I don’t need any entries in favourites

TM Yashodhan Abhyankar

My dad is my home page!

I opened the browser of my mind and clicked on the favourites tab. To my utter surprise, the list was empty. How did I not have even a single entry here? There are a lot of people who I like and admire, how were they not in my favourites? I often visit pages dedicated to history, sports, music, freedom movement and so on. I always get inspired by famous personalities like Shivaji Maharaj, Vir Savarkar, Bhagat Singh and Sachin Tendulkar. I found all these pages under the “most visited pages” tab. But what about the favourites tab? Why was that empty? Wasmybrowsermalfunctioning?

I was fine with other names not appearing in this list, but what about my Dad? What happened to his page? In fact I was expecting his page to be at the top of the list.Iclickedonsettings,nothingseemedtobewrong. Finally I decided to reset the browser. I was about to click the reset button and suddenly realised my mistake. I was trying to search for my Dad’s name everywhere except one place, the home page. Yes, he is much more than just a favourite, he is my home page.

During my childhood, I was scared of him. Not only me, the entire neighbourhood was afraid of him. Well built body, fair complexion and a voice to suit the personality. He never beat me; he never shouted at me; and yet I was scared of him. The reason was his blueeyes.Asingleangrylookfromhimwasmorethan enough to keep me quiet. He never used to chit chat with me; he never asked me anything about my studies; but it did not mean that he was not paying attention to my needs. Without asking for it, he bought me a bicycle when I went to 5th grade, Kinetic Honda, when I was in college. I wanted shoes for playing football, I wanted a tennis racket, and he neversaidno.

“Father” of my childhood turned into a “Friend” of my college days. He wanted me to become an engineer, and I was inclined towards commerce. He tried to convince me but never forced his opinion and happilyallowedmetogotocommercecollege.During college days I used to get 50 Rupees from him for drinking beer on 31st December and now he is my drinking buddy. This transformation from father to friend was so natural that now I wonder why I used to getscaredofhimbefore. He never gave me any Gyan or discourse, but taught me so many things through his actions. His love towards plants and birds, his helping nature and simplelivingaresomeofthevaluesIadmiremost.

He is in his 80s now and once again he has changed his role. Initially he was my father and I was his son, now I am playing the role of his father. I have to remind him to take medicines, I have to shout at him for not wearing a mask or not washing hands. He is enjoying his role of being naughty at eighty and I am enjoying the role of becoming a father of a mischievous old boy. Believe me, it’s fun.

I don’t need any entries in favourites, because my Dad is my Home Page.