The little one would only sleep with me. Every night I have to tell him a new story and sing a few songs. The stories would usually be based on Superheroes and many a times the characters and situations are created by him. I have to use my imagination and fill in the plot. Mostly he loves the stories but then there are times when he disapproves the plot or storytelling style and I have to rework from the scratch. A few days back, after one such story session (and before singing the songs), I kissed him on the forehead and said ‘I Love You. You know that?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you love me?’ I asked.
‘I love you too.’ Pat came the reply. I smiled.
‘Do you miss me when you are away?’ Now it was his time to ask.
‘I do. I miss you a lot.’
‘Even when you were in Hospital?’ I was somewhat amused at the mention. To the uninitiated, in April – May 2021, I was in ICU for a month fighting Corona Virus. Unsure of where this conversation was going I replied ‘Yes I did. I missed you a lot.’
‘Even I did. I Loved you when you were in hospital.’
I could feel my eyes moistening. ‘I know. Thanks Beta.’
He smiled and said ‘Now sing a song to me.’ He didn’t take this conversation any further. I think he just wanted to express his love to me. There were no grandstanding gestures, no ‘taam jhaams’. But those simple words were more than enough.
After Thoughts
In the age of new age Influencers, you would find many preaching one about transparency in communication; clarity in messaging; keeping the communication precise. In this instance, the little one showed everything and without any training. I think, as we grow up, most of us complicate our communication and there by many relationships. We unlearn quite a few good things while growing up.
My hospitalization and fight with Covid has left my family traumatized. I do not know how much time would heal the scar. Even after one and half years, the little one still remembers the harrowing time. I do not know how to process this.
