OF GODS AND MERE MORTALS

It’s that time of the year again. When devotees of Ayappa don their ‘malas’ and take a vow of abstinence. This is a regular feature in our home, where both the so called grown men of our home (Appu not included)get ready for the annual pilgrimage.
Appu was fascinated with hubby dear’s mala, and with his usual exuberance was trying his best to break it. This earned him a stern reprimand from hubby dear, who usually allows him to get away with murder. I, in all my newly found maternal zeal to explain things to Appu, decided to tell him why he wasn’t supposed to be messing with the ‘mala’.
Towards that end, I tried to convince Appu that his dad was now officially a “swami”. I was prepared for puzzlement. But instead, sonny dear, who never fails to surprise me, asked me with a naughty glint and a mischievous smile… “ Swami?” Like Ganesha? ( that is his favorite deity, since his school has an enormous one in the prayer hall) . So do I now have to call him “Ganesha Accha?”
One look at hubby dear’s face and I hurriedly abandoned all attempts at explanation!! I was too busy trying not to burst out laughing!!!!