Happy Friendship Day!

ppl, m in a very random Emo mood, n dont mind my randomness in typing.

Its Friendship Day today. Yep u know that. I dug deep into whats the meaning of this day? After all we gotta be friends 365 days a year. Thoughts wandered and thats when I reached to the point of my best friend. Dad. Last few days too have been filled with memories of him n i just wanna share it with all of u. Trust me no reasoning left in this state of mind.

starting with kid-hood. Ideally the scenario for a son is Dad's strict, moms soft. The reverse for me. Dad n me had more of a friendship since the early days. More on his side than mine. It starts like every night before sleeping he would tell me stories. I would rest my head on his hand and wrap mine arnd his big chest. N he would narrate stories of Lord Krishna and his devotees, n many other stories from the Vedas. very night. There were times he would be tired n go off to sleep, talk in a half sleepy state, n i would poke him till he finished the story. Imagine when i wanted two stories!

Years go on. Dad n Ma brought me up in a spiritual environment, worshipping Lord Shri Krishna. Every Sunday we would go to temple(still the custom) n meet a bigger family of devotees there. But Ani boy has to be pampered. He just wont go go. So thats when Dad started this custom of taking bus no 83. I love BEST bus rides. This bus starts at Santacruz bus depot n w would go in it all the way to Chowpatty(where the temple is).

Over the years he would train me in spiritual life. He always wished it took up my spiritual life seriously. HOwever he never forced it upon me. Even though thats what mattered to him the most. he never forced. Dad was a senior person in the temple n most of the devotees from the early 90's to present day know him well. Senior n respected as well as a counsellor. A lot of ppl would come to him for spiritual life counseling. Now there were years my involvement in ISKCON would come down. That would hurt him. imaginee there are so many ppl hu take guidance from him n flourish n his own son turned him down. But he never make me feel bad abt it. Continued pampering me. So much so even through the worst financial crisis would hit the family, he continued giving me the best of facilities n not let me know the pains he would have to take for it. ( at this point mate, many of u are gonna be parents soo down the line. Please never never do this. If ure in deep shit, tell ur family n kids. They'll aapt to it. If u dont they'll neer learn things in life. I learnt my lessons a bit late.)

So i was the most pampered son in my strata of society for sure. Now i grew in to my teenage. This phase of my relations with Dad is the worst ever. I confess m the biggest fuktard with no inch of gratitudeness in me. While teenage rebellion is natural outgrowth, i neednt do it. we were anyways friends. But the ass like mind of mine just had to had to rebel a person who was anyways soft on me. We totally grew distant, fighting over who uses the comp. Like an ass made the comp my best friiend, whilst arguing with my real best frined for it. I really feel ike hanging myself upside down for doing all that shit. cis Dad stood thru that n still went out of his way n evn into debt to aid my graduation n other studies. All this regret only came up in the final days of his earthly residence.

Those ten days in Nanavati were the most miraculous yet strong memorable days. Sometime when m more composed ill write abt the days.

This was a Sunday, few days before his last. Saturday night was a critical on as the whole night his condition was bad. He was fighting with life n death. The doctors managed to keep him alive. But he was still in a critical situation. He was put into sedation so that he remains partially conscious n doesnt move his limbs.

That Sunday many devotees came. even his best friend from skewl, ninad. Everyone came. Even our Gurumaharaj- Radhanath Swami came there. He came n spok to Dad. He told Dad - " I am very grateful to you , for all the years of service. You r now in the hands of Radha n Krishna, plase remember them." Then Guru maharaj sat for one hour chanting into his ears. It was the most touching moment of my life thus far. All over the world ppl hankr for evn a little time with him. N he left all his assignments at a short notice to come n be with his disciple at his bedside. This was perfection for Dad. He loved guru maharaj n served him all his spiritual life. Dad would always remember his lectures n words, use them in his whole life n used them to calm n guide others.

Then Maharaj spoke to mom n me, comforting us like a grandparent. At that moment al the hints n clues finally hit us. Dad did not have much longer to live. It was certain unless a miracle. We spoke many things. Then we went to see Dad again. at that point I asked Guru maharaj- I have done so many nonsense rebellious things against Dad, disrespected n rebelled him. Will Dad forgive me? Will Krsna forgive me? Maharaj smiled n said - "He is your father, he will ofcourse forgive you. But you should go now n beg forgiveness from him." We went in. I didnt have the courage to speak anything. Guru Maharaj came from behind n rubbed my backbone(weakest part f my body) with his knuckles gently. I slowly went next to dad.

I told him

"Dad, i remember all those days when u would narrate those stories at bedtime. I am thankful to u for them. Thank you for being such an amazing example - those years in Yatra management, for all those dramas, for being such a wonderful leader. Dad i behaved very badly with u, ven though uve been so kind to me. Please forgive me for being so bad. Dad ill never forget all what u've done for me, n ill never forget these last few days. Ill remember them to the nd of my life."

I said that holding his hand. he was under sedation. But he responded , with tears. I coulnt take it anymore. I went to the washroom, n cried my heart out. That was the only time i did it in the whole episode. Cos all hope was bleak then.

Thursday, Septembr 10 at arnd 6 I was at home praying to my personal deities. Dad was showing signs of recovery n I prayed that now ill get him home. he can retire, n he can do his preaching, all what he wanted to do. That in mind I went to the hospital. I was the last visitor to meet him that day. No sooner than I reached there, the monitors n machines started beeping. nusrses n doctors rushed in. He had a cardiac arrest(which we were told later) n the nurses n docs wwere trying to revive him. One doc saw me n shut the curtain. I was informed to call all relatives, Dad's condition serious. 8.30 Pm Dad breathed his last.

I have given a lot of details here. But my only request n reason to do this is to beg u'll please go hug ur loved ones NOW, before its too late. I know al of ull arent ingratefull asses like me(mean it).. BUt if u love me, just go do this one thing. Thank Your parents n ur loved ones for what they are. Coz fate will seem cruel when the hammer strikes. Thank it for what u have now.

So Dad may have left us, but he still left a rich legacy of friends n families for us. Hez left n example to live by. n as my friend Priyavrata says about his Dad, " I have big shoes to step in."

Missing u Dad, love Dad. Don't stop grinning from heaven.