The Annual Happiness Tax

The rush of water

In the khudd

Welcomes me noisily

So much noise, incessant

Come here Puja, COME HERE.

No way Sir! I am happy to say hello from afar!

Last morning, we stopped by- Amma, Atreya and I

Tired and hot after our long morning trek.

The water was icy

I dipped my feet till I couldn’t bear the blue pain

Amma, ever the teacher anatomist,

explained about noxious stimuli and nerves in the human body. 

She was the one who started it- the horseplay

Then left before we could drench her proper,
Atreya and I couldn't (or wouldn't) stop 
Hysterical with laughter

Surprised at each other’s boldness

And oblivious to everyone else.

He was pressed down against the boulder

His head half submerged in icy water

Held down by his loving (!) mother

His leg locked around my neck

Till I was down too

Shrieking as the cold water drenched my back.

Dad looked on at us from the veranda

Sipping his hot tea

Shaking his head (disapproving or disbelieving?)

When we waved and shouted,
Although for him it wasn't something new
Not the first time he was seeing us lose our minds near that spot 

We left shivering and giggling

The khudd looked back at us

Somehow a little less noisy

A little less demanding

And why not? 
Had we not just paid it our annual happiness tax?