Thursday, June 7, 2007

My Toddler

One sunny morning. Aravind was getting ready for office. Arthi was busy preparing his breakfast and lunch. She didn’t notice that her little Arnav had waked up from sleep and was sitting in his cradle. Arthi was cooking nice sandwiches for Aravind. She is a wonderful cook and had a passion for it. But today she was too tired and wasn’t able to. Today it happened so that she woke up late because she couldn’t sleep early the previous night. Her little son was not getting to sleep last night and was playing like ever with full energy with his toys. She tried to put him to sleep but he wouldn’t and at last slept out of tiredness around 12.30am.
After seeing her being so tired Aravind asked her to get to sleep and would manage his food outside for today but she didn’t want that to happen because she was sure that he won’t eat properly if she doesn’t make it and insist him to eat. Aravind though works in a Software concern is too childish when it comes to food. Like all others in the industry he too has a habit of skipping his food and wouldn’t eat properly if its not home made. Arthi used to advise him everyday to have some time for breakfast and lunch but he never listened. Arthi was getting too much worried about him in this aspect. So she made it a point to make his breakfast and lunch ready on time so that he never skips it. Earlier it was too tough when Arnav was just few months old and she would also feel to tired to cook but she made sure that she never showed it. Aravind a loving husband never wanted to see her troubled in any aspect especially after Arnav’s birth.
Arthi was feeling too tired to express it but still managed to keep everything ready. Aravind got dressed up and was about to go have his breakfast, then he heard in his baby cry. He knew Arthi was busy in the kitchen so he went and picked up Arnav from the cradle and took him to the dining table where his breakfast was ready. Arthi was packing his lunch then. The breakfast was very tasty seeing his dad eat Arnav wanted to have some too. But he was too small to have a sandwich so Aravind gave him his favorite biscuits. It was getting late for office when Aravind was about to call Arthi to ask her to pick up Arnav she came out from the kitchen with his lunch. She got Arnav from Aravind and was asking Aravind if he took everything that’s when she came to know he forgot to take his identity card which he usually keeps with his wallet. Leaving Arnav on the floor with his toys in the hall with Aravind putting his shoes she went to the bedroom to get his id card.
It was right on the table she went and gave it to him. Arthi and Arnav went to the portico and said bye to Aravind till his bike crossed the gate. She closed the door and came inside the house. She knew Arnav must be hungry and it was time for his milk so she decided to leave him with his toys for a while to get his milk. Because he was too mischievous and taking him to the kitchen is not safe. Usually it never happens she used to keep his feeding bottle and food ready in place before he wakes up. She had always made it a point not to leave him alone anywhere. Today she had no other go; she had to leave him till she prepares his food. She left him with his toys saying “hey vaalu kutti unakku pasikum naan poi paal eduthutu vara varaikkum samutha velayadanum seriya” she kissed him and was about to go. Something bothered her he wasn’t his usual she looked back at him then she felt may be he is tired like her that’s why he is not as energetic he used to be. She was in the kitchen making milk for her little toddler.
She was back soon with his milk and picked him up and started feeding him with his favorite Mickey Mouse bottle. Arnav was very quick in learning; he usually catches his feeding bottle handle with his tiny little hands even when Arthi holds it. He enjoys his milk when in Arthi’s lap. But today it was not so. He wasn’t interested and kept spilling his milk from his mouth. Arthi sensed something to be wrong and asked him “ enna da chellam pasikalaya” he said nothing, so Arthi thought she would try feeding him after a while. But she noticed like her little toddler looked pale. Arthi didn’t know what to do. She sensed something wrong and tried to check if he got bit by some insects or something. By the time Arnav started to fight for breath then she understood like something was blocking his breath. She immediately took him to the near by hospital and they took him to the emergency. She didn’t know how to react and started praying to god.
Arthi always fussed a lot about going to hospitals because it was always a terror. She was getting too worried; she wanted Aravind to be there. Though she tried to call him on his mobile he never picked it up. It was always a habit of Aravind to keep his mobile on silent mode while driving. Arthi initiated it and he followed it sincerely. Knowing that he would be driving still she wanted some miracle to happen and he should pick up the phone and answer it. Nothing happened. She was about to burst into tears but thank God the doctor came out of emergency and told her Arnav was fine and he can go back home
The doctor told her that the biscuit he had swallowed got stuck in the throat and had caused this. She was very much relieved to hear this. Immediately she rushed to the out patient ward to see her son he was there sitting on the bed with a nurse sitting by his bed side. He was busily playing with a car which the nurse had given him. Arthi was so happy to see her son back to normalcy when she went close to him to pick him up Arnav raised his head and looked up at her and said “Amma” happily than ever dint know how to react Arthi just picked him up and hugged him tightly and burst into tears. She kissed him continuously and was like “ vaalu amma va ippadi than bayamuduthartha hmmm” Arnav though didn’t understand anything smiled at her and hugged her. Arthi never felt tired after that she just wanted to be with her son.
Aravind reached office then…sensing something was wrong from the 23 missed calls from his wife went back home to see Arthi and Arnav together and happily playing. Seeing him Arthi just couldn’t keep this things happened and narrated him everything. While narrating he saw her crying he understood how hard it would have been for her to face such a thing. He asked sorry for his mistake of not making sure that Arnav didn’t swallow up the biscuit instead bit it and ate it. He picked Arnav and kissed him. He decided to take leave from office and stayed with his wife and kid. Only after seeing Aravind Arthi felt tired and while they were all watching Arnav’s favorite Tom and Jerry cartoon in TV she just slept on his shoulders. That’s when Aravind noticed that Arnav was also fast asleep in his arms. He picked them and took them to the bed room and made them rest peacefully. Sitting near their bed Aravind decided to read a book. But his mind wasn’t working and was watching his beauty of his kid and wife sleep. He just thanked god for keeping them safe…..After a while he too slept off in his chair without his conscience.

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