Autumn of Words

“Little things. They matter. Little things are little because they demand no or less effort. Little things matter because the impact they have on us is lasting. Let me give you an instance: You walk with your partner on the side of the road. Your partner shifts to your side while laughing with you, silently and tenderly protecting you from the traffic.” Mishka waited and looked at each face sitting in the audience. A gentle murmur swam across the hall. “Let me give another one. You are in the kitchen, baking chapatis for everyone and your partner appear, carrying his empty plate. After placing it in the sink, they stand beside you asking whether they can do anything to help you.” She waited before continuing, and again there was a mass murmur in the hall indicating that they had all experienced those little things. “See? They don’t need an extra effort. Little things cause a big change in your mood, your personality. Good little things bring back your smile after a long tir...

“Ma, I love you,” Rehaan said to me while pooping. I looked up from the sink where I was washing Azaan's underwear. Wondering where this sudden love for mother came from, I looked at him with scepticism written all over my face. My brow arched and mouth curled a bit did not waver his expression. He was looking at me with the same gravity that he carries while looking at the phone screen, watching his favourite car videos. That was from where he learnt all the means of transport, colours, water animals and wild animals. “Okay, Rehaan. I too love you, son.” I had had my brow raised in confusion, and he went back to pooping. For a boy of 3 years and ten months ago, he was pretty active. Jumping around in the whole house, playing pranks with a cousin, irritating everyone with his consistent rambling and leapfrog, basically being a nuisance, were some Rehaan's most favourite things to do. And when he would ask for permission to go to the loo to either poop or pee, h...