What’s this obsession with the ‘bad’? The negative characters always seem to have more of a fascination for Hrit and even for Naisha, in every story that I tell them. If it’s the Krishna story Hrit wants to be Kalia the snake, if it’s the Ramayan he wants to be Ravan (and makes Naisha Shurpanakha), if it’s the Jungle Book he loves to be Sher Khan. The last straw was when he picked the sticker of ‘Scar’ from a host of stickers of Lion King characters. Crazy!
I’ve been trying to wean them away but it’s an uphill task. I guess the bad people come out as stronger than the good ones… I mean a big black snake making scary sounds is more fascinating than a kid playing a flute. The ‘nice’ characters somehow seem more passive. I assume it’s the promise of action that appeals to Hrit.
I was not really concerned till one day I heard Naisha telling Hrit, ‘Bhai chalo Raksas Raksas khelein’. That took the cake. Now I’ve forbidden them to play such games… Ram Sita is fine but Ravan-Shurpanakha… no way!
Nice to have a family
Since the family is now well aware of Naisha’s chaniya choli fixation everyone is gearing up to pamper her. First Suman got this bright and silky apple green fabric and suggested I keep it for Naisha’s chaniya choli. There was too much cloth so I thought we could get matching ones for Ishi and Naisha when we shifted to Pune. Naisha is so thrilled she’s asking me everyday when we’ll go to Pune.
Then Rinku called me up saying papa had got this jhanky red and gold cloth and that it’d be perfect for Naisha’s CC. I don’t think it would be a good idea to tell Naisha about this one. I don’t know how I’ll handle another set of questions like ‘when is masi coming here?’
Thank you both of you… bua and masi. I hope Naisha realises how lucky she is to have both of you in her life.
A warm Lohri
When a bunch of people are determined to have a harmless celebration no one can stop them – neither the not so friendly ‘Neigbourhood’ nor the police. And so the first Lohri at Sapphire Heights turned out to be quite a sensational affair. Sapphirites came in their traditional best with kids bundled up in woolens thanks to the chill in the air. However, the warm bonfire soon had everyone thawing and no one, not even the obvious two-left-footers, could keep themselves from shaking a leg. Was the loveliest Lohri I’ve ever had.
Hrit and Naisha had a ball. Initially Hrit was scared of the dhols but when it stopped finally he asked, ‘dlum kyon band ho gaya’ so I presume at some point he started enjoying it. He promised to throw his anger and his cough in the Lohri fire… Hope it does him some good.
Naisha of course revelled in her Chaniya choli and danced with not just her head but her entire face covered with the dupatta!! She kept pulling me to dance in the circle round the Lohri fire!! What one has to do for one’s kids.. I did dance.. Can’t believe it still.
The chaniya choli
N’s chaniya choli fixation is growing by the day. She wants to wear it for ever party, every festival (Which she rhymes with astabal ‘fastabal’ says she), every event. According to her the ‘perfect’ dress should reach down to her toes, should go ‘round and round’ (in other words – should have a flare) and should have a dupatta – a chaniya choli fits the bill to the T.
At a birthday….
Once I allowed her to wear it for a birthday party and she drove me up the wall. No matter how I draped the dupatta it was just not right. Finally, she covered her head like an old-fashioned bride and asked me ‘mama aise jaa sakti hoon?’
Hanging on to my patience, ‘No,’ I told her, she couldn’t. We worked out a compromise and she went off to the party with the dupatta slung over her shoulder. When I went later to the party… there she was jiving away to the beats of Mauja hi Mauja with the dupatta on her head!
I know when I’ve lost a battle.
Then there was the Christmas party at school…
This time I was prepared. Predictably enough the CC controversy came up again. No way was I going to let her wear the same thing to school. She’d worn it for Diwali and Children’s Day already. Besides this was Christmas. So I got her a lovely (and very expensive) red and white dress – all frills and lace. She seemed thrilled with it. She even went far enough to proclaim in her typically dramatic manner ‘Itni sunder frock maine life mein nahin dekhi’. And then after a few days she says ‘Mama that frock is nice but next time, get me a chaniya choli’. Back to square one.
PS: Tonight we have Lohri celebrations in the society and since it’s a ‘fastabal’ I’m ready with her CC.
Back to the theatre
Yessss yesss yesss.. I’m back… Watched Three Idiots with the kids, a first for them… feel so good. The last film I watched in the theatre was Kabhi Alvida in 2006… I’d left the kids with mum and had felt quite bad for deserting her. What freedom…
Hrit and Naisha were pretty well behaved… ate plenty of chocolates.. didn’t much care for the popcorn but finished a bottle of Frooti.
They didn’t get most of the film. Hrit needed to know whether the uncles/aunties were nice or naughty, for every, yes every character that appeared on screen. That was pretty exhausting, considering there are many who are neither or both. Welcome to the world of ‘grey’ Hrit.
Naisha stepped on the aisle and danced to Zoobi Doobi to my acute embarrassment and then went off to sleep. Life was peaceful after that.
Feels great.