Dear daughter,
I fall short of words to describe the joy and grandeur you have brought into my life ever since I saw you. You were born little and tiny but the excitement I felt was uncontainable.
I was initially nervous and my hands trembled to hold you, but slowly and steadily you gave me the strength and the confidence to keep trudging along. As you bounced your way through from being a little girl to a modern young lady of your time, I saw my reflection in you and you personify the faith and the trust I will always have in my child.
Now that you are grown up and are ready to take on the challenges life throws at you, allow me to pen down a few lines I have been meaning to tell you for a long, long time. Your mother might have different things to tell you, or probably warn you, about. But this letter will just talk about you and me.
You always were a very quiet and reserved child. But at times your bubbliness would brighten up the whole household. Coming home from work used to be my favourite time of the day since it was the time I could play along with you and share my day’s routine with yours. Often you used to come crying and with your tiny hands complain that mother was upset with you. Your tears used to pierce me like tiny little swords, but then I would make both of us realise that this world is full of harsh realities and we should always face them with a brave heart.
It always amazed me to see how you used to cheer up afterwards and run around being your usual self. Before I could see the passage of time, you had started to come out of your parents’ shadow and assert your individuality.
Although you used to showcase your own talents, it brought me sheer pleasure when people commented on how much you had taken after me. I have been told innumerable times that your mannerisms match mine and that you are a miniature me! You used to call me your ‘super daddy’ and there were so many roles for me to perform – superhero, tent maker, storyteller, hide and seeker. If you ask me I would close my eyes and tell you that our best play time was when you would dress me up, tie my hair, put your mother’s lip gloss on me and decorate my eyes. Now that these jobs have taken a temporary hiatus for me, I can’t wait to be your muse once more. Let’s play again someday.
Today, you are an individual, grown and with your own niche to carve. Although you have just sailed your boat towards greater goals in the sea of life, I have to appreciate your undeterred efforts for all that you have achieved at such a young age. I was only able to do half as much as you did at my time.
But you have to always remember that life is about ups and downs and no success will come without fair share of failures.
It will show you good people and bad people but you must always trust your brain and heart to steer clear through them.
Keep your head high and always follow the longer route to success, for it is the way which will keep you real and grounded.
Never reveal your emotions to a stranger. Some people may lend you a shoulder to cry on in your delicate times, but look carefully before believing.
Someday you might meet a man of your dreams and he may take my place. Make sure that he is the one for you and don’t rush into it. It would be one of your life’s biggest decisions and I want you to keep your eyes and ears open when you choose that person.
Lastly, no matter what happens, I want you to remember that I will be always there for you as your knight in shining armour. Your happiness and a successful family is the only thing I have ever wanted in life. One day I may not be physically present but you will always find me eternally connected to you. Do not cry when I go, because I will always come back to you in one form or the other.
Be loving, successful, keep your head high and always trust your instincts. As they say, go and rock the world!
Love,
Daddy.
____________________
Cover image by Pete O’Shea via Wikimedia Commons
About the author
Chris Mallika Bhadra is from India and is a Doctoral candidate in Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia. Besides being a scientist (not a mad one though), she is an avid reader, trained contemporary dancer and now is an active blogger! Her writings mostly serve out her life experiences on a platter for the reading pleasures of all! You can find her on Facebook (Musings of an unsettled soul) and read more of her work here.