This is my favourite time of the year. Beginning now right till the year end it’s just fun all the way. We’ve just finished Ganapati and Navaratri will be here in less than two weeks’ time.. then Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas and New Year… isn’t that totally WOW!!
Ganapati was great this year too. The drums, the fireworks, the colour and the dance and song in our society were just great. The fancy dress this year was more fun for us because Vineesh, Yash, Laddu and the two of were all together in the act. We did the Ramayan vanavasa. Our roles were very well thought out. Yash was Ram and Laddoo was Lakshman because both of them had to have the same hairdo and accessories, Vineesh was Hanuman because he is the biggest Hanuman bhakt ever. More importantly, he is the only true drama king among us and only he could blow out his mouth like a monkey and hold it like that all through the performance. Hrit bhai was Bharat because of his fixation with everyone’s chappals and shoes and I, being the only girl had to be Seeta… not that I’m complaining. I had these awesome long hair right upto my knees… going by mama’s genes I guess this was my one chance at having long hair. I even had a ‘doopatta’ which mama draped over my head… I think I looked great. Hrit bhai looked absolutely regal in his violet velvet jacket and a lavender dhoti. His jewellery was something to die for, complete with fuchsia ear drops and a bunch of necklaces that would give a girl a complex. He had a super wig too which he refused to wear. But mama is one determined woman and she went on stage behind him with the wig in hand and planted it on bhai’s head once he was properly mesmerised by the stage lights.
I was a tad uncomfortable too what with the hair and the satin dupatta but once we were all on stage I completely got into the act as did Hrit bhai. He did Jai when mama asked me too and I lifted my hand in an ‘aashirvaad’. It was great fun. The only sad part was that Laddu cried his way through the show.
Bhalu is here to stay
Yes that’s right. I’m slowly resigning myself to the fact that you will always be Bhalu to people who love you. When I first called you Bhalu in a fit of affection I never thought I’d be saddling you with this veterinary epithet. Sorry, bhalu. Oops I mean H.
Don’t think I didn’t try to rectify my blooper. In fact I still haven’t given up totally. I go around correcting everyone from papa to Nanu and Nani ma and Suchi Tai and even N and you yourself, but it isn’t really working. First Nanu rebelled outright. “Jab hum Lucknow chale jayein tab tum theek kar lena. Hum toh bhai bhalu hi bolenge,” said he. Masi insists, “Cute toh lagta hai. What’s your problem?”
Papa does try half heartedly, but only when he says ‘bhalu’ and gets a nasty stare from me. You and N switch temporarily to ‘bhai’ each time I correct you without any intention of sticking to it.
Anyway now I will only be glad if everyone forgets Suchi Tai’s moniker ‘Bhalu don‘. As for Bhalu well… come to think of it there’s no more fitting name for you when you’re at your exuberant best and break out into your bhalu dance. And then I can’t decide whether to just watch you or to pick you up and give you a big hug. But hey, I’ve digressed. All I’ll say is – H bhai remain the sweet cuddly smiley bear always.
PS
Shakespear was right.. a bhalu is just as cuddly no matter what he’s called – H bhai, H Pratap Singh or … well… bhalu!
A few firsts
First potty in the pot
First time I agreed to wear clips in my hair. Hrit bhai bawled because he wanted clips too so mama put one on the pocket of his trousers which made me want to put mine on my pockets too… what’s the point of putting clips when you can’t see them at all! Anyway finally we went to school with mine in my hair and Hrit bhai’s on his pockets.
And now for the biggest first of all – Hrit bhai can count up to ten. Every night papa counts with him and one day he just went on without papa’s help!
Talking of firsts — here are some more… we’re eating dal roti regularly these days so mama’s most potent fear that we’ll be the first twenty year olds of the world who will survive on mashed food have finally been put to rest. We’ve also started eating egg which makes mama feels soooo good.
Rinku masi get very irritated because mama’s happiness so depends on how much food we’ve eaten. I guess even she didn’t know it mattered so much to her but apparently it does.
We love school
Isn’t it weird how mama always cribs about the bad stuff but completely forgets to write about the good stuff? Well here’s some good news – we’ve started loving school! And it’s been many weeks now. Naisha’s is so excited that some days she refuses to come back. The teachers have been pulling mama’s leg because she was convinced we’d never like school. They are really great. As a ritual after the regular good morning they ask us to give them our special smiles.
We have a new problem though…. Even though we get out happy from school, coming home is an ordeal. We hate it when mama asks us to get out of the lift and it’s real tantrum time. Actually we’re tired and sleepy and then we have to come home and eat…. what can be more distressing than that? We end up skipping lunch altogether.
Week 3, Day 11
Another weekend gone… Today mama decided to get us ready right in time for school so we had less time to get scared. Naisha of course threw a huge tantrum… flung her shoes off and kept running away. Mama had to forcibly put her in the auto. I was cool and walked into the class on my own. I think I’m getting used to the idea of school… it’s not so bad after all and Meeta ma’am is kind of cute. She pulls my cheeks REAL hard. I’m not sure I liked it till I remembered that that’s how mama pulls my cheeks too…and that made me cool totally! Though I came out crying I finished my tiffin.. all four biscuits.
Naisha is still not too happy. Sapna ma’am told mama that she roamed around the class with her tiffin but hardly had one biscuit. The best part was that when we got back home and mama asked Naishu what she did at school all she said was ‘bikit khaya’.
Day 12
RAINY DAY! No school. Yipeeeee!