| Auvishek Abdur Razzaque  Auvishek is a three year old boy With great mastery over the art of Demanding, extracting and squeezing out Attention and love from everybody. I became a willing victim of his Entrapment – since the day he entered Our babyless home. My wife and I face the prospect Of an empty nest – our youngest bird Is a twenty-year-old, with fast growing wings – Ready to fly out at the slightest invitation of The open sky. His brother and sister did the same Just within two years of each other. They come to visit us when they feel like, Or feel like sharing with us Their recently acquired wisdom About how to manage a marital relationship, Or how not to overspend in children’s weddings. In the meantime Auvishek keeps us occupied With his vicious charms and selfish impositions. Our friends unanimously suggest That we owe Auvishek a great deal – For training us to be grandparents. I hope they are right And hope that my children are not Too late to make it happen. Auvishek’s parents are my wife’s Brother and his wife – Nantu and Champa. I am Auvishek’s Buppa, and my wife is Dappi. Auvishek likes me very much – simply because He can get away with even murder with me. I let him play with things that nobody Will even allow him to touch. So, when he comes to our place The first thing he wants to know Where is Buppa? If I am in bed he will walk straight up the stairs, into my bedroom – And then chant the wiggles mantra: “One, Two, Three – Wake up Buppa!”. Then he will drag me downstairs – Kitchen, study, or any other area Of his interest in the house. From this point on I am his constant Companion, servant, or accomplice As long as he will stay. Auvishek’s parents, my wife and children Are unanimous in their verdict That I deliberately bribe him and spoil him To maintain my most favoured person status With him. Auvishek and I care little About what those bigmouths say about us. Auvishek naturally occupies the centre stage Whenever he has a big audience at our place, Which is not infrequent. This is where this little royalty grants various Favours to his subjects – a measured smile, A high-give, a hug, a kiss or A broken ankle like Tahsin got when Trying to play ball with him. But his particular favourite is Carl – Our Swedish son-in-law. Whenever Carl is around, Auvishek is Physically all over him – on his lap, On his shoulder, on his head, or Hanging upside down held By Carl by his legs. One day in one of our family gatherings Auvishek was doing what he normally Does with Carl. Some of us were Sitting around watching Carl play. Suddenly we all realised that there was A break in the rhythm of what they were doing. We soon learned what caused it: Auvishek just Introduced a new weapon in his fight with Carl – He spat in Carl’s face. Startled Carl, Not knowing what to do, first tried to use Rational persuasion against this action. Carl, with his ability to become angry Diminished by Scandinavian upbringing Tried a few other things: Pleading – it is not a good thing to do Threat – if you keep doing it, I will not play with you, Ultimatum – if you keep doing it, I will not be your friend Separation – Carl held him at a distance at the end of his long arms But everything had just the opposite effect – Auvishek kept laughing and showering Carl With bullets of saliva from his mouth. At this stage I got up, caught Auvishek Under his arms, lifted and brought Him to my seat, placed him on my lap Facedown, and spanked his butt With my right hand. He had his nappy On – hence was unlikely to suffer any Serious physical pain. But the effect was magical – He looked at me with wide eyes, The most expressive eyes I ever encountered. I could simultaneously read Several things in his eyes – Betrayal – I trusted you and you betrayed my trust Astonishment – Buppa is the last person I could expect this from Loss of faith – adults can never be trusted; Loss of a personal sanctuary – I relied on you to protect me Unconditionally Against the whole world. As I was reading these emotions His eyes started turning moist Soon they were full of tears Soon they started rolling down his cheeks. Only then he allowed a scream to come out Of his little mouth. I suddenly knew what I must do: I took Auvishek in my arms, Then I asked him: do you want to say sorry to Carl? Without a word he went to Carl, Touched his arm, and said “sorry” in a Voice and manner that must have melted Carl’s heart. Then I Headed for my bedroom upstairs – I needed some time with Auvishek alone. As I was on my way with Auvishek I heard my daughter’s voice, Addressing nobody in particular: here Goes my Dad on a guilt trip – It will end only in Auvishek’s terms. 5 January 2007 |
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Home Page Published on: 22-May-2020 
