My Little Twin Neighbors
How spending time with children can be unbelievably enlightening
Born 5 minutes apart, Reeva (on the left) and Eeva (on the right) are non-identical twins — my little neighbors in Pune.
From venturing into the unknown (my house) with unsteady steps, to exploring every nook and cranny of it, and eventually turning it into a madhouse — it’s been a crazy ride for the girls and us alike.
While it’s a common belief that traits are developed and skills are acquired gradually as we grow up to become the individuals that we are, which is undeniable, I think we have certain traits that are purely innate.
R has always been open to exploration, connects effortlessly with strangers, comes up with innovative play ideas, is clear about her choices, and is super confident and bright for her age. In sum, R is a super charming kid who happens to steal the limelight instantly, and be the apple of someone’s eye. Oftentimes, R also turns into a rebel to the extend of intimidating the older kids including E.
On the other hand, until a few months ago, E was the one shadowing R — from imitating her play ideas to following her in her exploratory journey. E would often give in to the demands of R without a protest. Having said that, she was and is still charming in her own ways — she picks up new words skillfully and articulates them with absolute precision. The ‘O’ with her mouth opening to a perfect ‘O’! I attribute her ability for seamless pronunciation to her beautiful thin lips and the cute little pink tongue.
I think over time E has grown beautifully — she has her opinions and choices, she has developed interests which she pursues independently, and has devised ways to smartly get along with R. It’s wonderful how E has grown from a child trying to figure out things through R during her exploratory phase to being fairly independent.
Just as is the case with adults, one needs to spend time with E to be able to appreciate her unique traits and skills which are absolutely noteworthy.
While spending time with little kids is undoubtedly therapeutic, it also gives you a new perspective, and is nothing short of a masterclass.
The other day when I visited R & E, it was endearing how the girls who are a little over 2 years old now remember me so vividly!
As I picked my bag to leave and made a move towards the door, R being the quick-witted child that she is, looked up at me, and with a tinge of sadness in her voice asked, ‘Chalali Tu ?’. Aah, that was my ‘Tussi Ja Rahe Ho ?’ moment which broke my heart to pieces!
Needless to say, I would have definitely not traded the world for the fabulous time I’ve spent with the little girls.
Also, it’s been a beautiful journey graduating from ‘Moi’ to ‘Maushi’ in their little world.
