Baba

You complete 75 years,

As the clock strikes 12 tonight.

This year though it appears,

We would celebrate light!

But I thought of a different way,

To make it memorable,

Through words, I couldn't say,

All this while.

I have not had you close,

For all of 75 years,

As I've seen merely half of those.

Yet, enough fun, it sure appears!

My earliest memory involves,

You coming to kindergarten,

With a set of four biscuits,

In a steel box for tiffin.

That you would feed, 

With your hands,

While ensuring you met,

Your son's tantrums.

Then again, one day, I remember,

You happily coming home and say,

That your son scored the highest number.

And me asking, why it mattered that day!

Sometimes, you took me to the fair,

And I would ask for anything and all.

Because I knew you did care,

But I recall your helplessness, you probably felt small.

You tried to make me understand,

That not everything in life can be had,

That everything had a value tag,

That, with what I had, I should be glad.

But that did not ruin life's pleasure!

Remember our cricket season?

After you came from the office and avoided leisure!

Just to ensure a game with your son!

Or how you purchased badminton net,

And we played every winter evening,

Albeit, you got tired I bet,

Yet we ended up grinning!

And then the evening snacks!

That you got on the way from the office!

Sweets and pakodas!

Ah, sweet and spicy happiness!

I am overwhelmed with memories tonight,

Trying to determine what to write,

There is so much between us,

That it's difficult to decompress.

When I see you now,

You are fragile and old.

But your eyes still show,

Infinite affection, though untold,

Reminiscent of the 80s!