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.