It is like we are preparing for an adventure like Jurassic Park. I can feel it in my gut- that we would come across experiences as great as that of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. My little friend Rani is not as brave as me but maybe it has something to do with her age and her parents’ concept of ‘soft-parenting’. She is only seven, while I am twelve- five years older to her.
Her parents keep her away from rough stuff, like they mostly do with the females I guess- always pampering her with dolls, disney cartoons and cakes, and keeping her away from the beach waters.
While I am unstoppable. My mother is mostly found pulling her hair out looking out for me. Sometimes, I hide inside the wardrobe cabinet, sometimes under the bed- but she always finds me and then showers me with a barrage of scolding.
My fault? Just being on her cellphone, watching reels and sharing stickers via whatsapp to her boss by a little slip of fingers; or spilling some water colours on my fathers brand new Armani suit, or breaking the iPad by mistake while falling down the chair- mistakes happen, but my parents see it as sin. Even God expelled Adam and Eve due to some sin, but I have never been cast out of the house as a result of my mistake- instead I am grounded. How unusual!
One day I pushed Rani into the pool, when both our families were at a party sprawled around a swimming session- all I wanted for Rani was to learn things, enjoy life and not be terrified as her parents always were. But when she was pulled out of it, crying as if she was drowning, which could NOT be because I threw her in the kids pool which was not more deeper than three feet, hell broke loose on my parents.
Mom hit me immediately out of anger; first I was shocked, and then I started crying not because it hurt me, but because it was in front of many of our school friends, and Rani immediately stopped crying when I was punished. Although my mom later felt sorry and made me my favourite white pasta, she was feeling guilty. I even overheard her telling my father that she had to hit Sunny(me) because if she had not, then everyone, including Rani’s parents would think I was a rough unruly child, who could get away with everything.
That is why it is of paramount importance that you do not see me through the lens of my parents and their friends, but hear this story through me, Sunny Soni,known among my friends as ‘Sunny, the Sensational; ‘Sunny, the funny; or ‘Sunny, the curious.”
Yes, I ask questions because I want to know things. If I was born to know nothing, I would rather be a curtain or the doormat. I want to know where the ants take the bits of sugar through the kitchen platform. I want to know where my pool goes down the toilet. I want to know why airplanes do not fall down. I want to know my Miss Anne wears lipstick to school, and Miss Rachel doesn’t. And I want to know what would make my mom hate me less.
Perhaps, this trip will. Travel always lifts up her mood. She comes back happy and with revived energy. She likes taking photographs and uses them in the graphic design work she does. But I am not sure this trip would be as good as the others. For it was the first time we were traveling with another couple, the Mehras’.
To be honest, it is not really the Jurassic Park we are going to see. We are going to a safari in Africa, the great Masai Mara.
Rani’s parents, Ravi uncle and Rashi Aunty had been there many years ago, before Rani was born, and before they were married. One evening, while having dinner at our place, they were discussing without mum and dad how it was more comfortable traveling without kids and the last time they went there, there were no children in their Safari group. There were only three couples, none married.
So I made a harmless comment.
“Rashi Aunty, it’s good you and Uncle got married, or else the school parents’ WhatsApp group might’ve left you out. That’s what happened with Karan’s parents—they’re not married yet, and nobody invites them to group trips. I heard they’re planning to marry just so Karan doesn’t miss out.”
“Just ignore him,” said Mum, rolling her eyes, “Do not interfere with the elders while we are talking, Sunny!” she asserted and insulted me again before others. So I looked at dad for comfort, but he was also glaring at me.
I had just stated facts. Who did I harm? Even Rani was untouched by my energy, she was enjoying her sandwich and jam.
But Uncle Ravi was not as grumpy as my parents. He laughed, turned towards me, holding his fork and knife down on the plate and said, “It is good for Karan. Next time we plan a trip, we can meet his parents.”
“That’s right!,” I said, walking closer to him, invited by his compassion towards me, “ but you know uncle, one of my best friends, Nirvair says his parents can never be a part of the group, because they can never marry, even if they wish to.”
Suddenly, everyone looked at me, not with frustration, but with curiosity this time, even my mom. Can you believe it?
“Why so, my dear?” asked Uncle Ravi.
“Nirvair has two dads who cannot get married—he told me he was adopted. He thinks his parents are as good as others and if elders accepted and allowed them to be part of the group activities, even some of his classmates would stop bullying him like they do. Do you not think, Ravi Uncle, that they should even be invited to the picnics we have?”
Uncle Ravi cleared his throat to add his thoughts just when Dad interrupted.
“The food is getting cold, my dear!” Daddy’s voice echoed in the room, “Let us have our dinner now, child. See Rani is already done, go bring the present we had bought for her.”
“Oh, yes! I forgot!” I remembered the gift we had bought for Rani. Even Rani, looked up from her plate as she heard about the gift. That little witch was always up for gifts. No matter how much they kept her disciplined, any day a monster could lure her away promising her gifts. Her parents should have worked on making her less greedy too.
And my parents got her a gift every time they got me one, well most of the time because they loved her. I guess they wanted a girl, when they had me; so now whenever they came across the girl kids section in a supermarket, they would buy something for Rani too. Moreover, both our families were closer to each other than the rest of the school parents’ group. So, all of us were more or less like a family. Except, I had overheard many a time mummy complaining about Uncle Ravi or Rashi Aunty often to my father; but she would complain about her sister too, and her mother-in-law too. And because she complained the most, and of the highest degree against me- I knew that complaining about someone did not completely qualify for disliking them.
Mum complained to daddy too, and I had seen more often than I wanted to kiss him goodbye when he left for office. So, I was no longer confused that love and hate were exclusive.
When Rani received her gift that evening, she smiled from ear to ear, her eyes hooked at the gift paper, her tiny fingers having crazy glitter nail polish clutching the sides of the box which I handed her. She took the gift out of my hands, jumping towards the couch with joy, swaying her blue frock around and plopped on top of the upholstery with a thud.
When she opened the gift, her joy gradually receded away and her face lost the vibrance she had a while ago. Inside the box, there was a picture book, and coloring pencils. She kept staring at them, without lifting her face up.
Then my mom, realizing her good intention and love did not make her favourite child happy, asked the question she shouldn’t have, “Rani dear, don’t you like the gift? We thought you already have so many dolls, you would love to draw and colour now!”
“No, I like, Aunty,” Rani replied, still not looking up, but the air had caught the negative premonition of her upcoming drama.
I felt bad for mom, and I did things out of love for her too, something she did not acknowledge. Regardless I went ahead and took the book and colours away from her hands saying , “Maybe I will have this back because I love picture books more than you do. We will buy you a doll for you instead.”
The moment I snatched it, she looked up and her eyes were misty with fresh blob of tears, and as she found me catch her crying, she suddenly burst out crying, first like a child, then howling like a wolf, then perhaps like a hyena- I would be able to tell better after the trip.
So Rashi aunty rushed out of the dining chair to wash her hands and then came to Rani. She scooped her up from the sofa and cradled her in her arms. But she would still not stop crying.
And I saw it clearly then; it was not my fault but her drama that had spoiled the evening. But after nothing made her stop, not even the chocolate ice cream served with brownie, mom started scolding me harshly. And it was after she had scolded and insulted me to pieces, so much so that I had tears in my eyes, it was then that she stopped crying- that evil monster.
I could see the injustice right in front of my eyes and so I planned that I would not let this pattern repeat itself throughout the safari trip we were going to have during the upcoming summer vacation trip. The tickets were booked for both our families. I had seen enough of the videos of Masai Mara safari to know that to truly spot wild animals, one had to patiently watch through the binoculars, without making a single noise. With this little monster, it would be impossible to do so, and impossible to have a day without my mothers scolding.
So I made my own plans for the trip and packed my bag my way. Apart from my fleece jacket, remote-controlled car with a built-in camera, binoculars, chocolate bars, and Pringles, I also packed some duct tape—just in case things got too noisy. Not that I’d really use it on anyone (probably!), but sometimes, a boy needs to be prepared. Sunny the Funny doesn’t find constant scolding or loud drama very funny. And this time, I was determined to enjoy the safari—my way.
Read Episode 2: Episode 2: The Journey begins