My daughter- Rhea

She is a shy girl, does not speak much, keen observer and very intelligent. When we go to her school for parent teacher meet to get a feedback on child’s progress, we are always welcomed by the teachers. Most of the time their response is – “What to tell you about Rhea? She is the best. I wish I had a child like her”. She is extremely good in studies, caring about others, obedient and just too good. That show what a good parent you are.” Well, when I think of it, I know there is very little contribution from my side to her growth. The credit goes to her (59%) and to her mom (39%). I have saved the remaining two for myself (2%).


I feel proud to hear such things about my child. I think we have done some very good deeds in our past or in our earlier births (if it is so) that we got such a wonderful child.

As I remember her childhood. She rarely smiled as an infant too. She used to stare at us. Whenever we talked to her, she looks at us as if we are some jokers telling her what she already knew. At the age of one, she could understand everything and would follow whatever we say. It was a dumb toy who will follow the command and would not speak a word. We got a game having 25 pairs of activity and their names. Like swimming and a picture of child swimming, running and child running and so on. The pictures were in similar color and the writing was also similar. We told her which goes with what. She observed once, twice and for a day and two. Third day, her mother asked her “Rhea, show me swimming” I shouted at Deepali. “What are you doing? She is too small to even see the difference. Let her grow”. Suddenly Rhea pulled the photograph of swimming and handed over to Deepali. “Good, now give me swimming, the other part”. Rhea saw a heap of 49 other cards. Her little hands moved through the cards. And before I could sense what she was doing, out came the card with letters written swimming. “What a fluke”. I said. “She can get some of the things in her little head.” “Wait till you see next” said Deepali. One by one, Deepali kept calling the names of activities and Rhea handed over the exact pairs to her. I was amazed. “Repeat that” I said. Once again the same thing. Okay, that was enough. I climbed down from my bed. Took the cards and mixed them up to my satisfaction. Now do it. Same result.

I could see the future of the child. I could see if she and her mother stay together we are going to get an amazing trainer and trainee.

After some days, my friend Vijay came to our house. Now it was my turn to show him a magical show. I took the game and asked Vijay to see what Rhea can do. It was me playing the role of Deepali and he was in my shoes. I could understand how much Deepali would have enjoyed the show. The difference was – She was the one who taught her, and I was just enjoying without putting any efforts on someone else’s skills. But it was my right. After all, I am the father of Rhea. That contribution is enough.