Divya Dutta
Of late, I am bonding a lot with my three-year-old nephew. Such a lovely age to know a child and his little world! The world of innocence, something we all become strangers to as the world grows us up to its harsh realities. This is a world of fairly tales, superheroes, Santa Claus. This is the imaginary world they create and you enact a part in it.
These days I am becoming his partner in the world of Avengers. It’s a stark contrast for me. Coming after a shoot or a meeting where I am taken so seriously to a world where I become a three-year-old myself to give company to the little one. Having the imaginary sword fights and role playing various super heroes for him, I somewhere am enjoying his little world. Yesterday, I took him for a swim and being the friendly boy that he is, he went up and befriended a slightly older Korean boy swimming there. He was accompanied by his father. The most beautiful thing was to see the two boys communicate with each other despite not understanding each other’s language.
My nephew was a little scared of water but his Korean friend took him up the slide and both of them jumped into the pool. With me all set to catch both of them lest they fall!
In no time the three of us were playing in the pool, talking in gestures. Splashing water, sliding and yes, being superheroes. It was pure joy. Guess, all the maternal instincts and the kid instincts somewhere struck a beautiful balance. Couldn’t decide if I was a child with them or being a protective parent. Guess it was a mix of both.
The Korean child’s father called out to him and it was time for him to leave. The child said bye to me and my nephew and left the pool. We both started playing again but I heard a voice calling out. I turned to see it was the little boy again! He had a big green leaf in his hand which he probably had plucked from a nearby tree. He came close to me and gestured saying it was for me. He gave me a little hug and ran away. I was wondering what happened, when my little one came and hugged me too. “Bui,” he said in his baby voice, “I lovveeee you”, emphasising it.
A smile came on my face and a sense of feeling so beautiful inside. There was a dialogue in a play I had done with Om Puri which said, “You don’t really have to be a mother to know how it feels to be one.” How true it seemed now. Just spread the love and it comes back. Multifold from these little ones and their beautiful world of innocence. The most joyous feeling when he pats my head with his little hands saying, “Soja bui”. The same completeness that I felt when my Ma patted my head with the same expression. Life’s come a full circle...with all the love intact.
Here’s to unconditional love. Here’s to all moms. Here’s to all women who have a mother in them. Here’s to my little ones and yes here’s to my most favourite person in the whole world, my mom. Happy Mother’s Day.
(Dutta is a Bollywood actress)
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2Hjjahf
via Today’s News Headlines
No comments: