GROWING UP PAINS

life is pain enjoyment of love is an anesthetic.

GROWING UP PAINS

'Life is hard/ I tell myself, as I stand before the mirror and watch acne, that dreaded scum of a disease, playing havoc with my face. I wish I could drive the pimples out with a wave of the hand. Then I tell myself that acne is a temporary ravage that makes life a little less comfortable for a teenager. But it is a sure sign of a child moulting into an adult. 'Life is tough/1 turn away from the mirror, when it strikes me like a bolt of lightning. My voice has turned rough, almost raucous. It grates, if I may add. Where has my sweet, soft voice gone? Have I caught a cold? Such gruffness goes hand in hand with a cold. But, the common cold and I have nothing to do with each other, at least at this moment. 'Is there an uncommon cold?' a light banter lifts my spirits. A common cold is common to all mankind. But every time I catch a cold, it becomes an uncommon one for Appa and Amma (Mother and father). They think I have come 5 down with a dangerous cold, one that could kill! They force me into bed, send for the doctor who pumps all sorts of medicines into my system. They pray to all the gods and goddesses—according to our religious texts we have thirty-three crores of them—to cure me quickly and set apart money for donating to the gods, once I am back on my feet. That is what I do in a day or two, none the worse for the temporary cold. When I tease them for being over-protective, they grunt, "How would you know? You are too young to understand our fears. Our only child, the apple of our eye." As if they understand my fears! I too have my fear. It was not there till the other day. But, suddenly, out of nowhere, it has appeared. It fills all my waking thoughts and haunts my dreams too.

If nothing is the way it seems, then this life is just a haunted dream.

 I try to dispel the fear, tell myself, 'Only cowards fear. I am no coward.' But this bravado doesn't last long. The more I think of it, the stronger becomes the hold of this fear. I am no longer my usual self. I have become a stranger to myself. Till the other day, I used to feel happy whenAmma (mother) walked in unannounced, surveyed the room, gently chided me, "Is this a room or a pigsty?" and quickly got down to the task of cleaning the room. She would work at it with total dedication. The books would go back into the bookcase or side rack; the caps and pens, pulled 6 apart by me, would get reunited; bits and pieces of crayons that dot the floor would go into the bin; the dust would be swept off the table and the room would gain a fresh look. How I hate her now when she does that! I have put up a warning on the door:Knock Before You Enter Beneath the above instruction is a warning:

My Room! Love It Or Hate It! Amma(Mother) sees the notice, but behaves as if it is Greek or Latin. She continues to step into my room, unmindful of my privacy. How can I make her understand that I need privacy? If only she senses the gossamer-thin curtain that has come up between me and my parents! Is this what growing up is all about— a matter of individuality, a snapping of bonds? Who wants to snap bonds with one's parents. Not I. The very thought makes me cry. Yet, I feel I am drawing away from them. Or am I imagining! I think Appa (father) is watchful and wary when he meets me. Of course, his eyes gleam with joy whenever I walk into his presence. But is it as spontaneous as it used to be? Or am I unable to feel its warmth because of the curtain that has come up between us. May be, because of the curtain, he sees me as someone different, a rather misty figure, imprecise, vague and elusive, developing a form that is difficult for him to gauge. May be he too is scared of this new figure. 7 Is that why, at times, he makes extra efforts to be overtly affectionate! I do not know. May be he tries to kill the fear in him by treating me with caution.

He finds safety in treating me as a child. He runs his fingers through my thick, curly hair, holds my head close to his chest and pats me. I would not say I hate him for doing that. But I am not able to enjoy it as I used to. Once, I would give the whole world for being held lovingly by Appa (father). Now I feel as if it is not whatAppa (father) should do to me. Is it not time, I tell myself, that he treats me as a grown-up. Especially when he has been reminding me to behave like one. I fall and slip and scream with pain because of a sprain. Amma (mother) is all kindness. Not Appa. He growls, "You are fourteen, Samir. It is time you learnt how to bear pain with stoic courage. You are no longer a child." I cannot forget those words. Next evening, before Appa has returned from office, I walk up to Amma. She welcomes me with a big smile. But the smile turns into a frown when I ask her whether I could go for a party at Vishal's house. Amma says, "Must be back before nine.""Amma, I am grown-up now. Can I not stay out till all my friends leave?" I ask. "You think you are old enough to be on your own, Samir? Remember you are still a child even though you think otherwise. You are at an in-between age. A Teenager." 8
That raises my hackles. I stamp my feet, shout at her, "I am old enough, Amma. Old enough to be on my own. I will not allow myself to be treated like a kid!" She gives me a stern look and asserts firmly, "My decision is final. No party for you. Not today. Not ever. I do not want you to end up as a wild colt." She has her way. I miss the party.

But it does not endear her. I sulk. I do not talk to her for a whole day. She coaxes me, placates me till I succumb to her molly-coddling. Then I hug her and cry. Pat comes her remark, "At fourteen, a boy must know how to control his emotions!" That is the trouble. Am I a child? Or have I grown-up? When will my parents see clearly what I am. Either I am a child or, I am a grown-up. I cannot be both at the same time. May be I am a mix of both. I do not know. That is what makes my fear so scary. I know my fear will die if my parents stop treating me like a child. But no. They will not do that. They have their fears. That is why Amma says every time I try to assert myself, "At your age, you need to be kept on the leash. It is for your good, Samir. We shall take the leash off once you are capable of knowing what is right and what is wrong. Freedom never comes in a day. Freedom will be yours once we feel you are mature enough to handle situations." "When will that be?" I ask. 10Appa walks in. Amma warms up to his presence with a gentle nod, then tells me, "Samir, everything takes time. A flower take s time to turn into a fruit. It takes a year for you to go from one class to the next" she grins.

Appa caresses my arm and says. "I know you have your fears. We have ours. We must fight our fears together. You must understand our concerns. There are so many temptations to which a youth is drawn. I do not want to list them. You knowr them now. Come to us, talk to us openly. Let us learn to be friends. Take every advice we offer as coming from true friends. We, in turn, promise to do all that we can to appreciate your viewpoint. Will you let me be your true friend?" "Me too," Amma lifts my chin and smiles into my eyes. I press her palm and grin happily, "We are three friends, bound by love. We will never do anything that hurts the others." "That's it! Happy are we, now that we have, from fear, been set free." Papa gently ruffles my curly hair.

ends

This story is reviewed and re-edited by sky