We all believe in ‘Super Heroes’. They are people with unbelievable powers. They make the impossible happen. They can face excruciating pain without complaints. Whatever wrong is done to them they are always good to you. They are your guardian angles, always keeping you out of trouble and protecting you even at the cost of their lives. They might seem like fictitious characters but for me they do exist. They are my parents (Aai and Pappa).
I have always seen my father surrounded by people. All of them looking and listening to him every time he holds a mike. Over the years the crowd of thousands changed to lakhs. Many give me respect because my father has touched their heart or changed their lives for the better. I’ve always felt that my father is special but he never thinks so, I guess that itself makes him special. He is my hero. Once I wanted to be like him, actually I wanted to be him (with age I knew how difficult that was). Though he led a busy political life, he was always there for his family. Not once did we brothers feel that he didn’t give us enough time. We solved maths problems together and challenged each other to the games of table tennis and carrom. I wonder how he managed to be at so many places, doing so many different things at the same time. Super-human qualities I guess?
On the other hand, my mom is a typical housewife. Her entire world revolves around her husband and children. She is truly the nucleus of our household. She binds us and encourages us to grow. She is the one-woman army at home. One child can be a hand full... bringing up three boys isn’t an easy job. But she did it without complaints. She used to wake us up every morning and get us ready for school. Which included ironing our clothes, putting on our socks and tying our shoelaces. Cooking and sending lunch to school and sitting on our homework once we were back. Washing our dirty clothes and telling us mythological stories that we always wanted to hear and most difficult part was putting three boys to sleep. How could she do all these things everyday along with thousand other household chores? Again super-human qualities I guess?
{{/usCountry}}On the other hand, my mom is a typical housewife. Her entire world revolves around her husband and children. She is truly the nucleus of our household. She binds us and encourages us to grow. She is the one-woman army at home. One child can be a hand full... bringing up three boys isn’t an easy job. But she did it without complaints. She used to wake us up every morning and get us ready for school. Which included ironing our clothes, putting on our socks and tying our shoelaces. Cooking and sending lunch to school and sitting on our homework once we were back. Washing our dirty clothes and telling us mythological stories that we always wanted to hear and most difficult part was putting three boys to sleep. How could she do all these things everyday along with thousand other household chores? Again super-human qualities I guess?
{{/usCountry}}All our parents inherit super-human qualities when it comes to their children. They do the most extraordinary things to put a smile on our faces without ever letting us know the hardships they go through or sacrifices they make. Aai and Pappa — love you more than my life. 29th May 2010 – Happy 35th Anniversary my Super Heroes. Write to me at riteish.deshmukh@hindustantimes.com