THEIR LITTLE WORLD OF INNOCENCE!

                                 
                 There are certain incidents that are so very cute, you just cannot forget them! One such an anecdote is what I have penned below. My crazy love for children, definitely, is an added reason to still have this in my mind and that is making me add it to my blog, so that it can be there forever and I can re-live those cute five minutes every time I read it!

Who doesn’t love ice creams, but for those negligible percentage of people, whose reasons for their dislike towards this yummy desert makes no sense to me. But we just respect and let likes and dislikes be, just as we wish ours not to be speculated on. A close friend and I need the smallest of occasions to celebrate with an ice cream, so much so that the reason we may quote may just seem frivolous to many ( J ) . We stay in an area that’s overflowing with restaurants, bakeries and ice cream shops. To make a choice is a tad difficult because we need to choose out of the best – but we did and were always loyal to that one place we meet over an ice cream every now and then.

Months back, late in the evening, we were whiling away our time chit chatting and laughing away to glory speaking about anything and everything under the sun in this ice cream parlour – one place that always is crowded with more people than it can comfortably accommodate. We were oblivious to the throng there, who barged in with a mission to grab the best they can get and move out satiated. Just as I, my friend loves children too and we would lovingly comment, smile and admire the little ones running hither and thither over the excitement of very soon going to dig into the tastiest of things their parent/s were buying for them.

                                                   It was the Cricket World Cup era – that time of the year when all cricket fanatics dedicate their time, heart and soul to just one thing – watching cricket matches! And what better way of marketing than sport a cricket field atmosphere within your shop! The ice cream parlour had set up a cute little pitch with stumps, bats and a ball, segregated from the counter using a net – making it look like a practising area we all had in our schools. It was tempting to play, but I would probably have filled in the entire pitch area with my presence – I mean, it was meant for the tiny tots. There was this really cute little boy – not more than two and a half years old – who was the centre of attraction that evening. He was the mini Tendulkar there, playing with all the excitement and energy he could garner. He would chase the ball using the bat like he was playing hockey, run around, scream out of joy, jump, roll on the pitch, fall on the net and what not! Even someone who finds kids annoying, would have adored him. My friend and I were seated very close to the pitch the little one was playing on and we, to be honest, had forgotten about our ice creams and had just let it melt in the cup. What we were admiring was that attention capturing and cute!

This little one, oblivious to the world’s attention he had drawn on him, continued his fun filled play. But something that followed made no sense to us. While running back to reach where he had started from, he abruptly stopped! He was staring at the TV mounted on top of our seats at a height, on the wall. He looked like he was suddenly hypnotised by an unseen power or mesmerized! He did not budge! What was wrong? Why did he lose interest on the game? What mesmerized him? His round little eyes never blinked! His hands clutched the bat and ball tight! His body froze! His cute little mouth was open and started drooling! Huh? What on Earth were they showing on that TV, we thought! I quickly stepped out of my seat and took a sneak peek of the screen. Whoa!!! What I get to see there is a picture of a yummie mouth-watering Sundae ice cream!!  “ Awwwwww!! My sweetest sugar candy, my darling little doll...I wish I could buy you every drop of ice cream kept in those freezers ...” I told myself! When everyone else realised the same, they couldn’t help chuckle out of pure affection and adoration for this innocent ltoddler. His parents giggled , nudged him affectionately saying they have got him an ice cream, but he wouldn’t move an inch! They tried turning his face away, distracting him – nothing worked! He was in a different world altogether! Finally with all their affection they hugged him and kissed him, carried him, laughed and slowly moved out of the place. The last that we could see was he relishing his ice cream and getting into his car, with his mother carrying him. J

                                                   I do not know how much one may like reading this bit , but when you close your eyes, and wonder and imagine how sweet and innocent little ones could be, you just forget everything else that can bother, and trouble you and your thoughts! The only bit of innocence we get to see is in these lovely children – and they are the BEST of teachers one can get! They speak the truth transparently only because they – at their tiny little age – have not learnt to manipulate or camouflage their genuine opinions, desires and emotions. Their thoughts and actions are devoid of any blemish!

                                                   Getting back to my toddler age would be A DREAM COME TRUE for me – a period when all that I would know to do is stay happy and secure in my parents’ unconditional love and warmth!

I dedicate this post to all the little ones in the world and wish to keep it as an expression of my crazy love for them – even though only a negligible percent could be expressed thus, J.