A SHORT RENDEZVOUS WITH TINY TOTS

From Sampath’s Desk:

A SHORT RENDEZVOUS WITH TINY TOTS 

Once I had been to my friend’s house. The plan was that I should join him in his house before both ventured out on a joint mission. He was not at home at the agreed time. I enquired with his spouse to learn that he had gone out on a very urgent work but got held up there and would be back soon. Turning little peeved, piqued and chagrined which I did not show in the open, I reconciled to the fact that there was no other option except to wait for him in his house. After writhing and squirming in boredom for a while on the sofa-set, I spoke to my friend who pleaded excuse for being late and requested me to put up with the inconvenience and still worse pleaded for some more time. Though outwardly I told him, “It’s okay”, I became vapid inside having to kill time for nothing. "Oh My God, why is this bad time that makes me wait, testing my patience" I muttered sotto voce! However, I pretended ‘no problem’ outwardly.

 

After a few minutes passed I became further edgy and fidgety. However, I didn’t know a magic was on the wait that surfaced soon to break my discomfort. The children of my friend, a toddler and another older by two years, came running to the hall where I was sitting awaiting my friend’s arrival, fondling and nudging each other. Blushing in discomfort on seeing me, both were heard screaming, “Oh, somebody has come to our house”! However, they immediately closed their ranks and shyly gazed at me. After a pause, as if to make peace, I made them shake hands and started interacting with them which took me to a crescendo of joy. Whenever I look at a baby, toddler, or young child, I feel like smiling, hugging, and playing with them. You know, a child smiles and feels happy for nothing. There is a hidden child in everyone wanting to play? How could I be an exception!

 

Even as I enjoyed the children’s company, my mind started shuttling back through the memory lane of my pleasant experiences with children.

 

Said Williams Wordsworth, “Child is the father of man”! Child is a miracle of love, a treasured gift from above. Lisp or prattle of child is a sheer and pristine delight to hear. Naturally, a child is the most affable character enlivening the proceedings of human-life. Fertile and lively imagination and perennial thoughtfulness represent the brighter side of a child’s developing personality. Watching children humorously energetic, interacting with them, and/or observing them in conversation among themselves and playing with each other would be interesting and wonderful, sure to reverse even the sagging mood and morale of a disturbed mind. Could I afford to miss the opportunity? A child’s smile sets every curve straight. Isn’t? The children kept me excitingly engaged.

 

A child has no inhibitions while making merry. Victor Hugo, a French Literary Genius observed thus, “even the saddest face gets brightened up with joy at the very sight of a child”. And if one looks at the world through a child’s eyes and mind, he/she can see how tension and stress make their way out. When I started playing with the tiny tots, I felt like walking or floating on air. What a fun-filled and joyous occasion it was?

 

Who else other than the tiny tots that could have stood me in good stead for that long incidentally keeping me oblivious of everything including the inordinate delay made by friend?

 

After my friend returned, we left for and reached our destination with a delay, but still got our work accomplished easily and successfully without any hitch or hassles and within a short time. Ironically, even if we had reached there much earlier than we had planned, it would not have made any difference at all. I thanked God for giving me an exciting and ecstatic sojourn with the children that saved me from suffering an otherwise vexatious wait there.  

 

Such is the wonderland of children a tryst with whom was a pleasant experience to me. And there is no better and sweeter language than that of the tiny tots especially their lisp. Isn't it?

 

R.SAMPATH

16/10/2019