Little Miss “Monkey Face”

She opens her small brown eyes and screws up her face in utmost irritation and anger – all directed at the person who dared to wake her up. With a frown, she shouts, “I said No!!! I will not get up now”. After series of tirade directed at the hapless soul who committed the sin of even considering waking her up - she raises her leg and commands- “press my leg” So grateful is everyone around her that she has ultimately deigned to wake up- all rush in to “press” her leg. “No – only Dada!!!” she bellow! (Dada- being her septuagenarian grandfather.)


Thus begins a ritual of coaxing and cajoling, along with a bizarre rite called “Hath- Pa- Tepa”, meaning pressing hands and legs. So “Dada” presses her feet and then she turns to her sides with her eyes closed and a satiated smile tugging very gently at the corner of her lips, and “Dada” continues pressing her hands and feet and scratching her back!!! Finally Her Highness deigns to wake up and get ready. She is finally persuaded to go to school and hopefully acquire some knowledge there. Halleluiah!!!


It seems that nature has constructed her in such a fashion that every time she opens her eyes – she would let her displeasure known to the whole wide world and all its relatives- near and far. I remember the first time I saw her, – boy was she angry!!! She was disgusted with the whole damn world and its friends, families and neighbours!!! How dare they??? I mean HOW DARE THEY!!!!


Ill-mannered bunch of people, who have absolutely no consideration for a person who is resting… do they have any sense at all??? Don’t they know that when some one is his or her bed… they shouldn’t be dragged out!!! Wasn’t there some lone wise guy who said “…my home is my castle… and I shall defend it” or some jazz like that!!! Sorry buddy whoever said “mi casa” is “su casa” was nothing but a moron!!! Yup, I guess that’s what she wanted to say when she was taken from the first place that she called home. Can’t blame her… she called that place home for 9 months (well, almost), she was happy there- she lived her life there… she did exactly what she pleased… ate when she wanted to, played when she wanted to, rested when she was tired, chilled out when she wanted to…chill (I guess). No one telling her what to do, when to eat, sleep, talk, keep quiet, walk, run…no do this… do that…Nothing… nada… zilch!!! A truly “I am the king of the world” kind of life!!!

So there she was- when I first saw her- just dragged out of her home- kicking, screaming at the injustice done to her!!! She was brought closed to me…near about a foot tall, face red with indignation; she raised her small red fist to protest against the ignominy she suffered at the hands of so called educated people and let out a loud stream of objection- her face screwed up and in an odd way that reminded me of a face of a little monkey!!!


Hence since the day I first laid my eyes on her, I christened her my “little Monkey Face”. She is my daughter – Pragya (that means Wise- or someone blessed with wisdom and prowess)!!!