For You a Thousand Times Over…

These are li’l anecdotes/ thoughts from my childhood that will remain with me forever and can never be erased from my mind. Li’l facts that have helped build the person I am today….

->As students, I or Sums (my sister) have NEVER got reprimanded by my parents for our grades/scores. I really mean NEVER. N we were only average students though extremely hardworking, burning the midnight oil etc etc types. My Dad’s theories were
a) As long as we were putting in our best and were dedicated towards our efforts, it was not fair to complain about the grades.
b) Children would be only as intelligent as their parents. He believed it was a gene-thing. So it would be unfair if they expected miracles from us.
‘ Coz of these theories, we both were very highly motivated to study real hard n score the best n make him proud of us.

->My Dad comes from an extremely poor background. 3 meals a day was a luxury. He started working at the age of 17 to support his family of 3 sisters and 1 brother. N so he was willing to do whatever, spend how-much ever for his daughters to be educated, which at that point he could not afford. When he went to get my sister admitted into LKG, the principal told him “With your kind of salary, you won’t be able to afford my school”. He told my principal to give him a fair chance n send the kids out of the school the instant he missed paying a fee.
· My sister studied in that school for 12 years and had to leave after class X coz they din’t have the course she wanted.
· I studied in that school for 14 years. That was all they had!

->Mom had a very modest background and completed her B’com in Chennai. She got married at the age of 19 and had her 1st kid when she was 20 years old. She started working for financial reasons and is today the Media Manager of an Advertising Company. Today, she gets restless if she has a break for a little over 3-4 days and says she can’t dream of quitting work. She is our biggest inspiration…as a Home-maker, a Career Woman, a Mother, a Human Being!

->There were several instances where we received scoldings from our parents. My Dad ALWAYS said Sorry, when it was an undeserved scolding. I remember, he would walk into our bedroom at night before going to sleep, kiss our foreheads n say Sorry. He believed that sorry had to be said when it has to be said. There was no age barrier for using the word and that there are times when even a one-year old has to be asked for apology!

->Sums n I were extremely close to each other as children. Even now we are. But now I’m as close to mom much as I am to sums. As a child I would say “I love sums more” so easily. Now I know how much that must have hurt mom, though she never showed how she felt!
Mom was the tough one in the family. She was never expressive .She wasn’t the hug n kiss kind. Before each of our weddings my dad would have sleepless nights of how life would be without Sums/me at home. Mom dint say a word. Now I know, that was only to make us stronger. She cried more than anyone n she feels more than anyone, but she never shows! She is really the pillar of strength for the family.

->well I’ve been in the US for a year now…My 1st year out of home and I know mom ,dad n Sums are missing me real badly. I am getting very homesick myself. In November My manager at work had told me my leave in April was approved and there was so much excitement in the air. The 1st week of 2008, she comes back n tells me, my leave is not approved. I have been so upset about it and I know I crushed a whole bunch of dreams my parents had. All that mom had to say was “Don’t worry Sweetheart, God willing we’ll see you soon. Just be brave”. She dint show any disappointment. ….Just for me!

->Sums ..well to talk about our relationship would take a lifetime…There would be no childhood or for that matter no Pavi, if not for her…. Touchwood, I think we are simply the best n the perfect sisters in this whole wide galaxy!

These are a fraction of the reasons why I’m proud of you 3..

Well for u Ma n Pa and for u Sums… I want to relive those childhood years…
FOR YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER!

Ps: This line is used in the movie/book “The Kite Runner”. I just can’t get over the book….I can’t say enough how much I loved it….and I thought it was a beautiful line and am glad I found an appropriate usage for it in my life!!!