Odd but not so strange...

It happens with everybody, people meet and leave a mark on our psyche. One such person who seems to have left an unfading mark on Vasu's memory is his self-assumed friend - Amrita didi!
She lived with us for barely two months, in fact much less than two months, from January mid to February 2007. She was also our first experience with a full-time housemaid. Attractive, young and innocent as she was, we were all thankful that she did not make it to the wrong hands through the vicious network of arranging 24 hour maid from poor families residing in the remote villages and towns of India.
Back to the context, while she was kept by my younger sister whilst her stay with us post-delivery, Amrita ended up being a caretaker to Vasu and Darsh all the while. She would basically help me out in getting things done for Vasu and Darsh. Initially, Vasu did not open up with her as usual.
As time passed, I would find Vasu playing with Amrita, as I would send her off to the block's park overlooking our house, with Vasu and Darsh - something I could not manage otherwise as a matter of routine. I would always find Amrita more inclined towards Darsh, may be being younger and cuter. But through out, I never realised that Vasu was inculcating emotional bonding for Amrita. May be because he often ordered her like a house-maid should be, and we used to object and insist on some respect as she was elder.
The night Vaibhav left for his own home, I was quite taken aback. Three years six months plus back then, Vasu tended to stay aloof of people around him. He never insisted on somebody particular's presence around him. He was mast in his own world all the time. But the night Vaibhav left with my younger sister, her husband and of course Amrita, Vasu was all tears... crying for NOT Vaibhav.. definitely not his mausi or mausa ji (aunty and uncle) but for his new found friend Amrita Didi.. He cried bitterly.. "Amrita didi mat jaao. Amrita didi ke paaas jaana hai... nahi...Amrita didi ke paas jaana hai.. Amrita didi mat jaao... "
I had to literally contain him with force, and later explain to him that Amrita didi is supposed to take care of Vaibhav. He understood..
As time passed, we hoped that Vasu's fondness with Amrita didi will pass away.
Earlier Vasu would demand to talk to Amrita didi, which would in turn trigger on unfailing whispers between us. He sort of sensed that his interest in Amrita didi does not fetch him favorable impression from us. So, gradually he subsided uttering her name.. now he would look forward to visits of Vaibhav, Mausa ji and Mausi ( you must have got his point by now!) His logical mind drew a clear cut conclusion... Mausi (aunty) and Vaibhav meant Amrita didi for company!
Yet we hoped that it was a temporary phenomenon.
One day Vasu literally exhibited how much he was missing Vaibhav, his elder Mausi and Mausa ji. He waited for them to appear for no good reason. All through the evening ... he kept talking about them.. not a word about Amrita... not a single utterance of her name...
But the entire evening of restlessness to meet Vaibhav and mausi, mausa ji had a hint of hope of meeting Amrita Didi too...
Yesterday, 11/05/2007, Bhanu posed as Amrita over phone and talked to Vasu at length.. and I could find a happier and more obedient Vasu the entire evening... !!! I know the joy had to do with the beginning of his summer holidays too... but the role of Amrita in bringing a heartly smile on his face cannot be discounted.
Lets see, how long does his memory retain the impressions of his first friend-cum-didi... [:)]