25th March, 1998, just a minute past twelve noon,
and I was brought into this world by my mother. Often when we talk about birth,
it is of much obviousness that only the mother receives the entire credit.
Fully aware of the fact that it is the mother who plays the most important role
of carrying the baby in her womb for nine months and bringing a new life into
the planet, I however, would like to alter the above statement, “I was brought
into this world by my mother and father.”
190 months-16 days, 137184 hours, 8231040 minutes, 493862400
seconds and counting, has been approximately the amount of time of my existence
as of now. Each and every moment ever since I was born, there have been two
individuals who I call Ma and Deta, have always been there for me, nurturing
me, helping me, being there for better or for worse, making me a
better-stronger person and doing oh so much more that whether the list was to
be continued, I could never finish, and they still continue to do so. And as I
am almost about to turn Sixteen, the understanding about the value and
importance of family, my parents to be specific, has multiplied to a great
extent. I have often seen children generally paying tributes to their parents
only when one has lost them; according to me though, realizing the meaning and
importance of someone only after they are no longer with you is in a way
futile, because now the person being paid tribute to will never come to know
about your extremely late realization and can no longer acknowledge you for
your late love. So, instead of a late comprehension of what Ma and Deta mean to
me, I would like to make you both aware of the big amount of space that you two
have occupied in my left and right atrium and my left ventricle; apologies, but
I needed the right ventricle for myself.
As William Shakespeare’s poem, ‘Seven Ages’, goes,
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the women and men merely players;
They have their exits and entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts.”
Ma-Deta, you both brought me into this platform and I am always hoping that this entrance of mine onto the stage was an enormous joy. From a mewling and puking baby, then the whining school-girl and now the often outspoken, misbehaved teenager, my parents have always guided me on living the right way, helped me face my troubles and conquer my problems, kept me far-far away from danger, and supported me with no expectation. All those sleepless nights that Ma-Deta spent for me, all because I cried all night long, the countless number of times that they had to clean up after my poop and puke and how they never once hesitated to get my dirt on their hands, breaking their backs carrying me around all day long because I cried my lungs out if I was left sitting, and just so many other situations as such they went through causing them utter pain and stress, but never asking back anything in return and having no regrets, is something that leaves my jaw dropped and awe-struck. This is what ‘love’ is, and the love of a parent can never be compared to any other love in this entire universe.
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the women and men merely players;
They have their exits and entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts.”
Ma-Deta, you both brought me into this platform and I am always hoping that this entrance of mine onto the stage was an enormous joy. From a mewling and puking baby, then the whining school-girl and now the often outspoken, misbehaved teenager, my parents have always guided me on living the right way, helped me face my troubles and conquer my problems, kept me far-far away from danger, and supported me with no expectation. All those sleepless nights that Ma-Deta spent for me, all because I cried all night long, the countless number of times that they had to clean up after my poop and puke and how they never once hesitated to get my dirt on their hands, breaking their backs carrying me around all day long because I cried my lungs out if I was left sitting, and just so many other situations as such they went through causing them utter pain and stress, but never asking back anything in return and having no regrets, is something that leaves my jaw dropped and awe-struck. This is what ‘love’ is, and the love of a parent can never be compared to any other love in this entire universe.
Ma-Deta, I also never fail to forget the ache and sorrow
that I have given you with my numerous episodes of irresponsibleness,
insincerity, and mischief, but please keep in mind that the things I did that
caused you hurt were because of poor judgement taken by a growing teenager with
sometimes irrational hormones and undeveloped frontal and pre-frontal lobes of
my brain, which regulate impulse control and judgement. I am a human being and
I am flawed from birth, but flaws and mistakes are what bring me a step closer
to perfection. I am only in my third stage of life and I have yet another four
stages to finally fulfil my purpose on Earth and make you proud. You both are
my heroes, and I cannot ever see having anyone else as my heroes. For all that
you both have done and continue to do for me; my love for you is irrevocable,
unconditional, indispensable and undying.
“After all, when everything goes to hell, the people who
stand by you without flinching – they are your parents.”
