A Special Day!

It was a special day today. For at least 2 reasons.

1. It was Amisha's birthday today. Yippie! Cakes, candles and celebrations!
2. Papa's retirement. Yippie! He enjoyed his job and now it's time to enjoy his life!

A little sad feeling though for item 2
My father completed his service term and got retirement from his government job today. Papa will turn 60 in a few days. He was in this government job for the last 35+ years or so. He was in the same city, same office, surrounded with almost the same colleagues for more than 35+ years!

Papa started this job in his early twenties. He was all alone then. Then, he got married to my Mom. After a few years the couple had my elder sister. A couple of years down the line they had me. And another few years later my younger brother. We all children grew up together in a small government colony where in all the employees of that government department used to live in staff quarters. Those were the best days of each of our lives. So many kids to play around with, so many friends.

My younger brother was lucky enough to get leave from his job to be with Papa on his special day. And he managed to click some photos of the event that he shared with me.

A depressing feeling, it is, to see farewell photos. People in the pictures are so familiar yet look so strange. Of course the faces in memory seldom match with those in reality. Time is the sculptor with it's own set of hammers & mallets, rasps & riflers. And has it's own plans to make use of them. Time is the painter with it's own set of pastels & easels, brushes & canvases. And has it's own mind to make use of them. But one thing hard to ignore is that it has left marks and scars and various shades of grey and white on every familiar face.

An expression of loss on some of those faces today while an expression of relief on some others. While still others with their trademarked poker faces. A group of arms garlanding Papa. A group of hands touching his feet. A group of ears listening to his last official speech. And a group of hands clapping thereafter.

And a pair of sad eyes watching this...


Comments

  1. purnimaSeptember 1, 2011 at 6:01 AM

    I can understand your feelings.But this is d time when he will need full family support to accept that new life. Best wishes for him....

    ReplyDelete

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