The lilliput world....

Ting Tong , ting tong ... rang the door bell.

A trifle irritated at the loud ringing, my annoyance turned into a smile when I saw the playful, cute five year old boy dressed in a parrot green shirt and beige colored pant waiting patiently.

The next door boy Sunny was at the door with a green sling bag on his back.

He returned my welcoming smile. Acknowledging my raised eyebrow at the sling bag, he said, “Oh .. ! I got toys to play with Nishka... !” His eyes searched behind my back, trying to find my seven month old daughter.

He spotted her cooing to herself on the mat in our drawing hall and he rushed past me and settled himself down on the mat besides her. Before she had a chance, all the toys in his bag were out. He showed her the new red colour bike, and the green colour drum. But the toy that was his favorite very obviously was the big yellow color bus. It had a honk and a smartly dressed driver.

The bus fascinated Nishka too and he watched intently she took bus from his grasp and admired the it holding it with both her hands. She looked at the front of the bus, and turned it and looked at the back. And she turned it again to see the front. All the while Sunny silently watched her.

A minute or so later, he turned to me and with innocent eyes, a voice full of concern said, “Aunty, can you ask Nishka to be careful… !”

I was mighty pleased at the chivalry and the concern. Feeling all good, I told him lovingly, “ You only tell her na… She will listen to you…”

I continued to watch him to see how he would convey himself.

He turned back to the little one, and with a face all serious said, “Nishka, please be careful….. "

And then he bent a little over the little one and with a face little more grim said, "Please be careful Nishka....... else the bus will breeeaaaak… !”

I quickly turned back to my book to hide the amusement on my face !

The 12 year old brother and the five year old sister were fighting for the possession of a calculator. Both of them wanted to hold it and play with it.

After a ten minute unsuccessful cajoling, requesting, threatening the twelve year old looked like he had given up as he left his sister alone and sat on the window, watching the bikes go by on the road below.

I was watching the light bantering between the children of a dear friend as I lazed on my easy chair reading a book.

I thought the argument was over and turned my mind back to my book.

A little while later, I saw the brother leaving the window and going back to his sister.

With twinkle in his eyes and a mischief all written on his face, he told his little sister, "Look I am going to type '5 * 5'… If the display shows 25… the calculator is mine… If it shows any other no it is yours… !"

I did not need to hear more.

Just two minutes later, I could hear the little girl complain to her mother, "Ma… Brother is doing some cheating…. For some reason when he types 5 * 5.. only 25 comes… !!"