To Call or Not to Call...

" Son when you have kids of your own, you would realize what we go through." This was my father's response to my question as to why they called up every Sunday when I joined the NDA 29 years ago.
And my Dad was right.
My daughter, Mishka, has joined a hotel management course at Bangalore and is staying in a hostel. It being an institute run by the Army Welfare Education Society, discipline is a way of life.
Her routine starts with PT in the morning. Thereafter the rest of the day is a blur rushing from one activity/class to another. I called her up at 6.45 yesterday morning and she chirped, "Dad, I have just got back from PT and have 20minutes to get ready. Can't talk to you now. Call after half an hour."
I was on tenterhooks for the next 1800 seconds!! Called her up at the 1810th second. Got a run down of the previous day. Was very happy to know that she is enjoying herself. Had a chat with her in the evening too.
When I called up my wife today morning ( she is on the train on her way back to Bhopal from Bangalore), to ask if she had spoken with Mishka, she said," Let her be. Don't call up so often. Even I have not called."
And so here I sit with my mobile, pressing the search button, typing out 'mishka', her number appears, but I do not press the button with the green telephone logo. My mind wanders off to Bangalore. I see her sitting in her classroom, engaging the professor in some profound discussion on the future trends in the hotel industry, arguing with the F&B instructor on the merits of asfoetida in pasta sauce or pulling pranks on her friends.
I am not able to muster the courage to press the button with the green telephone logo.
Or is it that I am gathering the courage to let my 'baby darling' go.
To call or not to call, that is the question.