They had already drunk two cups of tea each and finished a trayful of snacks. The conversation had thinned, and there were several silences punctuated by comments on “how polluted Delhi was getting”. But no one made an attempt to get up, grab their bags, and leave. It was 8.30 p.m., and since that was past both my dinner time and reading time, I was getting more fidgety by the minute.
Someone else in the living room fidgeted almost as much as I did. But the limitations of adulthood stopped him from doing anything about it. It was my Dad.
“I don’t like it when people overstay their welcome. Can’t they get a hint when it’s right in their face?” he complained later at our dinner table.
“I know! And they were just idling about. Not like they had interesting conversation to make!” I agreed.
The rest of my family members rolled their eyes. “You two are exactly alike,” Mom said, shaking her head. “Xerox copies.”
Mom loved calling us that: xerox copies of each other. We were not given to conversations about the weather and the state of the roads. We loved adhering to our carefully built schedules. We enjoyed nothing more than a delicious plate of chicken and rice for our Sunday meal. If I clung to my tattered orange tee, discreetly retrieving it from to-donate heaps, Dad held on to his faded shorts from decades ago.
“They are xerox copies,” Mom would tell all her friends. “They make a great team even when it is to bulldoze me into doing something.” She would smile indulgently and admit, “But I am glad they are so alike. She has everything that I have grown to love so in my husband.”
As the years go by, I realise Dad and I are even more alike than I had previously assumed. We talk to each other about this and that, going out of the way to hear out each other’s problems. But we hide our pains successfully; it comes forth only in a voice that’s a tad shakier, a hand that’s less steady. We are united in our longing for reliving the past, but we assure each other with immense enthusiasm that fabulous things await us in the future.
We are xerox copies indeed, and whenever I see my father’s commitment to his promises, his good heart, and his utter straightness in dealing with life, I feel thrilled that it is so.
* * *
I am taking up the April #AtoZChallenge 2019 and will post every day of the month, except Sundays. I look forward to your company!
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Of Paneer, Pulao and Pune 
Aww.. Beautiful!❤️❤️
Thank you! ❤
For a long time i did not know that Xerox is the name of the company that makes photocopier machines and is not an actual English word ! Now this quality of showing off factual know-how is something i got from my dad and have passed it on to my son too ! Anyways it was my father’s 8th death anniversary yesterday and you brought back some nice memories of my similarities with him 😀
Haha I am with you on this! When I found out the origin of the word, I ensured everyone around me knew and how 😛
I am delighted this post brought back happy memories. I am sure your Dad is proud of you 🙂
My children aren’t xerox copies of either of us. It must be real fun to be xerox copies of each other! A heartwarming post indeed 🙂
Haha yes, it sure was fun teasing Mom about it.
So happy you liked the post. Thank you! ❤
You are blessed and so is he 🙂
But you know, I had a different thought (possibly given my background). What happens when a kid takes after an irritating quality the parent hates in the other parent? Worse, this happens after the parents separate? That becomes a nightmare.
Sorry I didn’t want to turn your post into a negative drill. But just voicing my thoughts.
Completely agree with what you said. In situations like that, being so similar can become almost a curse. It would be ideal if we could inherit only the good and learn not to adopt the bad. Perhaps it is a conscious exercise we must encourage the kids to undertake early on.
Such a heartwarming post. My Ma often said that Baba and I were a team with a common mission to annoy her all through life. Now I say the same about Tuneer and my husband. Your post brought back warm memories of my own bygone days.
Thrilled you enjoyed the post and that it rekindled happy memories! Thanks a lot, Sonia ❤
Oh, I hear this so often from all the people around us!
High five! 😀 😀
Aww….such a beautiful piece of writing ❤️
Relationship between father and daughter is beyond words and they have pretty much in common:)
Thank you so much, Aditi ❤
Awe! ❤ My heart feels squishy for you both.
Haha thank you so much, L ❤
The father-daughter relationship Xerox copy is endearing to read and what a conspirator you are with uncle. It reminds me of my understanding with Dad, though we were not Xerox copy but pulled the string smartly for him to convince mom. Ha! I was quite good with emotional blackmail to get my way. Debo, love getting a peak in your chemistry with your Dad and he surely gonna love it.
Haha Vishal, emotional blackmail can sometimes be a really potent weapon 😀
So happy you liked the post. Yep, Dad loved it too. It brought a smile to his face 🙂
Your dad is going to love this 😍😍
Hahaha he did 😀
I had such a warm feeling reading your piece. This was indeed heart touching. With age, we really understand how we similar we are to our creators in unique ways.
Thanks a ton, C! ❤
I totally agree with you. Certain things only become apparent with age.