As I look out from the window and watch little
children play in the quadrangle, I wonder if coming events do cast their
shadows years ahead. The little ones, innocent, yet so wordly wise, are
miniature adults and observing their behaviour and overhearing their
conversation, I realise the influence we have over their impressionable minds.
Their mini world has the same rat race, competition and codes of survival that
we adults have to cope with and it is interesting to watch them acquit
themselves in the fray and imagine their future...
Five-year
old Tinku will grow up to be a hard boiled business man who will make full use
of his assets. He drives hard bargains. He brings with him his video game when
he comes to play. “Please Tinku, let me play with your video game”, begs Chotu.
“Give me your cycle for ten rounds and you can have two games with my video” is
Tinku’s condition. Chotu is thrilled with little mercies and the unfair deal is
struck. By the end of playtime, Tinku will have had an enjoyable bicycle ride,
eaten two chocolates played with an eletronic toy plane and extracted a promise
of a Thums Up-all by lending his video game to his friends on his own terms!
The Adman in the
making is little Bunty. He can exaggerate and improvise so well that his
gullible friends gape open mouthed and swallow his yams. “My daddy's ship can
move so fast… so fast... just like an aeroplane...” he says with such
conviction that even I get to believe it. “My uncle is a doctor in America and
he has a roomful, of money.. just like Richie Rich..” He’s got a glib tongue,
our Bunty…
‘Show
off’ Sanju isn’t too popular with his buddies. He talks of his mummy’s diamond
necklace, grandpa’s Merce, daddy’s gold cigarette case and lighter and his own
digital watch. He’ll grow up to be quite a bore, though he will bring some
colour to drab lives with visions of affluence. The little imp says he’s going
to Hawaii for a holiday in his grandpa’s own ship! Some tycoon!
Enter the macho man. The future trade union leader. Tall, hefty
Adil, all of six years old, strikes terror in the hearts of the young. He loves
dictating terms like - “Here Chotu, let me puncture your bicycle”.. or “Sameer,
I don’t like your bat, I’m going to break it...” “Get me a nail, Paras, I want
to let the air out of your football...” The surprising thing is he gets what he
wants...
The
tell-tale Johnny is naturally the most unpopular. Every fall or fight he has,
he runs to his mamma who obliges by coming and shouting at the errant ones.
Johnny will have problems when he grows big. Mama’s can’t be around to fight
sonny boys’ battles.
It’s
heartening to see Pinku’s punk in contrast. Small and thin, he doesn’t let his
physical frailty in the way of his punches. He can take care of himself.
The loner kindles my curiosity. He keeps
to himself, quite happy watching others play, fight and enjoy. No one bothers
him and he bothers no one. I wonder what he will grow up to be.. a diplomat? a
sanyasi? yogi?
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