They say it is the little things that are vital, and it is only the little things that make the big things happen. Vivid memories of my mother revolve around the magical tales she told us. My mom was exceptional in diffusing any kind of seemingly “non-peace” moments at home. She knew us like the back of her hand and would strike the right chords with all of us., My home was peaceful, secure heaven for us.
There the countless incidents, where I have admired my mom for her situational brilliance and magical tales, which taught me on how to handle abnormal situations in a peaceful and humorous ways. Coincidentally this is one of the reasons why I get my pay-cheque every month now & so is the reason for my success.
It was a year back, when my wife was getting my 3 year old daughters hand decorated with mehendi designs. She would patiently sit and get the designs drawn on her palms. As a four-year old, once the designs are drawn she would expect the red colour to be on flash. So, she would quickly wash her hands and be extremely upset and would cry because the designs wouldn’t turn red. Inspite of all of the family members explanation, nothing would make sense to my daughter. Finally, that day, when my wife was back home, took her in her lap and said “I heard that the mehendi designs never turn red on your palms: for which she nodded her head with tears trickling down her eyes. My wife immediately said” did you hear the fairy’s call to you before you washed your hands?” I saw, my daughters eyes wide open, & that very moment I knew shew was completely amazed at what she was hearing. And she continued the story until my daughter slept off. The very next morning, my wife applied mehendi again to my daughters hands and after few hours, my wife confirming out to her that the fairy is calling, she washed her hands with water and voila and they turned red. I still remember the look of relief on my daughters face. This incident was nostalgic to me (it was just a dejavu moment). It reminded me of my mother who was really good in breaking the complex issues and making it look simpler to all of us. Now looking back I realize that she was like the “pillar of confidence” upon which we had built the rest. I am equally thankful now for having a wife to continue that legacy
Today if I am a writer and a can come up with all sorts of funny, crazy stories for children, I owe it to my mom. She was the one who sowed these seeds of “making complex things simpler” very early in my life. Her stories have logic beyond my words. It transported me into a world of wonder. She made my world a beautiful place-my fairy land where anything could happen. Even, today the child in me is very much alive, thanks to the magical stories of my mom. I try to parent my daughter, “Barfi” the same way. As much as I feed in logic and reasoning, I don’t tamper with their wonderment, innocence and childlike exuberance. I preserve a part of their childhood in her and don’t make it entirely intellectual.
Maybe, the best compliment any child can give their parents is to be able to say I cherish my childhood days and still carry a part of that child in me.
And I whisper this to my parents every day, long after they have left the physical world.
Thank you,
Adi
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