My 20th Birthday

It was my birthday. Dad called in the morning but I was still sleeping because of last night. Everyone who once lived in hostels will be very well aware of the celebrations and traditions. I was treated in the same way without any partiality, a circle was formed and the chief guest , ohh, thats me, was surrounded with my friends. Two of them, one hold my hands and other hold my legs, and rest, they all started. The result of all their hard work was that I was lying on the floor holding my back, pretending to be strong, after that they smashed the cake on my face, on my whole body. All these happenings ended at 2:30 am, woke up at 9:00 am, saw a lot of wishes on whatsapp and a missed call from Dad, I replied but my sister picked the phone, wished me a happy birthday, replied with a "thank you". Dad was not there, I hanged the call after talking to mom.

After sometime, I started replying to all the messages and got myself busy in other things. Finally I got a video call around 2:15 pm, was taking a nap after the lunch. At the speed of light, I combed my hairs, within 30 seconds tried to become that school boy which they were used to see whenever I used to be at home. Picked the call, mom and dad was on the other side, wished me, after that the same parent law came into action, "baal kyu nhi katwaye, lambe ho gye hai", " dadhi(beard) kyu nhi banwaye ", "khana sahi se nahi khate kya, patle ho gye"...and a lot more. Its a different story that I am heaviest among all my hostel-mate. After a few talks I could find my dad emotional, after some conversation, hung up the call.

Just after that I got a long message from my Dad, maybe he had prepared that much before. I still remember the words whatever he said in full english, may be he used the google translator, "Enjoying your childhood, when you grew up I didn't know. When you fell down in childhood,you didn't cry, you are my brave son. I know I always tried to be your father, I couldn't be your friend in this round. I know you are hesitant to tell me your things, you hide your things from me. You are the beginning of my paternity, my son. Now you will not see me screaming on your small mistakes. Now you will be the owner of your own. Maybe you choose life partner on your own and why not, it is your right too. Happy independence, my son. I will be always present in the role of guiding at every turn. As a birthday gift I am trying to be a cool dad as you always wanted me to be. Starting with "you" as 'u' , "are" as 'r' and "your" as "ur" , as all the youngster of ur age use in ur convo. I have a lot to say my son, but I don't want to be ur boring lecturer who continues his words monotonously. Enjoy ur day, my son." Thats it.

Though I crossed my teen, but I didn't get those deep words from my dad. I continued with my day. After 28 year of that incident, today, 16 june 2046, at the age of 48 today, my daughter, Ahana, crossed her teen and entered into her 20s, I understand those words which my dad said through the message. I was in the same state where my dad was 28 years back. I did the same thing, I copied the same message which my dad sent to me with a few changes as I also tried to be the cool dad which my dad tried years back and sent it to my daughter. Hope she understand which I was unable of.