This is the first of a series of blogs describing the thoughts of a 6-year-old, written by her mother.
Today Mamma told me we were stepping out of home. Many months ago, Corona came to India from China and we moved from our flat to my grandparents' home on the end of the same road. I didn't step out of the main gate since April. I hate Corona because my Pappa is not able to come home. Mamma says he will need a vaccine to travel. When I saw the news, I told him to go to Russia, get the vaccine and come here, but he just laughed.
As we stepped out of home wearing our mask, I couldn't stop laughing. I saw the little stray puppies playing on the road, the salon uncle with a long beard and the corner shop where I used to buy Mango bite and Kitkat. I noticed a group of people without masks chatting, it's so dangerous! I held onto Mamma's hand tightly and moved away from them. If they had Corona and touched me by mistake, I would also get it. Mamma said they were careless people.
When we reached the gate, Mamma warned me not to touch anything. When I saw the gate and our main door, memories of my school van, playing with Kaavya while waiting for the van, my 5th birthday celebrations, cycling in the parking area, all came gushing. I was excited when I saw the gooseberry plant; we had planted the seed when the lockdown began. As we stood there chatting, the main door opened suddenly. I was shocked when a masked man came out of the door, but it was Pappa!
How could this be? Has Corona gone? How did Pappa get the vaccine? I wanted to hug him, but Mamma said not now, not for another 14 days.
'When is the 14th day', I asked her. 'October 8th' she said.
My eyes shone as that day was my 6th birthday.
'Look, God heard your prayers', Mamma said. 'But it was the grasshopper', I told her.
I narrated the story to Pappa, of how that morning a grasshopper was sitting near our dining table. Mamma told me I could ask for a wish, and it would be granted. I asked him to bring my dad, and grandma said she saw the grasshopper nod. When I looked closely, I could see him nodding too. And lo, Pappa is here by evening!
Pappa laughed aloud when he heard the story. Mamma asked me, 'But who sent the grasshopper home?' I looked at her thoughtfully, perhaps God! If we pray with all our heart, God will listen and answer our prayers.
Mamma and me bid goodbye to Pappa and I agreed to meet him online.
