Saluting the happy memories left behind by my Dad
By Omkar Sharma
Today marks a full decade since I bade farewell to my dad. My mind was blank and there were unshed tears in my eyes as the flames hungrily swept through the funeral pyre, reducing everything to ashes.
He may have gone, but his memories continue to burn inside me. How can I forget my Dad who was so much a part of my life till ten years ago?
We had so much fun together. I still have faint glimpses of my Dad taking me to the park. I loved the swings, and would refuse to get down. My Dad would first cajole and then threaten. He would finally get his way, and I would grumpily follow him back home.
His joy was unbound when I got a first division in Class X. We partied late into the night. The same happened when I got into IIT, and later got a job in the US.
He was aways there for me. Losing him felt like losing a part of myself, a part that he defined.
I don’t think the grief will ever go away. But a large part of it has transformed into appreciation, into gratitude to a man who made me what I am today.
He was truly an amazing father. I still remember the way he negotiated with Mom who was not at all happy with my decision to dance in the rain. She was sure I would fall sick. But my Dad wanted to have fun, enjoy life to the full.
His way of living life has left a lasting impression on me. The first time we went on a trek in Himalayas, I wanted to stop after the first mile or so. But my Dad was unrelenting. He had a map in mind. The trail was five miles long, and he wanted to stop after three miles, not before that. “Always finish the hard part first. The rest will be easy.” This is one advice I can never forget.
His take on difficulties was novel. To him difficulties became problems that dragged people down. The best way to deal with them he would say was to look at them as challenges. “It will give you strength to beat them.”
Learning to live without someone you loved deeply is tough, but it doesn’t mean the relationship ends. Every shared moment becomes a building block. And I dearly hold onto the memories we created together; they’re my lifeline.
There are times when I feel him so close that I instinctively reach for the phone to call him, only to be reminded of the harsh reality.
Time will not erase the memories of my father; instead, it helps me appreciate the moments we had.
Read: How I connected with my ageing parents and made them open up
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