When the child becomes a teacher...

We were out for our routine walk with our hyper, fifteen-month-old furry girl.

Usually, the entire family steps out post-dinner and it's almost like a night-time ritual. This time, the father and the daughter stayed back while mommy and son stepped out.

This is the time when we talk...when we share...when we speak anything that comes to our mind.

Our path crossed with a resident of our society whose daughter and mine were at one point in time, good friends. Parental interference nipped the bond.

The woman did not see me and headed towards her block. I heaved a sigh of relief. At that moment, my twelve-year-old turned towards me and asked me a question.

'Did you notice or are you in denial?'

'What denial?'

'That woman is clearly avoiding you.'

'No. You are wrong.' I explained. 'She was busy getting of the car and she did not look around.'

The boy raised his hands up and said. 'Believe whatever suits you. I thought I should explain it to you.'

I kept quiet. The discomfort building in me. Why was I justifying the woman's action when I knew too well that she was trying to ignore me! It's so obvious to my child but I choose to deny it. That hurt me more.

A few days later, I sprang up from my seat and announced to my family who was then assembled in the living room discussing their work at school.

'Guys...I just can't believe this.'

They looked up. 

'X has blocked me on Whatsapp. No wonder my messages remain undelivered. What does she gain out of this?'

Now X is related to us by marriage and happens to be a part of the family.

My husband had a surprised look on his face and sat in silence for a while.

I kept ranting and raving when I hear a voice telling me, 'Calm down.'

I turned around. That was my twelve-year-old in his newly found voice. These days in his hoarse voice, he sounds more like my uncle than my son.

'How can you be blind, Ma?'

'What do you mean?'

'Oh, Ma. How is it that you don't notice these things? X dislikes you. I won't be surprised if she hates you. It's all so evident. The day she was here on my sister's birthday, she refused to meet your eyes. But you went on with your usual countenance. She was clearly uncomfortable.'

I interrupted. 'Okay. She was uncomfortable. But why will she block me?'

'I repeat Ma. She doesn't like you. She chooses to avoid you. Circumstances were such that she had to be at your house. And what surprised me is that she chose not to speak to you unless you spoke to her. She refused to converse with you. Instead, she focused on father and us. She was quite rude and ill-mannered if you permit me to say so.'

I slumped further into my chair and cried out. 'But why?'

The boy who is now taller than me got up and held my hand.

'Do you remember that aunty who chose to ignore you during our walk?'

I nodded wearily.

'When people fail to meet your gaze. When people try to avoid you. Remember there is something in you that bothers them. That makes them insecure or even threaten them. The best they can do is to pretend to have not seen you. Its insecurity. It's often a feeling of insecurity. Think about your dynamics with these women and I am sure you will realize that they are not worth the space they are currently occupying in your mind. It's good that they have chosen to stay away. You should follow the cue and do the same. And stay away from people who snatch away your peace of mind.'

That day I looked up to my son, towering above me. I realised I had found a teacher in him. A little wise man whose way of looking at the world around him is highly analytical and markedly different.

And I have kept the lesson close to my heart!

Happy Teacher's Day, friends! Remember each and every person has a lesson for us to learn.