The monitor lizard stares at me from the backyard
On a lazy Sunday afternoon when the whole house is busy watching a cricket match
I sneak upstairs to soak the sun
I scream when I pull the chair on the terrace to sit
A lizard seems to stare at me, just inches away from my hand
It is slimy and yellow-coloured
Its eyes are cold and lifeless as it stares back at me
It stands so still that I can’t decide whether it is dead or alive
As if reading my mind, it moves a little to dispel my doubt
My phobia of this species ‘Reptilia’ is extreme
How do I shoo it away? It seems evil and so ready to sting
I pick up a stick and mustering a lot of courage, inch toward the chair
I say a prayer and with half-closed eyes, push the chair a little with the help of the stick
The monster falls on the floor and makes me scream even louder than before
It’s coming towards me I know, I run for safety
Oh no! It’s climbed the door
How will I go downstairs now, is all I can think
Why is my husband, my ‘knight in shining armour’, not coming at this time of need?
I’ve screamed twice, I know he must have heard
Must be laughing his heart out, fully aware of my predicament
He will admit that he had heard me if I survive this
And say, trying to keep a straight face with great difficulty
“I am only trying to make you strong and face all your fears”
Will give him a piece of my mind once I get hold of him
No one can save him from my wrath, of this I am sure
Whatever he says or does will not make up for this
“No cooking for a week”, I’ll say even if he begs and pleads
And think of many other things to irk him and take my revenge
Why did I marry him If he can’t even protect me from this?
I hear footsteps, someone is running up the stairs
With a sigh of relief, I thank God, I will finally be rescued
Up comes a little soldier with a mop in his hand
I shout to him to be careful as the beast is on the door
“It’s no big deal, Ma,” he says flinging open the door
The yellow one jumps and so does my heart but thank God it slithers to the wall
“I knew it was a lizard, Ma when I heard you scream”
“Why didn’t your father come to save me,” I ask a little outraged
He tries to keep a poker face but it is a little too much to do
He falls on the floor laughing as he can’t control it
And to my chagrin, continues rolling on the floor for a minute or two
I stand there watching him with my hands on my waist
With giggles still spilling, he gets up
Drops the mop, and comes running to hug me tight
“It’s just a lizard, Ma”, he says
“I am a big boy now and can take care of you”
I can’t hide my smile and hug him back as I hear him say
“Don’t you worry now, the lizard is away”,
He looks into my eyes and says
“It won’t bother you now, your big boy has shooed it away”