Specially written for D-Ws: (The exultant dad, the proud mum and their new baby)

It was tough times for me and my young family. Balancing budget was a major dilemma. A young daughter, just into school and a wife who had seen better climes before moving in with me – and my wretched income. But I tried, bravely.

A simple rented house, Spartan furnishing, passable meals – but, we smiled and laughed our way through life. One evening, on my home from work returning, picking my little girl from school en route, I walked by a bakery. The aroma of fresh pastries and goodies was heavenly. I could see my daughter’s eye riveted to the display cases – lined inside which were row over row of the most elaborate and succulent fare only magicians can conjure up. Alas as I mentioned, apart from a loaf of bread, there was nothing else I needed– and to be honest, that’s all I was budgeted for.

But a small girl’s liquid her eyes can melt hearts – so, on a whim, I bought three éclairs. Semisolid caramel dipped in chocolate, all wrapped in shiny silver foil. One each for the three of us, daughter, wife and me. One rupee each!!

My daughter hurriedly ripped open her toffee and shoved the oversized lozenge into her small mouth – I saw it form a lump on her cheek as she struggled to roll it round and bite it with her milk teeth. I was about to unwrap my share, when a pang of guilt swept through me – she enjoys it so much, and I am an adult – I passed on the éclair into her tiny fist – This too is for you, daddy doesn’t like sweets. You eat it kid – and keep this third one in safely in your frock pocket for mummy okay…She beamed a broken tooth grin as she grabbed the two pieces of confectionary.

We walked home, I doing most talking, she could hardly articulate anything except make gurgling sounds, her tiny mouth stuffed with the sticky chewy goo éclairs became when bitten hard enough.

Mummeee, mummy – daddy bought us all éclairs, she yells as she skips into the bedroom – her tiny hand already scouring in her pocket to bring out mum’s share.

Thanks pet, wife says, as she takes the chocolate and pops it into her mouth, It has been so long, she sighs as she relishes its divine aroma and taste. Then she says,

Now, that’s what daddy bought me – what has my baby bought for mummy?

I looked away. This was an unfair, this needless plea to an innocent child – hurts deep. The child stands up, rummages her pocket again, and brings forth another éclair – the extra one I had given her to eat it herself  

Close your eyes mamma, she grins, as she presses the third uneaten chocolate she had secreted into mum’s open palm…I bought you one too!!!!

I walk away, tears building. How close the mother-child bonding is? How inane of me to have underestimated its steel strength. How in sync they read and harmonize their thoughts. This is true love. Nothing can ever come even close to the bonding a mother has for her own child, or vice versa.