Kaushik Srinivasan

He was born within a year of Appa's death; that came in for a lot of jibes at Viji, who was assumedly Appa's favourite daughter. The jeers were not without basis; relatives expected her to grieve rather than get carnal.

Kaushik was born in Asian Hospital, a day after the first year's Shraddam. He was very bony and he never fussed or called attention. This was Viji's second child and she was far too casual. The naming ceremony was decidedly simple sans any excitement and the baby did not move a muscle.

The next time I saw him was in Bangalore; he was already 4 years old and there was a lot of sobriety about him. He spoke quietly enunciating each word and his speech was noticeably unhurried. He would smile a lot and just say a few words but those carried a lot of impact. Like when Viji would shout from the first floor of a seven storied building looking upon the kid's play area from the kitchen window," Kaushik, be careful or you will fall", in a voice that can tear down glass panes. She is quite a drama queen and Kaushik would later say," Amma, please don't shout from the house. And don't frighten me about a fall or injury. Even if I am safe, on hearing you I will surely fall".

Kaushik even as a child could never keep up with Venkatesh, his elder brother. While academics came naturally to him, Kaushik had to be spoon-fed. Viji drilled into him and he worked very hard to get into LKG to be on par with other kids who had been through pre-school. But for her efforts, Kaushik would have lost a year. He was enrolled into a small school run by an Anglo-Indian and he never threw a fit to go to the school. He dressed to school cheerfully and without any forebodings and I would pick him on return a couple of hours later. Kaushik would keep blabbering the whole way as we walked through the campus of Jal Vayu Vihar; I still recollect his large smile on a fair face and his eyes were shining with excitement as he recounted the tales of the school. He was a very positive character.

Kaushik was in every way personable and was getting I warmed up to him. Venkatesh was growing into a rebel and he was becoming so boorish that he was cast aside as a water-sprinkled case. I would visit Bangalore frequently and take the early morning Lalbagh express to Chennai. He would cry his heart out each time I waved goodbye with a bag slung from the shoulders. Kaushik really was an affectionate kid during this phase.

The next time I had an opportunity to observe him was during my heart surgery. He was 7 years then and progressed to the second standard without any hiccups.

Once, we went to a shopping centre and this 6 year old spotted an American couple.

He walked up to them and asked," Where are you from, uncle?"

The lady answered," Philadelphia".

Our man tried, "Phil. Phil" and the rest was gasps of air.

My sister caught up and helped," They are from America".

Kaushik immediately brightens up," Yeah, I know America aunty!!!"

Those people were bought him a candy and remarked," What a sweet child you have and no one has addressed us uncle and aunty in a long time".

That reminds me of another incident. The three of us ' my sister, Kaushik and me ' were in an auto when he asked," Mamma, please tell me whether I am a sweet child or a slow child". This was with reference to his slack efforts in noting down contents from the blackboard. It was a usual occurrence when our man was half way through, the board would be wiped clean for a new round.

My sister had to go to his classmate's house, borrow the book, copy the questions this genius had missed and prepare him for next day's work.

We used to play tennis ball cricket and even as a 6 year old nothing but batting caught his fancy. Our rule was to give Kaushik three clean bowled option and even that generosity wasn't enough.

I got frustrated and bowled him rapidly with yorkers. The fellow was so livid that he came to assault me with the bat and brandishing it said," I will do a heart operation for you now", as he started to demonstrate the procedure on his chest. He would keep his hand on the collar bone and draw an 8 inch line along the centre bisecting the rib cage while making a gyrating motor sound in the mouth to indicate that the vibrating sound of the motor as the bone was getting chopped.

My sister was howling with laughter to see me completely shocked by the vehemence. BTW, it was less than 2 months since the slaughter and I so I was as protective about that area.

Since then whenever he had argument with me, he settled it with a mock heart operation gesture.

However, his best as a kid was this: His father upon playing the Suprabadam cassette told Kaushik patronizingly, "This song is used to wake up the Lord".

The brat said," You mean to say that God also sleeps"

But when it came to buy dresses for Deepavalli or crackers, he instinctively made his parents choose for him even when pressed for a choice. "What is good for you is good enough for me". It was this maturity that endeared him to me like a magnet.

Two years back ' he was 16 years old then - and going to XII in Mumbai. He is emotionally the most stable in the history of my family. He took me to (not accompanied) Juhu beach this March where I railed against my sister (his mother) and he heard me without the slightest scowl. He will not refer it to his mom and in the same manner not carry her tales to me. I would listen with interest as to the difference in the teaching manner and student profile in Chennai and Mumbai. Kaushik with his easy going manner can give an impression of being less than perceptive but this analysis convinced me that he could think deep.

Yesterday he was here at Besantnagar and we had a great time. He still keeps his mouth on a tight leash. His patience is extraordinary and I realized that I can learn a lot from him. I study his manners in an effort to imbibe some of his virtues: He does not aatempt convincing others to his point of view; he just listens and smart enough not to change his mind to your sledge-hammer. 

When I had a huge confrontation with my sister on a money issue, Kaushik called me up and apologized for this mother's behaviour. He is that fair and I cannot think of anyone with that kind of values.

Another thing about this lad is that he masks his distaste brilliantly. He keeps a lot of things under wraps and he is emotionally so balanced that I have rarely seen him jump up and down in excitement; he is a special product of nature. I probe on different members in the family and I am amazed at his judgement.

I heard with interest about his college and he said," There are 24 girls in my class out of 60. Only 3 are beautiful and two are already hooked". He has a soft corner for a Mallu girl (the lone beautiful girl) and I have heard tales of his passes; "Brilliant". Sample this for wooing someone," You must be tired of hostel food and so why don't I buy you lunch?" or "You are so charming that you might have so many admirers, why don't you add me to the list?" When I heard this I jumped off my chair.

I asked," Did you get the girl?"

He said," Stupid female, she made me her brother".

I said," Go elsewhere and don't get stuck".

Kaushik said," Thinking about her is waste of time", as if holding a lesson for me.

I adore this nephew of mine; I don't relate to anyone in the family but him. He with this acuity makes it up for the deficiencies in others. Not withstanding some avuncular pride, Kaushik is person the likes of whom I have not come across; that "emotional intelligence" is astounding. BTW, Kaushik is the best loved person in any environment; everyone young, old, rock stars and conservative folks all sing his praise. He is indeed a special product of nature.