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Pappa & My 5 Senses

It’s very hard for me to pick just one memory of my father. I have so many wonderful memories of the first man in my life that it’s going to indeed be a challenge to choose. So to make it easier, I have tried to associate a memory with each of the five human senses. After all, the five senses are famous for triggering a host of memories and rightly so. So here goes!


Smell - The fragrance of Old Spice Aftershave transports be straight back to childhood. Pappa used to work for an airline which demanded shift work. Every time he left for his shift he would slather I on some Old Spice and then give me a cuddle and kiss. That smell of fresh aftershave would linger on for sometime, enveloping me with his presence and warmth. 


Taste - Kadak Pav lathered generously with butter is undoubtedly Pappa’s favourite go to breakfast. He will only make an exception for soft pav if he’s suffering from a tooth ache. As a child I would be enamoured by how he would cut the Pav into slices and then apply butter to each one with great precision. He would readily do this for me and when he did I enjoyed breakfast more than usual.


Sound - Pappa is very fond of music. Thanks to him my brother and me were exposed to a large variety of Indian and Western music. Pappa is a huge fan of The Beatles so any song by them reminds me of him. Also the song ‘Remember’ by John Lennon which speaks of a borderless , utopian world reflects beautifully his love for travel and the importance of justice.


Sight - It’s no secret that Pappa is a passionate biker. In his youth he went on an all India bike tour. Then soon after he turned 60 he again embarked upon a bike ride spanning the Indian borders and also made his way to Nepal. I have fond memories of riding with him as a child. That thrill was something else! So whenever I see a Harley Davidson here in the UK I instantly think of him. 


Touch - When I was little we went on many beach holidays. I would love swimming in the sea with Pappa. I would wait for him to take me deeper into the sea at the point where the waves just about break. I can still feel the sea lifting me up and Pappa holding me securely and then both of us landing back down, waiting for the next wave. I don’t remember doing this on my own even after becoming an adult. This remains to be one of the happiest memories of my life.


It’s been more than a year now that we last met thanks to the pandemic. I cannot wait to be pampered by him again in the way that only fathers can! Here’s looking forward to creating new memories. 




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