Letters of Love 2 - Ravi Singh

Ravi is a very quiet, but thoughtful person. I recently met him when we were doing some training together. When I conceptualized this project, he was one of the first people who gave me the permission to write a letter on his behalf. In his phone call with me, Ravi shared with so much honesty, the deep love he has for his parents, his wife, his kids, his siblings and their families. I hope this letter does justice to what he wanted to express. It was a privilege hearing him share and write for him.

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Dear Mummy, Papa,

This is my letter of love to you.

This is to tell you how much I love you. This is to tell you how much I miss being with you. This letter intends to share very briefly what drifted us apart, but more about what brings us together.

The truth is this – You’re my source and I love you. I am yours just like an apple grows from the seed that allowed itself to be buried deep into the ground. You allowed yourselves to give up on some of your dreams in order to raise the three of us as well as you knew. You allowed us to be stupid and live with some of our stories, because you knew we needed that space. You allowed yourselves to guide us, to care for us and to raise us with love.

I want to tell you that I truly understand you’re human too. And that it is not my place to sit in your judgement. It is not my place to be entitled and ask ‘why?’ or ‘why not’. However, it is certainly my place to give you the love that I withheld from you at a point in time. 

Through this letter, I give you your son back. The son who loved you unconditionally. Through this letter, I give you my word that I will continue to love you and my siblings and my wife and my kids and the whole extended family till I live.

I want to invite you to create more love with all of us. You were the ones who taught me how to love, how to stand for what is right. Today, I ask for your support in standing by my wife’s and kids’ side. Today I ask you to love us all again like you did then.

I might have been stupid and put distance between us, but I do hope that you will help me bridge it. Just like you helped me with Maths problems in childhood, you will also help me with life’s problems. Just like you allowed me to work with you during grocery shopping, or sometimes in the home, you will allow me to work with you in life.

Mummy, Papa, we have spent 10 years away from each other and not one day goes by when I don’t wish that you were here. I want you to know your daughter-in-law. I want you to know your grandchildren. I want them to have the values that only their grandparents can give them. Please allow us all to have that privilege. I am afraid that we may not have endless years together. Why not make the most of what we have?

For the love, which we always will have, please allow us to stay with you. The house doesn’t matter, home does. And our home is incomplete without you both.

Let's love again? Unconditionally? Please?

Your loving son,

Ravi

 © Anupama 2019