I'll try; I'm not sure just how well a copy-paste from my blog will work. I still have figured out the html thing here. (I wonder if Jeetijoti will read this?)
Sandeep Says A Bad Word
If the eff-word freaks you out, skip this post. It is used repeatedly. But not, I think, offensively. Impossible? Then read on to satiate your curiosity.
I hope the language in this story doesn't offend you. It really is necessary. Remember Sandeep was a very innocent little five year old sometimes city, but more often farm boy. We had always encouraged him to talk to us about what was on his mind. He was never punished or humiliated for asking questions, no matter how outrageous they might seem to us.
When our young man was about the same age as yours, one day he walked up to his dad and apropos of nothing asked, 'What does **** mean. Why is it a bad word?'
It seems that he had heard one of our farm hands use it; the hand then saw Sandeep there and told him to never, ever use that word. Of course, that piqued his curiosity.
I was in the next room and just had to listen in on this little father-son talk. I could just see his blush under his Kraft caramel coloured skin. Although he was Canadian, he shared with most Indians a discomfort at the mention of anything even vaguely sexual.
'Well, it means what married people do to make babies. But it's word we don't use.'
'Oh. OK.' Then that innocent, innocent voice. 'Daddy, did you and mommy **** to make me?'
I had to hear this. Forget the 
light blush. At this he had to look positively sunburned. Mani was much more traditional about such things that I was, and the thought of him discussing our sex life with his 5 year old son was delicious.
'Uh, yes. But that's too private to talk about. And we don't use that word. It's a bad word.'
'Oh. OK. Why is it a bad word?'
A thoughtful silence. 'I really don't know. But it's about the baddest word there is.'
'Oh. OK. Daddy, do chickens ****? They always have baby chicks around'
A bit impatiently and clearly uncomfortably.. 'We don't use that word.'
'Well, do they, uh, whatever the word is?'
'Copulate. The word you want is copulate.' (Remember, Mani was a physician.)
'Well, do they cop-u-late?'
'Yes, that's how babies are made. People, chickens, goats, fish.' ( I don't think fish actually copulate, but he was a terribly discombobulated at this point. )
'Oh. OK'
'Sandeep, never use that other word, especially around your mother. It would be very disrespectful.'
And, you know, I don't think he ever did.
