The girl who knew infinity

“I love you on & on…”.

We smiled in bemusement at this strangely phrased reassurance from our daughter.

We always knew that all children have a lateral ability to create proprietary phrases and explanations that simplify abstract concepts & complex theories......Concepts & theories they consciously know nothing about.

But this sentence still sounded bizarre.

“What do you exactly mean Anoushka ?” I probed…..with an induced frown to accentuate curiosity.

She recovered from an initial pause & responded, “You told me that numbers go on & on…and that universe goes on and on……I too love you on and on and on, OK ?”.

Aha moment it was!!

My only regret ?

I wish I had met a teacher like her, when, like all growing kids, I was struggling with my own existential questions on love, life, death, nature, universe, and god.

……Someone who could so effortlessly explain to me the meaning of boundlessness

.…..Someone who could drive home that love - like infinity - is indeed an undefined concept.

……Someone who could pull me out of my insecurities and convince me that love is not a finite quantity........Nor is it a zero-sum game.

That if you subtract any bit from anything infinite you are still left with enough of infinite.

I too love you on & on & on…. darlings !

On a slightly different note - Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre is celebrating a month long festival on Mathematics through plays, workshops, school visits, etc., starting today.

We plan to attend a critically acclaimed British production on “The Man who knew Infinity” - C Ramanujan, early next month.

No, NOT as inquisitive individuals. But as proud parents of “a girl who knew infinity”. And helped us understand it too.

Growing up !!

A fun quiz on "Growing up Years" got me probing into my childhood and adoloscence memories. This time - conciously.

Longing for the centre-stage, and wanting to bring home that shiny medal.

..Those silent prayers and secret wishes to be like your role-model when you grow up.

..Wanting to get even with tormenting adults.

..Taking your parents for granted.

...Dreaming of having the resources to change all that you loathe (including your fake Gunn & Moore cricket bat!)

Many unbridled dreams..few suppressed desires...

A motley mix of confused thoughts...and those unambiguous eureka moments...

A view on everything but a solution for nothing...

Momentary joys that left lasting impressions...

And those never-ending moments of grief that strangely left no scar...

Misplaced fear, trepidation & routinely recurring self-doubts...

Inexplicable yearnings & bizarre cravings...

...And a very personal make-believe world...

And not to forget - the hormones going all over the place!

I am sure I am not the only one who carries such mixed and inexplicable feelings about the good ol' days.

Days, that have shaped us - for good or bad - into what we are today. And in some ways, will influence the way our children will see the world !

Our "maturity with age" is a piece of fiction. At a deeper level we continue to be what we were - malleable human beings, changing (evolving?) every moment....mostly for better, at times for worse.....Growing up is infact a WIP with no end-date.