Oh, yes! Pink as petals of rose and as soft, a round face in which two black-grape eyes twinkle, soft black hair plastered on to the pate and two little arms and legs suggesting some movement, swathed in a baby blanket held close to your chest that has swollen with pride and bursting with emotion - to be a father is the proudest moment in your life. Not equal to that of the mother who bore him through nine months and nursed him with her own blood, but then to give forth an expression of life its form, well, the feeling is different.
It was seventeen years before when I held our second child in my hands, perhaps half an hour after he stepped into this world. Though the mirth and joy of seeing the little life gazing into my grinning face was unbounded, little did I realize that this bundle of joy would one day (after a mere 17 years) be taller than me and be ready to roam the wide, unexplored world all by himself.
These seventeen years appear to have gone by in a jiffy, and difficult to believe that he was just born then. Bringing him up was as much fun as was demanding, helped in a small measure by the joyous journey that we went through with the first. There are times when my wife turns around and tells me that I have pampered and protected them beyond limits and they are 'papa's spoiled brats'. Well, she is right and I know she is. There have been moments when I did go mad at them and others when I have placed them on my head (literally) and danced around. Much have I denied my wife and self, but to the best of my abilities I provided whatever they needed to go ahead with life.
I do not know if I have been a good father. I do not know whether they will be great men or simpletons. I do not know if they would chase their dreams or simply be content with what life gives them. I do not know whether they will love us when we are old or merely discharge an obligation. I do not know whether they will find their true love in their life-partners or they would merely go through the motions of married life. I do not know if they have the passion for living small things and small moments of life or be disillusioned with unfounded aspirations.
But what I do know that we have loved them with all our heart. Through thick and thin, we have shown them to stand for their principles and beliefs; to take life with equanimity; not to spite those with better disposition but to aspire and persevere for what their heart earns for; to care for lesser mortals and to do what they can to anyone in need; to trust their own self and to have abiding faith in God.
Parenting is not for the weak-hearted and let me tell you, if you put your hearts on your children, well, there can be no better living reward. It has not been easy for us, that is to be honest, but then we have two lovely sons whom we cherish and that is the greatest gift of life!
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