Aarit and I just returned from the play area, where he made
numerous trips down the slippery slide. At the distance, Adiv was giving
animated descriptions of a snake that was seen in the tennis court, to an
audience of 5-year-olds. Aarit would have liked to follow them around, but his
brother seemed largely oblivious to his 2-year-old brother. Adiv was more
interested in either cycling around, or playing cops and robbers.
Not too long ago, around 1.5 years ago, the layout was quite
different from what it is now. We were the third family to have moved in, and
around us construction was still on. A steady stream of laborers walked in and
out every day, and I was sure never to let Adiv wander around on his own. A very sociable 4-year-old, Adiv found the
place boring. He had no friends, and his brother was only 5-months old. There
was no play area, and the roads weren't ready either. There was no sound of the big boys enjoying a
game of football, or the little ones cycling around pretending to be policemen.
Mothers didn't gather around the play area and discuss events within the layout,
and you didn't see old couples walking around enjoying the evening breeze. It was
during this time that Adiv made a very special friend; Bob.
Bob arrived each morning with his parents, who were laborers
working in a nearby villa. He usually wandered around on his own, or chatted up
with the security, but one day, he spotted Adiv playing with his cars. He stood
at a distance, flashing Adiv a big smile. Adiv responded with, “Do you want to
play?” Bob spoke only Tamil, and Adiv spoke only English. Nonetheless, they
communicated, and played the most amazing games. Sometimes they were chefs in a
restaurant, cooking seriously with Adiv’s cooking set. At other times, they
merely raced Adiv’s cars. They’d take a break inbetween and share sweets, and
if I gave them something bigger (like some cookies), Adiv would leave to share them
with his family. He’d return immediately and call Adiv authoritatively. “Wa da”,
he’d say, and then they’d start their next game.
Bob and Adiv began looking forward to these sessions every
day. Each morning (school hadn't begun as yet), Bob would arrive, looking fresh
in clean clothes, his wet hair combed neatly. Occasionally he brought some
of his toys as well and showed them to Adiv.
We never really knew what his actual name was. We asked him what his
name was and he had responded with, “Bob”. So he continued to be Bob, though my
maid insisted he was “Babu”! We didn't’ even know how old he was. Though he was
much smaller than Adiv, he seemed to be a spunky kid who knew he way around the
layout. He jumped over piles of sand, and ran between villas that were in the
throes of being constructed.
Unfortunately for Adiv, he wasn't allowed these fun games. So they
played their games on our porch.
After a while, when school began, Bob began coming after
Adiv returned at 12.30. Adiv was learning many new things, so he’d try and
teach Bob with the help of a little slate. “This is A”, Adiv said loudly and clearly. “Repeat”!
Bob would grin and said, “A”, before
drawing little squiggles beside Adiv’s A. He preferred their games.
Eventually Adiv would also give in!
Their friendship lasted for as long as Bob’s parents worked
in the layout. Then one day, as suddenly as he had appeared, he vanished. Adiv
called out for him loudly. “Bob!!!!!!!!! Where are you”?
“They've gone”, said the maid sympathetically.
*
Anyway, by then families had started moving in. Adiv began
making friends with other kids in the layout. Bob was soon forgotten.
Nonetheless, we still talk about his from time to time. I only wish I’d taken pictures of this first
friend that Adiv made in our layout.
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