Lakshman's Daughter

The Relative

"That's it!" Urmila exclaimed annoyed, as she kept the porcelain bowl of herbal porridge on the bed side table with an annoyed thud and tried to wipe the porridge stain from her sari. Her eyes fell on Somada, her nine month old daughter, who was refusing to have her breakfast. "If you're planning to keep on with this stubbornness then I can't be forcefully feeding you"

Somada pouted.

"Why are you becoming so irritated Mila?" Lakshman asked as he sat down beside Somada and settled her on his lap. Somada smiled as she tried to grab Lakshman's chin "Talk to my little one with love and kindness. She's an innocent little girl after all" he says as he caresses the thick mass of black hair on her head, which Urmila brushes until smooth and silky.

"She pretends to be a good little princess when you are around, but the moment you disappear, she shows her true colours. If I hadn't caught her red handed yesterday, I would have kept on accusing the maids for stealing the offerings I made for the veneration in the mandhir."

"She really did that?" he asked surprised and saw Urmila nod. Lakshman let out an amused laugh and kissed Somada's rosy cheeks, something each of his children inherited from their mother, who still managed to have her rosy cheeks intact. "My princess is the epitome of innocence, be extremely genuine and caring when you're dealing with her"

Urmila's nose crunched up irritated, she grabbed his hands and thrusts the porcelain bowl into his hands. "From now on you feed the breakfast to her. Good luck!"

She walked away from the room. Lakshman shrugged and made Somada sit on the bed.

"How hard is it going to be?" Lakshman asked as he spooned out some porridge and offered it to her, but Somada avoided it "Your mother doesn't have the patience to deal with you Somu. And you listen to me more than your mother right? One mouth!"

Somada, pulled her cloth doll and started to stroke the doll's head lovingly. Lakshman brought the spoonful of porridge closer to her mouth. Somada shook her head.

"Somu!" Lakshman exclaimed, gesturing her to take the spoon of porridge. Somada shook her head again.

"What's happening?" Angad added as he walked inside the room with Chandra behind him.

"She's not eating" Lakshman said annoyed as he kept the spoon inside the bowl. Angad peeped into the bowl and raised a brow and looked at Chandra and gives a nod. Chandra made a gagging and disgusted face and Angad turned to Lakshman "Even I wish I had done the same when I was small, but no, you and Ma persuade me and Chand to have it. Have you ever tasted this, by the way?"

"What nonsense!" Lakshman snapped "This food is made specially for infants and it helps them become healthier, improves their digestion, develops their immune system and-"

Lakshman wasn't given the chance to complete, because Chandra had grasped the opportunity to stuff a spoonful of the herbal porridge into Lakshman's mouth. Lakshman's faced twisted with disgust and revulsion.

"Don't spit it out! Don't spit it out" yelled the boys, a smug smile playing on their faces. Lakshman groaned and gobbled down the porridge. He panted as he kept the bowl aside.

"Disgusting!" Lakshman remarked "How on earth have the two of you been eating this?"

"We never willingly ate this Pa!" Chand said as he passed a glass of water to his father. "You and Ma would cajole us to eat it somehow!"

"And forced me!" Angad added. "I died a hundred thousand times eating this! Thank God for Daadi Ma's almond and milk porridge or else I would have become a dull and emotionless child, like that Subahu. He enjoyed that Pa! Can you believe it?"