Met my dad in the Wee hours post a stormy night and his surgery… The man could hardly speak, was teary eyed, squeezed my hand and said the usual though in an unusually softer yet raspier voice : why you wearing white? why no bindi? why nothin around the neck? No more tattoos!!…and just like that I was back to being the 10 year old looking for his nod of approval!!! Ufff… Some things dont change at all no matter what the situation ?

He doesnt know that I own 14 (or is it 15) sarees in this combination … An all time favourite. This is also the one and only Tant I own … Shame on the Bong in me ?

Here’s to my dad, to his undying spirit, love for life, to his love for our mom and the two of us, to his critical analysis of the entire world, to his love for fish curry & rice and football!