The day my dad became my best pal

A page from the personal diary of Aishwarya Sakhuja There are so many memories etched in my mind that it will take more than a day to share everything. My father was in the army and I used to stay in a valley in Arunachal Pradesh. My house was a beautiful cottage near a river. Whenever at leisure, my dad and I used to go down to the river with our dog and have a lovely time. We would even go fishing every now and then. I remember after growing up I made lot of friends and my idea of a good New Year’s Eve celebration was to party hard at a nightclub or any other venue. However, in the year 2002 my dad was suffering from viral fever and we decided to spend the New Year’s Eve at home. Initially I thought it would be the most boring New Year’s Eve of my life. But I was surprised when I saw that my parents had prepared all my favourite dishes and decorated the dining table with candles. After our dinner we kept talking till 3 am in the morning. We shared so much between us and the memory is still so fresh in my mind. I always draw strength and happiness from that moment. That day I realised the importance of spending time with your loved ones and till date it has been my best New Year’s Eve. Things change as life moves on. My dad was very strict and conservative when it came to my dressing style. He wouldn’t allow me to wear short skirts or low-waist jeans. But when I got elected for Miss India contest in the year 2006, his approach changed completely. As part of the grooming process I was not allowed to get out much, so my dad used to go out and shop for me. He bought for me the trendiest of outfits. I was amazed and happy at the same time. Without his support I don’t think I could have achieved anything in life. I want to thank my parents for their support and love. I hope that the next time I will have some more bright moments to share with my fans.