Once upon a Time, Apra went into a Shop

For understanding today’s blog entry, you have to know that I don’t go out of the Ashram a lot. I feel well at the Ashram, I don’t need to go out to work or buy food and so on and I really have no interest in shopping, cinemas or other things that people go out for. I am usually just happy where I am, in my home and with my family.

That’s how my wife mostly goes shopping alone or with one of my brothers. As we are quite known in Vrindavan, people normally recognize her, also if she goes to shop on her own. When she is out with Purnendu, he often takes her to shops where he knows the owners because they were classmates with him and he can have a chat with them while she chooses what she would like to buy.

Another thing that you need to know is that Apra has one Pa and one Papa. I am Pa. Papa is Ashok, a staff member and the father of Apra’s best friend Rishi. Rishi is half a year older than Apra and the two of them spend most of their time together. Or with Ramona and me. Or with Rishi’s parents Vimlesh and Ashok. That’s how both children have adapted the words for both parents. Rishi calls me Pa and says Ma to Ramona, just as Apra calls Vimlesh Mummy and Ashok Papa. Both children now have one Ma and one Mummy as well as one Pa and one Papa.

And here is now the story:

Last week, Ramona went shopping with Iris. She decided to go to one of those shops where she usually goes together with Purnendu. Purnendu’s classmate, who knows her, was not at the shop though, so they were served by the salespeople there. They however knew Apra, as she had been along with Ramona and Purnendu many times. So they talked and joked with Apra while they showed Iris and Ramona clothes from which they could choose.

After a while, the salesman asked ‘Today Papa didn’t come along?’

Apra replied herself: ‘No, Papa did not come!’

The salesman was talking about Purnendu. Apra was talking about Ashok. Ramona was thinking of me and smiled. 🙂