Papa's true Colours

Most of the time the teasing at school  about my "BUGS BUNNY" appearance doesn't bother me.But once in a while I do feel sad that no one calls me Ankur. "Ankur did you have a bad day at school?How I wish to take you to a dentist,but child it costs a lot of money" said my mother Kavitha with a tinge of sorrow.Before I could say "never mind",my father's booming voice  filled our small house."See,what I have bought for you Buggy! He put a 5 k.g bag of corn flakes on our rickety dinning table."You want the children to eat  only corn flakes for the rest of their lives".teased my mother."Well the bag came with a good discount."mumbled my father Sunil.

My parents are like the ant and the cricket of my primary school poem.My mother is the ant.She works very hard inside and outside the house.She is diligent and dependable, at her chartered accountants office as also for my sister and me.My father is the "business man" cricket.He is impulsive,a spend thrift,perennially strapped for cash.'All my money is in my business " is his "mantra".What business? none of us really knew.We hardly saw papa during the day.My parents have a great sense of humour which keeps them together.

Sometimes mother sighs "If only papa was responsible ,your sister could attend her dance class and your teeth could be set right."Those were the times when I disliked my father and wanted desperately to help my mother out of her financial troubles. "Sis, shall I burn down the house?amma will get the insurance money"."and well live on the street". asked my sister chewing gum."can we advertise in the papers?"like what?."wanted in exchange for a witty jolly father. another who can afford my dance and music lessons""who says I am desperate for those lessons"intoned my sister. Last ditch effort."shall I get myself kidnapped and ask appa for a ransom?""appa will ask mum for the money.He'll use half of it for his business and pay your kidnappers only half" laughed my sister."mind your business and don't interfere into the adult world cautioned my sister.After this piece of advice my scatter brained ideas remained just that. The only adventurous thing that I did is to cycle to school in traffic that  wanted to run over me.
Things turned   chaotic at home,when my mother was diagnosed with T.B. and admitted into hospital.I was worried about the cost of her treatment and how appa would handle it.That was when a miracle unfolded at the hospital.

'Namasthe I am Mothi ,a leading advocate of this city.Sunil donated blood and saved my daughter's life.A token of my  gratitude madam."He handed over a cheque to my mother,All kinds of people walked in with only praise for Sunil sir.my father seemed to have helped people in so many ways.organ donation to getting hearing aids and spectacles!Everyone of them contributed towards my mother's hospital stay.Amma  you  have collected more funds than the flood affected in north karnataka "joked my sister.
As for me,I was sure of two things,I knew what Sunil sir did during the day.I was doubly sure that my mother would never exchange appa for anyone else ever.I am so proud of you appa.It's O.K to be buckteethed and your SON.