My Father

When I was young, I did not know how important it was to stick to one’s long-standing values and principles. But I saw my dad do it. I will not go into detail but let’s just say, the lives of the four of us (my parents, me and my brother) changed overnight. All of a sudden, it meant making adjustments to many things - little adjustments and big adjustments. It meant getting used to taking an auto-rickshaw to college instead of a car and it meant not getting to eat chicken every day.

I used to be angry with my father because I believed he was the reason my comfortable life was suddenly lost. We paid a high price for his honesty, so did he. But those events and changes in my life made me what I was to become. Today, when I look back in time, my heart fills with respect and gratitude for my father, who never budged an inch from his values, principles and what he thought was morally correct.

Today, when I think of those days, I feel that I would have done the same, if I were in his place. In those years of life, I used to think of him as an uncaring father when in fact, he was doing everything not only for himself, but also for us, so that my mom, brother and I could always hold our heads high in pride every time we thought of him.

They stripped my father of many material possessions, but could not strip him of his honour and dignity. And those two things are important, because those are the only things we can take with us when we journey into the hereafter.

But I must say, life is stranger than fiction, because eventually, we got back almost everything that we once lost…

I am thankful to Almighty for giving me a father who set good examples for me to follow.