Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

You can judge by post by its title - All permission granted, but please don't judge me. Yes, I have used a Karan Johar film's title but somehow - I wanted to.

A little ladybug bit me yesterday. A very cute little ladybug. 3.5 years old. My second cousin's daughter and of course my little niece. I think I met her once at my cousin's wedding and this one was the second. The little ladybug's name is Aneesha. Little Ladybug Aneesha has been on my mind for the past two days. I had gone to visit my uncle (Aneesha's granddad) as he had a surgery. Aneesha baby had come down to India from New York before two months along with her mom. She had taken off from playschool and come to be with grandpa and family.

The thing about Aneesha that caught my eye immediately was the volley of questions she asked her mom. She is a keen listener. Every time someone says something she would listen carefully and her next question would be based on that. When Padhu and I entered the house, Aneesha was totally different. She had had this love for long hair so she was wearing a wig plaited down to her feet and a saree that her mum and aunt put on for her. She was wearing make-up and looked like the perfect American baby who was learning Bharatnatyam. We entered and she instantly shied away. She hid for almost 15 minutes and then peeked after she had removed her make up and hairdo. With her summer floral dress and the bindiless face - she was the perfect little kid! She ran from person to person in the room but came to her mum with her questions.

Aneesha did a lot of talking and smiling. She invited me over to Ishu's Home which is her New York residence. I was truly amazed by the beauty in this little child's manners. She was the cute,cuddly type - like every kid. But the special part is - she was conversational. Cute cuddly and conversational - who's gonna say no to this kid!I could have packed her in a little bag lined with flowers to suit her clothes and brought her home with me!

Not enough that I fell in love with this child already - she said the most beautiful thing when we were about to leave. Padhu and I left the house and came downstairs to leave and we said our byes to everyone. I said 'bye Aneesha, we will come to Ishu's home in New York'. Aneesha replied saying 'Don't say bye. I don't like saying byes'. My heart sank. It was instant, open and outright honest. She loved to have people over and never wanted to let go. I replied saying 'We will meet again in New York' and left. All the way back home and till this minute I have wondered if anyone I know or knew have ever uttered such beautiful words - 'I don't like saying byes'. Innocence, honesty and love. Also, the fact that she met me only twice made my heart sink.

I woke up this morning how this beautiful little baby said her bye to her daddy dearest 2 months ago. However the dad and daughter are dealing with it - I saw the sacrifice my brother-in-law was making so his wife could come to India to be with her dad. I saw the sacrifice my brother-in-law was making so that his daughter to be with her mother. I saw the love in that much sacrifice and realized Father's day could never get better than June 20, 2011.

Happy Father's Day Guna anna - Among all husbands/fathers/brothers/grandfathers - somehow miles away I wanted to wish you more than anyone!