One of my earliest childhood recollections was that of waiting outside our house for Abba to come home from work in the evening or after extensive official trip/camp he undertook. We lived at the end of a long street leading to our house and right in the courtyard stood a big tree. The tree had some low branches that we could climb over it from the Verandah, me, my sister and my bro.
We three would wait for our Abba by climbing up and sitting in a branch of that tree in anticipation of seeing Abba's Govt. jeep to pull into our street and hear the sound of the typical sarkari vehicle. When that time came, we would jump down from our tree branch as fast as we could and run over to Abba's Jeep. We couldn't wait for him to get out of his jeep! Even our Dog Caesar, we had at that time, would jump into jeep, even though my Abba was not affectionate to Dogs.
I still remember the excitement we three felt each evening anticipating Abba pulling into our home, then getting out of the jeep and giving us, first, his big signature grin even though tired after days work and then, quickly after, scooping us up in his arms for the “coming home jappi”. But he was reserved and we used to keep distance. The only one who got any show of affection was our pampered sister. All we got was a nod and Joy rides to many official functions esp. on Saturdays and Sundays.
I was so, so happy to get that jappi from Abba, I think I probably would have hang around forever - or at least since evening snack time - to receive that warm, loving jappi!
When he gave that jappi which was rare, I could feel how much he loved us in his strong yet gentle, positive and protected cuddle. I am so grateful to my Abba for this amazing remembrance of his coming home from work. He had several memorable gestures to display that magically put into words like "I love you," "You are special to me," and "You are my joy" .
Circumstances and obligations him to move away, from family to be with his windowed sister. When Abba became ill just a few months afterwards and couldn't communicate his love for us in words or even jappis any longer, I still had those memories of his "coming home from work to be with us" scenes to represent upon for self-assurances and the continuous declaration of his love fro us all.
I recall, after My Abba's death, we stayed in a rented apartment, where the landlord had eight kids, yep quite a family. We use to watch the every evening ritual, when the landlord used to come back from work, all the kids used to run out shrieking out "Baba Aagayee...Baba Aagayee..." and surrounding his two-wheeler for the goodies he brought. No affection, no jappis, no smiles, all they wanted was the Goodies, the poor man brought home each evening. All scamper back into the Home.
It has now been nearly thirty years since my Abba has passed away, yet the memories of him from my early childhood continue to be a marvelous source of inspiration to me. I remember the immense pleasurable times we had together when I was young; his effervescent smile, the inanity of his jokes esp of the bureaucracy, and the playful gestures.
But of all the fond memories my Bro and I have of our time with Abba, the "waiting for him to come home for the evening jappi" is to me, the best one of all. And when I think of my Abba coming home, I can still remember the beaming grin he would give us, his long arms smoothly stretching out to hold us, and the feel of his tender jappi as he lifted us up off the ground.
Each time I think of those moments, it's as if my Abba is here with me once more, and I can feel his love inside of me all over again even though grown up and bring kids up.
Thank you, Abba. I love you! We all do Love Our Father too....
