This is for and about a very wonderful person that I had the privilege to know for about 20 years. For my dear uncle who left for his heavenly abode some three years ago.
You were all of 15 years the day I was born and I can see in the pictures that you were absolutely thrilled about your big brother’s baby girl. Dad was always the brother you loved, respected and feared sometimes and you were the mischievous son he never had, but you never communicated your love for each other. I guess that comes naturally with being a man. He loves you and I know you do too.
I have heard from people that things started going wrong once the family shifted to Bangalore; Bombay took away everything from you? How did you ever become the person you did after all those years of being the most successful kid in school? The gold medals, the best achiever certificates and your report cards are a mute testimony of the man you chose not to be. Was it your choice or were things never in your control? I know for a fact that you had the guilt of failing your parents and your brother but you had lot of chances to redo all that, didn’t you? I don’t want to see you hang your head in shame, but had you realised and redone things I would still have my uncle around.
Maybe I never told you but I loved having you around as a kid. I vividly remember the life you put into my 7th birthday party, the butterscotch flavored cake you got for me from The Oberoi, you and all your friends helping me cut the cake. Those were the wonderful memories we made together. Mum still proudly tells anyone who will listen to it. But tears well up in her eyes as she realizes that you will never get me another cake. She did everything she could to save you, to bring you back into our world, to give you the life you deserved, but you never came back. Maybe you just went too far away. Why did you not tell us what really happened? Was it a scarring experience related to ragging in college? Or was it a failed love story? Or was it something else? We will never know now.
You must see how similar I am to you. I am gifted with words, just like you. I can convince anyone with the way I talk, just like you. I stand up, unlike a lot of people, when I hear the national anthem, just like you taught me to. I am doing pretty well in life and you should have been here to see me scale new heights.
And you know what? Your little girl is all set to get married; she has found a lovely man for herself. I wanted you to be around for my wedding, appreciate my choice and cry when I leave to a new house, when I start a new life. I will miss having you around on the most important day in my life.
I still remember the day you very proudly said “she is my daughter”; I hope I have lived up to your expectations. I did falter on my way here, but I picked myself up and have come all way to where I am now. I know there are going to be difficult moments in my life, but I am going to be strong and pull myself out of it all because there is another person will need all my support and strength.
Promise to be there for us, to look after us from wherever you are. Promise to be my guardian angel, and to protect me from unexpected twists and turns. Promise to guide me through everything and give me indications about what’s right and what’s not. Promise to be at peace where you are. And promise me, you will always remember that we loved you and continue to do so. We miss you too.
You were all of 15 years the day I was born and I can see in the pictures that you were absolutely thrilled about your big brother’s baby girl. Dad was always the brother you loved, respected and feared sometimes and you were the mischievous son he never had, but you never communicated your love for each other. I guess that comes naturally with being a man. He loves you and I know you do too.
I have heard from people that things started going wrong once the family shifted to Bangalore; Bombay took away everything from you? How did you ever become the person you did after all those years of being the most successful kid in school? The gold medals, the best achiever certificates and your report cards are a mute testimony of the man you chose not to be. Was it your choice or were things never in your control? I know for a fact that you had the guilt of failing your parents and your brother but you had lot of chances to redo all that, didn’t you? I don’t want to see you hang your head in shame, but had you realised and redone things I would still have my uncle around.
Maybe I never told you but I loved having you around as a kid. I vividly remember the life you put into my 7th birthday party, the butterscotch flavored cake you got for me from The Oberoi, you and all your friends helping me cut the cake. Those were the wonderful memories we made together. Mum still proudly tells anyone who will listen to it. But tears well up in her eyes as she realizes that you will never get me another cake. She did everything she could to save you, to bring you back into our world, to give you the life you deserved, but you never came back. Maybe you just went too far away. Why did you not tell us what really happened? Was it a scarring experience related to ragging in college? Or was it a failed love story? Or was it something else? We will never know now.
You must see how similar I am to you. I am gifted with words, just like you. I can convince anyone with the way I talk, just like you. I stand up, unlike a lot of people, when I hear the national anthem, just like you taught me to. I am doing pretty well in life and you should have been here to see me scale new heights.
And you know what? Your little girl is all set to get married; she has found a lovely man for herself. I wanted you to be around for my wedding, appreciate my choice and cry when I leave to a new house, when I start a new life. I will miss having you around on the most important day in my life.
I still remember the day you very proudly said “she is my daughter”; I hope I have lived up to your expectations. I did falter on my way here, but I picked myself up and have come all way to where I am now. I know there are going to be difficult moments in my life, but I am going to be strong and pull myself out of it all because there is another person will need all my support and strength.
Promise to be there for us, to look after us from wherever you are. Promise to be my guardian angel, and to protect me from unexpected twists and turns. Promise to guide me through everything and give me indications about what’s right and what’s not. Promise to be at peace where you are. And promise me, you will always remember that we loved you and continue to do so. We miss you too.
