babysitters

’In Bollywood we face the problem of being stereotyped, you know. Like. I did the movie Murder, and it became a superhit. The dominant topic of the movie was sex, and people expect me to appear the…” Mallikaji was giving her opinion to Rahul Bose, my new obsession just because of the movie Mr. and Mrs. Iyer! Though I shared the name Aparna with the director of that movie, I’d never been able to watch one of hers. And once I got the chance, I never knew that the South Indian Star, Suriya was to accommodate this Bengali actor in my heart which was full of him!!!
The next morning was to witness my new theories on Production and Operations Management! A test paper was to happen and I’d managed to leave the event apart and keep my eyes glued to my laptop screen… This very evening, before I sat down to watch ‘Pyar Ke Side Effects’, I’d been to my coffee shop to taste one more ‘frappe’ at its best. The shopping mall was unusually full and, ya, I was excited to watch babies as usual. I grabbed my favorite corner in the shop and started watching out.
I could see many pregnant women walk around. Even the woman who helped the customers to pick their stuff [I don’t want to call her a sales girl!], walk with a projected belly. I’m not sure will she ever be able to let her child shop from the same place! The niches which were meant for kids to peep in and sit and read were all occupied. Though I was with my friends, I could not keep that smile within, thinking of how one of my friends did try to get in one of those niches! I was, quite for sometime occupied with the memories of me and him running around the shop! And I did realize how idle the coffee time had become without him!
My thoughts soon got shifted and I started off with my drink. I could see a family in my adjacent corner. They had a baby girl and the couple appeared to be emotionless to that beautiful baby’s presence. I did not know that they were just igniting a series of thoughts in my mind, that I’m typing it all ignoring the test paper that can even afford to topple my career!!!
I pulled the attention of my friends to the ‘baby’. We could find the husband feed the baby with a feeding bottle. But I gave it a thought. The man appeared unfit to be that girl’s dad! And soon my observation came right, he was just a care-taker. May be the driver or a male baby-sitter! The baby was too hungry. She finished of the milk in ten minutes, herself holding the bottle! So adjusting the kid is- and I found her struggling when the milk was almost over. She was too young to react in accordance to the gravity! The man was looking around for girls, least bothered about the ‘tender stuff’ in his arms. Now, the baby after taking in lots of air managed to tilt the bottle to the maximum and consumed the entire liquid. I could not resist the question-where is that female who happened to be the one to give birth??!! I could never imagine a mom being careless of feeding her for whatever one thousand and one reasons she can speak about! And the dad, incomparable. Well, I wish someone could speak to me the reasons why countless people behave this way. A discussion was soon fueled in and we friends came up with opinions. We spoke about various reasons- mother being career oriented, giving birth to the young one of someone whom the lady never wanted to marry, ignorance, immaturity… There were quite a number of reasons. For without reasons, you cannot exist.
Men and women, this is the age of great men who inspire young minds and parents are the foster lands facilitating the realization of the dreams of such people. How many of you have thought about your children? Now don’t tell me about the education, insurance and stuff. I am clear about the question- how many of you have really thought about the way you need to bring up your kids? Have you had a look at what they need and do? You might have read and heard about child abuse, how many of you have thought about the ways in which all these happen? Do you know that most of these cases take place through baby-sitters and people in similar jobs? Attending to your young one has become a trouble to the 21st century parent-folk. Day care centers, play schools and lots keep attracting them, they are busy! Grand parents have to accommodate old age homes and no nuclear family undergoes a fusion for that reason even after the birth of a child…
I’d decided that this article will not be wound up, the problem exists- we don’t even have an organization for young babies! Now, my laptop alarms me of low battery and I can no longer keep away from my bed… tonight, I can see the full moon shine innocently at me… Let me retire and dream….