My father and my experience with him - Friendship

20th March 2010, 7:30.pm. A vacuum created. The moment when my father left. Have only good and fond memories with him. Happy moments with my father aka Appa

Love for Mathematics

My father is generally very fond of Mathematics in general. After the retired from service and enjoying his life to the full, he used to help the mother in household chores. During his retirement days, he spent his days at home helping mother wherever necessary. One day he left home on his scooter to buy vegetables. Minor Accident happened. He got hit on the side by a bike. He fell down and had bruises. While he was collecting himself to get up, the person who came in the bike said, ‘Sorry sir, came parallel and hit you’.

At that moment he forgot his injury and pain. He called the person near him and said ‘you came perpendicular to my vehicle and not parallel’. You neither know driving or maths. Now the bike driver was speechless. He was confused, to say the least. He might have thought ‘Is this fellow (my father) upset because I had an accident with him’ or ‘is he upset because I used a wrong mathematical term to describe the accident. Poor guy.

Lesson learnt: Irrespective of what you are going through, your instincts and basic qualities (fun-loving in this case) will be with you even when you are in pain. Live with it.

His Advice

After finishing 10th grade in 1988 I had to select the subject of my choice for pursuing my senior secondary, went and asked him. He was reading a book sitting on his foldable chair at the pathway. I had one chance and I should have framed my question properly. Asked him ‘Appa, what should I select for my 11th grade’. Normally a simple question, but with a lot of vagueness.
He spoke to me for more than 2 hours explaining all the options available for me. He detailed all the groups and the subjects covered under them.

1. Medicine group 2) Engineering group 3) Commerce
   He explained what all I can do after completing these courses. What future holds for each of the groups. How that can be done. What other professional courses available under the sun and basically everything that anyone could think of. A full 2 hours spent.

Did it help me? If only ..

He concluded his ‘lecture’ by saying, “Rajesh you are 15+ you take your own decisions” Whatever you do, give your best and without looking at me he started reading his book. I was puzzled, bamboozled with so much of information. Not sure If I got answers for my question. But since it was mid-night was too tired to even raise another question or get further clarification. Quickly and quietly left the place, slept for whatever remaining hours I could get hold of.

Lesson learnt
I asked him to ‘take the decision’ on my behalf. Learnt later ‘never ever, ever ever do that mistake’ You take your own decision. Live with it. Never allow anyone even it's your parent).

There are many such incidents which I cherish. As mentioned [here](https://rajeshpadman.com/close-friend-the-missing-person/(opens in a new tab)) I really miss my close friend.