65. Bhuvana and the Baby

Hearing the baby cry, Bhuvana rushed from the kitchen to the hall. The hammock made of cloth had been wetted by the baby, with the baby's urine dripping from the hammock and falling on on the floor.

Saying to herself, "Oh, my bad! I forgot to fit the baby with a diaper!" Bhuvana took out the baby from the hammock, wiped the baby clean using a towel and made it lie on a sheet of cloth spread on the floor.

The baby smiled at her and raised its hand as if thanking her. Bhuvana bent down and kept her face close to that of the baby. When the baby touched her cheek with its tiny hand, Bhuvana was thrilled. After touching her face a couple of times, the baby began to hit her, laughing aloud.

Bhuvana became exhilarated. She took the baby in her hands, hugged it and exclaimed in joy, "Oh, my dear!"

The child looked at her and gave out some sounds.

"What are you trying to say, my darling? I am unable to comprehend anything!" said Bhuvana. She then carried the baby to the kitchen and continued with her cooking.

For the next several minutes, she was engaged in cooking, some times carrying the baby and holding it with one hand and at other times, placing it down near her.

She took her lunch, after making the baby lie on a baby mattress laid  on the floor near her. She then fed the baby and then completed her other household chores, always keeping an eye on the baby. After that, she spent her time playing with the baby and "conversing" with it.

At about six in the evening, she fed milk to the baby and put it to sleep.

Her husband Ramakrishnan returned home from work at 7 p.m.

"What is the baby doing?" he asked, even as he stepped into the house.

"He is sleeping" said Bhuvana.

Ramakrishnan peeped into the hammock, relished the sight of the baby sleeping calmly and then went into the room to change.

After sometime, the doorbell rang. Bhuvana opened the door.

It was Selvi.

"What is the baby doing, aunty?" asked Selvi.

"He is sleeping."

"Fine. I will go to my apartment, prepare dinner and then will come and pick up the baby in about forty five minutes. But if he wakes up before that and cries, I will come and pick him up immediately" said Selvi.

"Take your time, Selvi. The baby is not likely to wake up before one hour from now" said Bhuvana.

"Thank you, aunty. I don't know what we would have done, if you had not been here to look after our child" said Selvi.

"I have been sitting idle at home. Looking after your child has been a pleasant pastime for me."

After Selvi left for her apartment which was adjacent to Bhuvana's, Ramakrishnan came from inside the house. "I don't know why she calls you 'aunty!' We are not so old, after all. She can call you 'sister,' instead" he said.

'Yes. I am still young. I will also have a child born to me. I will then spend time with my child the way I have been spending my time with Selvi's child now' said Bhuvana to herself.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 7
The Boon of Having Children

Verse 65 (In Tamil)

makkaL mei thINdal udaRkinbam maRRu avar
soRkEttal inbam sevikku.

Meaning:

The tender skin of one’s children is joyous to touch;

their sweet voices rapturous to hear.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Bhuvana oru kELvikkuRi' by the same author)

Verse 66
Verse 64