The Divine Aura - Part III - First Shoes

A week after the mesmerizing walks, I sensed the floor was too cold for her bare feet, so I decided to buy her first real walking shoes.

I also wanted to take her to the garden to chase butterflies properly, so I concluded that I needed two pairs: indoor shoes and outdoor shoes.

When I think of my kid chasing the butterflies, I would remember that Aura that came along with the special butterfly when she took her first steps on her own. Then after a moment, I will be back to the routine as I could not understand what happened at that brief moment.

Now, after I decided to buy my kid her first shoes, I started researching like a scholar and was planning to do measurements of my kids foot, I got myself a ruler, an inch tape, a plain white paper and pencil and some sketch pens, crayons which I never used.

I started writing the measurements, feet 2.8 inches, big toe 0.4 inches, second toe 0.3 inches, middle toe 0.25 inches, fourth toe 0.2 inches, little toe 0.15 inches. I wrote all this down carefully. Then I measured the left foot toes because what if they were different? They were almost the same, but I wrote down those measurements too, just in case.

I took an impression of the foot in a paper while my kid was taking a nap, I created a checklist for the baby foot wear, like,

1. soft inside,

2. not too tight,

3. not too loose,

4. warm but not sweaty,

5. should be comfortable for garden adventures,

6. should make nice squeaking sounds,

7. no gaps for dust particles to enter,

8. toe section big enough for all five fingers,

9. there should not be any strain on nails,

   
   

then I questioned myself? Should I measure the nails separately?? then realized my kid had very small nails that was within the toe, so I would think, I should be good.

When I was about to leave, my kid was still taking the nap, I waited there for a moment standing from a distance, admiring those tiny fingers, toes, and those nails that were pinkish., so soft, for a moment I wondered is there a nail there or not?, to confirm I just touched the little finger nail, there was this very delicate nail but suddenly when I touched, I could see some pinkish ripples happening inside, that's it, I was afraid, I was about to call my mother but then the ripples settled down. So, I was little relaxed but I said "sorry Kanna..", but she was still napping, so I kind of knew it did not cause her any discomfort or pain, I just calmly said "Bye Kanna, Papa is going to give you a surprise" and left the place.

I took all the tools and measurements and started for baby shoe shopping, after I went outside, I forgot that I needed to pray and take blessings from my mother so went inside and prayed and asked my mother to bless me and place me a dash of Vibudhi, my mother asked.,

"yen da, yethavathu exam yezhutha poriya?"

I replied "No I am going to buy my kid her first shoes." then she saw the notebook, ruler, inch tape, sketch pen, crayons etc., and said "unakku paithiyam dhan da pudichirukku...!!" I told we will talk later after she blessed, I started to proceed to make the most precious purchase of my lifetime.

At the store, initially I was measuring the shoes, taking notes and comparing with my measurements and checklists, the assistant must have mistaken me for a Quality Inspector.

Later, I clarified I am just another customer looking to buy my kid's first shoes. They were relieved after that explanation.

Now they started to talk freely, "Sir, they're just baby shoes," the shop assistant said gently, probably worried I was going to spend the entire day there.

"No," I replied seriously, holding up a soft leather pair. "These are my daughter's first shoes. These will be in my treasure locker forever, the most precious belongings of my life. I will throw away any gold or diamonds in that locker and place these shoes there. So, These need to be carefully chosen."

The assistant looked at me as if they have let a mad man inside their shop for once and then was worried if I am going to take the selection forever.

"Don't worry, I will leave soon", I said, "my kid has just started walking, she is my everything, and I am confused what will be best for her" that's why it is taking a while". The assistant looked at my confusion and with an empathetic smile said "Don't worry, your confusions are so sweet, it may feel to you that you are confused, but just trust your instincts and the care that you hold in your heart for your daughter, that will solve the confusion for you, the right shoes will find you Sir!!, so don't worry, have a nice shopping!!" after this the assistant left me alone.

Like the assistant said, three pairs of beautiful tiny shoes found me and I bought them - one to wear when walking inside home, one for special occasions, and one pair for casual walking outside.

When I got home with my precious cargo, my little one was still napping, but I couldn't wait. I sat beside her, just looking at those tiny shoes and imagining all the places those little feet would go.

My mother found me there, sitting quietly with three shoeboxes on my lap.

"She'll outgrow them in two months..." she said gently.

"I know she will out grow them in two months, after that I will buy her another pair, and move these to my locker" I whispered back.

"Locker aa!!??" My mother exclaimed...!! "Then what happens to the jewels in the locker?" she questioned, "Don't worry, I will buy a waste basket to put them", that's it, my mother was about to beat me, I ran out of the place.

It was enough to wake my kid from her peaceful sleep.

When my little one woke up, the great shoe-fitting ceremony began. She sat on my mother's lap while I carefully slipped the first pair that was designated for indoor walking onto her feet. They were soft pink with tiny butterfly patterns, and they fit perfectly.

She looked down at her feet with amazement, wiggling her toes inside the shoes, then looked up giggled and smiled at me with an expression of pure wonder.

"Choo! Choo!" she declared, her word for shoes.

"Yes, Kanna. Your first choos. nalla irukka da ma!!??."

She stood up immediately, wanting to test out these fascinating new Choos. The shoes made tiny squeaking sounds as she walked, which delighted her so much that she started walking in circles just to hear the squeaks.

*Squeak, squeak, squeak* went the shoes.

*Giggle, giggle, giggle* went my little one.

Watching her discover the simple joy of squeaky shoes was an emotional experience I can't explain.

Seeing her walking in circles, I said "Kanna, walk straight not in rounds, thala sutthum da..." but I found myself circling and repeating whatever she said while my sparrows chirped on my shoulders, trying to repeat her sounds.

My mother seeing all of us, lifted up my kid and went inside and placed a dhrishti pottu in my kid's cheeks and told her, "Kanna, ore idathula suthatha da ma, thala suthum, patti sonna kekkanum, chamathu thane..." , my kid nodded her head up and down and got down and started walking straight, enjoying the squeaking sounds, my mother called "chamathu da nee, unnai pola chamathu yaarum illa da.." , that's it, hearing this, my kid came running back to my mother and threw her both the hands around Patti's legs and has fully pressed her little face in Patti's saree.

Patti, was in tears and lifted the kid who was giggling and turned pink because of the praise that Patti gave her.

Patti asked "Shoe pudichirrukka Kanna?" my kid nodded her her up and down confirming that she liked it. Patti looked at me and smiled.

Oh My God!! Seeing all this, I was just holding both my hands together thanking my Vinayagar in gratitude.