Insights of Rishi: Dear Pops - You Are Now Officially Declared A Senior Citizen...

With every key tone that my Pops was pressing, on his cell phones keypad, I was getting irritated as I could hardly concentrate on my studies. I immediately addressed him…

Me – Pops wo keytone off karo bala…ekdum uncivilized tareeke se rehte ho aap.

I asked for his cell phone so that I can switch off the key tone. However, my Dad took what I said lightly and locked his cell phone and kept it aside. He did not allow me to switch off the key tone. Now that’s something which he might like it. Although working for multinational companies made me imbibe certain attributes which we generally call professional mannerisms, my father was always posted in the remote areas of various states in India, with a public sector company. His ways and mannerisms mostly reflect country side culture for which we always poke him with our comments…he he he…that’s how we try to irritate each other…sometimes knowingly and mostly inadvertently.

Pops – My dear son…I want to give you the best…

Me – Pops now I can get it myself, you don’t have to worry about it…

Pops – See on my 60^th birthday, I want to give you a present…

And my father presented me a video CD. When I opened the pack, it turned out to be a Movie called – Hitler. My father very well knows that I am a die hard fan of Adolf Hitler. Now that’s when we refer to international historical icons…I do have a national one too – Shivaji. My father recalls my college days, when I kept Hitler styled moustache for a week, as a fashion statement. Everyone laughed at it when I did so, but my Pops appreciated it. In fact today also he appreciates my dictatorship very much, but not on him…he he he…people who know me know it very well that in real life, I live like Hitler. In fact, many of my colleagues, subordinates and friends address me as Hitler, sometimes on my face and mostly when I am not around. And my father knows it very well that I simply love the way military works - by command. You all might have heard your friends / colleagues addressing their fathers as Hitler, but in my case, my father calls me a Hitler…he he he

This year, it was my sister’s idea to change my father’s style. Now that my father would be getting retired and would be leading a city / metro life, she thought that my father must not look like a government babu…he he he…consequently, she got her two Polo T-shirts. When he wore them, he looked different, more of an urban father….he he he. Realizing this, I gifted him 8 pairs of Polo T-shirts along with 2 pairs of Corduroy trousers. So he has undergone a complete makeover…he he he…and the best part is that even my father liked it very much…he he he

When it comes to birthdays, my father has his own style of celebrations. He does not believe in cake cutting ceremony. Rather he likes to keep it simple. Wait; please don’t get yourself deceived by the word – simple. As it is not that very simple as you might have thought. He just likes to give himself a treat…with his predetermined Baghaara Chawal along with Daalcha…and when it comes to his taste buds, believe me no one in this entire world can match it. My Mom generally follows SOP (standard operating procedures) while cooking food. Contrary to this, my father likes to experiment and comes up with very delicious innovations. Everytime he cooks, he comes up with the same things, but in a different avatar. And that’s what makes his cooking very special. This time also, he prepared his Daalcha with a different touch – soya nuggets in it. And trust me, it was heaven. Especially along with my Mom’s SOP based Baghaara Chaawal, which again is loved by everyone who tasted it. Generally I haven’t found any one till now who follows this SOP…which makes her baghaara chaawal not only unique but deliciously blissful too…

This year, I am kind off busy…with my exam preparation. As such, I found very difficult to spare time for my family affair. I couldn’t even manage celebrating Diwali, day before yesterday. Since, I was hooked up with my studies, I thought that my Pop’s birthday would also be just like Diwali…me being busy with studies…But then it’s his 60^th birthday. A time when he will be getting retired from all his duties. It’s a time, when he would be leaving all his official colleagues to join us back home…and be a family man 24 X 7. Isn’t it special? Definitely it is…so to hell with studies for a while…

I took time to get a birthday cake for him…hooked up a small family get together…asked him to cut his 60^th birthday cake…had some good & quality time spent with him…caught those moments in our camera and missed my younger brother Samrat a lot…He works in Dubai and hence we had to celebrate it without him…but then he is always the first one to whish us on our days…

When I am home, people know it very well that I have my lunch and dinner sitting on the floor (ground), that too with traditionally Indianized way of eating with my right hand…I just love it…he he he…so when I was enjoying my Bagharaa Chaawal and Daalcha tonight, my Pops didn’t miss a chance to comment.

Pops – Oye my dear son, tu naa neeche baith ke jangleeyo ki tarah haath se khana mat khayaa kar bala…hamko dekh, kaise shaan se table pe baithke, chammach se khana khaate hai…he he he…Multinational company me ek Assistant Manager hoke bhi aise jangleeyo ki tarah khaana khaataa hai…he he he...ekdum UNCIVILIZED lagtaa hai…he he he

Now that’s what we have - a family…our very own, very special family…with all our nok jhoks, we celebrate life. We celebrate the spirit of being together.