The Bigger Wonder !

Now when I have a blog on my younger son , I thought it would be unfair if I didn’t write one on my elder one (Appu)too. Though some memories of it have faded with the coming of his brother Akhill .( Akhill’s gimmicks being fresher in mind than his elder brother’s.)

  

     Appu was intelligent and good looking even as a little boy of three or four .People found his smile charming and would come forward with wide spread arms to pick him up. Before I could warn them they would have recieved a tight slap from the boy and would have already put him down. The stunned look stayed on their face while I tried to avoid their eyes and sonny ran away still wearing that smile and feigning ignorance of what had happened . 

      Yet he was very friendly with even total strangers. He would offer the same smile to people when travelling in the bus .I have had many an embarassing moment too with him . Like the instance when he picked up the end of a man’s dhothi and said “cheee…” .The man immediately moved away from us . 

     On one occasion he pointed at the adam’s apple of a young relative and said ” Look at that thing .. it looks like a bull’s hump” .

    Once he came to me with a mineral water bottle .The bottle had been left behind by my brother who had travelled by train the previous day .Those were the days when certain companies had started offering some free gift along with the purchase of their products. And this boy came up to me and asked ” Amma how can anyone give germs with water ? ” I looked at him in wonder and then he pointed at the writing on the bottle. It read 100% germ free . He did not understand the ‘%’ sign but he assumed that there were 100 germs being given free with the water .

    Being the first grandchild he was always my parents' pet .They narated stories from the hindu mythology and he memorised every tale and every shloka he heard .He had won many a prize in the competitions he took part.The certificates have been put away in a file along with  many of his other achievements .
    The picture above is that of Appu’s kindergarten progress card

      I am glad that I have such anecdotes to relate to others or amuse myself in my old age . Before my memory fails to recollect , I have stored  it here in this niche along with my other treasured  thoughts and dreams .

      How the boys have grown ! My own  role has changed from a supervisor to a mere spectator. I wait and watch as the kids leave home , make their own choices and decisions . I hope and assure myself that when in need I will be there for them .. when the challenges in life bring with them moments of  fatigue and despair, and  in moments of indecisiveness I should be available to recharge their confidence and bring back the smile. And when I am not around my prayers and blessings should take care of them  just like my own amma's prayers does take care of me .