Why Pune Makes Me Sad, Despite All The Excitement That It Offers!

Though I like Pune a lot for its weather, Organized roads, the landscape and the blue skies, and a lot of other things, a part of me is saddened by this place right from day 1.

And that part is that of a daughter who incessantly loves her old man!

My dad, who's in his mid-50s, is compelled by his circumstances to live away from his family that puts up in Delhi. For most part of his career, he's lived in Delhi, with us.

Why this place hurts me is because the neighborhood isn't as warm and welcoming as it is in Delhi. And more so because people living in taller buildings  keep their warmth and compassion locked up  in a closet.

And as he took me around the place, I realized how the only people who spoke with him were other lonely elderly people in the neighborhood, as they had no one to talk to either. This came as a sudden slap on my face, as if I've failed to do something that I could have, to make his situation any better. As if I've failed to keep the promise of giving him a comfortable life. Because I suddenly realized that my dad's been silently leading a suffocating lonely life, at an age where he should be relaxing with his family.

And when I was left alone in this house for some 15 minutes, all I could hear was nothing at all. Silence is good only in a limit and I realized how the quietness can hit you hard, especially when you are used to being in a lively place all your life.

Also, Dad tells me that the people here are a bit closed when it comes to being social and celebrating festivities in the neighborhood. And having come from Delhi's Cosmo culture, I know how suffocating that would feel like.

The city that once excited me, suddenly makes me feel sad, not because it's a bad place, but because of the entire experience that my favorite man has been going through. And Of course this can happen in any other city too. But this is just how Pune made me feel for now!

What It’s Like To Have A Lovely Father And A Strong Mother!

Often when people ask me about my family, there's a lot that I want to say but I end up just summarizing that my parents are the coolest I have ever seen, who never compromised on the quality of life they could give us, both materially and intellectually.

If I had to describe my parents in one word each, I'd say my mom is Strength and my dad is Love; both are necessary for living a good life and the absence of even one would make life a chaos.

And trust me, it's the best combination one could ask for.

Whenever I used to feel weak, my dad would come to me and tell me about how my mom survived every catastrophe and that being a woman does not mean you need to be all emotional and dramatic about life. 

He told me how the daughter of this extremely strong woman should do justice to the strength that I've inherited from her.

My dad is Love because he's showered us with every form of love possible. Respect, Affection, Anger, Care, Concern, Criticism, Advise, Pampering; you name it, he gave it. He's love because I look out for him whenever I want to be heard, whenever I want to advise, whenever I want to be pampered!

He's a perfect example of how a man should treat the woman he loves, how love and respect are synonymous, how listening is as important as speaking up and how it's okay to be harsh if it's gonna bring some good  to your loved one.

My mom is Strength because she won't come and sit next to you and teach to stand back up. She'd let you fall, let you learn and she'll be there to hold you at the right time. She's not the protective mother who's scared of letting you take risk or trying something new. She'll let you experience every circumstance, but won't let you know what fear is. 

She is confidence. She is Strength. She's knowledge and she's wit. She's also craze of a next level.

She's the coolest friend and with a mom like her, you wouldn't need a reason to lie or fake. 

She's the spine of our family. Anyone of us feels weak, she's right at our back to support us. Any of us feels low, she's right there to add spark to our lives.

But if there's only strength and no love, one may become arrogant. While If there's no strength, only love then one tends to become vulnerable. And these two bring the balance in my life.

Thanks to them, my life's a lively and lovely journey!