War Daddy

Again the day came when he had to leave,

When yesterday only he had opened his bag,

I don’t remember seeing him enough,

For me to recall when he goes back,

For me to live by till he comes again,

I think,

This time I didn't hug him as much,

I think,

This time he didn't kiss me as much,

Just a call and he packed his bag,

Just a couple of days and his shoes are off the rack,

I wonder, does he love us enough,

I wonder, does he think of me enough,

And I think of,

Again a year of wait before I see him,

And I think of,

Will he remember how I lean on him?

But as he comes to me,

I cry forgetting everything that ran in my head,

I say,

“Take me along Daddy; I miss you when you are gone”.

I see him lowering his head,

Not sure of what he was trying to hide.

A peck on my cheek and he walks away.

Not looking behind,

He just leaves.

And my longing to see him starts again.

I left a letter in his bag,

I wrote my love for him and wrapped in a small sack,

I knew he’ll find it as he always does,

I knew he’ll write me back,

And seeing the postman I will run.

But the week had passed and I didn't hear from him,

I saw my mother praying all the time,

And told me always,

That he is busy taking care of the world.

One fine day I saw a man dressed like my dad,

He looked at me and just smiled.

He asked for my mother and I ran inside.

She looked at him and dropped a tear from her eye,

I got a feeling that something is not right.

That man saluted my mother and handed the letter,

Strong, that my mother,

Bowed to him and held her Saree from the corner.

I could sense her heavy breathing,

Hence I didn't ask her, why.

And as my mother went back in, the postman arrived,

He gave me Daddy’s letter,

And I had a happy sigh.

As I read the letter line by line,                         

He signed it saying,

“My love, either I’ll come before the letter,

Or read it as my Last Goodbye”.