A heavy lunch prompted him to lie down for a nap and so did everyone in the house. The clock turned 4 and the sunlight gazed through the fenced window to break his dreams and put a sigh on his face. Eyes opened up and he stood up with arms stretched out sounding refreshed with a slow rewind about his dreams. As he jerked out of his room in full flow with a quirky move, his dad caught him saying,

“டேய் நம்ம ௭ல்லாரும் இன்னைக்கு ஈவ்னிங் ஒரு கல்யாணத்துக்கு போரோம். அதனால சீக்கிரமா ரெடி ஆயிடு. மணி சார்ப்பா 5.30 ஆனதும் ஆட்டோ வந்துரும்.” [1]

His face brightened up having thoughts about the colour of the shirt he is going to wear, his shoes, and the travel by auto was more exciting than all for this kid. So, he was on his heels at once and finished a clean bath. Came running towards the cupboard and looked up for his dress. There came a shout from his mother,

“உனக்கு புடிச்ச ப்லு சர்ட்டும் ப்லாக் பேன்ட்டும் அங்க எடுத்து வச்சிருக்கேன். அதயே போட்டுக்கோ டா. அது தான் உனக்கு நல்லா இருக்கும்!”[2]

There came the command and he shut the cupboard returning with a slight disappointment slowly towards the table and got himself dressed up. Stood before the mirror, looked at it, took the face powder box, squeezed it into his hand and applied it all over his face. Looked at the mirror again, with a big smile on his face as he was looking brighter than he was. As the last step, it was time for the comb. After finishing all the formalities, he was up and ready in the sofa. Clock struck 5.30 but still everyone including dad were getting ready and he leaned his head on to the sofa with a drowned face. It was 5.40 and eventually everyone were ready, beautifully dressed up. He stood up raring to go out and there came his sister,

“இப்ப தான் டா நீ வெள்ளையா அழகா இருக்க. எப்பவும் வெளிய போகும் போது நம்ம பேஸ் வெள்ளையா இருந்தா தான் அழகா இருக்கும்!”[3]

This darkened his face. The auto was ready and everyone took their seats, then the auto took a turn and they started moving. He sat on the side and was full of smiles with the joy of travelling. The auto stopped before a shop for his father to buy a "Moi cover". After it was over, the auto started moving again. The travel gave him the long forgotten breath of fresh air. As he was getting into the mood of travel, the auto reached the mahal where the function was on. He got down from the auto with a jump of excitement. His eyes circled around only to see people welcoming at the front with the auto driver told to wait there. They were greeted in and there were so many people. His father grabbed his hand and got into the male crowd on the last. As they started their political gab, an uncle nearby lifted his chin up saying,

“நீ நல்ல படிப்பியாமே! அப்பா சொன்னாங்க. நீ நல்லா படிச்சி பெரிய ஆளா வந்தேன்னா நம்ம ஆலுங்க எல்லாருக்குமே பெருமை, சரியா”[4]

He nodded his head without understanding the depth of his statement. Then his mother took him to the other side into the female crowd and they started their mandatory discussions about their silk sarees and their brand new jewelries. After greeting the couple and posing for the photographs, it was time to get into the dinning hall. Finished their light dinner and as people came out from the hall, they were served with a popcorn and an ice cream. He had great liking towards both and got a popcorn on his left and ice cream on his right hand. As he was tasting, his sister came his way and said,

“டேய் எனக்கு அவளவு குட்டத்துலா குயு ல நின்னு வாங்க டைம் ஆகும் டா. நீ சின்ன பையன் தான, நடுல போய் எனக்கு ஒரு ஜஸ் கிரீம் வாங்கிட்டு வா டா!”[5]

He nodded his head again, waited there and finally got another one bowl of icecream. As he started running to his sister, he could hear someone shouting in the crowd,

“இங்க பாரு டி, இந்த பையன் இப்ப தானே ஒரு ஜஸ் கிரீம் வாங்கினான், அதுக்குள்ள இன்னோன்னு. சின்ன வயசுலயே எப்புடி இருக்குதுங்க பாரேன்!”[6]

This darkened this kid’s face. Clock struck 8 and they were about to start their way back home. As they came near the entrance of the mahal, each one in the family were gifted with a small bag containing sweets and fruits. As they approached the auto after receiving the gifts, the auto driver pulled his shoulders near him and said,

“தம்பி, நீ சின்ன பையன் தானே, அன்கிள் கு இன்னோரு பேக் வாங்கி குடு டா!”[7]

He was frustrated after all those happenings earlier as he finally understood the depth in meaning of every single statement uttered to him. This made him to get the courage out and he said ,

“சாரி அன்கிள், என் அப்பா அம்மா ஏற்கனவே ஒரு பேக் வாங்கிடாங்க. அதனால நான் போகமாட்டேன்”

The auto driver was set back by what this boy said and when everyone took their seats, the auto driver said to his father,

“சார் என்ன உங்க பையன் இப்படி ரிஸ்ஸவர்ட் ஆ இருக்கான். ஒரு எக்ஸ்ட்ரா பேக் குட வாங்க மாட்ரான். இவன் வயசுல உள்ள மத்த பசங்லாம் அவங்ளே போய் இன்னோரு பேக் வாங்கிட்டு வருவாங்க சார்.”[8]

His father laughed at the comment and replied,

"போக போக எல்லாரையும் மாதிரி சரி ஆயிடுவான் தம்பி”

And the child had a silent cry accepting those rewards.

It all starts here! Even the little things that we do in the wrong way could affect our society in a bigger way. Everything have been practiced for so long that we are not aware ourselves that these are huge faults that we are making each day. This child’s silent cry was all about those words that made him learn,

1. People do not stand by the words they said.
2. People prevent his individuality to choose what he needs (emotions apart).
3. People reckon white as beauty and black as displeasing.
4. People are concerned only about their own surrounding.
5. People always love to get things easily.
6. Following shortcuts will get you the needed rewards.
7. People always tend to get more than what they need.
8. People are not aware of the faults on their side and do a false characterization on people who do not go by the same way.

Just because everyone does, it doesn’t mean that it’s right.

Let’s do it right and clean even in the little things we do. Kids are watching!

~Mahalingam M