"Jiya"

Hardly one and a half years old, cute little baby - that's who Jia is.

How do I know her? Well, actually I don't! We just happened to meet and I guess we clicked.

Sitting with a friend on the grass across Palika Bazaar, a hundred thoughts were jostling for attention. And then I spotted Jiya, pretending to talk on the phone with that ever so sweet voice, calling out "Heloo".

In that one moment all other thoughts were simply swept away. All that the heart wanted to cherish was a smiling cuddly face, a pretty baby in a multi-coloured frock. Little bare feet trampling the grass never seemed more enthralling. It was a surreal moment as if the world stood still to watch the antics of a mere kid. And it actually did because all eyes were on the li'l one.

Jiya walked over to me, asking me to speak to whoever she was imagining talking to. The conversation was directed by her, with I merely repeating what she wanted me to say. But trust me, none of the tele-talks of my life could beat this one. She did what all other kids do, kissed; and then spat; and stuck out her tongue; and played; and kissed again. As we got up to leave she decided to trail us but of course was safely handed back to the parents.

The beauty of the moment is the kind of power that a child exudes. Love unlimited and a true representation of feelings. Jiya's joy was communicable. She brought smiles to each face with her own toothy smile. I am sure it was not just me who forgot her own troubles, tribulations and anxieties watching Jiya. And it all came naturally, effortlessly. We don't hold ourselves back from loving a kid. We simply can't. So why have we created these speed-breakers to our natural emotions? We don't need to look far, the Jiyas of the world are the answer, the inspiration to bring back the innocence in each one of us. We need not mould ourselves to the world but instead give world a chance to embrace and learn from us.