After many years of love and princess-treatment, there comes a time when girls finally find another man! A man, who can never be a replacement for her father, but yet, cannot go ahead with him without her father. It is a big deal; he wants to look out for you, but you want to balance your emotions on both sides.
Coming from a country of arranged marriages, confessing my relationship before my father was the hardest thing I have had to do. He loves me so much, that I knew any guy wouldn’t be the best in his eye on the first go. That said, it doesn’t matter where we are from; the father-daughter bond is universal! I’m sure you are nodding in yes right now.
It was during those days that I penned down this poem to express my anxiety. It covers everything I felt when I announced my love relationship to my father. All daddy’s girls will surely understand every sentiment attached to it.
Poem: Will you let me marry him, daddy?
Daddy’s darling daughter,
The life of my mother;
So loved, so pampered,
No dreams of mine slaughtered.
The little pink dresses, the clinging to his arms,
But now I’m older, I’ll be sent to far off farms.
A woman’s heart is a deep ocean,
Now it is all out in the open;
I’m in love, and I seek your approval,
But I’m also scared because the world is cruel.
Sonnet 17 (XVII) – by Pablo Neruda
As the moment of confession nears,
The tick of the clock accelerates my fears;
I so want you to say yes,
Till then my mind will be in such a mess!
I love you too much to hurt you,
Because fathers like you are so few;
But your care makes me feel sure,
You want for me happiness so pure.
Maybe you have your loved concerns,
But with mistakes people learn;
I have faith that he’s a good guy,
Yes or no, in emotions I will cry!
You are my hero, no man can love me as much as you,
But he also has all his love to offer, and that is true;
Your willingness means so much to me,
Like other cowards I will not flee!
I wait for you to talk it out,
I wonder if you will be calm or shout;
Abundant love you have given,
That one more expectation in me it has risen.
Please agree; please don’t be mad! Please listen!
With your attention my eyes will glisten.
My heart beats fast, tensed it is,
Lord’s child I am, I pray your answer is another miracle of His!
–Hemali Adhiya
The poem was originally written on 04th December 2016
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