The Joy Of Innocence : CC3 Toast Masters

He pounded my chest repeatedly with both his legs while I lay pinned to the ground. He had not an inch of remorse and wouldn't care for how I felt !!

No, he was not my enemy and neither did he hold any grudge against me. Infact I loved the pounding so much that I took it many times a day !!

He is..  my sister's 8 month old baby and the pounding is the joyous virtual cycling which he practices on me

Innocence is one of the most adorable human traits. Mannu, as we lovingly call him, is devoid of all the tainted worldly feelings. He knows only four things - eat, smile, weep and sleep. When I take this 10 kg wonder into my arms and try to kiss him, he returns my kiss by trying to have a bite at me with his cute little two teeth. His happiness,  takes the shape of a million dollar smile enclosed within two cute curves whenever his mom sings his special song or his dad playfully dashes into his tummy.

In his naive attempts to crawl, he often ends pivoted on his tummy, flipping his hands and legs as though he were swimming. The beauty of his innocence makes him so charmingly captivating that my sister would spend sleepless nights and not let a fly hover over him. 

We could witness some of the most beautiful expressions of Innocence as we watch children develop friendships. When they meet, they do not try to judge each other “Is she trust worthy ? Is he Honest ? ” They deal with friendship in its simplest form. They just think “You are fun to be with. Let's be friends” They quarrel, but then they quickly forgive and forget. It is not for nothing that it is said "you should have your hearts like one of these children to enter Paradise. Befriending a kid can be one amazing experience. It of brings out the kids in us. We smile a lot as we enter their unpretentious world pure feelings and emotions. 

Innocence doesn't only border around children and childhood. We could find traces of it in each of us and sometimes the trace could be as big as something I am gonna describe. Rahul was one of my best friends at college. Talking to him was a joy and his company always relieved me of my stress. I would sometimes ask him “Innocent Rahul how would you survive this wicked world ?” and he would swear “John I am not innocent !!”

Once he had called me at my home and my sister picked up. The conversation went like this :

Rahul - Hi akka, is John there ?

Sis - No Rahul he is out on an errand. I will ask him to call you back once he is home.

After bidding bye as my sister was about to hang up

Rahul - Akka, shall I ask you something ? Does John talk about me?

Sis - Yes Rahul he does.

Rahul - What does he say akka ? Does he say I am innocent ?

My sister had no choice but to say - Yes

Rahul -  Shall I tell you something akka “I am not at aaaall innocent”

As time passes by we mature but then some people defy this law of Maturity

A few days ago, I called Rahul and we were discussing something serious. He suddenly says - "John 2 minutes John" and he puts the phone aside. Then I hear distant shouts of Wow and Yay !!

After two full minutes he's back excited and says - "John, Just now a huuge Aeroplane passed by my apartment. It was so big and beautiful !!

Some good things never change

Having such souls around makes me feel - Life is beautiful and Innocence is a bliss. They remain oblivious to the cruelities in the world, stay guiltless and happy. Happy because what you don't know cannot possibly hurt you.

I often steal a moment or two from my life to celebrate "The Joy of Innocence"


P.S. - Names changed to maintain anonymity !!


Also my - CC3 speech at Toast Masters International.