The Brat’s tribute to the L&M

Vinni is the younger Brat who is better known as the @RoyalEnfielder and can be found on the highway during his free time. When he is not actually riding, he is talking or writing about it. He blogs at royalenfielder.me and occasionally comments on my posts, if only to correct me with some detail in the L&M and the Brats series. 

In this guest post, he goes on a nostalgic trip remembering their growing up years and paying rich tributes to his Dad, the man who inspired the L&M and Brats series. I am sharing the immensely popular post once again…..

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We’ve been a very different kind of family – still are. Liberal and unorthodox. We’ve never gone around telling each other that we love them. Hugs are shrugged off and we usually imperceptibly pull away. That kind of affection is not our thing, especially with Dad. Most of the meetings with him begin and end with a handshake. Yes, I am talking of the L&M. The same man Mom had christened and begun writing about all those years ago when I was a kid. And she has done a great job of capturing the essence of our family, our childhood and Dad — in all the colourful details, in exasperation tinged with affection..

This is a tribute to the L&M from a son — a proud son.

www.express.co.uk

I had always looked up to Dad as the provider in the family. (Oh, boy, don’t I know about THAT! — Mom) He did a lot for both Vikki and me. This included getting us into things only mischievous friends got each other into. Not just mischief — he got us into the best colleges in the country but never kept track of which year we were studying in. He taught us physics and

math, but always signed the answer sheets when we did badly without batting an eyelid. But that was Dad.

There were many more instances like these. I’ll share a few.

I was a notorious kid back in school. I had got into some mess with the Hindi teacher in class six and I wasn’t too surprised when she wanted to meet Dad. She probably hoped that he would knock some sense into me. So Dad came to school that fateful Saturday. The teacher told me to step out as was customary during parent-teacher meetings. After a good 15 minutes, when I had chewed out all my nails and was looking for something else to chew, he walked out with the teacher, both laughing. He had managed to charm his way with her, and got me off the hook! But he gave me a tight whack on my head later, and told me to behave in future. He added as an aside that if I did get into trouble, I should do it without dragging him all the way to school. Typical of Dad.

Click on the image above to read a larger version, published 22 March, 1997

He had done the same for Vikki. His high school physics teacher was being difficult and when he complained to Dad, he assured Vikki that he would meet him. After all, physics was his favourite subject. During the next parent-teacher meet, in marched Dad to say hello to him. God knows what he spoke to the teacher, but Vikki swore that his teacher actually began smiling at him from that day onwards, maybe remembering some goofy joke Dad had told him! We could go to him with any problem and expect to be bailed out of it.

He bought me Chacha Choudhary comics much to Mom’s disgust, let Vikki wheedle something out of him while pretending to be angry,  laughed the loudest watching a silly comedy at the theatre, merrily mispronounced and mixed up names of people and places (read all about it here) dug in with gusto at the restaurant, initiated us to the delights of chicken and fish, taught us how to drink the soup from a ‘steamboat’…

We had some great times as father and son. Like the time when I was around 18. He woke me up 4 in the morning. ‘Let’s go on a drive,’ he said. And drive, we did. All the way to Jaipur, and then on to Ajmer and made a visit to Pushkar as well. That was a road trip I won’t forget in my lifetime, including the run-down motel where we stayed for 150 bucks a night; and the mixed vegetable curry which he ordered that had only potatoes in it. He gave the memories that make us who we are today – in his unique way. While he was seriously handicapped when it came to showing emotions he was every son’s dream Dad. I am sure Vikki has such memories too.

The next big road trip we did was when we drove from Bangalore to Mumbai. I was doing my MBA then, and he dropped me off in Pune before heading to Mumbai. He had hugged me then, and that was the only time I remember him doing it after I had grown up. And it meant a lot, during those trying times.

While he was oriented towards his career, he always put family first, not as in being there all the time, or doing everything together, but in ways that went beyond just physical presence. In many ways, he reminds me of Peter Griffin from the Family Guy.

Click on the image for a larger version, Published November 2nd, 1996

He still acts like a 10-year-old when he gets a new toy to play with, be it a phone or a car. I will not forget the times when we go to a movie and he buys popcorn. The boy at the counter would deftly fill up the tub to make it appear full and push it to Dad. And he would simply give the boy ‘the look’ and give the tub a sharp shake and lo! the popcorn would’ve settled down leaving more than a quarter of the tub empty. Dad would raise his eyebrows questioningly at the hapless boy, who would sheepishly top it up! And we? We would have simply vanished from the place!

Sometimes Mom and he would fight like kids and appeal to us for support. They would pull each other’s leg at the least expected moment but would soon end up having a good laugh over it. He would jump in to help with the most misplaced enthusiasm – ever the handyman — driving her nuts.

Not much has changed over the years. Recently, I was bragging about the latest clients and the deals we had closed when in his characteristic style he asked, ‘Are they also paying you in coins?’ I wonder if anyone would ever be able to take the rock star out of him.

We aren’t the perfect family, and the L&M series over the last so many years is testimony to that! But in spite of all the imperfections, we are one in happiness and sorrow. I remember the time when we had all danced outside the Chandigarh station after Vikki had got into TIET — yes, even Dad!

Here is to the hero of our times, the man who effortlessly navigated through the confusing and confounding times when kids had begun playing video games instead of real games, more powerful bikes made it to the roads, the Indian middle class was upgrading to a Maruti from a Bajaj two-wheeler, women were already part of the workforce, the staid was giving way to the jazzy, Doordarshan was replaced by Star TV and sundry other changes that were taking place.

In those confusing times to him and to us, he kept us grounded in his own way. He gave us an identity when everyone was battling an identity crisis. He made us strong, made us stand on our feet, taught us to stand up for what’s right and stand up for ourselves.

We aren’t the perfect sons, we have all the imperfections any man would have, but we’re still able to hold our head high and take on the world and the worst it sometimes throws at us, with courage and integrity. That’s what Dad did for us. Thank you Dad!

Couple of other articles that were published in The Tribune in 2001

You can’t win always

Being a teen-trained mom

And thank you Mom, because without you making him the L&M, he wouldn’t have done all that.

(Note: The last line is just so that Mom doesn’t descend on me like a ton of bricks.)

Image Courtesy:  Homepqge:www.dailyrecord.co.uk /This page top: www.express.co.uk

128 comments

  1. That’s quite a tribute from a son to a Dad! And a humorous one at that, like the rest of the series 😀
    I must have said this before- the posts are a gem but the comments, even more so!

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    1. Thank you! Will pass on the compliments to Vineet. The readers usually identify with one or the other of the characters and so get enthused while commenting, which is what resonates with you too! Thanks for coming back and reading the posts, Nomad!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Indeed! And I should thank you for the incredible series 🙂
        I’ll keep coming back every now and then until I have exhausted all the posts 😀

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        1. Welcome! Read and comment – that’s even more welcome!!

          Liked by 1 person

  2. Awesome post. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I hope my son also remembers us that way 🙂

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    1. You will be pleasantly surprised when he does, because you’d have forgotten all the things he remembers with such fondness 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Such a lovely post, BM. i can’t wait to meet you and the L & M …I wish we also can create so many memories for our brats.

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    1. Often children remember things that seem insignificant to us. What’s more, they cherish those memories too even while forgetting the unpleasant ones.So don’t worry about creating memories 🙂

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  4. Anxiety Girl · · Reply

    Just in time for Father’s day 🙂 Lovely read, Zephyr! I hope to meet you and L&M soon. I apologize for the radio silence. Will call you this weekend.

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    1. Hey, how have you been? All good? Waiting for that elusive call 🙂

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  5. alkagurha · · Reply

    I had missed reading this. I wish my boy wrote a post on his dad, because boys are not very communicative. A heartwarming post, even though I refuse to believe Vinit when he says that he was a notorious as a kid. No way.

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    1. Boys are mostly undemonstrative but sometimes can come up with the most astonishing things that even we parents have forgotten! It is only then that we realise that what had seemed an insignificant thing had made such a deep impression on them. And oh, don’t go by appearances, they can sometimes be deceptive 🙂

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  6. What a lovely, lovely tribute to a deeply caring father from a loving son! I enjoyed reading every bit of it (though I still have to read all of your Mom’s articles linked here). It is so obvious how much you admire and look up to your father, Vinni. And that admiration comes from a place of deep love and true respect, mixed in with just the right dose of friendship, camaraderie and trust. Totally loved the last two sentences (yes, including the final note at the end)!

    Zephyr, I loved the piece about the handyman (or the ‘man handy’) and the one about going to restaurants. I think soon L&M will have to start writing his own blog to tell us his side of the stories that Mom and Son(s) have been sharing!

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    1. Oh Beloo, the L&M is quite happy with our depiction of his antics, believe me! The only thing he demands of me is to tell the world how much housework he does 🙂 I have promised to do that!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Look forward to seeing how you keep your promise 😀

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  7. […] Do also read about the genesis of the series and the Younger Brat’s tribute to the L&M here. […]

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  8. Well this cute post came from The Brat; but this award goes to Mommie.Therefore Zephyr PL. VISIT http://jeeteraho.blogspot.in/2012/04/another-trophy-for-jeete-raho.html

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  9. That was straight from the heart-kudos to brat ….do we parents know which memories are safely tucked in our kids’hearts ?
    I need to visit this site more often.

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    1. Even we both were surprised to read some of the memories the Brat revisited 🙂 They are truly unfathomable little individuals when they are growing up, aren’t they? Not that we can decipher their minds when they become adults 😀 Come again Indu; I would love to have you here more often 🙂

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  10. There are many things in life that go without saying. Perhaps the most essential emotions often hide behind ‘taken for granted’ relationships. An overwhelming post like this only reminds us that sometimes it’s important to put feelings in words, not only for the other person to know how important they are but for you to reflect on how much of a difference they have made to your life.

    While all relationships are imperfect in a certain way, heartfelt emotions can drive them towards perfection. This lovely post did just that 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That was a profound comment, Swati. Bet the Brat couldn’t understand it, did you Brat? 😀

      We often leave things unsaid because we feel the other person knows. Sometimes it is reticence and at other times it is simply shyness to own up to strong emotions. But like you say, emotions can make something perfect, in a feel good way 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Wow…Aunty’s post about how adorably (although goofily at times) Uncle helps her out at home had made me his fan. This one sure makes me feel like he’s someone I certainly ought to meet some day. 🙂
    Am sure you’re going to get more than a handshake after Uncle reads this. Lovely post. 🙂

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    1. Well I did! He called to ask “Whats up?”. I said, “nothing much”. Then we talked about his new blackberry I gave him. End of conversation 🙂

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  12. Take a bow, Vinni, that was a super nice tribute. I am a silent lurker in your space and have always admired your writing & riding skills.

    I guess, now, you need to post one on Zephyr to make it even 🙂

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    1. Thanks A-kay! Oh dear me! Everytime someone says that what there is in my space to really lurk around other the roads, dhabhas and run down motels. Now that everyone tells me to write about Zephyr, I guess I really need too! I can almost see the belan on my head!

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  13. I actually imagined ‘the look’ given to the popcorn boy and burst out laughing! 😀

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    1. 😀 😀

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    2. Yes, the look has got a lot of extra popcorn! I hope you enjoyed reading the L&M over the years! Did you see the old scanned articles too?

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  14. Wow!! A super special post! By the Brat for the L&M on The Cybernag! What an amazing combo and so beautifully written! Loved it!

    Now I am dying to get an autograph of the L&M but with so many of his fans here, I wonder when will my moment in the sun come 😦 Can someone help me push my paper forward.. please!!! 😀

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    1. Oh yes, I will add your name to the list. you are likely to get it in, maybe another six months unless of course psst…there is ‘something’ in it for me and then I can fast forward your number 🙂

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    2. Yes Arti! I am not sure about me being part of the combo, I was always the notorious one; unlike the elder brat. What is the reason for you to die for an autograph? All it takes is a bucketful of popcorn! 🙂

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  15. what an awesome dad. maybe u didnt get the hugs but u got that feeling that ur dad was always on ur side. ad that is precious

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    1. Yes! That was the feeling that mattered all the time! When he was around, you knew nothing could harm you. He still has that aura around him! Here is to all dads! – Cheers! (So we may one day drink with them without feeling too bad or shy about it!)

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  16. With no offense meant to anyone – Unlike mothers, fathers are quiet about their contributions to the family 😛 Modesty is the virtue of the great 🙂

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Oh how magnanimous! 😀 But that is why I am writing about the L&Ms of this world — to make them famous:D But seriously, unless both parents take their roles seriously and give their children the security of a safe and happy home, the children will not grow up into confident adults.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Haha! Infact maybe since we make such a hue and cry about mothers being so great, we should all gift them some modesty on their birthdays!

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  17. Going by the comments, Zephyr, this might be your… er… your blog’s most popular post yet. And why not? This is the most beautiful and senti post I have read about a father. The L&M fan club has a new member 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Et tu Sudha? I am getting the L&M fans by the truckloads unwittingly. But yes, Vinni has paid a great tribute to his father and I am not surprised he has risen to the status of a cult figure 🙂 Btw, is the post most popular or is it the L&M? 😀

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    2. Yes, I am surprised too! That the most popular post yet on the Cybernag is actually a guest post! Well all the success and love that mom gets is because of readers like you!

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  18. Aww……that’s such a sweet post Vinni and beautiful tribute to your dad ! Loved it !
    And zephyr those clips took me back to time I used to love reading your middles in TOI even before I knew it was you who was writing them ! Became your fan from then on……
    L&M posts…..keep bringing them on…

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    1. You have told me that. There were many others who didn’t know it was me either 😀 Had a job digging them out. But couldn’t find the earlier ones. 😦

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    2. Thank you! Since you know the L&M, you know that its not exaggerated 🙂

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  19. What a lovely tribute from Son to Father! Has the L&M commented here? I didn’t notice a comment from him, but perhaps I missed it among so many comments. 🙂

    So you have been writing the L&M and the Brats series from way back in 1996! Nice to read those earlier articles.

    Looking forward to more guests posts from Vinni….

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    1. The L&M is blog-shy, so hasn’t commented, but he has been reading and enjoying all the adulation 😀 I have been writing it from back in ’91, unfortunately the magazine (Eve’s) closed down and I don’t have the clipping from that. Then I also wrote for another magazine called Aviva, but have misplaced that cutting too. 😦 I stopped writing for TOI when the sub editor not only changed the heading from ‘…climbing the wall’ to ‘walls’ and not only justified it but also argued with me that a house has many walls! 😀

      Getting Vinni to write is a long term project. I have been asking him for two months now and he finally gave me this one, but wanted the cuttings, making me work more searching for them 🙂

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    2. Thank you Manju! 🙂 Like Mom said L&M is technologically challenged!

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  20. lol.. I am waiting for that lovely days when it would become 3:3

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    1. It took me a while to figure what this 3:3 is. Shouldn’t it be 3 vs 3?

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      1. And to make us women feel better, it will get betterer and betterer as Brer Rabbit would say. So when the younger Brat gets married, it will become 4:3 and then is he has a daughter, it will be 5:3! that would be the day! 😀 😀

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  21. Hey Vinni
    Remember that’s an exclusive club and we dont reveal the trade secrets of neither the tools or the methodology – do we Zephyr?
    and we are a powerful minority – three men in a boat v/s one woman army;)

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    1. As I just replied my DIL, who calls herself the Addendum, we are now even 3:3 with the granddaughter in tow. But yes, before she came along it was different and I agree about the ‘powerful’ part and the men in the boat v/s one woman army 😀

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      1. Its time for me to scoot from this discussions. *runs and hides*

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  22. My favorite times with L&M was when we used to eat Tarbooz by the kilo and when he used to run from the aloo curry I would make. The 6 months of L&M & bathiji time – it was special 🙂
    I hope Akshaya gets to spend some special moments with her Raaaja Mama Thatha as she fondly calls him.

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    1. Both of you had a whale of a time in Delhi! I remember all the times we used to come from Chandigarh, and we used to pig out on all the meat around in town! And the L&M would graciously take us to all the places! How many movies did he take you for in PVR? Did he also do the popcorn thing?

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  23. The Addendum · · Reply

    I first remember reading the L&M series ….. 12 years ago!

    This was long before I got shackled, er, married to the older brat, a newer model of the L&M I might add. The older brat showed me, very proudly, the writings of his mother the journalist. I resignedly started reading, expecting some dry journalist-y work – I was so wrong! The L&M series was a hilarious introduction to the family I would grow to know and love.

    When I first read it, I did not expect to even meet the star – the L & M. Now I am his proud daughter-in-law and first-hand witness to all his antics 🙂

    Here’s to the L&M series – may it entertain family and friends for many decades to come!

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    1. Addendum? You were a lifesaver when you came in to tilt the balance slightly in my favour, but with Diya it is now even. 🙂 The L&M is thrilled to bits not just because he is the star now, but more because the older one is following his footsteps 😀

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    2. Yes, I can imagine the Older Brat doing that 🙂 Trust me when I say this and I say this for everybody, you brought all the more madness and craziness in the family! We should probably start a new series: The Addendum and the Imp!

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  24. Such a delightful read, and L&M has a huge fan in me. You sure are lucky to be blessed with such fun parents, Brat 🙂
    Loved the Tribune articles, Zephyr. So true–kids take a lot of care to keep their dads happy precisely because they know who pays for the jam and the pastries 😀

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    1. Glad to know there is a fan in you too! Yes, true to what Umashankar has also said L&M is quite a history sheeter! Survived all these years and still going strong! Very true about the jams and pastries! 🙂

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  25. 🙂 All I could see was love in this post! Vinni – you are cool. (How can someone who refuels on Old Monk be un-cool?)

    This post just opened up floodgates of memories 🙂

    Delightful read. Thank you.

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    1. Well while Old Monk is in a different league of his own, this monk is busy opening the flood gates of memories, just like you said! Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing your views! 🙂

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  26. Such an easygoing, fun dad! Reminds me of mine. With parents like Cybernag and your dad, wonder why you need a tough backside LB.

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    1. KayEm, please do share with us some of your best ‘Dad moments’ !

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      1. Perhaps some day I might do a post like yours, Vinni.

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        1. Will look forward to that! 🙂

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  27. Awwww! thats such a sweet sweet post…I am sure L&M would be blushing by the end of it…

    I wonder why people feel that boys cant express their feelings articulately..this is one of the best pieces of ‘love to my dad’ which I have read in a long long time

    Big hugs to the Zee family 🙂

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    1. @Vinni: Wanted to add, that any damage done to your bean bag on the day I visited Zephyr, my daughter R is solely responsible for it and Zephyr encouraged it…I have no role to play in it whatsoever 🙂

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    2. Thanks a lot R’s Mom! And don’t worry about the bean bag, its all more comfortable now! 🙂 Kids are allowed to do what they wish, when they wish when they are in my house!

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  28. I tend to go with Bhavana, women will be drooling , after reading about L&M. 🙂
    Thanks to these pages, we have come to know about wonderful families, that share laughter.
    Lucky guys, you have wonderful Dad. I know lots who do not even want to ack. Dads.
    And lucky Dad, to be the centre of admiring boys.

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    1. Well the women surely are drooling but looks like the Nag has hidden him so well, one needs to go past her! 🙂

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  29. Archana · · Reply

    I think u folks are totally diff from the melodramatic family i come from. totally opp. But from the few interactions I had with you guys.. I love u guys 😀 I had my fun time jitna time maine ghar pe dhera daala hai 😀

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    1. Thanks Archana! It was good to have you with us as well! 🙂

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  30. Rashmi Shetty · · Reply

    I am a huge daddy’s girl..so this post hit home run with me!..what a lovely way of describing what dads mean in our lives..where he inspired u to be the man u r..my dad was and will always be my giant protector!..more power to papas!!

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    1. So Mrs. Bison Achi, do you still think nothing can ever happen of me? Huh Huh?? 😀

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      1. This is cornering!!..maybe just maybe something good may happen of you..and u owe it all to GG and L&M!!

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        1. Well most of what you think I should be doing and knowing, is something that Vikki has taught me, you know! 🙂

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  31. Hi Zephyr! Did not realize quite how much of an honor it was to have you want to follow my blog. This blog of yours is incredible. In addition to be extremely brave you are extremely talented and have an extremely talented and loving family! I am delighted and honored to have made your acquaintance over blogosphere.

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    1. You humble me Suresh. I am just another blogger who loves sharing positive vibes with the readers. And you have a great way of writing, simple and straightforward. I am curious to know about the ‘brave’ part. Do you mean my putting up with the trio for all these years or something else? Please enlighten me 😀

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      1. That, of course:):) Handling the handyman and a couple of brats must have taken a lot of courage:) i also meant the message you left on my blog about vision issues.

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    2. Did you notice, she still hasn’t followed my blog! That indeed is an honor! She only blogrolls those blogs she believes in!

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      1. Looks like she isn’t following my blog either :). It must be a pretty elite group that is on her follower list!

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        1. Of course I follow your blog. Look at my name in the Google connect and look in your subscriber’s list!

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          1. I thought the smiley would tell you that I am saying it as a joke :). Just a little leg pulling. I can do that once in a while, can’t I?

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          2. Of course, you have all the right to do it. Haven’t I told you so many times that I love you? 🙂

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      2. I hvnt achieved the heights of being blogrolled yet:):) She had just commented on my blog about wanting to follow it by e-mail and I had replied to that comment that there was a provision to do so!

        One can always hope!

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        1. What about me, Zephyr, do you love me? sulk, brood, grump..grumpy…

          I think you have created a blogging family network who drool and anchor themselves on your love..:)

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          1. Of course I love you Bhavana! Sulk, brood, grump and all 😀

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          2. Looks like you both are the best of friends already! 🙂

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  32. The Sunshine Girl · · Reply

    nothing to say except 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 hugzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 🙂

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    1. I take it that this one is for me and the little one, considering the rest of them are non-huggers. Hugs right back Sunshine Girl 🙂

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    2. Who are the hugs for? Oh wait, its a group hug? Hugs!

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  33. Vinni the younger brat sounds so much like ‘Dennis the menace’ and just as adorable! I found so much similarity of L&M with poor Mr Wilson:) That was on the lighter side! I must congratulate you and both Zephyr and L&M to be blessed with nice brats like you who articulate just like the worthy mother!

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    1. Yes, Mr. Wilson was also troubled by me a lot of times in the course of growing up! I remember once I made him travel all around the city of Delhi back in 90’s when WWE trump cards were a rage. We wasted the entire day traveling, and later found out that the cards were available at the neighborhood store. When I grew up, it became different. That was when I used to bang up his car and pretended like nothing ever happened

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  34. What a beautiful post!!!! and those links to the articles were just fantastic!! and Zephyr, I guess Vinni gets his writing skills straight from you 😀

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    1. Yes, and I make no effort in hiding that too! My grammar is usually off the mark at times but otherwise the style is all inspired by the one and only Zephyr! Dad also writes, but his sentences begin and end with “Duh”

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  35. I loved this post because somewhere in a similar way, I feel about my dad. All dads especially those of our parents’ generation were tough outside but so soft inside. They were the men after all, so no cries, hugs or I love you’s from them. But, they were so special in their own way. Great to hear you Vinni after hearing your mother :). I love the little quirks that you’ve described. Moms and dads are so special. Cherish them! Your mom is an extraordinary person. The more I get to know her, the more I love her :). This is one senti comment, but then I am in a senti mood too :).

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    1. Good job with the last line, man. Always best to take precautions when the belan is around the corner LOL!

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    2. Well since you mention about you loving her so much! You must know how much she totally adores all of you. Over the last two years she’s been blogging she’s made so many new friends like you and she’s a girl all over once again! And about the cherishing part, surely!

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  36. Beautiful! Your dad sounds like a wonderful human being. I was so touched when I read that you are a proud son. Very few people get that honour in life 🙂 Wonderful post for someone like me who is planning to be a parent.

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    1. I wouldn’t really call him just a good human being. He’s the rockstar! THE rockstar! Well that goes for mom as well (I am adding this as an afterthought actually); and together they were good parents and knew how to handle two growing boys well!

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  37. AlkaGurha · · Reply

    No family is perfect, but yours is perhaps beautifully , endearingly imperfect……just as it should be.
    And the writing style is distinctive…just like your moms.Wonder why she calls you a brat?
    A heartfelt tribute and such a pleasure read.

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    1. Will since so much has been said about the writing style, you must have also guessed that it was she who would’ve edited it as well!

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  38. This is such a lovely post to read. And I would be back to read all the details too, the links and the scanned articles too. Now I know more about you 🙂 T 🙂

    We all need to know about good families with unbiased opinions. I always believe we should share stories of great families bondin wel and functioning well…it is inspiring in an infectious way.

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    1. Hi Sangeeta,

      A small reminder for you to come back and read the scanned articles 🙂 Thank you for the kind words when you call it inspiring in an infectiousness way! I am glad you enjoyed reading it! There is a lot more to write about but, thats where the patience to write wears thin. Maybe my brother can continue from hereon

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  39. OH MY , OH MY

    WHat can i say to this , I dont know .. I am blown away .. I hope I am a father like that…

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    1. May the force be with you! And while you’re being a parent, have a ball! Have two if you must!

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  40. what a delight to read this post and Bhavana took the words out of my mouth!
    The true essence of an Indian family – relationship, role models, righteousness and racket( that is the exclusive club of the moms)

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    1. Hi Sunita, could you please tell all of us what a racket is and how it works. For the benefit of men like me, against whom mom’s and a lot of women gang up against 😐

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  41. Wow! A lovely tribute to a Dad. Bound to make him proud!!
    And Cybernag just shows how secure you are in your fame and stardom that no amount of praise directed elsewhere will make a dent in your graciousness!!

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    1. Sir, You said it right! I got an update that he’s sitting in a corner blushing away to glory at the moment. Just as we have father figures, the same way we have father figures even in our bullet riding fraternity. I look forward to riding with you! Sorry, one step behind you!

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  42. ‘He gave the memories that make us who we are today – in his unique way.’ I guess that says it all – the love, respect and affection shared within the Brat and L&M.
    Love this post.

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    1. Thanks Maddie! As much as you have enjoyed reading this, I enjoyed writing it. This was long pending and I have never really written about Dad in years! This is a first! Guess, the nag nagged her way into me doing this too!

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  43. Brat, the way you have written, well, women can develop a crush on L&M. Careful buddy, if this article trends then you may just find your house surrounded by female fans crazy to have a glimpse of L&M.

    Ok, now on a serious note: Sons and fathers have a very interesting relationship–very different from women. Yet male mentorship and male role models are so essential for men. And today that is in short supply for most of the teachers at primary and secondary schools are women and frankly, women don’t get it! It is because of this that Obama had once announced on father’s day that fathers in United States and specially African American fathers need to step up and take their responsibility as fathers.

    A neat post, Brat! And an important one…

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    1. Female fans eh? What do you think the belan is there for? 😀

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    2. Like Mom said, there is always the belan to keep them at bay! The father son relationship is usually one that encompasses friendship and father figures. So there is a big role he plays in the overall development of the boy. However, the role that a father plays in a father – daughter relationship is very different. Perhaps even one of the protector

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  44. Thats such a sweet post
    Mami ….Dandavat pranams to the L& M
    And Vinni you made me nostalgic 🙂

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    1. I will pass it on to him!

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    2. Nostalgia is the solution to all our problems, just like some alcohol especially the single malt varieties

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  45. L&M and his sister are obsessed with popcorn. I remember a time when the 3 of us went to see a movie PVR and they finished 4 tubs and they next day were suffering for it. But that didn’t stop him from enjoying some muglai chicken for dinner. Thinking of mama gives me the feeling of hugging a favorite toy. The feeling of being home..

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    1. Not just attai and L&M! Even Mom! It runs in the family, since I also finish pop corn by the buckets when I go for a movie. Its been so many years and he still does it with the pop corn vendor! Later the cinema guys realized the ways of this wise popcorn eating fiend so they started selling them in sealed polythene bags. He is still trying to figure a way out of this one

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  46. Hahaha, Leatherbutt, you did really good there brat…I can see Aunty Nag go ufffff, will the Brat Jr ever write anything so nice about me?? 🙂 After meeting uncle L&M, I think I can endorse his sense of humour and passionate take on things…:D and perhaps it is because I see so much of my Dad in him that he remains a favourite character of mine..Now all this said, if we aren’t sweet to the belan-bearing Nag, we will not see the light of the day, will we Leatherbutt?? So here goes, Aunty Nag, why do we have to say sweet things to you, you have hundreds of followers swooning over you…L&M on the other hand too needs staunch supporters, doesn’t he, just to marginally balance out the skewed odds?? 😀 Awwww…I love your family, Leatherbutt!!!

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    1. It is bad enough he doesn’t give me any credit and you have to add salt to the wound. This is what happens. The L&M gets all the bouquets and me? Just you wait Journomuse, the belan is getting primed…

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    2. Well our family was always one where the men outnumbered the women (woman in this case) which is quite the opposite in your case. We were the kind of men who laughed about farts and burps and made no effort in hiding them. The louder the acoustics, the more manly we got, or thought to be so! But mom learned and she eventually started avoiding it altogether and covered her nose quietly without making too much fuss about it! Your Aunty Nag has already been on my case for talking about only the good things. And yes, she made me add the last line; hence you see a sly mention of your aunty nag too! Notice, its in bold. I am trying to make up for all the good things I said about Dad in a couple of sentences

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      1. Leatherbutt: I say I have given you the best pseudonym you could ever have…maan le!! Btw, Aunty Nag is silently lapping up all our banter…on twitter and elsewhere…..psstt…these walls have ears too…so let’s say good things and bitch in private on Whatsapp…hahahaha..:)

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        1. I am with you on this!

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  47. Hey that was one senti post. Wait till the old man reads it! And I won’t settle for the one line after thought. Hmmph…After all, I have made you guys famous 😀

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    1. The old man is going to react in his own sheepish way! remember all the years when we wished him a happy b’day? He won’t know what to even say or utter! This is going to be epic! Take a good photo of his priceless expression!

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  48. debajyoti · · Reply

    that’s such a lovely post!! i guess i came to know about how this blog started from one of ur posts. ll go through these articles after the match :D.

    m i the first person to comment here? it won’t look good 😀

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    1. Looks like you indeed are the first! Yes, there is a lot more to L&M than that meets the eye on this case, what mom writes!

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