Sunday Times 2
I wish I had one more day with my Tha
April 10, 2014: This date will be forever etched deep within our hearts as the worst day in our lives — a day that will never feel the same again in our family. A whole year has gone by since my father passed away. It was sudden but peaceful. Time has passed by so slow and yet so fast. To say we miss him dearly every single day since would be an understatement.
I am sure all daughters feel their fathers are the best, the greatest. My sister Hiranthi and I are no exception. Our father was an extraordinary human being. Man of few words, although I am not entirely sure if he was always like this. Perhaps he became this way after he married our dear mother, Shirantini. Ammi is generally known to talk incessantly and it’s always been a challenge for the rest of the family to get a word in edge wise! Whatever the reason, I admired my father for his cool composure, his nonchalant manner in which he dealt with life. He was always calm and collected. The general mayhem of life, day in day out, never got to him. We rarely, if ever, saw him flustered.
Tha always gave us sound advice, but he never interfered whenever we failed to follow it. This was the norm with me when we were growing up. Fortunately my sister rarely gave my parents cause for concern. I was the rebel child who never wanted to follow in anyone’s footsteps. I know my father was a patient man, because he stood by and watched me grow into my own skin at my own pace. I will be forever grateful to him for his unwavering confidence in me. He was proud of his daughters, although he seldom told us that. But we often heard from others that he was constantly “bragging about his girls” at the Golf Club.
My father and I developed a special bond that grew stronger as I grew older. He was always there to lend a helping hand. He was my pillar of strength, my rock during both good and bad times. Although he was a doctor by profession, he was a man of many talents. He was a great sportsman, captained the Royal College athletics team in 1955. He was an avid golfer and was Captain and President of the Royal Colombo Golf Club . I would often refer to him as my architect, my accountant, the handy man around the house. He could put his hands into just about anything, and I admired him greatly for his versatility.
Tha, we miss you every day. We know you are watching over us with that ever-present bemused half smile. We talk about you all the time and I often remind Ammi that you must be having some peace and quiet now without having to listen to her constant chatter.
Time will pass by, the days and the years will blend into each other. We will never stop loving you, missing you and thinking of you. I wish I had one more day with you to tell you things I didn’t get the chance to tell you in person. Until we meet again.
Your loving daughter
Deepthi