Sameer has been the calmest person I have known since he was born. He slept peacefully through the first night after he was born. Sameer was at peace with the world, they both had a cordial relationship. He didn’t mind the discomforts thrown at him starting from the first day of his life. The same peace reflects in everything he does. I haven’t seen him cry at any drop-off, regardless of his age. He puts all my motherly anxieties at rest – by his enthusiasm and positivity. I remember my own fear of the unknown, when he is going to start a new day care or a new class. But the ease with which he walks in and integrates with the team baffles me. His eyes hardly look out for me after he walks into the room. He never checks whether I will be there or not to pick him up, probably considers it is a redundant question.
I have never seen him get irritated at anyone or anything. He old brother troubles him a lot, but he enjoys all the extra attention, never with anger.
He takes criticism pretty well, not letting it come in his way of feeling happy.
Sameer embodies what we expect a soul to be in this world — happy playful, without a care in the world.
Sameer used to get stunned when he felt that things were not happening his way. ‘ Stunned’ is when he dropped his hands and body loose, made a sad droopy face and turn his body feeble. In Hindi, we referred to it as ‘pum ho jana’. It was his unique way to draw attention to himself and get loads of kisses on his droopy cheeks.
I still remember, when Saket came to me during a campout reporting that something has happened to Sameer and he was the one who devised the word ‘stun’ for this behaviour of Sameer.
During COVID, sameer learnt to play with himself. He started having attacks and fights in his make – belief world. At the age of 12, he still spends time doing ‘phew-phew’. It keeps him engaged, and he can spend an entire day without friends or TV, if he can do phew phew.
Sameer loves gourmet food. He loves and appreciates a fine dining experience. He surpasses both me and Salil in his abilities to try out different types of food and does not judge them for their texture, color or smell.
Sameer loves talking to strangers, He will strike up and hold long conversations with adults/ kids who he is just meeting. I haven’t still figured out what he talks to the kids, but he is usually the loudest person in the room, with his non stop chattering.
Simple things bring out sheer excitement in him – an infectious enthusiasm. This summer it was sprouting a date seed, vibe coding a website, testing out his website, making wine with grape juice and yeast, making apple cider vinegar, watching Titan story on Netflix. The sad part is that his excitement fizzles away as quickly and suddenly as it arrives. His favourite thing to do is relax with his drink or fruit in front of the television.
Sameer at 12, is the full of childlike innocence- curious to experiment, engaged in childhood fun. He cares little to explore the world of adults. He has adjusted to Dada not being present at home for most of the day, but still looks forward to his company.