The only thing in
india that is more than its population is unexpected, unconditional, undefined
love.
As a kid when I did
not get into the same school as my elder sister, my working parents were mainly
concerned with the difference in our school timings. My sister was responsible &
old enough to carry the house keys and get in the house safely but they did not
know what to do with me coming home 45 mins before her.
My dad’s colleague’s
family offered that I could stay at their house for this duration. Dad was skeptical;
it was an inconvenience to say the least. But he could not think of any other
arrangement for such short, mid-day inconvenient time everyday.
Every single day from
2:30 pm to 3:15 pm I stayed at their house for two years. Every single day i
was offered water and I fought the insistence to be fed. Every single day my
uncle’ mother, wife, 3 daughters and one son, all significantly elder to me, thought it was important to strike
conversation with me, ask me how my day was, worry about me if I was late and
make sure I leave the house with only my elder sister; All this with not a hint
or glimmer of reluctance or disinterest, day after day.
It was not baby
sitting by any angle. It was just… just indianness.
Today i met the
middle daughter of my uncle, one of my smiling,talking,loving, welcoming, expecting nothing in return... guardians. All memories came gushing back. We remembered old times, smiled,
choked on emotions…
With some
heart-felt goodbyes... she forced a 500 Rupee note in my hand. And when mom and I
objected she said “money in india is not money, its love” yes everything here
is a currency of love. :)