Our childhood pets

 Our home is a happening place for live insects - thanks to the kindhearted soul that nurtures us.

When he was hardly 4 years old, he went to a small kids center and his correspondent used to fetch him (along with his other classmates) to and fro school, in a car (They had so much fun in the car, singing with the correspondent and playing with fellow kids). We used to rush to board the car every morning, because we wake up late everyday. As we alighted the lift and were rushing to the car, tada! we see a tiny caterpillar. On his advise, I pick it up in a leaf and brought it home. We placed it in a small casing along with the leaf. I wanted to have him observe it and throw it away. But, the little bunny had other ideas- to see it metamorphose to a pupa and then a butterfly. Poor caterpillar had no other choice and was stuck with us! It built a cocoon inside the casing and never matured to a butterfly though. One morning, as we ventured out, I stealthily recommended J to dispose it off. As we returned, we saw an open pupa and we claimed that the moth flew away - easy to make a 4yr old believe this story.

A few years later, he picked a few snail babies, named them (Sayara, Banooth and Sayuth etc)

These souls had to abide by the love of the tiny boy, satisfying themselves with whatever leaves (curry/coriander/mint included) were fed by the little hands.

We grew to nurturing lizards (evil Amma released them when the boy went to school). Once when we visited the beach, we spotted a hermit crab, who rented another shell and brought her home. She had other plans. The moment we opened her box to feed her, she made a quick escape, treading through our living room within her rented shellhouse. We laughed loudly- it was such a funny scene. Both the sunny and in chased her like crazy and finally imprisoned her within her disposable box. She munched on several 100gms of carrot. Assuming that she'd be fedup with the taste of carrot, I fed her fish food one day. Unfortunately the ants were very fond of the fish food and conquered the box through the breathholes. Unable to bear the stings of the ants, the crab walked out of her shellhouse. Finally, although we chased the ants, the crab couldn't go back inside the shellhouse because she had overgrown it.

Daily Musings: Giving by Khalil Gibran

 Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving
And is there aught you would withhold?
All you have shall some day be given;
Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?

See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.