A SORCERER AT LARGE?

He is dashing! He is innocent! He knows how to charm the toughest of hearts! He just turned six months old this 3rd of June! Vaibhav has grown even more cute with time... his complexion fairer, his eyes bigger, his attitude friendlier. He smiles when you act amusing. He tries to touch and thump anything that captures his short span of attention. Mobile phones, laptops and remote controls fascinate him in specific. Now he can sit on his own, though for a fewer minutes. Though his mom has expanded his diet to include solids, water and fruit juices, he relishes his since-birth menu item only. What he loves the most are outdoor outings! He simply goes ecstatic as his dad takes him out for a stroll every evening. He makes all kinds of funny loud baby sounds whilst, leaving most of the neighbors curious to learn the origin of the peculiar noises. The celestial universe of his mom, he fills his dad's heart with delight. He is steadily outpacing infancy in favor of toddler-hood, much to the pleasure of his parents, as they are pervasively left awe-struck by his charmer ways!

A good lesson learnt early...

I often utilize Vasu's fancies and fascinations to my advantage, and ensure his dietary intake to be in order. Like, I would make him eat uninteresting food or drink rather undelicious fruit pulp by reminding him of the glory of Harry Potter or Krrish, including any mortal soul, basically whomsoever fitting the bill at that given point of time. Driven by his yearning to be as strong or magical as his idol, he mostly obliges. Of course, it works only in conjunction with some mother to son butter and sugar coated earnest requests and a bit of command. Today, however, I used my tactic for a wrong cause I gather. I tried to convince Vasu to sleep in the afternoon, as Krrish also does it to keep himself active and kicking all the time. " Mujhe Krrish nahin ban-na hai. (I do not wish to be Krrish)". said Vasu in a mature and confident tone. Blaming myself for the wrong selection of the hero figure, I tried to evaluate my options, "Okay. Then do you wish to be like Lakshmana or Mahavir Bhagwaan?" The reply caught me off-guard. "Nahin! Mujhe koi nahin ban-na hai. Mujhe Vasu aur sirf Vasu ban-na hai. (I do not wish to be anybody else. I wish to be me, myself only)". It definitely did not seem a childish display of irritation or a blind attempt to show off wits. His body language and tone reflected that he meant it. Cool, collected and clear-cut was what he looked like, as he left me alone after replying. I must say, he has learnt a very important lesson of his life, very much WITHIN time.

UNASSUMING DELIGHTFUL MOMENTS...

Today when I returned back home after office, Vasu and Darsh greeted me as usual. Both were a cheerful lot. Vasu entertained me with his unarticulate but amusing stories in English... - He spoke so low that I could hardly hear him most of the time. Only when he narrated his pet favorite Harry Potter stories, I could get what he meant to say. Still I cannot claim I heard the stories properly. Yet, it was by all means pleasant to spend time with Vasu, as I had dinner. Persuading Vasu to get ready, I hinted I intended to take him and Darsh to the park. I do not really know why, but Darsh started taking out shoes from the shoe bag, sprung open the cloth closets and started pulling out clothes haywire. Vasu complained as he witnessed the ransack,"Mama look! Darsh kya kar raha hai.. woh mere kapde almari main se nikal raha hai! Usse roko!" As I responded to Vasu's urge,"Darsh! Vasu ke kapde mat nikaalo!" Vasu objected and said, "Bolo 'Bhai' ke kapde mat nikalo Darsh! Mujhe bhai kaho!" I was very pleased to find an individual before me who knew what's more respectful for him.

PALPABLE CONCERNS

Running in his twentieth month, Darsh treats himself as an equal adult to us and understands the normalcy of our life style already. He himself initiates for the portable water tank at temple to wash his hands, successfully tries to put on his pant/ knicker. Both Vasu and Darsh started early with trying to put on their shoes on their own. Still, Darsh's pace of growth is clearly faster than Vasu in certain ways. He certainly shows plenty of attitude and anger already. Vasu leads him by all means in terms of attitude. He does not like to be ordered around. He obliges only if he is requested. He defies authority more often nowadays and stands brave to face the aftermaths of violation of authority. His personality is undergoing apparent changes as he has already started idolizing violence and power. He shows a clear disregard for orders and gives a deaf ear to advices, unless in a better mood. Finally his craze for Harry Potter’s wand is subdued, but only to be overtaken by the fancy for (Ramayan's)Lakshman’s bow and arrow!!! To my horror, he prefers Ravan over Shri Ram. I know it is because of the relative show of power quotient between the two legendary mythological grand characters of Hinduism. His obvious choice is also aided to a great extent by the tele serial ‘Ravan’ on Zee TV that glorifies the character of Ravan as the hero.

My insecurities are growing graver with such developments, as I witness Vasu and Darsh growing fonder of concepts and things that I would not like them to follow. At times, I loose my cool as I see my self incompetent to proceed with my plans and goals. I cannot achieve it alone as I have limited capabilities and comprehensition power.

May Jinendra Bhagwan aid and assist me on my warpath!

Sshshsshs...pass it over please!

It happened yesterday evening only. Vasu, Darsh, mom, dad and I were fortunate candidates for 'darshans' at the neighborhood mandirji (Jain temple). Vasu was as usual in no mood to pray or even pretend. Darsh following the suit was all naughty and restless. As soon as I left him on the floor, he ran his way to the baskets of holy tiny utensils of Mandirji. Tiny spoons, miniature bowls and small plates – all unfailingly attracted him beyond control. Compelled, I was carrying Darsh in my lap as Mom prepared ‘aarti’. As soon as mom lighted the oil lamp, Vasu started making hush sounds to hint that the oil lamp must be given to him for performing aarti. By consensus only an agreeable activity for him, he was given the oil lamp, which he moved clockwise and pendulum-like almost to his fill. Then it was forced taken away by me to be given to mom. Vasu started hushing all over again, stretching out his right hand towards mom, his fingers working in coordination to indicate that he wanted the lantern back.

Inspired, Darsh broke the silence with his own hush sounds, his hand also stretched out, his fingers moving in and out of the fist, as if virtually saying, "Sshshsshshh...pass it over to me instead please!"

Mom and I simply could not control a brief mirth in between the ‘aarti’ recital.

CAN YOU WILL ...

It was one of the Saturdays of October’ 2006. I was sitting across the table to the principal of ‘Blessings'. I was attending a PTM and she was gratifying me with her valuable feedback on Vasu. Vasu joined Blessings in February the same year. The domineering principal of 'a truly English-medium playschool' told me with a distinct hint of frustration, " Your son is an absolute Hindi speaking kid!" She distorted her face to drag her lower jaw even lower and swelled out her lower lip to act out one of Vasu’s innocent remarks to her," Ped pe chidiya baithi hai m'am!" Her face sprung back to its normal contour as she added, “He just does not speak in English. Well... at least he understands all of us as we speak to him. You should speak to him in English at home." Months have passed by ever since. Today, Vasu is at least seven months elder. He understands and speaks English reasonably well. His sentences have grammatical errors, but he has grasped the basic fundamental of sentence formation - something I learnt only when I was well versed with how to read and write. He amuses me when I call him up from office and he makes it a point to reply me back in the foreign language on preferential basis. He makes very to the point conversations over the phone. I guess he does not like talking to the instrument, even if a voice is audible from the other side and even if it is recognizable as belonging to an acquaintance. Rarely does he hold a conversation with me over the phone... I do not know whether I unintentionally exerted pressure, or was it the play school, but whenever he needs to speak to me about something or tell me about something consciously, he uses English. Nowadays he frequently asks English translations of Hindi words that he cannot translate himself. In the middle of telling me something, he would ask, “Mama! ‘ladne’ ko English main kya kehtein hain?” As I reply, “Fight.” He would instantly continue, “Mama! I don’t fight with my brother.” He would ask me to rebuke Darsh when he opines his conduct objectionable. He would command me courteously,” Mama! Please tell Darsh, don’t hit me!” When I oblige him instantly in a rather feeble tone by his expectations, he commands, “Mama! Say faster!” I correct him, “Do you mean louder?” He answers back, “Yes! Say loudly to Darsh!” I oblige with finesse this time to suit his criterion and am let off with approval. Then he reiterates the censure in a louder tone of voice, and thus exercises and proves that is he (Vasu) is elder to him(Darsh). Nowadays, his languages, both English and Hindi, are facing their worst days. Be it in terms of fluency or making sense, neither language helps him express himself adroitly. May be he is experimenting with the languages too much. Or may be he has unlearnt all mugged up lessons.. His pet dialogue nowadays is, “ Can you will …?" - "Can you will give me water?”, “Can you will push my swing?”, “Can you will give me a pen?” I would correct, “Vasu either use will or can. They are not used together.”, as if he will learn thus. Now I have started correcting him by telling the right way to say it. “Vasu say, could you please push my swing?” It is a tried and tested formula with Vasu… I gather he has learnt most of his present understanding of English by listening to such corrections or norms of speaking from me, and of course his teachers and even Harry Potter/ Polar Express/ Finding Nemo/ Ice Age I movies to some extent. Now, it does not matter whether and when would he refine his grip on the languages. All that always mattered to me was overcoming the initial hitch that impedes most of us in progressing with a new language, specifically English. Once that is overcome and the child finds the language no big issue, the job is done according to me! Love you Vasu! May one day you overwhelm me by surpassing my parameters of superlative excellence and make me too proud to handle! May true knowledge, true conduct and true ideal find home in your heart and mind very very very soon! Amen!