things that make my life colourful. He made me observe intricate things in films and music. He talked about very many trivia, some of which I still use to impress my friends. He introduced me to his favourite films and directors. His favourites became my favourites. I then stated having my own opinion about movies and started hating people who didn’t agree with my opinion. He then taught me about how people don’t always agree with your opinion and everyone has their own views.
He bought me stuff when I had no use of it and for no other reason but to stop my endless crying. And yet, he made sure I didn’t grow up to be a spoiled brat. He made me realise the importance of money even before I started earning. He taught me how not to be in debt. He taught me how to be happy with what I have. He taught me how to control my greed. He taught me difference between want and need. He used to narrate all the difficulties he faced while growing up so that I will learn all the lessons he learned without having to face those difficulties. Though I didn’t learn them when I was actually taught these things, I did learn them eventually.
I learned how to be cool from him. I learned how not be cool from him. I learned how it is okay to not be cool all the time. I learned how not to give a shit about many things from him. I learned the difference between stuff that matters and doesn’t matter from him. I learned how important it is to help people from him. I’m still trying to learn how to love the job one does so much from him.
Although I don’t remember any of his iconic dialogues, I’m pretty sure all of those did make an impact. He is the the kind of person who everyone needs in all points of one’s life. He is the one whom you can go to no matter what your problem is. He is the one who understands. He is the one who cares and doesn’t care at the right time.
(This is the point where I shift to third person narrative to second person for my own convenience)
I know you don’t like materialistic gifts, so this is the least I could do.
To the man who loves his job so much, the man who doesn’t like to take leaves, the man who has the perfect work life balance, the man who respects both his family and friends, the man who taught me how it is okay to make mistakes, the man who doesn’t forget his past, the man who is the reason for what I am today and the reason for many people’s good lives,
Happy Birthday Appa :)
Hope the grown up me is less disappointing than the child me.
(PS: Ma, I’ll write a separate one for your birthday, don’t worry :P)