She: hey…do not go too far….Out of my site…Come back
He was running even faster this time twisting his arms and looking back at her once in a while with a mischievous smile on his face.
His hair is all over on his fore head. She could see two big black eyes popping through those hair strands. And, he loves his hair.
His Dad and Mom are not able to convince him for a haircut. In fact no one in the house could do that. And, not even his Grand Parents whom he loves very much.
Not that anything wrong in having that long hair. But everyone could see the inconvenience that is causing to him.
She thought to herself….ho boy….this six year old…little fellow is too mischievous …to handle
He is so fascinated about this river walk. This is his daily ritual for him to go for a river walk after his school. And, she has to take him.
He came back running. Held her hand and pulled her near to the water…and with lot of excitement on his face he was going on…Look…. look….look I saw a new blue fish today with white stripes.
Oh….ho…it is gone now. You missed it….I have seen it….it is so beautiful….he said it with his eyes rounded…
She: That’s Ok…now….come over here….
That excitement and the joy on his face were immeasurable. His face was delighted like a 1000 Watts bulb.
He: No….I want to play here in the sand for a while….
She: Ok…I’ll be here….
She sat on a nearby bench that is facing the river. She looked at him. He is playing in the sand happily muttering an imaginary story of his own.
Having an eye on him she looked at the beautiful sun set.
The brightly lit blue sky is dyed reddish orange with mix of velvety white clouds.
Surrounding surreal mountains, the streaming waters and bushy wild green trees made it even more beautiful.
The serene surroundings with whispering wind whirling through along with the waters soft murmuring sound…is simply beautiful.
She thought to herself what a heavenly beauty is this….. We all think heaven is somewhere….after death…but the heaven is here on this earth…and she wanted to softly kiss this stunning beautiful beauty…..
Do you ever go out for a walk by yourself? It is very important to go out alone, to sit under a tree – not with a book, not with a companion, but by yourself – and observe the falling of a leaf, hear the lapping of the water, the fisherman’s song, watch the flight of a bird, and of your own thoughts as they chase each other across the space of your mind. If you are able to be alone and watch these things, then you will discover extraordinary riches which no government can tax, no human agency can corrupt, and which can never be destroyed.
Her thoughts slowly drifted to other side of the planet. I wish my blue pearl was here at this beautiful sun setting.
To be at the feet of the blue ocean
Like the river that is born miles and miles away
Like the river that dreams and dreams from far
Like the river that drools and drools from here
Like the river that drums and drums to belong
Like the river that flows through the land
Like the river that jets through the trees
Like the river that gushes through the rocks
Like the river that rushes through the mountains
Step by step,Wave by wave, Stream by stream
Stream through, to reach the blue oceans
To be at the feet of the blue ocean, surrendering the whole
As the blue ocean waits roaring for the river to merge into
Immerse into, Submerge into, submerse into
Like the river that dissolves with blue Oceans soul
Like the blue oceans and the rivers that devotes for life
Like the blue oceans and rivers that embrace the oneness
Accepting the togetherness, for life forever
Step by step, Wave by wave, Stream by stream
I will stream through devotion
Surrendering the whole, dedicating
For that togetherness and oneness
For life… forever on this earth! (Heaven)
To be at the feet of my blue ocean !
— Suparna
He came and sat beside her. His one hand on her lap resting his face on his palm…cherubically….looking at her…
He: asked her…Atha (Dad’s sister is addressed as “Atha”)….where does this stream of water come from?
She: Hmmm….there is a source point for these rivers …where the river is born…called headwater.
The source point can be from rain water or snow that melts in mountains or sometimes can bubble up from ground water too. (National Geographic Society)
So from there it flows downhill because of gravity and flows in the direction where the land is tilted downwards….
It might start as a small stream (brook) first …later it may join with other streams and become a river. Like the one we are seeing here.
He is listening with all his ears perked up.
He: then where does this water go from here….
She: All this flowing water sometimes merges into a larger body of water like lake or oceans. That is the other end of the river. That is the end point to the river.
He: Can we go to see those places …please
She: Hmm….the source of this river is too far from here….but…we can go to the end of the river…where it meets the ocean
He: Can we go there to see please…I want to see…can we go now…
She: we cannot go now…it is miles away….may be… coming weekend ….but only if you promise that you will cut your hair before this weekend…
He: NO…no way….I cannot do that….that is not fair…Atha
She: then….no way… I can take you there…
For some time he was silent. Then he said with pouted mouth.
He: I don’t like it….but ..okay… I will get a haircut …will you take me then…
She: Yes….I will…
His eyes again charged up with a simple smile on his face…
She smiled back.
She: You know…you are sweet little strawberry pie…
She could see a happy smile on his face with shy drooped eyes…
He knows that strawberry pie is Atha’s favorite sweet dish/dessert
He: Let us go ….
Both of them headed to home.
She is observing him…other than normal walk…he is sometimes running here and there….jumping here and there…
She didn’t want to correct him or say anything. She smiled to herself and thought…what a naughty nerd he is…but I guess sometimes….we need to let him, him to be him…
To understand a child we have to watch him at play, study him in his different moods; we cannot project upon him our own prejudices, hopes and fears, or mould him to fit the pattern of our desires. If we are constantly judging the child according to our personal likes and dislikes, we are bound to create barriers and hindrances in our relationship with him and in his relationships with the world. Unfortunately, most of us desire to shape the child in a way that is gratifying to our own vanities and idiosyncrasies; we find varying degrees of comfort and satisfaction in exclusive ownership and domination. — Jiddu Krishnamurti
He barged into the house…ran towards his Mom….and said to her Mom…tomorrow I want to go for a haircut….
His mom looked at him…..with a question mark face at him.
For a moment there was drop dead silence.
Nobody dared to say anything.
Every one… acted as if they haven’t heard a thing….
Finally his mom sliced the silence and said…O.K.
Okay, I will take you for a haircut…tomorrow.
Speculating, that he might change his decision anytime…
Wow so beautiful
🙏
The story reminded me of my recent beach walk with my grandson.
The poem and the story intertwined together as well woven fabric with journey. well done!!1
Thank you so much, Shasi. I am glad that you could relate the story with your grandson’s beach walk. At the same time I would like to add to that is…going beyond the story line.
That is connecting with the heavenly earth (what we have here) to the understanding tender hearts (kids) as they transform further.
“The greatest adventure is not going to the moon – the greatest adventure is going to your own innermost core.” — Osho.
Cheers.