Like Father Like Daughter

When I was small, I remember him as the strongest person. He was so strong to carry me. My mom couldn’t because I was heavy. I was huge and had babyfat all over my body.  Whenever my mom was not around, he was there to take care of me.  He fed me, played with me, made me laugh, sung lullaby songs to make me sleep.

 I can see that my father has got lots of patience in me when I have to take the stairs.  I was afraid to use the stairs. My father helped me to get rid of that fear in me. Each and every step he was there beside me.  And at the end of the day, he really removed my fear.

 I remember, whenever my dad goes to work I way him ‘bye’ and show thumbs up sign and wait for him to comeback. When he comes from work, I listen to his keys jingling at the door. I wait for him to open the door and say ‘surprise daddy’ (in gibberish language).My father untangles my hair and make plaits or pony whenever I go to school or outside. He is good at making round bun hairstyle.
My father smiles.He smiles more than my mom actually.I guess I learned from him, to smile every time even in difficult situation. My friends always say that you smile a lot. Its like written or stuck in my genes. My father always smiles, just like me.

During my school days, I remember my father bought a book containing all Malayalam old songs lyrics.  He likes old Malayalam songs. When I saw my dad singing, my whole perception of him had changed. He sings better than I thought. I really do see what he likes to become but he seldom speaks about his dreams. That day, my father taught the first stanza of a song  “Oru kochu swapnathin chirakumayaviduthe”. I was shy(even now) to sing because I knew it would sound worse. I  guess that’s the time I know that my father really loves music, just like me.

When I look through his closet, he doesn't have clothes much. He rarely buys for himself. He has no desire of having  good branded clothes or shoes. His wants are very few. My mom had to literally throw his clothes that had holes in them. By looking at his simplicity, I also became one like him. My father is simple, just like me.

Maybe because of my internet addiction or being busy all the time, we don’t talk much as before. I remember my father said “you haven’t spoken to me for three days”. After hearing this, I realized that things has changed a lot between us. My father did try to raise me as a better daughter, but I failed him many times. What all fathers expect from their daughters, I couldn’t give the same to him. I never made him feel proud. Now when I see him, I do realize that he was not strong as before. I guess I’m the only person in my family who witnessed his tears shedding from his cheeks twice before me. And I knew what the reason to his tears is. By seeing this I understood my father is sensitive, just like me.

As season change, people will also change. My father changed. I changed. But I feel that I’m still the same inside because of him.... MY FATHER.