Papa vs Me!

SCHOOL

Daddy: Good evening, little princess. How has your day been so far?

Me: Good evening, papa! I don't like going to school with that big belly uncle's son. No one talks to me when I'm with him.

Daddy: It's a new place, dear. It's going to be great soon. Trust me. How do you like your classmates? Made friends?

Me: The girls are nice, papa. They're really helpful and so much fun. But I don't like the boys. They tease me with other boys.

Daddy: I'm sure they are. Be good to the boys, and you'll make some really good friends even before you know it.

Me: Yeah papa. But I wanted to be in a girls’ school. The girls there wear short skirts to school. And they don't like boys. Just like me.

Daddy: You can wear your favorite clothes to your dance and tennis classes, dear. Now cheer up!

Me: Ok, papa. But when I grow up, I want to be in a girls’ college ok? Promise?


JUNIOR COLLEGE

Daddy: Hello, sweetheart! How you doing today?

Me: Hey, papa! I'm good. How are you?

Daddy: Never better. So you like your junior college?

Me: Yeah, papa! Pretty much. But why did you put me in an all girls’ college? There are about a hundred in my class!

Daddy: I thought you wanted to be in one. Besides, that's one of the best colleges for the course you said you’d like to take up, dear. You've got to chase your dreams, right?

Me: Hmm.. maybe I do. But it's boring! I don't even feel like wearing my new clothes or getting dressed up.

Daddy: It's ok, dear. You can wear them to parties or when you are out with your friends.

Me: Yeah. But I miss my school friends, papa. We had so much fun!

Daddy: You still can go meet them on weekends.

Me: Yeah, ok. But I don't want to be in a girls’ college anymore. They gossip a lot. About boys.


COLLEGE

Daddy: Hello, my lady. Someone's growing up really quickly! An engineer in the making, I see?

Me: Hey dad! Howz u? Yup! Engineering it is! I like the subjects, but I don't really like my classmates.

Daddy: Why not? You wanted to be in a good, co-ed college. I did my bit of research. This one's ranked second in academics here.

Me: C'mon dad! Don't get started now! I thought they'll be fun. My classmates look horrible and speak some language I don't understand.

Daddy: You still are an engineer and I still am proud of you, dear. You've got to overlook a few things in life and learn to be accommodative.

Me: But my college sucks! I wanted to stay in a hostel and study in another city.

Daddy: We would’ve missed you but that didn't stop us from letting you go, did it? You chose to stay back, didn't you?

Me: Hmm.. yeah! Er.. Dad, but there are cuter guys in other colleges :(

Daddy: Now I know where you coming from. It’s too early! Concentrate on your studies, and things will fall in place.


WORK

Daddy: Hello, miss independent. How is work?

Me: Hey papa! Work's good. So did you sign the deal with that firm finally?

Daddy: Yes, we did! My dream is to give you the best in life, a husband, a lavish wedding, a home, a car.. So did you find someone interesting yet?

Me: C'mon, papa! It’s too early! I'm going to do my masters!

And.. I grew up

I smiled once, maybe twice. Morning flowers beamed at me. We bonded, over innocence. The sun was the brightest my eyes had seen. I missed the darkness, I cried.

I was new. I knew no one. I wanted to speak, but didn't know how. There were people, people I'd never seen. I was scared; helpless. I cried, again. I hated them, but they loved me. She had been holding my tiny little finger all this while. I felt it. I was just a baby. She looked beautiful, and she was. Her eyes looked adorable when she cried. I made her cry. She knew my language. I owe her one for that, I thought. I wanted to grow up to be like her. I wondered how I looked.

I was ten. Flowers smiled and the sun did shine bright. He knew I did not like him but shared his light with me. He made a face. I did not miss the darkness. I loved my life, my freedom. I was a kid, and I was proud of it. I did not behave, I was excused. I loved the phase. Every bit of it. I was beginning to look beautiful. I felt it. I loved, they loved back. I made her cry to see how beautifully she cries. I broke a few promises. I'll make up for them when I grow up. I will, I promise.

I was twenty. I noticed the flowers didn't smile anymore. There was no innocence to bond over. I wasn't sure who changed, or what did. The sun gave me a cold shoulder. I knew he had been holding it. Planning it. Venting it. But I did not go back to the darkness. I didn't care. It was still about me, my life, my wish. I loved, and I hated. A few loved back. I broke no more promises. I hadn't bothered to make any. I had not grown up. Not yet. I needed time. I needed space. Just a little bit more. I looked beautiful and I knew it. I still made her cry. But she had kept her promises. She had held my hand, I did not. I loved her. But I did not want to be like her.

Twenty odd years. The flowers are forgotten but the sun is not, for its revenge is long overdue. I love. I hate. They only hate back. I make promises I cant keep and so do they. I still love her and she still loves me back. It is about me, my life, my wish. It always was. Is. Should be. My time's up, and I'm a grown up. I miss the darkness, but I cannot cry.