The little one was walking with me holding hand when we were going on an evening walk. It was less of a walk for exercise and more of a walk to beauty parlour which was a reason perfect enough to cajole me to be out of home, with him tagging along. We met many other evening walkers and being the youngest one of the lot, my tiny tot was the centre of attention, amusement and pampering. Not just that he was also offered chocolate by one of the regular walker. My son has a silly or beautiful habit depending upon the situation. When outside, he talks less, withdraws himself into his shell by being almost expressionless and uttering just one or two word very very softly and occasionally. At home, he is no less than little monster who would without even a single thought throw anything on people, - out of anger(understandable), boredom(weird), when very happy(what?), crying(ok, not a big deal). Most of the time he is switching between these four emotions.
As usual he veiled himself under the mask of shyness when we reached the parlour and opened the door. He was keenly absorbing everything around him with interest, especially the threading the eyebrows. But all he got to know was a stranger sitting on the chair and another stranger doing something to her eyes. It did not seem interesting. He was swinging his legs up and down and was gently asked not to. Restlessness and shyness were dancing in his mind, he could neither sit still nor be active participant in any dialogue.
In a while a girl entered the parlour alongwith her 11 months old baby and 4 year old son. The son happened to escape under the chair and did not even look at his surroundings while the 11 month old captured my attention. I smiled at her and started playing with her. I do not know what took over my son, he suddenly sprang from the chair and started talking to her. He said "baby, this is chair". "That is mirror." She smiled and gurgled and held him for support and climbed onto him, almost pulling his hair for support(for she had just started walking). What stunned me most was that he was quiet and did not even cry in pain when she was holding onto his hair, but just stood still. Once she stood properly, he just patted her ever so softly and said "baby, sit here". The stunning part was that children cry in pain, get frightened and even move away from other kids. This guy also becomes a little rough with his slightly elder friends. But someone less than his height, the word "care" automatically comes in.
Not that he is my son making me proud of it,but rather the fact that children as young as two years with no sibling can still understand that babies are softer, smaller and need care rather than rough handling. And no one teaches them, it is in their system. They are born with pure thoughts and deeds! And then I realised - HE GREW UP.
