Growing Up- A Big Deal
'Life is hard/ I tell myself,
as I stand before the mirror and watch acne that dreaded scum of a disease
playing mess with my face. I wish I could drive the pimples out with a wave of
the hand. Then I tell to self that acne is a temporary damage that makes life a
little less comfortable for a teenager. But it is a sure sign of a child growing
to be an adult.
'Life is rough/I turn away from
the mirror, when it strikes me like a bolt of lightning. My voice has turned
rough, almost raucous. It grates, if I may add. Where has my sweet, soft voice
gone? Have I caught a cold? Such gruffness goes hand in hand with a cold. But,
the common cold and I have nothing to do with each other, at least at this
moment. 'Is there an uncommon cold?' a light banter lifts my spirits. A common
cold is common to all mankind. But every time I catch a cold, it becomes an
uncommon one for Dad and Mom. They think I have come down with a
dangerous cold, one that could kill! They force me into bed; send for the
doctor who pumps all sorts of medicines into my system. They pray to all the
gods and goddesses—according to our religious texts we have thirty-three crores
of them—to cure me quickly and set apart money for donating to the gods, once I
am back on my feet. That is what I do in a day or two, none the worse for the
temporary cold.
When I tease them for being
over-protective, they grunt, "How would you know? You are too young to
understand our fears. Our only child, the apple of our eye."
As if they understand my fears!
I too have my fear. It was not
there till the other day. But, suddenly, out of nowhere, it has appeared. It
fills all my waking thoughts and haunts my dreams too. I try to dispel the
fear, tell myself, 'Only cowards fear. I am no coward.' But this bravado
doesn't last long. The more I think of it, the stronger becomes the hold of
this fear. I am no longer my usual self.
I have become a stranger to
myself. Till the other day, I used to feel happy when Mom walked in
unannounced, surveyed the room, gently chided me, "Is this a room or a
pigsty?" and quickly got down to the task of cleaning the room. She would
work at it with total dedication. The books would go back into the bookcase or
side rack; the caps and pens, pulled apart by me, would get reunited; bits and
pieces of crayons that dot the floor would go into the bin; the dust would be
swept off the table and the room would gain a fresh look. How I hate her now
when she does that!
I have put up a warning on the
door:
Knock
Before You Enter
Beneath the above instruction
is a warning:
My
Room! Love It Or Hate It!
Mom sees the notice, but
behaves as if it is Greek or Latin. She continues to step into my room,
unmindful of my privacy. How can I make her understand that I need privacy? If
only she senses the gossamer-thin curtain that has come up between me and my
parents! Is this what growing up is all about—a matter of individuality, a
snapping of bonds? Who wants to snap bonds with one's parents? Not I. The very
thought makes me cry.
Yet, I feel I am drawing away
from them. Or am I imagining! I think Dad is watchful and wary when he
meets me. Of course, his eyes gleam with joy whenever I walk into his presence.
But is it as spontaneous as it used to be? Or am I unable to feel its warmth
because of the curtain that has come up between us. May be, because of the
curtain, he sees me as someone different, a rather misty figure, imprecise,
vague and elusive, developing a form that is difficult for him to gauge. May be
he too is scared of this new figure. Is that why, at times, he makes extra
efforts to be overtly affectionate! I do not know.
May be Dad tries to kill the
fear in him by treating me with caution? He finds safety in treating me as a
child. He runs his fingers through my thick, curly hair, holds my head close to
his chest and pats me. I would not say I hate him for doing that. But I am not
able to enjoy it as I used to. Once, I would give the whole world for being
held lovingly by Dad. Now I feel as if it is not what Dad should
do to me. Is it not time, I tell myself, that he treats me as a grown-up.
Especially, since he has been
reminding me to behave like one. I fall and slip and scream with pain because
of a sprain. Mom is all kindness. Not Dad. He growls, "You
are fourteen, Sam. It is time you learnt how to bear pain with stoic courage. You
are no longer a child." I cannot forget those words. Next evening, before Dad
has returned from office, I walk up to Mom. She welcomes me with a
big smile. But the smile turns into a frown when I ask her whether I could go
for a party at Villy's house. Mom says, "Must be back before
nine." "Mom, I am grown-up now. Can I not stay out till all my
friends leave?" I ask. "You think you are old enough to be on your
own, Sam? Remember you are still a child even though you think otherwise. You
are at an in-between age. A Teenager."
That raises my hackles. I stamp my feet, shout at her, "I am old
enough, Mom. Old enough to be on my own. I will not allow myself to be
treated like a kid!" She gives me a stern look and asserts firmly,
"My decision is final. No party for you. Not today. Not ever. I do not
want you to end up as a wild colt." She has her way.
I miss the party. But it does
not endear her. I sulk. I do not talk to her for a whole day. She coaxes me,
placates me till I succumb to her molly-coddling. Then I hug her and cry. Pat comes
her remark, "At fourteen, a boy must know how to control his
emotions!" That is the trouble. Am I a child? Or have I grown-up? When
will my parents see clearly what I am? Either I am a child or, I am a grown-up.
I cannot be both at the same
time. May be I am a mix of both. I do not know. That is what makes my fear so
scary. I know my fear will die if my parents stop treating me like a child. But
no. They will not do that.
Parents have their fears. That
is why Mom says every time I try to assert myself, "At your age,
you need to be kept on the leash. It is for your good, Sam. We shall take the
leash off once you are capable of knowing what is right and what is wrong.
Freedom never comes in a day. Freedom will be yours once we feel you are mature
enough to handle situations." "When will that be?" I ask. Dad
walks in. Mom warms up to his presence with a gentle nod, then tells
me, "Sam, everything takes time. A flower takes time to turn into a fruit.
It takes a year for you to go from one class to the next" she grins.
Dad caresses my arm and says.
"I know you have your fears. We have ours. We must fight our fears
together. You must understand our concerns. There are so many temptations to
which a youth is drawn. I do not want to list them. You know them now. Come to
us, talk to us openly. Let us learn to be friends. Take every advice we offer
as coming from true friends. We, in turn, promise to do all that we can to
appreciate your viewpoint. Will you let me be your true friend?" "Me
too," Mom lifts my chin and smiles into my eyes. I press her palm
and grin happily, "We are three friends, bound by love. We will never do
anything that hurts the others." "That's it! Happy are we, now that
we have, from fear, been set free." Dad gently ruffles my curly hair.