Dialogue-baaz!

 

Books arrgghh..! They are like sleeping pills to Vasu.  He has still not inculcated a taste for reading or writing for that matter. He isn't crafty.. Doesn't have a knack at any indoor or outdoor game though he is ever interested in playing any game he gets to play.  He has little table manners and still can't hold his spoon properly. I am still waiting for him to show a spark at something.... O' Lord  are you listening, up there? Pls help!

It was one of those days when we would sit and chit chat beyond routine matters. It would be our time to share our fears, seek assurances and draw strength from each other's benevolent expressions (honestly this was quite an overtly sophisticated and boring description for "being laid back, lazy, cribbing and demanding time" for Vasu and Darsh). Though I was holding this back with all my mental strength, it stumbled out of my mouth quite uncontrollably..

Me - "Vasu, you would make me proud one day, है ना   (Right?)?"

Vasu - "Yes."

Me - " How?" [Exalted to hear the affirmative response]
        "What  all competitions would you participate in  and win to make me feel proud of you?"  [I continued, very eager to know what he was thinking...]

वासू  - ""   आपकोproud करने के लिए competitions जीतना ज़रुरी नहीं है.  " 
[Vasu - I don't need to win competitions to make you proud.]

Me - (Disappointed a bit, I continued) "Then.. How do you think you can make me feel proud?" [ I was seriously wondering now..]

वासू  - "  मैं अपनी  weaknesses पर काम करूँगा और उन्हें ख़त्म करके आपको खुश करूंगा।   "
[Vasu -  I would constantly work on my weaknesses and eliminate them to make you happy.]

Me - "And.." [Amused, now digging for more.. ]

वासू  - " मैं आपके सिखाये हुए रस्ते पे चलूँगा और अच्चा इंसान बनकर आपको proud करूँगा।"
[Vasu - I would follow the path of goodness, as taught by you, and become a good human being and hence make you proud of me.]

Me - *speechless* *HAPPY*
        *Grinning and chuckling at the realization that my little dudes are gradually learning the art of smooth talking and turning polished dialog-baaz!?!*
         [wink] [wink] 

You INSPIRE me!

At Railway Museum, these summer holidays

I introduced Vasu to football by admitting him to a local low profile football academy. He and Darsh would go to this academy 3-4 times in a week; and thereupon would break glassware, bulbs and tube lights while practicing at home, during the remaining days. Nevertheless, I was happy since my kids were learning a game I always fancied to play well. Things, however, underwent a total change with time. The football academy closed down an year back and Vasu and Darsh now play all kinds of unorganized outdoor games with friends in the neighborhood park. Scenario has only worsened further with  advent of IPL season. Vasu has been head over heels in love with Cricket and wants to become a cricketer when he grows up.  I have discreetly discouraged him to make it a career objective.  

One fine day, I felt this desperate urge to play a good parent. I thought it was my duty to encourage my child at his passion, no matter how unfruitful and useless it was; and so, I had the following dialogue with him.

Me:  "Which cricketer would you like to become when you grow up, Vasu? Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar?" 

Vasu: "दोनों में से कोई नहीं। मैं बड़ा होकर वासू ही बनूँगा " 
(Neither. I will grow up to become VASU only.")

I hadn't expected such a reply from Vasu.  I was all smiles. 

However, nowadays his interest has shifted from Cricket to Badminton it seems. The following is the excerpt of an online chat that took place between Vasu and my online younger brother AJ.

AJ: Which is your favorite game?

Vasu: I like to play Badminton. 

  AJ:  "With whom do you play Badminton?"

  Vasu:   "I play badminton with my brother Darsh, but he needs more practice. "

  

  AJ:   "Hahahaha... and you?"

  Vasu:   "I play well, but I also need more practice. "

 AJ:   "Good! So, you're going to represent India in 2020 in Olympics, dear?"

  Vasu:   "Yes, I will!"

Vasu's calm and confident reply left me all smiles again. Firstly, I am glad he has a healthy self-image and secondly, but most importantly, he is not there to emulate or follow anyone.  Way to go! :-)

Heartbeats

I was reading this detective story by Enid Blyton in which the author says through her character Daisy that not all that we laugh at is actually funny. Sometimes, we laugh in the moment and later on that particular stuff is not able to tickle any bone. This also happens with me. I have many amusing moments with Vasu and Darsh but not all are able to hold me for days and weeks or even months together. And then something absolutely different happens that leaves an imprint on my heart. Like what my younger heartbeat one night just did.

It was such an ordinary winter night of February 2012. Darsh with his characteristic playfuness asked me to feel his heartbeat. He had recently discovered it. Amusing it was how he had just realized that he also has a heart that beats.

I watched Darsh pointing at it, so excitedly putting my hand on his chest... unaware that I knew of his heartbeat way much earlier than he could imagine. Just 5 weeks after I had conceived him, the gynaecologist amplified his heartbeat for me to hear. It was a sign of him having arrived inside me.

The realization, however, brought something farther than a chuckle to me. It caused me a deep sense of guilt.

Darsh was so much oblivious of the string of thoughts that passed me following the audio-visuals at the hospital. The pregnancy was totally unplanned and uncalled for. For a few days,  I was so confused. Yes, I wondered what if  .... yes, the thought crossed my mind whether it would be a bad deed to.... to do something that today I do not have the courage to even put into words.  Today he is my heart beat. I skip a heartbeat even at the very thought of anything happening to him that could race up his heartbeats, let alone stopping them.