“Quotable Quotes”

There was a wonderful quote in one of the Star Wars episode (I don’t remember which one) that went, “Truly wonderful the mind of a child is”. And you bet it is!

These days I am spending some terrific cheery times with my sister-in-law’s kids. It’s absolutely rejuvenating to be with them – there is so much constant banter, sincere reflections on little miracles growing up teaches you to ignore and the sheer joy of rediscovering the taken-for-granted facts of life, that you actually begin to believe that this world may not be such a bad place after all.

My nephew, Ads, is a certified prodigy. All of four, he comes up with the most dumbfounding questions and amazing statements. Conversations with him are an absolute delight – a patient and enthusiastic communicator, he wins your heart in less than a fraction of a second.

I thought it would be a good idea to record some of the interesting chats we both have had in the past couple of days – most, as you will notice, are perfect pearls of wisdom.

Read on:

Ads: Are you an Indian?

Me: Yes, what about you?

Ads: I am an Indian, but I am crème.

Me: What about me?

Ads: You are also crème. But Indians are also brown.

Me: Do you like crème Indians or brown Indians?

Ads: I don’t care about crème or brown. I like all.

(The world has a lot to learn from you baby!)

Ads: What are people living in Chennai called? Chennaians?

Me: No, they are called Chennai-ites!

Ads: Why are they not called Chennaians, like Indians?

Me (without a convincing answer): Because Chennaians does not sound right. It is Chennai-ites!

Ads: So are you a Chennai-ite?

Me: Yes, but am also a Delhi-ite. I was in Delhi for a long long time. Like when you go to Delhi (My SIL is relocating to Delhi), you will become a Delhi-ite.

Ads (Emphatically): NO! I will be Indian – I will always remain Indian. I will not be Chennai-ite or Delhi-ite.

(Is one particular Maharashtrian listening?)

Ads: Guess what - I know all my numbers.

Me: Wow! Can you count?

Ads: Yes, I can count till 100, 1000, million, billion, zillion, gazillion.

Me: Wow! I can also count all the numbers.

Ads: Ok, you know infinity?

Me: Yes, when you cannot count, it’s infinity.

Ads: After what number does infinity come?

Me: After gazillion…

Ads: Why is not gazillion and one after gazillion?

(Can you please ask questions your age?)

Me: Do you like me Ads?

Ads: Yes I do.

Me: Oh, thank you (I then give him a “big hug” and a kiss to seal our friendship)

Ads: I rubbed your kissie – It’s not there now.

Me: It is still there, my kisses are permanent – they cannot be rubbed.

Ads (very sternly): Let’s not discuss this.

(Ouch!)

Me: Oh my god, Yukta (Ads’ 1 yr old sis) is meddling with the plug point, please pull her away Ads.

Ads: Yukta (pulling her away), get off, RIGHT NOW. You will now not play with us. Go to mommy right now!

Me: Ads, don’t be rough with her, she’s still a baby!

Ads (in a matter of fact manner): Yuvika, I can’t help it, SHE IS SUCH A PAIN!

(oops!)

Ads: I want to build my own Disney Park.

Me: Great, what all rides will you have?

Ads: Let me think about it. Around 50 rides like, airplane rides, buzz light year rides – then we will have people in costumes who will pretend to be cartoon characters – nobody will have to pay for food also.

Me: That sounds really good. So you will build it with your super powers? (Ads claims he is a super hero with super powers and their’s is the only super family in the whole universe)

Ads: Noooo, I can’t waste time waiting for magic to happen. I will have to start building it myself – with lot of hard work.

(very sensible for a 4-year old!)

Ads (at bed time): Tell me a nice violent story with lot of wild animals who kill and eat other wild animals.

Me: Ads why do you like so much violence?

Ads: I dunno, but I like violence.

Me: Won’t you get scared.

Ads: I can never get scared. I am a super hero, a power ranger. But sometimes my “bones” feel scared (Ads conveniently pushes off everything on his bones – his bones get angry, fussy, scared, hungry, irritating – but he is always the angel).

Me: Are your bones scared of wild animals?

Ads; No, we live in the city – there are no wild animals here. But can aliens come here?

Me: No, there are no aliens – these are just stories. We don’t know if aliens exist.

Ads: Even if they exist, do they hate human beings?

Me: No!

Ads: Why would they come to our planet then?

Me: Just to visit us, maybe they lost their way or something.

Ads: I don’t like this planet too much. I plan to destroy the whole planet and build a new planet.

Me: If you destroy the whole planet what will happen to me, mama, thatha, nani?

Ads: No, I will take all the nice people to the new planet.

Me: Good idea. Don’t take the bad people, don’t take thieves and robbers.

Ads: But what if the thieves promise not to do anything. Then I should give them a second chance, right? If they don’t behave themselves, we will drop them back to Earth.

(Love you, Ads!)

As and when I collect some more of the wise guy’s discourses, I promise to post them here – don’t want to lose these precious moments to memory.

More of Ads’ gems have been preserved for posterity by his mommy dearest here.