She is 16, going on 17...

Our bundle of joy

Came after much pain that night...

She didn't seem to be in a hurry to enter the world

She sure did make her mother wait

She sure did make her father bite all the nails of his fingers

She sure did make things a trifle tough for all waiting for her

But that was some 17 years back.

From crawling to walking

Time flew

From mumbling to speaking (& pretty fast at that)

Time flew

From asking to asserting

Time did fly

From holding my finger to directing me by my arm

Time did fly pretty fast

From tiny frocks to shorts

Time didn't wait for me to catch up

From shorts to shorts-skirts

She didn't give us time

And yesterday, she draped herself in the 6-yards 

Time – I said Wait

Wait, I don’t want her to grow so fast

Wait, the world is not good enough for her

Wait, I can’t be with her everywhere

Wait, she is growing young, but I ain't

Wait, she is just a little girl, she needs some time

I was nudged out of my reverie,

When an arm slid down my side and a voice said,

“Are you OK Dad, do you need some help?”

There was my little girl, nay, a lovely lady,

Looking resplendent in her long hair and tall frame

With wings ready to flap confidently

A smile that told me “Chill Dad!”

Her fingers arranging my upturned collar

“Look at you Dad, when will you grow up?”

And I just mumbled – 

I don’t want to grow up my dear

As that will add years to you.....

The last time she grew up, was My Guddi Moment