Of snakes, spiders and scares!

Today thou shall all be treated to a quiet recording of banter between two cousins (of almost the same age) in a smallish car travelling on the smallest path in a smaller village...

S: I told you not to roll down those windows.

N: But it's hot and I want air.

S: Amma switched on the fan no! And it's evening. It's not even afternoon. Why do you want the windows to be opened?

N: (adamant) Because I don't like it if it is hot.

S: (equally adamant) Then you go and sit in the front and open those windows.

N: But atta is driving. I don't want to disturb her. And why should I go? You go if you don't want to sit near open windows.

S: (a bit nervous and apprehensive about revealing her fears) There are snakes hiding in these trees, and they'll come inside if you keep the windows open.

N: I don't believe you. And I'm not scared of snakes anyway.

S: But I'm scared of snakes.

N: Why? They don't do anything. I've seen snakes a lot of times.

S: I also saw snakes at my atta's house sometimes. But I'm scared of them. We will die if they come inside the car and bite us.

N: If you don't do anything, they don't bite us.

S: Why are you behaving like that? You're also scared of something I'm sure. All children are scared of something...

N: I'm not scared of snakes. I'm only scared of lions and tigers.

S: But they don't stay in the village or come here. Then why are you scared of them? I am not scared of lions and tigers at all.

N: (teasing) But you're scared of snakes.

S: (sulking) Yes because they can come and bite us now also.

N: What else are you scared of?

S: I'm scared of spiders also.

N: (laughing out loud) But why? They're very small and they don't bite also.

S: No, they also bite. And it's okay if I'm a boy and they bite me. But I'm a girl no. That's why I'm scared.

N: Huh?

S: You know, if a spider bites a boy he'll become Spiderman once he becomes big. But I don't know if a girl can become Spiderwoman if the spider bites her.

N: Ohhh...

N and S are still lost in thought when I switched off my mental record button and killed the car's engine as well. The house is in sight, and the girls are in mirth as they spot their one-year-old brother running towards them. And there ends our sweet banter, and the complex thought process too!!