Since innocence is strongly linked to political incorrectness, it is but natural that children, who are likely to be more innocent than most adults, will bring up more moments of PNC. Our Shambhu was and remains innocent in many ways that other adults are not.
Even as a very young child, Shambhu was quite fond of hanging out with his father who usually maintained a neatly trimmed beard. Shambhu liked the feel of his chin and cheeks and often rubbed them with his tiny hands. His father had a deep voice and played with him a lot. So, it seemed but natural when his family met others socially, and as is common, most grown-ups came over to pick up the little babies or toddlers, hold them and give them a cuddle. It is always interesting to watch the reaction of little children when being picked up by people they are not familiar with. It is such a powerful instinct that it is, even today, used to try and figure out political candidates for the job of Presidents of powerful nations during political campaigns! The little ones can instinctively tell the good from the evil candidate. Those wily politicians can fool us adults but not little babies.
Well, each child is different and will react differently to different faces, or be comfortable and happy or unhappy with different faces. They will observe an approaching face intently and their expression will usually give away their feelings. Little Shambhu went over more readily to men he met, especially if they had a beard. He was happy and comfortable with very few women, mostly his mother and a few close relatives that had spent time with him early on. People often commented when he would squirm and wriggle away and was almost dropped many times by many ladies who picked him up as a child.
“He is more friendly and comfortable with men, Daddy-like men with beards!” they used to say. Shambhu grew up hearing this for so long that he came to believe that it was true. Children often do this, once they start to understand adults, language and reasoning, they will often believe anything that sounds like a ‘reason’. Strangely enough, this works sometimes even in adulthood.
Shambhu mostly drifted towards men and beards as a child. However, there was one aunt of his that he met and took to her quite easily on the first meeting. He seemed quite happy in her arms and no fuss. He got along excellently with her. She showered love on him and it was evident he liked her. When other women tried to pick him and play, he shied away quickly. Everyone seemed a bit puzzled.
One day, at a family get-together he was sitting on this aunt’s lap in the middle of a gathering of adults. One lady, who had tried to engage with Shambhu but failed, could not contain her curiosity and jokingly asked him, “Why Shambhu? You normally only play with men with beards, how come you go to that aunt of yours but do not come to me?”
Shambhu was put in a spot. He looked at the lady questioning him. He then looked up from the lap he was sitting on at his favourite aunt.
“This aunt also has a beard,” he said pointing to and rubbing her chin. That lady happened to have a few hairs on her chin as was natural and common among women her age!
Well, I really don’t need to tell you the mark that moment left in the family vault of memories. I must however tell you that the gracious aunt is still his favourite one and she still showers him with love.
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