The big bundle of joy

Some people are there in your life for a very short period but they leave a very large print in your heart. I know all fathers do, but mine was extra special. He was full of energy and fun and for him I was sugar and spice and sometimes "kuttimatti". I don't know why he used to call me that but I was used to hear that from the day I was born. He was a zoology professor in a well reputed college and was an adamant teacher that i quit biology when i reached class 11. He used to say that i'm making my path narrow by selecting just one stream, but still allowed me to do so. Now don't think that my father was a very serious person just because he gave me this advice. He was never !!..
I have a younger brother and it was a scene at home when 3 of us get ready to go to school .. yes acha used to take us to school because my kid brother was too horrible to be handled. Amma used to declare 144 (that people should not be found in groups). He was too lazy sometimes to get ready and sometimes over excited. He would jump on the bed, strip his clothes and scream "MISS UNIVERSE". These are all happenings when he was in kindergarten (the readers should not misunderstand). Then the short way to school made long by standing here and there, picking up stones and flowers, running after flies and talking to college girls (we had to pass achas college to reach our school and my brother was cute looking boy then ;). But acha was so patient that he stood with him on all stops while i thought of the phrase "getting on my nerves". In the evening you'll not believe if i say that acha, my classmates, and myself run after my dear little brother to catch him as he would be running all around the school campus. All my friends were acha's fans and would say "a lovely and lively father" . I had friends who had very strict fathers. A personality was even like, he would ask his daughter to stand inside a circle he drew on the floor for hours as punishment. Interesting right?? I used to laugh over that and would boast that my father was never like that. But then one day he was gone, only these words can explain it, "he was gone".
I never wanted to end this on a sad note. He could colour our days with just one smile. I was always ready to sacrifice everything for him, but he left us for nothing.. Still the moments with him are to be cherished and saved in the casket of memories, taken out at emotional edges and enjoyed.. Love u acha