Simple Pleasures of Life

He used to suck his thumb - not regularly, and for a very short while during his teething.
He was too fond of it, so much so that his thumb began to get marks. His paediatrician saw those and said we must relentlessly pull his hand out of his mouth, else he could get an upset stomach.
So as righteous parents, we became extra alert and got him mittens to cover his fingers. In fact we even discovered t-shirts that had extended sleeves which could be turned around to cover his hands. In response, our resourceful kid found a way to free just his thumb from the enclosure so that he could satisfy his cravings. The only thing left to do was keep pulling at his hands, and he made a game of it...we would pull, he would follow with a determined mouth, and smile at us whenever he would score.
Priya was discussing this with a friend who's son is almost the same age, and was doing the same thing. Their paediatrician had also told them to pull the thumb out, and all their tricks had not had any success either. Now, Priya's friend herself used to suck her thumb till she was in the 6th Standard, so I'm told. And she used to feel absolutely heartless that she is depriving her son of "such a tasty thing".
I found this very intriguing, and one day, when no one was looking, I sucked on his thumb.
That feeling...!!!...it was delicious, soooo delicious...oh-so-delicious...

What Kids Want

He is generally a happy child. Leave him to his own devices and he will spend hours in his own universe, engrossed in whatever he is doing - books, containers, toys...
He'll mind his own business, and not interfere in yours.
But some days, you'll know right away that he got up on the wrong side of the bed.
He'll be distracted, disturbed, distressed...

One day, he just got up crying. From the moment he awoke, all we had heard was his soft wailing.
He wouldn't brush his teeth, or have his milk, or biscuits...and when he refused his favourite juice, we knew we were in trouble.

Priya was at her wit's end, having tried to pacify him everywhich way...and just decided to go through the routine, with him being a strong supporter of the non-cooperation movement. Somehow she fed him, gave him a bath, dressed him...
And all he did was ऊँ  ऊँऊँ  ऊँऊँऊँ

Things finally came to an head and she asked him, "What do you want, Shlok ?"
And almost as if a magic wand had been waved...he instantly stopped crying, and teary eyed, uttered just one word - तोकलेत