They ask me-
Why ,what, where ...how, and incessantly bug me with questions about anything
and everything. Some of which I am prepared for, “ Adi - Mamma, what are the
fourth and the fifth dimensions?”, and some of which I am not prepared for,
“Aaru(while watching a movie)- Why is he covering his ‘main point’ with his
hat?(as a woman came out of the pool in a bikini)”.They are my Brats!
They never
cease to amaze me with their hilarious antics- “Aaru- mamma woh dekho ek phatta
hua kauua”; their witty comments –Aaru
once announced “papa is potty two(42) and mummy is tatti five(35)”, I found
that very funny; their insatiable appetite – “Mummy Bhook”, after every five
minutes and sometimes even when the mouth is stuffed with something; and their
humane nature – they want to help everyone- from a rabid dog to a fallen baby
pigeon and even a drunken man on the street!
I love them!
They keep me on my toes, I try in vain to take my quick naps in the afternoon
or to avoid a game of football or cricket, saying its a boys’ game. But they
are quick to reply –“ mamma you said, boys and girls are equal, its everybody’s
game, so come and play”. And recently while playing the “equals” game of
cricket ,I tried to be so like the boys, and sprained my ankle badly. As I fell
the boys left everything and ran to me and trust their father to keep taking
his runs between the wickets, shouting “She’ll get up, she’ll get up”!
They are
growing up so fast. Adi will be thirteen in a week’s time. That boy is a gentle
soul, always worried about the world not being kind, not being fair, not
helping the poor enough; and if he had it in him he would do it all. He
questions all that is wrong. Once he asked his father why he had a glass of ‘ganda pani’(rum) in the car while
driving. He asks me why I don’t give money to the beggar boy at the traffic
signal, when I have extra money and it clearly looks like he needs it. He
didn’t want me to kill the seven rats we caught in our house as we had enough
food for them as well. For him the world’s problem is his problem and he needs
to solve it, and may be in time he will solve it!
Aaru is
eight, but talks like he is fifteen and thinks like he 30. He wants to know
everything now and just now....he waits for nothing and no one. He is a
‘bindaas’ lad, carefree , naughty and gets into trouble( reminds me of me), but
he can get out of any tricky situation with just a smile( and some people would
again say... he is a lot like me). Unlike Adi, he wants the world to worry
about him. He can lie unabashedly and can surprise you with his uncanny ability
to stay calm and composed.
They are a
part of me, a little like me and a whole lot different. Adi is the idli, dosa,
rice plate eater from Tambiland. He talks less, works more. He is always
thinking and I never know what he is thinking. He cooks well(a treat for his
future ladies), and he makes some amazing things with anything waste. He is old
school and a little conservative in his thoughts... would have been a perfect
fit in India 70 yrs ago. I foresee a clash of thoughts and ideas between him
and me in the future but for now we are good. Since he is still my little boy,
I have started talking to him lately about a concept of ‘learning to unlearn’( a
thought shared by a good friend of mine), so he is open to change and to
evolve.
Aaru – the
‘Punjab Da Puttar’, loves his alu paratha, malai chicken and palak paneer. He
is a ‘jolly good fellow’ , witty and always up to his pranks. He is a charmer
and will woo his ladies with his looks and sense of humour. I was recently
amazed by his Punjabi accent as he learnt the famous “Sunder mundariya”(a folk
song sung on lohri, a tradition dying with the new generation). He sung those
lines and it made his grandparents so happy and proud. He is a people pleaser
and wants to make everyone happy around him. He wants to become a cricketer ( a
bowler at that)when he grows up, and why not; he has got the looks and the
attitude for it, aptitude shall sneak in soon!
They will
grow up soon, leave home, carve a niche for themselves. I will crib and throw a
fit when I grow old and don’t see them enough. But for now they are around me,
with me, for me – laughing , playing , learning.... and one day I am sure they
will grow up to be “Gentle” men.
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