A Father’s Courage

The occasion was the father’s day celebration in my kids’ school. All the children performed brilliantly.  It was also fascinating to see  all the fathers waiting for the performance of their kids and how their eyes lit up seeing their kid performing. I was also overjoyed watching Akaalroop performing. 

In addition to this, there was a ramp show in which fathers had to walk the ramp and introduce themselves. It was voluntary and I refrained from participating in it. I thought it would be plain silly and the school would have very few participants. But when the ramp walk event started, there were around twenty fathers standing. Amongst them there was a lady as well. 

Everyone on the stage did their best in the ramp walk. A few of them waved, some did Namaste, a few bowed and one did the act of James Bond. I felt it was lame for them to be on the stage and making a mockery for themselves. 

But when it  was time for the introduction round, I was hit back when I heard them. One of them said, “I am not the father. I am grandfather because my son generally remains out of station and I have to fulfil all his responsibilities. But I love doing this!” Then came the second. He said, “I get a chance to see my little girl only for a few minutes daily. I never knew how much she has grown up and how talented she is. Today after watching her perform I couldn’t believe that she is the same girl who remains silent in the few minutes she is with me.” 

Another father said, “I stay out of station for around 22-25 days a month. Last one month when my princess came to meet me in Mumbai, because I could not come home, she hugged me and didn’t leave me for five minutes.”

There was another father who said, “I have a touring job and rarely get time to be with my family. But I have come directly from the airport to give my girl a surprise that I am here to watch her perform.”

Then came that lady. She said, “My girl lost her father when she was one and a half years old. I am OSD in police jail and I don’t get time to spend with my girl. My girl sometimes says that you work in prison but I feel like a prisoner because I have no one to talk to. But today this school has invited me and requested me to be on the ramp because they feel I have not failed. No, my little girl also understands. We do have quarrels, but she is growing and I think she understands my situation as well.”

These few words of that lady were really touching. I realised that these people whom  I have been mocking silently all along, were actually brave heroes. They could muster courage to an extent where they could show up on stage and express for the sake of their children. Even at the expense of being ridiculed! They had very less time to spend with their kids because of their responsibilities and yet they were giving their best in striking a balance with their duties. Probably, this gave them the courage to be on the ramp and share what they felt. 

In her  concluding speech, Principal madam aptly said, “Kids will follow your example, instead of your advice.”

I salute each one of them and thank God that I have enough time to be with my kid, watch him grow, enjoy sweet little moments with him, look at him when he laughs and makes puppy faces when wants something. How his tears filled eyes which beam with joy even at glimpse of a small ice cream!! His stubbornness, his innocent talks..….the list is endless. 

I hope someday, children, including my son will read this and realise how much we love them as parents and guardians. I wish they understand how each moment spent with them is so so so very special for us.

I am grateful to SRGS, Lucknow for making me realise how lucky I am as a father and how courageous a father can be for his kids!

~Sarabjeet Singh Dhingra~

Sarabjeet is an avid user of fountain pens. He loves driving, diving and dreaming. He can make most terrible jokes sound funny….and vice versa! Tallest among us in height, spirit and enthusiasm, he assures there is not single dull moment when we are around him. A child at heart, a seeker at soul and a believer at attaining goals, he can be found at sarabjeet.dhingra@gmail.com.

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