Dear dad,

When I was younger, people used to ask me who my best friend was and I would constantly say you. My friends would make fun of me and say, "your dad can't be your best friend." "who is your bestfriend?" Its been 14 years and my answer still has not changed. You are, without any doubt, my most precious friend. 

When Vidhisha and I were born, you weren't with mama at the hospital. Till today that fact has always been hurting me. The fact that you weren't there for us, with mama, when she was in pain. It hurt me because at that moment I was supposed to be priority. Your second child was born. How did you miss the chance of holding me in your arms? Did you not want to see the colour of my eyes or how happy your wife is?

It took me years to finally realise that if you could, you would take the next flight to India and you would be there, with us. But, you couldn't. Because you had responsibilities. You were so busy working day and night in Lagos for us. For your family. So that we could have the best life ever. Each time I have asked you for something you have never said no. You've always given me every single thing that I have ever wanted. You've given me the best life ever and I can't thank you enough for it. 

Papa, your role is extremely important in my life. You've always supported me and pushed me to be the bigger person. There have been many psychological articles written about how a father influences his daughter's life. The most common being how a father's love and support can affect a girl's self-confidence. You've helped me into becoming the best possible pure version of myself. You've trusted me with your whole life and I promise you I am going to make you so so proud. 

I'm almost twenty, dad, and you are still my best friend. I don't care how many people I meet in life, or how many friends or boyfriends I have. There's no replacement for my father. You are my whole wide world and I can't ever stop loving you. I just need you to know that I appreciate every tiny thing that you've done for me, from changing my diaper to dealing with my tantrums. I know I am not the best possible daughter but I try to be.  I know we have arguments sometimes but the way I see it its only made us closer. Leaving you, and Lagos, school and all my friends was one of the hardest experiences of my life. Staying without you was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Although, you were miles away from us, you have never made me feel like you're not with us. I can't thank you enough for all those late-night phone calls, all the advice that you've given me. Its made me who I am today, dad, and I am so grateful to have a father like you.

There is not a day that I am not grateful for you. I know its not easy to manage everything but you still do it. For me, for your family. Thanks for attending every important event in my life. I remember when I was little, I had all those dance performances and I know it was hard for you to make time and be there for me. But, you never missed out on any important occasion in my life. You are my biggest supporter.  I know for a fact that you'd ALWAYS be that ONE person cheering for me. Dad, I love you. 

To this day, I still act like a little girl around you. Each time you've come to India I have literally waited like a crazy girl for you. And I can't even express how happy I feel when I hear the door bell ring and I see you. People brag about how they can't live without their boyfriends/girlfriends but for me, its you. You are my everything, papa. And, I am never going to stop bragging about how much I love you. I can't ever imagine my life without you. I can't thank you enough for sitting in my bed and hugging me whether I'm laughing or crying. For holding me every time I came home from school with tears in my eyes complaining about something that happened that day. For every time you have picked your phone although you were in a business meeting in Lagos to hear me cry or rant about anything. You've been there, Always. I know I can never put into words how much you actually mean to me, but I really wanted to try. 

I know there are times when you feel like I don't care about you or you think that I am taking you for granted, but you are so wrong, dad. I respect you the most and I only hope to have you as my dad in my next life and the life after that, basically, I want you to be my guardian for the rest of my life. I hope this doesn't get you into tears because I hate seeing you cry, but i'm sorry, Pa. This was important. I need the whole world to know just how much you mean to me. 

I'm at university now, I never expected to be so faraway from home. Yeah, I've always wanted to travel the world. At this point in my life, I have every single thing that I need in my life but I don't have my family. I don't have you, or Vid or mama and I miss you guys so much and I can't wait to finally have dinner together with y'all. Distance has made us grow, we're so strong. We're unbreakable and I love it. 

Thank you for being who you are, the best father, son, brother etc. Thank you for every single thing. I can only hope to one day become half the man you are; strong, intellectual, loving and caring. 

i love you with all my heart <3 

your little girl