My daddy strongest!

One person in the world who fascinates me entirely is my father. He's a phenomenal boss, concerned sibling, doting husband and an absolutely kick-ass dad.

Each parent has their own style of parenting. My mother, like every other mother of a single-neurotic child worries about me constantly, tries shielding me from every possible evil in the world and treats me like a queen.

My dad on the other hand is a parent like no other I've seen so far. I don't recall a single time when he has actually forbidden me from doing something. He does not keep asking if you're safe or all right. He believes in the philosophy of life where in "You learn from your mistakes".

I still recall my first accident. I was still a new driver and I had a small skirmish with an auto guy. I panicked and called my dad.
"Appa, I had an accident"
"Are you hurt?"
"No no. The car has a small scratch though. This guy is yelling at me and I don't understand anything"
"Figure out something. Just pay him some money or something"
Click. End of conversation.
I was mighty pissed at the time but I came home a much stronger person. Well, that is how the man is. He presumes that you just learn from the problems in your life and move on.

I had my first alcoholic drink with my father and I've never enjoyed a drink with anyone as much as I do with my dad. There is something special which happens when you sit and talk with another person over a mug of beer. I am sure all you beer drinkers will agree. :)

Few months after that, when we were out at dinner, I asked if I could drink anything other than beer, he promptly ordered a blue flaming drink with vodka in it. And I being the ignoramus that I am, drank the whole thing in under five minutes. I could barely stand. I quietly told my dad that I was feeling woozy. My mother started hyperventilating. Of course, I can't blame her. A drunk me could not have been a pretty sight. My dad was amused . Yes, you heard right, amused. He was trying to suppress laughter and that restraint was, I am sure, only because of my mum.
We skipped dinner and came home. By now I was getting worried. I was feeling plain yuck. My mother was walking behind me with a terribly worried look on her face. She looked at my dad for some assistance and my dad very calmly replied "Just keep drinking water. You'll be fine". And I was fine, though I think it has put me off alcohol for life.

And this man has the greatest sense of humour as long as the sales figures for the week are all right. :). Everytime he cracks a joke, I try to keep my face straight and tell him "That was such a pathetic joke. You really should try harder" but before i barely complete the sentence I burst out laughing. At every wedding, family gathering, he's the life of the party. :

Ooh! The best part is I have a complete vocabulary of bad words in Tamil and English, thanks to him. Much to my mother's dismay, our breakfast conversations include lessons on particular words, their meaning and how they are supposed to be used. :) Now I can confidently cuss as good as any auto driver in Chennai.

I've learnt so much from him. His people skills are phenomenal. His concern for everyone around him. His passion for what he is doing. The optimist in him. The sheer confidence. And the absolute love that he has for his family. Though he appears to be passive and unemotional, that man in reality is a bundle of emotions. And anytime , he has a weak moment and tells me how much he'll miss me and the like, I, being the caring daughter that I am threaten to tell the whole world that "My daddy just told me he misses me. Ha!".

I know I don't say this often enough. Love u daddy!