A recent converstion with my 10 year old niece, while walking on the streets of Kolkata on Diwali night.
Niece: Maashi (that's ''aunt'' in Bengali), can I ask you a question if you promise not to tell my mother?
Me: (glancing uncomfortably at my sister who's walking a little ahead, wondering what kind of situation I'm leading myself into) Yes, go on...
Niece: (in hushed tones) What do you think of the dress 'bikini'? (breaks into mini giggles)
Me: (totally flabbergasted) Er...it's alright I guess...
Niece: No, seriously, what do you think of it? You'd look good in one, maybe a sky blue or light green to match the sea..do you have one in Delhi?
Me: (feeling very, very uncomfortable) Ahem, not really. Well, would you like to wear a tiara darling? Dad! Buy us some tiaras, they look so cute!
The conversation is halted as we excitedly choose tiaras from the roadside peddler. The golden ones look hideous, but we manage to settle for some nice silver ones. Both of us immediately put them on our heads. I look like a queen, and she a princess :)
We attract a lot of gazes on the streets, some are even sniggering and pointing at us, but a queen is never hassled by rowdy subjects, so i keep the tiara on, feeling giddy with happiness.
Dad: Dindu, take it off, you're embarrassing me. I don't know you, ok? Don't call me.
(He walks off, and my sister is laughing at the both of us)
Niece: So, the reason why I asked was because I want to be a model when I grow up.
Me: A model!!
Niece: Ssshh, Maashi!! You want Ma to hear? Keep it low!
Me: Kid, you have a set of good brains, why do you want to waste them?
Then suddenly I realize my terrible mistake, my statement was totally judgemental, and based on personal biases. Yet, images of Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Fashion' flash through my mind, and I instantly feel like protecting my much loved niece.
Niece: What do you mean?
Me: I mean that if you want to be a model, go ahead, but there are other options as well.
(Inside, my head's screaming- she's in 4th grade! I used to pluck flowers and play in the garden when I was in 4th! )
Niece: Such as?
Me: You can be a sociologist :), a lawyer, a journalist, a doctor, a teacher, an astronaut...
Niece: (cuts me short) A sociologist? What on earth is that?
(I'm thinking, how much longer until we reach our destination? I'm beginning to feel thirsty. At that moment, I realize how important this conversation is to an impressionable 10 year old who looks upto you, so I launch into full grown-up career counselling)
Niece: Wow! I never knew that all doctors dont always have to cut up humans. And social action is beginning to just about interest me.(She's an extremely smart kid, and at that moment I'm a very smug aunt :)
But I think I'll be an actress instead.
(The smug look drops instantly. But then I decide to indulge her, as I always do)
Me: Of course sweetie. You do whatever you want to. Even I wanted to be Miss World when I was your age.
(You think the tiara on my head is proof of the vestiges of my childhood dream?)
Niece: Aww Maashi, whu didn't you?
Me: I dont think I have the looks.
Niece: (in a bossy tone) Well, I think you do. You shouldn't let anyone or anything come in the way of your dreams, never. Oh, look at that pup, isn't he cute?
Me: (overcome by feeling) Aww...come here you little baby...(big hug and kiss) Maashi loves you lots, you know? :)
It's then that I realize how being grown up has changed me, how easily we let go of our little hopes and desires, how we fiddle with life's trivial things while time flies. Put new heart into yourselves, throw caution to the winds and once in a while, let a young mind change your take on life :D
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7 comments:
beautiful.. makes one seriously remeber how much easier it was to b a kid.. carefree.. in love wth life.. we do change .. just 20 yrs on this planet has changed me a lot.. well... end of the day whether tht change is for good or bad.. totally up to u... keep up the good wrk...
I want a pic of u with the Tiara.... :-)
No one's asked me "What on earth is a Scientist? "
You write with such soul, i love your writings. its like listening to your rants in person.. ofcourse, the frequent intonation of "sruthi didi pata hai?" is missing from the blog..
you handled ur niece pretty well, and i hope she outgrows the idea of modelling soon.. :)
Its ok to indulge her, and i can indulge u too.. with your pretty eyes and height, you are certainly modelling material..
only, with all your brains, you would not want to wear weird clothes, put make up and walk up and down a narrow stage wearing high heels for the rest of your life...
no general prejudices, but how can find something so mind-numbing "glamorous" ?
Ofcourse, there are many more low-brain jobs out there, but most of them have some human component involved, more than just showcasing your body to sell stuff.
And I can afford to make this statement, since I have chosen a plain, low-paying career, just for sake of brain exercise...
As far as the point abt childhood and innocent dreams go, I agree..
Growing old is mandatory, Growing up is optional Honey!!!
Enjoy life, be a 10 yr old at heart for ever.. :)
Our precocious neice?
You my dear continue to impress!
This is the best!
Surprisingly all 10-14 yr olds suffer from this admiration for the glam world..they soon get over it though(like you and me)..or pretend to get over it under the garb of intellectual pursuits.
But seriously no beauty without brains..your niece seems to have both and so do you(oh gosh too much for one day)
loved your piece..full of hope, promise and innocence(the tiara bit was cute)..lets hope we manage to fulfil even an iota of what we dreamt of as kids and continue to do so.Till then it is kids like your niece and creative spaces like ur blog that will rekindle the faith and the belief.
Continue to weave the magic with your words..
@anushree
True...I'd love to be able to decide what's good for me all the time, but unfortunately I don't think that always happens :|
@sruthi didi
I think when you and I are together, we can never grow up :)I will mail you the pic..
@dada
Yep, its her!
@debu
Amen to that!
You have great writing skills..
nice one
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