The Patchwork Boy

Well, he was at it once again. Having freak accidents. He was playing on the wooden rocking animals (meant for the three year olds) at school and he flew. And hit the concrete floor with a thud. He was bleeding, but he couldnt notice. Mom, I dont have eyes on my back, do I? The security guard spots the blood, does some rudimentary cleaning. Uncle also applied some yellow powder on it.

Then it was lunch time. Lunch was yummy. It hurt a little bit, but I was okay. Then as the teacher plodded through some social science, the kids behind him told the teacher of the renewed blood flow. The teacher knew it was more than what the yellow powder could handle.

Off they rush to the hospital in the school bus. It was the nursery dismissal time. It was fun to be on the bus with all the kutti paapas. The doc ordered two stitches on the head. He asked me to lie down and silly goosily, I lay on my back and it REALLY hurt. Then an injection and ibugesic.

And by the time the school called and I reached, he was standing at the top of the steps, beaming a twenty toother at me.

Yes, I do adore his spirit to brave it all. But it is just five months since he fractured his right hand middle finger, when he pushed a desk on it. The nail had barely started to grow back. I am certain no forensic expert can reconstruct that accident. And countless more before that.

Each time something like this happens, I just say to myself, thank god its this and not anything much worse.

Looking Out, Looking In

What typically happens in traffic. You are stuck behind a vehicle. For want for anything better to do, if you mind is on the moment, then you take in the vehicle. Maybe an ancient esteem. Perhaps a badly bashed up innova. Cool Audi. Comparable Alto. Nice color for the Baleno, does the owner bother that its no longer in production? HeeHo..Palio! How low-rise can the pillion riders jeans be. Oh, Jeans everywhere. Its actually friday. Oh, the infant on the motorbike. On its way to some form of caregiver. What a struggle it must be for the parents with the commute and work and what not. EMI's....on everything. Wheres the nest I contemplate. Perhaps in Begur? Vijaya Layout? Cant be sure.

I can take in vehicles such as these. But there a few which I cannot look straight at. The open tempos in which a few folks are standing and they are looking back, bcos they cant look front. They could be those catering vehicles with the tall dabbas. The garbage trucks, in which few folks are seated right on top of the garbage. Forced to be oblivious to the stench and the filth. And some of those carry two dozen consturction workers...women, children and a few men. These folks look right at me - the driver, the woman, the materially richer one perhaps, the one that doesnt have to care much....the lucky one.

Things to worry..

Did I put the right lunch box into the right lunch bag?
They will relish the change

Did I put spoons in ALL the lunch bags?
Does it matter if they lick their fingers?

Did I put a spoon of curd into the milk rice to ensure it turns to curd rice?
They can survive on the rotis for a day...really

Did I pin up the V's Badge. Is her Route Number visible? Does 7B look like 78?
There is no route 78

Did somebody (me or the husband) remember to deliver V's lunchbox to the creche?
She will eat Rahuls lunch or Richas brunch...why bother

Did I turn off the geyser...and the stove
One is auto-off...so quite safe...the other will turn off when the LPG runs out.

I forgot my cell phone
The schools have you husbands number ....and your office LAN

Is the FILs birthday today or tomorrow. Whom can i ask?
Obviously ask the FIL. Why pretend and goof up?

I still havent got around to calling (phone) N people and keep in touch
They will call you. Sometime. Or you can do it later

The police men are screwing up traffic in Bangalore (by their absence of course)
Do your bit, relax, drive safe.

I worried about all this and then forgot to look at my cars fuel indicator which read 'E'....and it stopped. And so the story goes on...