Drink to this!

Lists are a great way to get things done. When I get asked to acknowledge the people and factors that led me to become the version I am today, my first thought is that its a needless trumpery. Not only I have to think back a long way, three decades, and a little more, but I also have to revive and relive through an arduous saga, which is my life. 

Despite my initial reluctance to praise others besides myself, I sat down after lunch one day, on my favorite Persian motif rusty rug, to list down those who mattered and who didn't. 

Thank you(with a deliberate touch of sarcasm) - 

To my bullies at school -

who went out of their way to nurture my insecurities. You directly kept me away from socializing and were responsible indirectly for my growth score. Having no other avigation, I excelled at studies surprising our teachers and also myself in the process. I believe it was your relentless drive that led me to channel my energies onto what's more important at that age, like introspection than gossiping about who liked whom in breaks.

To my adversaries-slash-spiritual teachers–

without whom I have nothing to pin down, who helped strengthen my disposition and, who generously taught me to stop looking for closures, by remaining implacable even after sorting through many unjust mix-ups.

To my mentors and managers at work – 

who helped pave the way that I trod on to this day. Your undulating affection and wisdom from your past mistakes have been the building blocks of my career.

To the places, I had traveled and returned – 

for showing me that the world is more significant than my limited perception and that I could always find my little way even when hopelessly lost.

To the world's greatest dad – 

who earnestly believed in me, displayed abnormal traits of pride, even when we were the last parent-child duo to collect report cards, which the teacher gave away in ascending order of ranks.

To the most determined woman I have known, Mom – 

who taught me not to talk or laugh while I masticated my food. It was your dedication and duress in my childhood that I walk free of the witch's hunch back, which you endearingly referred to my bent spine. Although your intentions (of finding a decent groom) were much maligned, I will be eternally grateful.

To my late grandparents – 

  who cherished me and ensured I was well fed throughout their active lives. Even when chicken-catastrophe struck, you managed to conceal your exasperation amidst grunts and deep groans, only to reassure the seven-year-old me that the three baby chicks that I bathed the previous evening were now out for feeding and would return soon. I hadn't seen a better display of self-restraint from an adult so far in my three decades of life, as to that day when I asked what you thought about my bathing the mommy chicken next.

To the three baby chicks – 

who remind me of my perseverance and my sense of duties at such a tender age. I trust we each had a takeaway from our brief encounter. If you guys(in your subsequent births) ever saw another seven-year-old, I believe you now know to run like there's no tomorrow, and for me, it's to always use a hand towel for drying feathers.

To my elder sisters – 

    Jo and Sap, who were my childhood heroes and my tormentors – for keeping me and my childhood alive, for not working on the light/fan switches after I learned to walk, for making me lose interest in guys I wanted to date and, for loving me ardently whenever Mom was around or insight.

And Lastly, To Sk, my awesome, ever-patient husband –

who addresses my tantrums and brute force with continued kindness, and believes his first and foremost obligation is to keep me well-fed, so I (and thereby, he) can stay sane. Bless your soul incessantly.