I've been living in a joint family since 15 years. I've been taught everything- from taking a bath on my own, to cycling, to closing the gates when I leave to eating fish without swallowing the bones by the 14 other members of this family who've nurtured and held our bricked building of a
home together since 1980. each and every member of this family has somewhere, somehow contributed to the cements and woods of this house and has made it a firm house of love.
But today, I'm going to speak of four particular people. Today I'm going to be a little bias and praise them a little more than the others cause it's Father's Day.
They're the four Bhattacharjee brothers. They're the four pillars and the four walls of a living soul- our home- which contains the history of 15 lives.
My father- my idol - who has brought me up and molded me into a firm young lady is my hero, and always will be, for the rest of my life. When I grow up, I hope to be, if not completely like him, but much like him. When I think of him, my heart and mind's eye sees nothing but love. Few days back, when he was practicing his passion- music, and I happened to be busy finding some textbook of mine, while he took the notes of his raga. I couldn't help but sit down for a while, and hear him till he finished that raga. It's funny how my eyes moistened at the beauty of his voice, the honesty in his closed eyes and the love with which he sang. He's always been like that. He's reached levels where people look upto him with unconditional respect, but he has always been oblivious to his greatness, and considered himself a fruit of his family's love. He's taught me to be a good human being so silently. And yet, today when I think of myself, I see myself as an empty canvas that he's put in so many colors with my mother.
You're my hero, baba. And I just hope I can make you as proud as you make me, someday.
Ranga Jethu-
my coolest uncle EVER- who has always brought a smile on my face with the jolly heart of his pumping with energy and throbbing with life! Your Cadbury treats on Sundays are one of the most important rituals of our den!.. I wish and I hope to always hold that spirit of life as yours when I grow up. I pray I can be as open hearted and kind as you. And I sure do hope I can teach my kids the "Climate" chapter of geography as well as you did to me! ;)
Your aura of happiness keeps the ties of this family so strong...
You're an amazing person, jethu. And you make us better people for that :)
Mejo jethu-
my listener and the best critic- who has listened to my writing without fail, whatsoever and has always given me the best advice to improve it.. Your enthusiasm about my writing has always kept me going to pour my heart out on paper. The countless number of diaries you've gifted me till date have never been wasted, they have always contained my thoughts and my mind, somewhere provoked and encouraged by you :) I know that you're one of the first people to listen to my mind and always will be.
And that truly makes me feel blessed.
"A critic is a writers best friend" -- so true. I can rely on you blindly to be honest and blatant about my work. And that, means a lot to me.
Thank you for lending me you ear whenever I needed it.
You make me want to write. You make me want to write my heart out :)
Boro Jethu - my physics teacher!- who is the strongest link, thee strongest brick in the family. You're the eldest and the most looked upto member of this family, and we're all kids in your eyes. I've felt protected under your shadow, and confident to ace whenever you taught me Physics! :D
Your existence has been a persistent eye on all of us, to make sure we were on track at the right pace.
You've truly made us what we are today. And since you're the oldest in the family, and I'm the youngest- our bond will always be the best! ;)
We love you, the most :)
So today, to all for of you, I want to wish a very Happy Father's Day . You four have truly been my father, and have made me what I am today. All four of you have taught me the trivialest to the greatest of truths of life, you four have never measured your love or anger for me. You've always followed the heart, and have imbibed the seeds of love in me.
I can't imagine my being as "Tithi" or "Nilanjana" without the shadows of you. I am forever grateful to your selfless and unconditional love.
Thank you for bringing me up like a princess.
Thank you for everything.
A happy father's day to you all, and I love you. Always will.
-Your's only,
Tithi.