To be or not to be

Once in a rare while when they are really in a contemplative mood, you can find the kids crouching on the floor, staring into the fishtank & you can hear their imagination taking off.

One such incident……..

Scene description: In one corner of the living room, 2 pairs of eyes watching entranced the brightly coloured fish swimming lazily while their Mama doing some work in the background.

"I want to be a fish!!!!!!!!!!!" announces Nikita grandly.

Naina[interestedly]: Why?????

Nikita[turning towards me]: Mama, I want to be a fish…why couldn’t you have borned me as a fish?????

Mama[caught between correcting the grammar & answering the question, decided to give science prioity]: Your Mama is a Human being & Human Beings give birth to human beings not fish.

Naina: No you are wrong!!!

Both of us look at her interestedly & I raise an eyebrow.

“Hoooman beings give birth to babies…..just like me” said Naina patting herself.

Nikita[wearily]: Uffff !!!!!!!

Naina[cutting back to the original discussion]: But why do you want to be a fish, Chechi*??????

Nikita[dramatically]: Just look at them…….look how they are lazily swimming around…no studies, exams, projects, nothing…….just playing around always. Morning to night they are having fun & enjoying themselves. When its time to eat food they swim up & get food from Mama & then again they play or sleep or do whatever they want to. Oh how I wish I was a fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naina[still doubtful]: But what about TV????

Nikita[looking at her pityingly]: Havent you noticed…..when they want to watch TV they just have to come to this corner & from here they can see the TV so clearly.

[And it was true….the aquarium was placed in such an angle that whatever going on TV could be viewed by the fish also]

“They are so lucky……they can watch TV with us or when Papa & Mama are watching” stressed Nikita again looking at me pointedly[that was supposed to be a dig at us since we don’t allow them to watch certain programs along with us].

Naina[looking at her sister in admiration]: You are Right Chechi……..I too want to be a Fish like you!!!!!!!!

With that final statement, both sat quietly contemplating their ill-fated destiny which caused to be born as humans.

From the sidelines, I too stared hard at the fish for sometime.

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Around 6 weeks later…..

The sisters were creating so much ruckus playing some kind of TAG that I gave them a choice………….sit facing the wall 10 minutes or watch the fish for 20 minutes.

Ofcourse like I expected, they opted for the latter.

Scene description: Siblings sitting cross-legged on the floor & staring into the fish tank like they were told to. The frazzled parent who was ironing a few clothes was hoping that watching the fish would have some calming effect on them & their boisterous tendencies.

After after 2-3 minutes of unusual silence…..

Nikita: I’ve changed my mind…..I don’t want to be a fish anymore.

Both Naina & I immediately knew what she was talking about.

I continued ironing, waiting & as on cue…

Naina[astounded]: But why ????? Just imagine the fun we could be having if we were fish.

Nikita[curiously reticent]: I don’t think it’s a good idea to be a fish.

Naina stares into her face waiting for explanations.

Nikita refused to meet her gaze & was staring fixedly at the fish darting in & out of the foliage.

Naina: Is it because we have to be alone when papa-mama go out???

“Yes” mumbled Nikita unconvincingly

Naina: Oh I know………if we were fish, we’ll have to eat the same fish food always, right Chechi?????

“Yes that also, but that is not the reason why I don’t want to be fish” Nikita muttered again.

Now I was curious. Gave up all pretence of ironing & was waiting for an explanation like Naina.

“Then tell me why…I want to know….please Chechi you have to tell me” pleaded Naina in ill-concealed curiousity. The same was mirrored on my face but with great difficulty held my tongue coz she was not going to be forthcoming if I asked.

“Tell me in my ears” whispered Naina loudly, understanding her sisters dilemma & obligingly placing her one of her ears close to her sisters mouth.

“Cant you see, these fish are not wearing any clothes & everybody can see everything through this glass” whispered Nikita into Naina’s ears fiercely.

A 30 seconds subdued silence follows as the information is absorbed………

“You are right Chechi” says Naina in deferential admiration for Chechi & her smart thinking.

Turning to me, Naina speaks for both of them “Mama we don’t want to be fish anymore”

Mama: Are you sure????? Just imagine the fun life you’ll have swimming around…..no school, studying or anything……just gliding up & down in a glass tank everyday.

Nikita & Naina[in horror]: Nooo, noooooo, nooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Chechi: Elder sister in Malayalam