paPPa

Irony so close to everyday life -

Irony - sometimes a negative wonder, so many things it makes us realize.



Then, when his footsteps heard,

Scrammed the TV and so did I and ran to my room.

Then, pretense elaborate and adorned, glorified lies,

A hidden snicker, pledged that studying was I, all this while.



Now those footsteps I want to hear,

Scram will I, but run towards him -

To my Pappa - a stress in a syllable,

A touch of my endearment displayed in the common label.



Sarcasm and wit's king, anecdotes held dear,

Remembered in solace - a smile - a reminder - I've been happier!

When Ma served you a bowl of dal filled to the brim,

You remarked - 'Okay! so in it, am I to swim?'



The every sunday morning walk, you held my hand,

Took me to the nearby helipad.

Agape, amazed, as I watched the helicopter took off,

Everytime, everytime a new feeling, something that I couldnt have enough of.



The little bed time stories that made me amused,

Reckon I - 'Crocodile' and 'Monkey' must be the words that you most overused,

Then you always tucked me in my bed,

A wish good night and always a kiss on my forehead.



Memories framed in pictures I hold close to my heart,

Me - the toddler on your lap, you - with a book, struggling to start,

Me at 5, I managed to walk taller than the tallest,

On your shoulder I sat, saw better - further than the farthest.



You are my encyclopedia, I confess,

Unfortunately the one I drive to distress.

A victim of all my questions after every statement, to calm my mind confused,

The irratating why's, 'yaane' and 'aisa kyu?'



I got best of both the worlds - Malayalam and Sindhi

A funny accent came along, funnier is your Hindi.

Nevertheless, at English you are a master,

My source of inspiration, the hand that guides the cursor.



A rebel I became in my teens,

An innocent tendency to become mean.

My one sided thought - You were only stringent and always unfair!

Waning was my capacity to see the concern beneath all those angry glares.



'Why isn't my dad cool like the others?' I always sighed,

'I have no freedom, no life' - my heartless heart cried.

Fool Fool Fool, such a fool was I,

I have lived better than so many - All I thought then, was 'I'.



You let me be the way I chose to be,

You let me choose the way I chose to live,

You let me think, think always and have my own mind,

You drew the lines many times, but all to get me refined.



You inculcated the travelling streak in me

Gratitude in excess as I got to see the world from infancy,

Lived in Dubai, Mauritius, Nairobi and also the sparkling NYC.



Personality enigmatic, a friend to all,

A smile you always wear, dissolve all the brawls,

From you I have so much to learn, so much to learn,

You bear testimony - that respect has to be earned.



Applause everyone, applause together for my father,

My commemoration for a man whose daughter it is to be a complete honour.

Give it up - for my father - Mr. Narayan Ramchandra Panicker.

Surpassing the noise I roar out louder after loud,

Pappa you make me so proud, you make me so proud.