The 9 A.M. call!!

The clock would strike 9 and the first phone call of the morning!! Everyday! Over what 15 years! Places changed, marital status changed, life changed but one thing remained constant - the 9 am call!!

Often I failed to pick the call- at times I was in my class, at times I was running late, at times my deliverable had to go, at times my kid was crying and most times I was just in a foul mood! But the phone still rang and it rang everyday!

At times, I picked it up with a smile, at times I called back later but many a time, I was annoyed. I picked up and said, "This is the craziest part of my morning. Can we please speak later?!" Yet again, next day, the phone rang..at 9 am..

Though I could not pick it up at times, though I was annoyed at times, though I hung up hurriedly at times but I waited for the call. It was an integral part of my life. The day my phone did not ring, I found myself picking it few times to check if the ringer was off or to check if I missed the call. I called back doubly annoyed, "Why didn't you call today? All ok?"😊

The call lasted for just a minute or so. It was just a call to check if I was ok. It was just a call to wish me a good day. It was just a ritual - a ritual which began years ago and suddenly stopped- one fine day!

It now no more rings at 9 in the morning, in fact that number doesn't show up any more at any time of the day. No matter how much I yearn for it, no matter how much I promise I wont get annoyed, no matter how alert I am so as not to miss it- it wont ring.

I wish I could value that 'less than a minute 9 A.M. call' when it rang; I wish I could squeeze out just 2 minutes everyday at 9 am then; I wish I could go back in time and call back annoyed, "Why didn't you call today? All ok?" I wish this and I wish so much more.....

I guess time to value and appreciate the tinniest of things while we have them. 😊

While I wish my Papa a Happy Birthday, why don't you call back the dear one whose call you just missed...

Let both of us, you and me, appreciate it while its still there.

With love,

From a Daughter, To her Papa!!