What are you without your family, just a rudderless boat left astray in life’s tumultuous seas. You may not have them with you, physically, at every step of life’s journey but the mere realization of their existence, even in essence, is enough to catapult you towards success. Anyone who has had the blessing of recognizing life in the midst of a loving and nurturing family, even if alone at some point in life will never really be lonely.

Your family is your root and a strong foundation always guarantees a steady life. What you are today is a by-product of your family, among many other factors of-course. Your background is one of those variables that determines the opportunities that come your way; thereby affecting what you achieve in life. Certainly there are exceptions but what I want to emphasize here is that the importance of your family’s bearing on your life can never be discounted. Perhaps, it’s safe to say that you are more likely to lead a happy and content life if , by luck, you pick a loving family in the draw. Thankfully, I found myself in one such family.

Sometimes I wonder how my life would have turned out to be if it hadn’t been for mom and dad. The thought scares me for no one could have given me a better life than they did. Fortunate, is perhaps, the word I should chose to describe my life so far. I don’t remember having to ever ask for anything. Every small desire of mine was fulfilled, the need to compromise was as far away from me as a distant planet. But they did teach me that life is not always a bed of roses and I could someday find myself lost in tough times. They taught me how to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil; and emerge unscathed. They gave me the gift of independence, in thoughts and actions. They ensured that I’m educated and educated well. Yes, I may not have it in me to become a millionaire or a CEO but they ensured that I never have to beg, borrow or steal in life.

© Nabanita Dhar

I remember a time before my boards when suddenly my right hand started to give me a tough time. I found out that I was suffering from writer’s cramp. Can you imagine how a student on the verge of the 10th boards would feel if the hand she writes with suddenly stops working? Lost and scared to start with, right? Well, I felt the same way, even worse. What would happen to me? How would I go on with my education? So many thoughts clouded my mind. But I shouldn’t have worried at all, as I found out soon. When I told my parents about my difficultly in writing they immediately took me to the best doctor available in my corner of the world. The treatment started, it took time but I got better. They even encouraged me to start writing with my left hand, just in case the right one gave me trouble again. And if that wasn’t enough, they even traveled all the way down south to take a second opinion. My hand got better and I went on to appear exams after exams right till my B.Tech got completed, all with my right hand too. So, trust me when I say this that I wouldn’t be where I am now without them in my life. Today, the person I am, the woman I am, is all because of them. Whatever good is in me is all them.

My family not only gave me the gift of life but also the gift of living it the way I want to. I wouldn’t have been anything at all without them. And of-course, they love me insanely too in-spite of all my shortcomings. They are my guiding stars.