While this is the happiest day of my life, my eyes still well up with tears. Not because I’m going away to another house, not because I have to now learn the ways of my new family, not because I will now be someone’s wife but because I know your heart is heavier than mine now. I’m not nervous to start a new family, I’m nervous to see how you and Maa would re-start yours without me.
I will always be your daughter first and any other relationship comes second to me. The world might say 1000 different things, but in my heart, you will always come first. But you will have to share me Daddy, and I know you know that.
Even though you were delighted at the thought of my wedding to the love of my life, I know you held back your tears when you said Yes. But you should know that, the man that I now pronounce husband is a lot like you. If you expect him to always keep me happy, then a reality check for you Daddy, we will have fights, you will receive weeping phone calls from me, and we will have our fair share of troubles. But worry not, you have made me a strong, independent woman and what’s life without a few bumps in the road. I’ve learnt to take everything in my stride looking at you, learning from you.
You are the first man I ever loved and you and I both know what that means. You have seen me win, you have seen me lose, you have seen me ecstatic, you have also seen me break down, you have seen me pursuing my dreams and you have seen me devastated cause of a shattered one too. Even though you are a man of fewer words, I understand that you have experienced all this with me. You have showered me with love and respect.
Daddy, not that things are going to change drastically, but I wouldn’t be turning to you for every single thing anymore. There will be things that I will need your advice on, so forgive me if I call you at odd hours. I remember how you kept my secrets from Maa, how you got me out of trouble without her knowing. Now, we have another person in our lives (my husband) that we need to keep things secret from.
You have been liberal yet strict, you have been my support and encouraged me to live independently, I learnt to love unconditionally and also to fight injustice, the qualities that I inherited from you are the prized possessions I have. I don’t need jewelry, a fancy wedding or a grand lehenga Daddy, I want you to feel proud of me, of the woman I’ve become.
It took me 25 years to see that, under the strong, self reliant and strict parent was a man who was my best friend, a man who would do anything to see me smile.