He came to the bedroom with a scoff. Climbed up the bed and ducked his head between his arms, facing the pillow. They had a tiff, I suppose, the usual one, this time she was in charge of the remote and watching her favourite soap. I didn’t intervene in their fight, either way it is cartoons or Nigella feasts. So I better sit in front of computer and carry on with my usual stuff. I glanced him from the corner of my eyes. He never was sobbing, but waiting for one of us to come and coax him, lift him and plead him. I was bemused, didn’t know whether he was really upset or just seeking intervention.
I waited to see him lift his head on his own. The stalemate was prolonging. I switched off the computer and just sat beside him, prodding. He didn’t stir, but buried his head further in his hands. I know how to handle his sweet anger.I took his favourite story book( amar chitra katha) and started reading it aloud. For a while he waited, then he sprang up, telling ‘Dad, You first tell the story in tamil, then read the book’.I pulled him towards me, tucked him between my lap, the pages of book visible to both and continued telling the story.
Today I was having a novel by Khaled hossaini in my hands, and my favourite place in bed is towards the wall. She was having something which read as ‘The bride’s awakening’ and she preferred to sleep towards the fan. There was an emptiness between us. I could hear that the tv was on in the hall and Nigella was dishing out something yummy in her kitchen. So much so for Nigella and surgical vidoes on net..
P.S. He left to his grandparents house for his vacations one week back.
And to something which Iwrote as sms and sent to my friend when my son was still younger and grew up with my parents for almost 2 years.
He bridged the gap between my father and me
His wait was longer, for he was unaware of days and weeks
A mind of grown up I demanded , A kid he was , to say..
we all would be together , the next of next birthday..
‘I love you dear’ I told , promptly returned with a smile
Unaware of how powerful were his words and how meek was but mine.
and a pasuram by periyazhwar
வண்ணக் கருங்குழல் மாதர் வந்து அலர் தூற்றிட
பண்ணிப் பல செய்திப் பாடி எங்கும் திரியாமே
கண்ணுக்கு இனியானை கான் அதரிடைக் கன்றின்பின்
எண்ணற்கு அரியானைப் போக்கினேன்; எல்லே பாவமே!
பெரியாழ்வார் பாசுரம்
They came to complain his playful ways,
His pranks, his stealth and even his grace
Dispensed his charms, clouded by haze,
I sent him far, into the woods to graze
And tend the cattle , my little cowherd
And spiteful now, for my heart is weird..
Periyazhwar... ( Probably is this how Yashodha had rambled after sending kannan for grazing cattle?)
