7:30 pm -The phone rings…..
“Hello hello hello…can you hear me”…a very anxious father calls up n repeats “hello” without even waiting for the other end to respond…
“Yes papa, I can hear you loud n clear…how are you?”His girlie responds sweetly…
“So all set to go?”
“Hanji papa”
“It’s going to be very cold there, hope you have kept your jackets, caps, gloves, and socks properly….” he inquires…
“Papa….all set “she responds…
“Don’t forget to keep your tickets n passport in the outer pocket” another instruction follows…..n she nods like an obedient child.
“Carry a book with you…do not talk to strangers …that too in parayi country…” he issues another command…
“No way papa…sawal hi nahi uthata “now she is almost giggling…enjoying this conversation….darn she herself couldn’t find her reply convincing …?
“Chalo then call me once from the airport…as soon as you reach “his sweet instruction…yet again.
“Ji papa…goes without saying…I will wear my cap…socks n the bomber jacket….will keep the stuff in the outside pocket…will not even look at the strangers(darn those lean n handsome men with deep blue eyes..n long hair tied in a bun or a pony…tsk tsk…dad’s instructions dude)
“Ok take care…god bless”
“You too Dad….love you “ and the conversation ends.
This is a conversation between an ever so worried father…n his daughter in her 40s who he still thinks to be a small little Alice in Wonderland…..who is not travelling alone for the first time….has done it umpteen times in the past but before every travel….this customary call has to be made….n the same set of instructions follow….
Dads are annoyingly adorable….over protective n possessive…n their daughters are always the small little girlies for them…..
Am sure if given the freedom he will send me in a monkey cap ….and multicoloured socks…not to forget a kerchief neatly safety pinned against my chest…and a placard saying”daddy says no talking to strangers…”
Long live such adorable dads.
