Talking about girlfriends..already??

Since I was home today I picked up Betu from school. As expected he was mighty pleased grinning from ear to ear. Thats exactly why I had decided to pick him up..to see that jubilation in his face and eyes.

So after we started to drive back home, I generally asked him what all he did in the school and who all he played with. He started telling the names Yukta, Ananya, Indraveer, Samar and he told me the name of one more boy which I have forgotten. As I went "hmm" he asked me said something which left me stumped. He said "Yukta meri girlfriend hai" After that he went mum and so did I as I was trying to gather myself up after hearing this piece of information! But he continued to leave me even more stumped by asking "Aapko Yukta achhi lagti hai ya fir Ananya?" I kind of figured where he was heading towards and was trying to see if I answer back what he wants to hear. He has always been talking about this friend 'Yukta' ever since he started going to this formal school. When I tired to tell him I've met Yukta but not Ananya how can I say who do I like better. But he kept insisting me to answer. So I replied "Both".

Now it was his turn to be stumped and he asked me further "Par meri ek hi to girlfriend ho sakti hai na. Isliye aap batayo ki Yukta ki Ananya." Since I knew he wanted me to take the name of Yukta I deliberately answered back "Ananya".

How I wish I had the words to describe his face expressions then. It was a mix of disappointment and that of pondering and of confusion. He in a very flat tone said "Achha..to theek hai." And after a silence of few seconds he said "Meri dono girlfriends hain" leaving me grinning. Finally I asked him "Girlfriend kya hoti hai aapkot pata hai?" He proceeded to tell me "Jaise papa aapke girlfriend hain aur aap Papa ki, waise Yukta meri girlfriend hai." I literally felt earth moving beneath my feet wondering who the hell told him this. And when I posed this same question to him he replied back in a matter-of-fact tone "Kisi ne nahi. Mujhe pata hai".

After that we got talking about something different and I was glad about it. Because I didn't know what to talk to him about the subject further. I had drawn a blank thinking how can a 4 year old possibly know about the fundamentals revolving around a 'girlfriend' and a 'boyfriend'. And I'm still wondering with no clue of how this piece of information has reached his teeny weeny brain.

But at the same time its telling me I need to gather up my act and know each and everything that he knows about and talk to him more and more. Coz I should know what all he has stored up there in his head.

He is a big boy now!

Every now and then something happens or something that I see make me realise that he's a big boy now. And today was such day. When so many things that I saw enforced this thought in me even more.

When I went to pick him up from his daycare early today, they all were having snacks. The daycare supervisor has a 1 yr 10 m young baby girl who she brings along with her to the daycare. The supervisor used to tell me that Radhika, her daughter would want to eat anything from Anirudh's hands. I thought once a while it might have happened. But today she refused to take a bite from anyone else but from Anirudh. So every time her earlier morsel would have finished, she would come to him with her mouth open saying "Bahi" (Bhai / Brother). Since Anirudh was playing with his other friends it sure acted as a pause in his activities but never even once he got irritated or showed that he's not interested in feeding her anymore. And I just sat there and smiled.

Then when all had eaten the snacks they all came outside to play. The boys took out the tricycles which were made in the shape of a scooter and the little girls started to play on the slide. Soon I saw Anirudh calling out to another girl Tia who is soon going to be 2 yrs young. Anirudh had slid up towards the front of the seat and made space behind him like a pillion and was calling Tia to sit behind him. She promptly came running although hopping would be a better word for her spring like walk :D and sat all happy and smiling on the pillion seat! And Anirudh gave her a little ride on her scooter pedaling hard. Hard because I could see he was making a lot of effort to make it move with the weight of both. How I wished there was a camera and I could have clicked this moment. It was such a sweet moment.

I feel so happy to see such a loving and caring child and my heart swelled with pride!