Freedom of Choice

  Last week my family celebrated the 6^th birthday of my niece. I missed the celebration since I moved to the UK. I have seen my niece grow from day one. She is a super smart and lovable kid. To me, she is an ideal kid; the epitome of how much a kid should be mischievous, talkative, fun-loving, caring, and disciplined.

When she was barely 2 years old, we had been to our aunt’s home. I was getting into the bathroom to take a shower. I was in my shorts and my niece asked me, “Are you.. are you gonna take off your chaddi before the bath?”

I nodded.

Then she said, “Chachu, don’t forget to take off your chaddi before you bathe, else it will get wet!”

When her 3rd birthday happened, I was in Bangalore, and then too I had missed her birthday celebration. I visited our home a few weeks after her birthday and took her shopping along with the family. I wanted to give a birthday gift to her. We entered a Trends store and moved to the kids’ section. I told my niece to go around and pick a dress that she liked the most. The kid moved around the aisles and returned in a few minutes with a purple-colored frock and said, “I like this”.

When I checked its size, it was for 7-year-olds. Then I went to the section from where she had picked it up and took the one with an appropriate size for her.  She looked so happy with the gift in her hands.

Then in a few days, my vacation ended and I left for Bangalore. The usual life commenced.

[After 2 years]

I visited my hometown. My niece was 5 years old then and was studying in UKG. She had learned so many rhymes and songs. She never missed her favorite ‘Anupama’ serial every night.

One evening, I heard her howling non-stop. I came out of my room to see what was happening. There was a fight going on between her and her mother. I inquired as to what was going on.

Her mother said furiously, “We are going for a wedding reception. There are so many new dresses. But this girl is hell-bent on wearing her old frock. It’s been like years and she wants to wear the same freaking frock for every festival or function. It doesn’t even fit her now. This is crazy!”

Then I went to check which frock that was. It was the same purple frock that I had gifted to her on her 3^3rd birthday. My goodness! she was wearing the same dress for over 2 years!

My brother, her father came and took her in his arms and consoled her. Then he asked her why she wanted to wear the same dress all the time.

She said wiping her tears, “Because Pappa.., I bought it!!”