Pari baby, on your 13th birthday. Be happy.

17 Sep 2014.

My darling sweetheart Pearly-baby,

I write this letter to you on the verge of your 13th birthday. When you read it, you'll have turned 13 already!

Many many happy returns of the day, my baby. I hope and wish that you shall have a fabulous day. May all your dreams come true, today, and forever.

My bachcha, you have simply no idea how much Mumma & I love you. Or maybe, you do!! Perhaps, that's why you are the wonderful person that you are. My sweetheart, I wish I could stop the clock and pause the sands of time to freeze us all into an unending eternal frame, where we could continue to cherish your cute antics and laugh merrily at your silly jokes. Forever.

Pearly-baby, on the stroke of midnight tonight, you'll no longer be our little baby girl... you'll officially become a young lady! You'll no longer be my lovely, sweet, kind, lively, bubbly, cute baby-girl... you'll slowly blossom into a beautiful, gorgeous, talented, intelligent, warm and loving young woman. And whilst this is a most beautiful transition that your Mumma & I witness, we can't help being a little selfish in wishing that you stay like this... always.

My betu, you are going to step into a new world. A world, where you'll face new challenges each day. Some easy. Some difficult. And then, some which will seem impossible to overcome. But sweetheart, if you give each challenge its due time and effort, not a single one of them will get the better of you. Not one! Remember what I always say - Every problem has more than one solution; our job is to find that solution... that one solution... which is the "bestestest" solution. 

Finding a solution is not difficult. Finding the optimal solution often is.

Anyway, I vividly remember the day we found out that Mumma was pregnant with you in her tummy. We were ecstatic. We danced and we danced. We simply couldn't believe that you were finally going to be in our lives. We were on top of the world. We thought there could be no other feeling that could have bettered this feeling. But, we were wrong. When you came into this world, and into our lives... every day has been filled with infinite such moments... each better than the previous.

You were, are, and will always remain our most cherished gift. For, that's what you are... HIS most prized possession, gifted to us to cherish. I thank God every day for bringing you into my life.

When Mumma had you in her tummy, she wasn't really well. She couldn't eat or drink anything. Things got so bad that I had to admit Mumma to the hospital. There, she was given drips to make sure she was taking in enough "food" for both of you. For 17 long days, she was in the hospital. I used to visit her every day straight after work. The hospital nurses were really kind/ & nice - they let me stay past the visiting hours every day.

Each day was a challenge for me... my riddle was to find something that your Mumma could eat/drink without feeling nauseous and be sick. For 15 days, I brought different things for her to try... with no success. I had tried everything I could think of... food that she liked, disliked, was recommended, etc... nothing worked. On the 15th day, Richard-uncle and I were talking about this at work, and he asked me... "have you tried fizzy lemonade?"... I said I had tried Coke/Pepsi/etc... but not sparkling lemonade! To which he said - "that's what Jill liked when she was pregnant the first time". That evening, I had wings! I went straight to the corner shop, bought both types of lemonade - sparkling and still... and a few more things that I can't recall... and nearly ran all the way to the hospital. Mumma, as usual, was hesitant to try new stuff because that meant she would end up being sick again! But, to her credit... she never gave up. So, she had a little sip at first. And then another... after a short while... and almost a cup-full of sparkling lemonade later... she was actually feeling better! For the first time in nearly 3 weeks, she was actually feeling better! Two days, and a dozen bottles of sparkling lemonade later, Mumma came back home with you still in her tummy!

So, my advice to my innocent baby girl on the verge of stepping into her teens is this - no matter how hard the obstacle may seem; no matter how impossible the task may seem; even if you think that the situation is not in your hands; or the world may seem to be against you; NEVER GIVE UP... and, you will surely succeed. Simply take "Failure" out of the options list.

As a father, I wish for you, a world which will give you mountains of happiness, and, only tiny ponds of sorrow. Yes, my child, one cannot exist without the other. With happiness, you must also adopt sadness/sorrow/unhappiness. But, it is in these unhappy moments, the world shall judge you ruthlessly. So, stand up straight, head held high, shoulders back and unwavering confidence on your abilities rooted deep in your heart... and tell the world - Do your worst. I'm right here. I won't run. I won't budge. I believe in myself. I believe in God. And HE is with me.

And, the world will worship you.

Go forth, my child... make mistakes... learn from them enough, to never make them again. Love like there is no tomorrow. Forgive easily. Be kind. Laugh the loudest. Dance like no one is watching. Work the hardest. Stand up to be counted. Help everyone. Give anonymously.

Be happy, my child... not rich.
I love you my baby. Forever.
Daddikins