Summer Diaries

Chapter -9

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.”

The kids are the epitome of curiosity. They love the word “WHY”. If their hunger is not satiated, they go on for their own ventures. And this is a tale of some such interesting pursuits.

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It was a gentle refreshing rainy day. The little girl of four got up from her cot and went out to relish the showers. She saw something moving in the grass. She leaped forward to have a good look at the moving object. She was amused by the moving creature. She got up and started searching something. But she couldn’t find it. Suddenly she saw the big mango tree and the fallen twigs lying beneath it. She rushed to pick one. Holding a small twig in her hand, she again took her position. She sensed the feeling of power that has come up by holding that little piece of wood. She starting diverting the path of the little fellow and this made her happy. This power of controlling gave her immense relief. And an idea struck her. She ran inside the house.

She (in urgency) : I need a polythene bag . Please give me one.

Granny (apprehensively): But honey, why do you need one?

She (smiling): I am collecting something for you. It’s a surprise and you need to wait for it.

Granny (amusingly) : Ok. Here is one for you.

She snatched the bag and darted out.

Granny ( from behind) : Darling, don’t forget, I am waiting here for the surprise.

She (huffing) : Coming soon !

She quickly reached the spot and did the needful. Happy with the outcome, she slipped inside the house.

She (clutching the bag behind her) : Nani , Please close your eyes.

Granny (Smiling) : Oh so surprise is ready.

She (making an annoying face) : Yes ! Please do as I said.

Granny: Okay dear .

Granny closed her eyes. And waited for the next instruction from her little grand daughter.

She kept the bag on the floor and put her hands in it. There she stood proudly with her cupped palms full of surprises.

She (enthusiastically ): Now, You can open your eyes.

Granny ( Shrieked) : What is this?

She (Happily) : I don’t know, but they look beautiful. Don’t you like them.

Granny (angrily) : Throw them out, now.

Hearing loud voices her mother reached there and saw her baby with a handful of earthworms.

Mother (calmly) : Baby,why have you collected them.

She (sheepishly): I like the way they look and walk. And I can change their walking directions too.

Mother (sweetly) : Please keep them inside the bag darling and I will tell you a story.

She loved hearing stories from mom. Her mother was a wonderful narrator.

She emptied her hand and went near her mom.

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Once there was a boy, who was about twelve years old. One day while playing he found an insect on the ground. And he out of curiosity inflicted injuries to insects by piercing thorns in their bodies. And the insects died because of the miserable pain.

Later, in his next incarnation, he took birth as the eighth son of King Shantanu and Goddess Ganga. He was named Devavrata who is delighted in Gods and is pious. Eventually he became famous as Bhishma meaning He of the terrible oath, referring to his vow of lifelong celibacy and of service to whomever sat on the throne of Hastinapur.In the great battle at Kurukshetra, on the tenth day Bhishma who has put down his bow and arrows was felled in battle by Arjuna, using Sikhandhi as a shield, piercing his entire body. He then awaited his death on the bed of arrows witnessing the entire destruction of his lineage.

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She was too small to grasp the moral of the story .

She (with a puzzled look) : So??

Mother (grinning) : So the moral of the story is, never harm others if you do so, then you have to pay heavy consequences for it. As you are trying to capture the earthworms in the bag, you are taking away their freedom of moving freely on earth. If you do so, you may have to lose your freedom of moving in this life or the other.

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She freed the captured earthworms admiring their locomotion.

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The lesson was learned. It changed her outlook towards other living beings. Some lessons are given in an early age, but they remain part of our soul for ever.

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To be continued …..

Please read the other chapters if you have missed them from below :

Chapter-1

Chapter-2

Chapter-3

Chapter-4

Chapter-5

Chapter-6

Chapter-7

Chapter-8