?Our outlook towards life is pretty different, but I try to adjust to my children?s tastes. My son, Rohit loves pop music. Personally, I would call it cacophony as soft, classical music is my thing. But I try to listen to music along with Rohit just to understand why on earth he likes such loud music,? laughs Ravindra, an eminent lawyer and president of the Utkal Association, Jamshedpur.

Rohit interrupts, ?Dad is my best friend, in fact, every morning he comes and hugs me,? Today, Ravindra Nath has carved a niche for himself in society, but it wasn't an easy climb. ?I had to travel bare-footed five km everyday to reach school. Our childhood was spent amid a lot of difficulties.?

Just then Ritu says, ?You know, Dad got his first pair of slippers when he was in his Class X. He was so overwhelmed that he couldn't sleep the whole night. That is, perhaps, why he has never deprived us of anything in life.?

The parents have given the kids enough freedom to do whatever they want in life. ?Both of us can share every secret of ours with them. In fact I can anytime come and tell him about the girlfriends I made,? says Rohit.

Ritu was initially not very frank. ?But now its pretty different. Today, I share all my problems with them and I know they will always be there with me,? she says.

The one virtue they both learnt from their father is simplicity. They say in unison, ?Dad is very simple and even if we keep telling him to change, he says just one thing: ?A man is not known by the clothes he wears so I don?t think I need to change?.? This is one quality both Ritu and Rohit wants to imbibe.

?We are simple, but we cannot afford to be that simple these days. At the end of the day, we need to be with the times, so we are a little brand-conscious.? says Rohit.

Their parents influence on their career and personal lives is obvious. ?Their influence has been very strong, but they have never imposed their decisions on us, be it choosing a career or a life partner,? says Ritu.

?I have made my criteria for an ideal son-in-law known to her. She is now free to choose a partner,? smiles Ravindra.

Today, Rohit has taken onto his fathers path and is currently pursuing Bachelors in Law from Fergusson College, Pune. ?It was his decision to go for law. I don't remember telling him that he should do law, but I am happy that both are pursuing a career of their choice.? adds Ravindra.

Isn't too much freedom bad for children. ?But Dad keeps a check on all our activities through his secret sources. We can never do anything without him knowing,? says Ritu.

Today, both kids are trying to find a place in society and they owe their achievements to their parents and their friendly attitude. ?My Dad is the ultimate man,? says Rohit. ?The camaraderie we share is such that even our friends finds it easier to open up with my parents than with their own,? adds Ritu.

What binds the family together in these times of being apart ? Rohit in Pune and Ritu, back from Mumbai after completing her graduation from Sophiya?s, due to leave the city soon for her MBA ? is love, respect and admiration for each other.

Nilanjana Ghosh Choudhury