Still on the topic of kids.
Today i was on a crowded double decker and was standing right at the back. Even then, the bus was unable to admit more passengers when it reached many bus stops, much to the frustration of those wanting to get on the bus.
Throughout most part of the journey, my attention was focused on the little girl who sat in front of me. Looking around 3 or 4 years old, she sat in between two ladies, her short dangling legs a contrast with the the full length of the legs of her neighbours. She was separated from her mother and younger brother who were sitting across on the opposite side, and i was that human barrier in between them. But i shifted my position slightly so that the little girl was within sight of her mum.
Having nothing better to do than to hold on to the railings and stand rather immobile throughout the journey, naturally, the little girl became my subject of observation. She was after all just in front of me and unless i made a deliberate attempt to focus my gaze elsewhere, there's no avoiding looking at her.
As it turned out, it is always a joy to have kids around you. Their seeming unconsciousness and innocence, their childish but ceaselessly adorable actions - all these make for a source of joy and amusement to us adults. Unlike adults who are consciously aware of others' perceptions of themselves and of their presence in the midst of strangers, the little girl is constantly active in that little space of hers. One minute her knees were on the seat as she turned her body around so that she could look at the passing buidlings and people when the bus moved along; a few minutes later when her curiousity and enthusiasm had waned, she would once again settle on her seat, rather like a child who is tired running about. She would hug her little, pink bag closer to her and for a moment looked as though her mind was intently preoccupied with some serious thoughts.
All this while i noticed the young lady (who is probably in her late twenties) to her left would occasionally look at her just to make sure that the little girl's actions would not disturb her unnecessarily. The very first sign of the lady's slight displeasure with the girl was shown when the latter was climbing to get seated next to her. The lady saw her, quickly tucked the sides of her dress to the underneath, presumably so that it will not suffer the risk of getting dirtied by the restless kid. That move proved a sound one but it also quickly reflected the lady's uneasiness with her neighbour. While the girl would constantly make little actions while seated down, the lady would from time to time glance at her disapprovingly: if it is not a look of disapproval, at the very least her eyes conveyed an expression of cautious wariness, as though to look out for and preempt any undesirable movements her diminutive neighbour is capable of. I was in fact secretly hoping that the little girl would precisely step on her just so that her fears would prove founded, and just so that she will be annoyed. I wonder whether not a loud, disapproving grunt would come out from her while the rest of the passengers look at her and judge her petty reaction.
But alas the journey was peaceful and the lady got off before me. The little girl later joined her mother at the other side when there was an empty seat. When it came to that critical bus stop, almost half the bus was emptied as people rushed to alight. I moved down from the back and as i tapped the ez-link card reader and saw the time, i realised I was running late for class again. What's new.
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