When the
toddler takes a tumble
Trying to
find his feet
On the
velvety grass in the park
His
grandmother sitting afar
Her face a
beautiful concoction
Of concern
and maternal affection
Urges him to
arise
And find his
feet again
Words that
the toddler
So new to the
earth
Can barely
fathom
With his tiny
head raised
His circular
eyes stare in wonder
Grandmother
raises her arms upwards
In a gesture
that says ‘Arise’
The fallen toddler only shifts from side to side
She rises
from her bench
And reaches
the child
With an
outstretched arm and a gentle tug
On his feet
again she makes him stand
And brushes
his dress with a loving hand
Off they walk
in a trundling gait
Each
muttering sounds
Only the
other can understand
Years later
and so much older
Grandmother
sits on the same bench
In the same
grassy park
While her
grandson, now a boy
In a far
corner plays football with his friends
Sounds of
bouncing ball and thudding boots
‘Goal’ and
other raucous cries fill the air
As sweating young bodies run, jostle and push
The sun is
setting and it is getting dark
She rises
from the bench
Leaning on
her stick she starts to leave the park
A goal down
and a chance to even the score
Grandson
makes a run with the ball
Amidst his
teammates’ roar
So near to
the goalpost from the corner of his eye
He sees his
grandmother hobble and fall
‘Grandma!’ he
cries and leaving the ball
Rushes to
where she has taken a fall
Taking her
hand he puts her on her feet
And brushes
her dress with a caring hand
‘Don’t you
worry boy, I can stand,’
Of goals
missed and the game they talk
As they set
out in a leisurely walk
Each lovingly holding
the other’s hand
© Sugato Mitra
DURGAPUR
08.14 PM, 22nd April, 2018
