In His Time, I Grew
It’s been 10 years since I began studying economics, nothing more than learning to estimate costs, quantify variables, and evaluate outcomes. But for the past 27 years, I’ve lived as the second daughter of a man whose time, love, and effort can never be measured by any economic modelling or empirical evidence. No formula can capture the cost of his sacrifices as standing under the harsh sun outside my exam centre, gazing at hospital corridors during my checkups, running for college admissions, or waiting alone on an airport bench through the night, just to see me return safely from my first international solo trip. I may not be living a perfectly healthy and wealthy life, but he always makes sure I’m living one worth everything. And every time someone says, “Bilkul papa pe gayi hai”, my heart swells with pride because that’s the best compliment I could ever receive. His timeless efforts have sparked a feeling in me to transform the moment I was born with the words "Firse beti hui ...