52 Years

Today, 3rd of September, 2006 - My dad would've been 52 years old. I can't imagine how he would've been right now.. But I remember what he used to say, of his dreams, when he turned over 50. It went something like this:

He wanted to buy a Harley Davidson, and ride on it, with long hair, gelled into a pony tail.. Wearing a black leather jacket, and tight leather trousers.. With my mum in a Sari, behind him, and wearing Dentures.. He he he!!

He wanted to retire, at I think, 55.. And he had plans of retiring near Lake District.. He had beautiful dreams..

Dad told us all these dreams, when he was in a really good mood (and cheesy!). We'd be driving down, to some restaurant, or back home, and in the car, whilst his* song was playing in the background. We'd all laugh, and make fun of him.. And he'd just laugh back, and just nudge my mum, and say, "What say, will you share my dentures with me, when we're older".. And she'd just laugh and say, that he was very silly..

* - The song that he would sing to my mum, to make her blush. It was called, Hum Jab Simat-ke Aapke, bahon mein Agaye.. It was a beautiful song, that he always sang to my mum.. Shafina, Anisa and I would always begin to giggle and scream all these things like, "Go dad!" or, just woo! To make my mum blush more. Sigh, we were all so different then. Everything was so.. Perfect.

I remember, this one particular birthday of his.. It was in Jeddah, and we really wanted to do something lovely for him. So, Shafina, Anisa, Faisal bhai and I went out to look for something, 3 hours before his birthday. It was late, and we were scared everything was going to close. So we hurried into Bulgari, to see what they had there, that we could buy. We saw this gorgeous gold pen, and thought we'd get it.. It was about 3,500 Riyals (490+ Pounds) or so. We all felt rather stupid, so we just said, "Oh, My dad actually has a pen like that! I think he'd like something else! Thanks for your help.. ", and we acted all, proper, and ran out of the shop, in pure embarrasment. Something that added to that embarrasment, was what we were wearing. All three of us were in our jammies, and we went to BULGARI. Of all places. Tsk. Hehe! After that, we decided to settle to buy him a watch. It was nearing closing time, and we made it in time to the watch shop.. After that, we decided to get a cake as well. We stopped at Baskin Robbins and got him an Ice-cream cake..

By the time we got home, my dad was pacing up and down, looking all cheeky, knowing all along that we had gone out to get him something. He smiled like a little child who had a bag full candy, when he opened his present. He was really happy.. And we all had some cake. After that, he took Cookie in his hand, and tried feeding him some ice-cream, and just ended up playing with him.. =) hmm..

I wonder, what we'd get him, if he were still here.. Perhaps, a Harley.. ;)

This is for you Dad..
You would have been a 52 year old, Grandad now.. Hehe..