February 1, 2014

An unsent letter.....

Dearest Sinu Mama,

Father is a girl's first love or hero as they say. For me, it was not my dad but my uncle. A little more than a dad, a little more than a hero. Yes, my maternal uncle. We all have a special bonding with that mama of ours, don't we? And mine was a bit extra special to me.

Unlike all maternal uncles who do that extra bit of pampering, you were strict with us. On hearing your Yezdi at the corner of the street, we would jump to pick our homework books and sit in our respective spots. As the first grandchild of the family, I had that special first privileges here as well. Off everyone, I was the only one who could muster a bit of courage to act as a representative of the younger ones.

You know mama, your anger scared me at times. But the fierceness of my thoughts date back to those growing up years. Those years when I saw you fight. Fight each day..I cannot even count the number of incidents that you have fought for. I wish I inherited that fighting spirit of yours more than I have.

I remember that day in my teens when I said, "I am scared" and you asked me  "Why?" That event unfolds in front of my eyes even after eighteen years. Till date whenever fear envelopes me, that one 'Why' haunts me to find reasons.

If not for you, who would have attended all the parent-teacher meetings in our school? Who would prepare those long essays for my elocution competitions? I know I had been a tough kid to handle. Thank you for all your patience and perseverance in trying to bring out the best in me. I do not want to make this sound like a thank you letter. There are no thank yous between a father and a daughter right? Yet, I can't fail to express the value of freedom you have given me in each choice I made in life.

My nature of bending over backwards for the people in my life is the biggest asset I have gained and learned from you over years. If there is anyone and anything to count on in the hardest moment of my life, it would be you.

Now you are on the path of spirituality and trying to make me walk along with you. I fail miserably even to take baby steps when you want me to do a brisk walk. Like everything else, I believe you will hold my hand and get me there one day.

I miss your quirky wit, your self deprecating and laugh at life sense of humor; above all your practical jokes. :D

Thank you for all the unconditional love you have given us all these years. You never failed to leave an imprint on every walk of my life. You are a true blessing to have!!

I just realised that I hardly have any pics with you and this one remains to hold a special place in my heart.
A Very Happy Birthday to you!!!

33 comments:

  1. This is such a special post . I am sure Seenu Mama would be smiling as he reads this :)

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    1. Sure, it is, akka. Don't know if he smiled or not, may be he did :)

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  2. Lovely tribute-heart-felt all the way.

    Yes mamas are special--even mine were strict disciplinarians,awed,respected and loved.Very few people write about them.

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    1. I had to write about him, aunty. Without him, there is no me today.

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  3. Yes mamas are special and I am sure your mama will have tears in his eyes when he reads this. Very touching!!

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    1. Thank you Bhagya for the warm words. Mamas are always special.. I had only one and he is the best one could have or ask for :)

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  4. Seenu mama is pretty lucky in having you as a niece and getting your grateful thanks as also wishes on his birthday.Many happy returns of the day for him.

    Lucky in another sense he is, as I have more than a score of nephews and nieces and am yet to get praised!!!

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    1. Thank you for the blessings, KP sir. Haha...your nieces and nephews may not display their praises but am sure they must love you a lot, too :)

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  5. అదృష్టవంతులు లతా జీ..ఇంత మంది ఆత్మీయుల ప్రేమ పొందడం కూడా ఒక విధం గా అదృష్టమే..మీ జ్ఞాపకాలు చదువుతుంటే రిలేషన్స్ మీద పోయిన నమ్మకం మళ్ళీ కలుగుతోంది..Thanks for the post :-)

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    1. Aww...you made my day, Nagini. yes, I am very lucky to have grown up between so many people who pampered and adored me a lot. Relations meeda naaku nammakam potundi, but some where some thread keeps it alive. :) And thank you for reading

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  6. Lovely way to convey Ur love. My maternal uncles are special too

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    1. I bet...thank You Jaish...How are you and the little one doing? Sleepless nights or is she a good girl?

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  7. A very sweet gift penned by a 'daughter' to her mama. He will be proud to receive it..

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    1. I gave him the link to read it. Don't know how his reaction was though :)

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  8. Your warmth and feelings can be felt in what you write Latha:) Beautiful one more time!

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    1. These days I think I cannot write anything until I feel it..some kinda bug :)..thank you so much, Rahul sir.

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  9. I smiled through every line. I felt every word. Your Mama sure loves you a lot and you did return the sentiment!

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    1. Yes, he does Red Handed :) Glad you were able to feel my words.

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  10. I'm sure your Mama is as proud of you as you are of him :-)

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  11. When we answer the 'why' of fear. We solve half of it then and there. He was someone who looked up to and why not, he was there on every walk of life.

    A beautiful tribute.

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    1. Very true, Saru. He helped me solve many of life's troubles into a rubble. And it is really not a tribute...just wanted to tell him again, that I still love him the same after all these years. :)

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  12. Very Very nice one FIF loved it completely.
    True we all have experienced similar love its just that we need to to take that journey back into lost world to see the beauty of that love :D

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    1. Thank you so so much, Ramya :) You gave such a profound statement :)

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  13. I can hear what you are saying, Ashwini...maternal uncles are special for most of us :) And thank you for the best wishes...I always pray a happy, healthy long life for him :)

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  14. Such a beautiful letter Latha. I am mesmerized. He is such a great influence.

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    1. Awww..thank you Jas. He is the biggest influence on my life. Am blessed to have him :)

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  15. Awww such a lovely post. Did your mama read it?

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    1. Yes re, he did. I gave him the link on his birthday :) Don't know his reaction though..he didn't tell me anything...:)

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  16. That's so sweet!!
    I am sure he's have been so happy to read this.

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  17. F in F,

    Visiting you after a long long time. Tribute to grandmother is so touching. How I wish everyone has such loving MAMA. That list to do things is so sensible.

    Take care

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