Akshat : Our Neighbour's Boy

Debi Mukherjee (India, 25/04/07)

Akshat (meaning : unbroken / whole) is our new found friend. He hails from Bihar. My husband first got introduced to him when their family was in the process of shifting to our residential complex. A cute bubbly boy of two and a half years born in November 2003 having fair complexion. Most striking part is his blue eyes and his capacity to make friendship with each and everybody whether known or unknown by non-stop chatting.

 His family consists of his Dad-Amit, Mom-Divya, elder brother-Aditya (1997 November born) fondly addressed as “Adi” by him. His diction and pronunciation are beyond imagination. On his first meeting he has started addressing my husband as “Mu-kher-jee Uncle” uttering the letter “r” perfectly which is sometimes missed even by grown-ups. They have been staying in block number 3 diagonally opposite to our block number 9. We may see each other from our respective balconies and exchange pleasantries by gestures. He has grasped the etiquette of saying “Thank You”, “Welcome” as the situation calls for.

On his first visit to our house he was taught to address me as “Dadi” (grandmother) but on my insistence he started calling me “Didu”(meaning grandmother in Bengali language). From that day onwards he never misses the word “Didu”.

Within a short span of time he has become a part of our family. It has become his daily routine to come to our house on his return from Play school in the afternoon, play for some time, and sing a few lines of modern songs from films like Don/Munnabhai keeping the tune intact. Occasionally he will also join us for lunch. At that time either he will like to listen to stories on animals/fighter planes etc or watch Cartoon network on TV.

Whenever he feels sleepy, he will request either me or my husband to accompany him to the bed and sing the song “Hare Rama-Hare Krishna”. Surprisingly at bedtime he does not like any other song. Once my husband started singing “Hare Rama” repeating the word “Rama” and willfully omitting the word “Hare Krishna”. He was prompt to correct him saying  “Hare Krishna bhi bolo (Say Hare Krishna also)”. With growing age he has now been insisting on stories at bedtime.

Once we visited one family for a get together. We two in one room with some of the guests whereas he was mingling with other members of that family in another room. On being questioned about his school and class of study he was quick to respond that he was studying in Class-III of Sagar Public School. Having being surprised that how a tiny tot like him could study in such a higher class, they started questioning me. It transpired that he was yet to take admission in school but imitating the answer given by his elder brother on various occasions whenever questioned on the very subject.

Sometimes he will pick up the phone or use his Toy Mobile, dial some arbitrary numbers and go on talking asking us to keep quite so as not to disturb him in the midst of his talk. We have often seen him asking his Papa (on mock telephonic talk) as to why he has not listened to his advice so as to avoid “Missed Call”.

He has now assumed the role of our Hindi Master. In Bengali language we eat everything whether the eatable is liquid/solid or gaseous. The word is “Khaowa” meaning “Eat”. If we ask him  “Dal khao” meaning “Eat Dal” or “Jal Khao” meaning “Drink Water”, he is quick to retort  “ None eats Dal”. He will correct us to say “Dal Pio” meaning “Drink Dal”.  

Whenever he sees my husband taking Homeopathy globules, he will pretend to have cough and request for the sweet globules.

He is very fond of moving along with us wherever we go by car. He can make out if I am in a good dress and will start enquiring about our programme. Once we were going to Onkareshwar-a religious cum scenic site for a period of two-three days. The tourist car was waiting in front of our flat. He could see us boarding the car from his balcony. He started shouting at the top of his voice urging us to wait for him. He was going in urging his mother to open the front door for him and again coming out in the balcony with tears in his eyes waiving his hands directing us to stop the car. His wailing and howling continued long after we left.

It was a pathetic sight. While visiting the Deity, all the time his morose crying face was coming to our mind. We could not enjoy the trip.

Whenever we are out of Bhopal or he with his family are out of Bhopal, he will invariably ask on return as to whether we missed him.

At present he has gone to Delhi for a period of 10 days and every day both of us have been missing his endless sweet chatting.

We also know that they will be shifted from Bhopal after a period of two years as his Dad is on deputation to Bhopal only for a period of three years. Still we can’t help but continue loving him.

We will definitely miss him but life has to go on justifying the quote written by an Anonymous :  “We meet to create memories, we part to preserve them”!

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