Monday, 21 May 2012

The charm of children’s conversations


A few days back, me and my husband, we were sitting in the tranquil and peaceful aura of Gajanan Maharaj’s temple just across our society’s entrance. The statue of the deity is majestic and it’s presence fills the temple with serenity. There was complete silence and it felt soothing away from the hustle and bustle of life.

Not far away from us, a father sat with his daughter, the daughter being probably one or two months old. Even the temple’s atmosphere had influenced the child and she lay there very quietly staring here and there. Just behind them, sat a mother with her two or three year old daughter. The mother was trying very hard to make her daughter sit quietly, but the girl was playful and quite restless. After another try, the mother let her daughter wander around the temple premises, while she herself offered her prayers in peace.

The girl moved around the place looking at different things and may be understanding them with her child’s mind. She was the image of innocence and curiosity of a child. Once in a few moments, when she would discover something interesting or she wanted to question something, she would shout for her mother. Her voice reverberated due to the complete lack of sound and her mother again would ask her to be quiet. After exploring everything she thought worth, she was attracted towards the little child who lay in front of her father.

Very slowly, as if not to alarm the little girl, she moved towards her. She sat down on her knees beside her and stared. The little girl beamed and showed some activity leaving her previous quiet and still state behind. To me, it looked like they were having a conversation albeit a silent one but nonetheless a conversation. The girl ran towards her mother, excitement flushing her cheeks and relayed whatever had taken place. She was not able to be still, kept dancing around her mother. She pointed her finger towards the little child and asked her mother her name. I had a huge smile on my face that instant. It is so natural for the children to think that their mothers know everything. Her mother told her to ask the little child herself.

Meanwhile, the little child kept moving and looking everywhere as if she already missed the presence of the girl. The girl bent low again towards the little girl and asked her name. The little child seemed to understand the question and started making gurgling noise from her throat. Of course, the girl didn’t understand but she was content with playing with her. The girl kept saying something and the little child told her story with her noises and expressions.

My attention had been riveted by the two children talking together. They were having a conversation in a language unknown to adults. I felt its charm and the smile that came with it, remained with me afterwards.

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