Cockroaches and Me
By Kalpana Sanyasi, May 26, 2007
I actually thought of titling this article, “Cockroaches and Girls”. But I am a bit too old to write about girls so I considered “Cockroaches and Women”. But finally I somehow felt I am not authorized to generalize what I feel about cockroaches to the whole of womanhood. So I settled on just “Cockroaches and Me”.
My brother was very much concerned that I am too afraid of these undeserving cockroaches. He tried a lot to provoke this fear of mine, when we were young. He would catch one (of course a cockroach) and dangle it before my face, explaining patiently how harmless really the cockroaches are. But at the very site of a cockroach, my fear will erupt like a volcano dnd I will end up, screaming, shouting, jumping, running around and what not.
All my brother’s attempts failed in vain. And after a very long time when I met my brother, you know what he asked? There were no customary, "How are you?" or "How is your life and Bla Bla.." Instead, he asked with utmost seriousness, “Do you still fear cockroaches?” That really stunned me.
Well, the truth is that my emotions towards cockroaches have changed over the years. If I am alone, I would run away from cockroaches as far as possible hoping they do not come near me. If my family were around, I would shout and ask them to kill the cockroach.
If someone else is around, especially with a mocking look at the cockroach, I would become courageous some how and I myself would kill the cockroach deftly.
If anybody asks “Do you dread cockroaches?” I no more say, “Yes, I am”. Because over the years I have learnt that if you let others know that you dread cockroaches, you can surely expect cockroaches thrown on you.
Well I guess it is not just about the cockroaches alone.
If you let your fears and weaknesses known you certainly are inviting trouble. So folks, I am no longer scared of cockroaches.
A friendly advice, you too don’t fear cockroaches. Even if you do... No, you don’t!
One final note: My brother’s little daughter visited me recently. She was not at all scared of cockroaches. She said something about her father saying something about the cockroaches. Well, that something is really a great thing.
