Staying Over
“Dad, can I stay over here tonight?
Please, everyone else is staying
It will be so much fun”
“No, dear, no staying over
Stay till late and enjoy
I’ll pick you up”
“Dad, can I go on this trip?
I so want to.. “
“Well umm, okay sweety..
Stay safe, okay?
Don’t play in water”
“Dad! I got the admission!
Wow! Dad I got it! “
“ So proud of you dear,
But you really want to go?
Maybe you should join a college here..
Well I guess.. you should go to the best”
“Dad! I'm going on a trip! “
“Oh good! Where? And who all?
How many boys n how many girls?’
“Uff dad.. (rolling eyes)
How does it matter!”
“Okay, keep calling me, okay?”
Protected and nurtured,
Fed with love and bathed in goodness
I grew up
I grew into a woman
In my on right
On my own footing
And today I’m taking myself away
Getting married, a moment of happiness
To a man worth of my side
Of sharing my being
Yet I cry helplessly
As you give me away
To stay over for forever
You do it with blessings and good hope
Overriding your sadness
N you said goodbye
And I went to stay over, for ever.
Always her parents' first and foremost (okay second born :p),
Vani Venugopal
6th Nov, 2014, inspired by a beautiful picture of my friend Rakhi with her parents, a few days before her wedding.
