Travelogues  
India Revisited – 10

However, I must say that we had a surprise entrance to Neria, when we had first arrived. A centuries-old custom of sweeping the yard with cow dung mixed in water was being carried out in full earnest. This is done in villages to control the dust rising from the yard. Once the initial smell dies down, it is an effective method of resurfacing mud yards. The America-born children of ours had cringed noses for a while till the strong aroma abated.

Our ride back to Mangalore took less than two hours on quite a bumpy road.

Back To Mangalore

Here is where we had our encounter with Rahul. A little tyke, Rahul stole our hearts in Mangalore. He is the four-year-old son of Sandhya and Kishore (My wife’s sister and brother-in-law). It cannot be explained how two calm, gentle people could have given birth to this riot of a child! Rahul did not speak much but he was one continuous action-packed kid. Capricious and unpredictable, he did not sit quietly for one moment. He was into everything, vying for attention all the time. Like a flitting honeybee, impulsively he moved nimbly from one activity to another. When his mischief went a little awry or if he broke some valuable item, he simply gave his charming smile and no one would have the heart to reprimand him. He has the most innocent, angelic face with a captivating smile. The best part is that this four year old knows his asset, and makes the best use of his looks, to soften and melt adults’ hearts.

Rahul, the Cool

He flits, he fleets and he flies through the air,
Not an article, not a thing he will spare.
He will walk on furniture, without a care,
And always fight for his lion’s share,
Until, for you, it’s difficult to bear.
With his cherubic face he can win hearts, he’s aware,
And when he gets in trouble, Rahul doesn’t despair.
You may scorn or scold him, if you dare;
And sternly stare or try to scare,
Thinking of the rod you shall not spare.
Aha! But be forewarned and beware,
A twinkle in his eyes, a coy smile with teeth bare,    
Enough to break your resolve; and a kiss he will share,
One charming look and you’re hopelessly in his snare!

I have to mention about a trip we made to a training center for the mentally handicapped children while we stayed in Mangalore. It is very rare to find centers like them in India and they exist only because of the largesse of few philanthropists who not only donate money but also volunteer and spend countless hours patiently teaching and training the handicapped children. It is a noble deed and takes a special quality to be able to dedicate oneself to such honorable duties.

– Continued

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