Thinking of my dad, Appa
Man with few words
Mighty structure he had
Five eleven or six feet I really don’t know

Mum a shortie compared to him
Stood below his shoulder
Best couple match made in heaven
Not any fault even God can find

Worked so hard twenty four seven
To provide bread and butter and more
To his family of six kids plus mum
Also to the extended family as well

Never did he complained
Nor did he say a word to mum
We never understood his patience
Thinking how he managed all

Loving memories I have
The food they both cooked together
Shopping together with us for festivals
Cleaning the house together whole day

Did all his duty without any fault
Wise moves some he made
Two jobs he did at the same time
To earn enough to cater all

Retired young and earned pension
Worked at private firm till last days
Also worked after office hours
The clients who wanted his expertise

After mum passed away
Work was his way to forget his grief
Perhaps he didn’t want to show us
The pain he suffered inside

Office hours he worked at office
Off office hours managed all well
Cooking for his children after work
After dinner his own client’s files

The noise came from punching the manual typewriter
Was the lullaby I heard many nights beyond midnight
With two fingers the speed better than ten
The reports he typed for a small penny

No of nights I remember saying
Enough Appa sleep now, it’s too late
Never would he listen, mind on his work
Tomorrow he never thought of

Yes tomorrow never he thought of
Lived that moment lived a day
Never he thought what will happen
To his children when he is no more

All thoughts on his work and income
To provide better life for his children
Struggled many nights with out sleep
Glass of drink was a temporary solution

Neglected the health completely
Often he had fever or flu
Temperature going high and low
His weight going down gradually

Took temporary remediation
Pandol or disprine at that moment
Went to few doctors who said
Do not worry bit under weather you are

Guess he knew his days were closer
Knew what was happening to him
Remember many times he told me
The health issues he was having

Waited for the eldest daughter to settle
Atleast one good happening
He would have wanted to see
Before he left this world

Finally when he underwent surgery
It was all too late to fix the unfixable
Remember him talking about work
In delusionary state at the hospital

Holding on to his last breath at ICU
Patiently waited for his son’s arrival from overseas
Happy and relieved he would have been
To see his darling before he passed away

Oh you have come!, lets talk later
The final word he uttered to him
Rama was thinking about you,
The last words he spoke to me

Lots of thoughts coming in mind
No more I want to write at this moment
Better stop at this point
Beyond this don’t want to continue now