Little Rohan saw the temple in the distance, his fingers tightly wound around his religious dad's hands, his eyes still groggy from sleep, his mood still sullen from abruptly broken dreams.
"Daddy, why are we going to the temple?", Rohan sulked.
"Because it is your birthday today, Rohan. God wants to wish you a Happy Birthday!".
"Why can't god wish me at home?", Rohan quipped.
"Hush! Stop sulking, or God will punish you. We are almost at the temple. It is God's house, so be at your best behavior, OK, son?"
"Alright, daddy", said Rohan, his voice quivering from the unexpected scolding. After all, he thought he was being reasonable with his questions.
They entered the temple and made their way as close as the crowd would allow.
"Ok, son. Now hold your hands together and repeat the prayer after me, Ok? When I bend down, you also have to bend down.", coached dad.
"Daddy, why do we pray?", asked Rohan.
"Because all good people pray, and you are a good person, aren't you?", explained dad.
"But daddy, my friend Ganesh is also a very good boy, but he doesn't pray.", argued Rohan.
"Shush, Rohan! You are becoming more and more irritating with your questions everyday! You cannot talk this way in a holy place! Come now, be a good boy and pray and I promise you a nice gift for your birthday!", said dad, silencing little Rohan.
"But daddy......", began Rohan, only to find that his protest was drowned by the sound of bells and chimes and chants that had just began. The grand prayer, or aarti, had started.
Rohan watched the crowd around him, some singing, some chanting
schlokas in Sanskrit, some making queer lip movements, some lying on the floor with their eyes closed, some just staring ahead with their palms held together in a gesture of worship.
"Surely, prayer must be necessary", thought Rohan, "or why would so many people come to temples?", his curiosity bettering his dislike for crowds. And the lure of a surprise gift was tempting too.
"Come son, let me lift you. Take a good look at God, hold your palms together, like this, and repeat after me, Ok?", said dad.
Rohan felt his dad's strong arms lift him over the masses. He loved being lifted. He enjoyed the clear, unobstructed view of what lay ahead, that being lifted allowed him to enjoy. Not to mention being lifted allowed him to ring the "holy bell" and he loved doing that. He felt guilty about irritating his dad earlier.
As they were walking back home, dad said to Rohan, "You know, you are a very good boy. All good boys go to temple regularly and pray. Mummy will also be very happy. And I'll also tell granny what a nice, obedient boy you are. She has something nice in store for you today!"
" We will come to the temple every Thursday from now on, Ok?", added dad.
"Yes, daddy", said Rohan absent-mindedly, excited at the prospect of what his family had got for him. "Perhaps it is that toy car from the store down the road", thought Rohan with anticipation.
"I love you, daddy".
