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February 21, 2008

The one where Ashus tells a story.

Yesterday was special. Yes, Hd returned from India in the afternoon but something happened in the morning. Ashu told a story.

Just the other day, I was talking to my dad and telling him about Ashu and how she has nt reached the stage where she spins stories from her imagination. I was big on telling stories when I was a child and people within one mile radius would just run helter skelter if I ever say, "Naan oru kadhai solren". (I ll tell a story) My sister would shudder at the thought of hearing me tell a story. I remember my uncle had recorded some of my story telling in audio cassettes and I listened to them when I was a little older. The whole family knew about my story telling fascination. Even when I grew up and stopped talking altogether, relatives would still talk about the time I used to tell stories and roll around the flooor laughing remembering the silly anecdotes. So the child in me was really looking forward to hear Ashu spin tales. So far no luck. She would nt even repeat the Crow and the Vadai story even after hearing it a thousand times.

Yesterday something triggered her and she started talking about this wolf. Wolf irundhudhaa? Adhu jungle ku pochu... is how the story began. (There was this wolf. It went to the jungle...) And then the wolf met this lion and asked "Ennoda play panna variyaa?" but the lion said "I dont want to play with you". Then the wolf met the tiger and asked the same but the tiger said "I don't want to play with you". Then it met a bear, elephant, monkey, snake, rabbit, puppy, hippo, giraffe, ... and everyone refused to play with the wolf. She told the "I don't want to play with you" in exactly the same tone how I say it while reading the little tiger book where the tiger would say "I dont want to go to bed". I was in the midst of making lunch. I switched off the stove and came and sat down on a chair to listen to her. I was so excited and wondered how the story is going to go. She walked in circles around the dining area and told the story without any interruption. She did nt pause even for a second. Remember how Kamal Hassan would narrate some nonsense walking non stop in circles and driving us crazy in the movie Guna? It was exactly like that. I was half expecting her to say, "Abhirami, Abhirami" in the end!! So the story kept on going. She would say things like "Then the wolf looked up a tree." and with an excited tone "And what was on the tree"? As if she knew. She has nt even made up her mind on what it is thats going to be on the tree until she asked the question. Then she would say, "A snake". I played the part of a good audience and gasped. But she was quick to add "a good snake. Not bad boy". Then the wolf met an owl and cried and told the owl that no one is playing with him. (Why she chose owl as the agony aunt? Why did nt she let the wolf ask the owl to play with him? - thats your homework for today!!) By the time the wolf came to the owl, she has named around 20 animals already. I was wondering what shes going to do now. Then the owl said "Come on. I ll take you to your friends who will play with you". And the story began again. Except now all the animals said "Ok. I ll play with you". 25 minutes had gone by now and we were nowhere near the end. I even dared to interrupt her and ask "So when "the end" will come Ashu" and she sternly said, "Tomorrow". Ok! I thought so too! I switched on the stove again and continued the cooking while making the necessary comments to her story. Then the story took new turns and she started including things in the house like her house slippers, the coasters, the plant, etc... and suddenly she said "The End." Before I could break into an applause, she began ANOTHER story. This time with a Bee. And even Pillayaar showed up in this one. But mercifully, this was a short one. I gave her a big hug and told her that the stories were fantastic. She was all flushed by the whole exercise. 40 minutes of non stop walking in circles and non stop talking while the little brain worked over time. Who would nt be? I cant wait to unleash her to my sister! *evil laughter*

ps.
I Don't Want to Play with You starring The Little Wolf and A Bee Story with a special appearance by Pillayaar are copyrights of Ashu and All Rights Reserved! ;)

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aww that is sweet! puliku pirandadu poonai aguma?

Preethi said...

haha that was so cute.. incidentally my latest post talks about Nantu telling stories too.. come read it at Incessant Musings

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to hear her stories!

Anonymous said...

you really have a good sense of humor...

this was an amazing post.....
i loved it....

--Sumithra

Savani said...

I was sooo spell bound. Next time turn off thet stove and turn on that video camera, woman :) What a creative, creative, bright child. 25 minutes??? Unbelievable. But she is your daughter.. Your genes have found a good home :)

And may I borrow the I don't want to play with you (will negotiate royalties with Ashu) to tell Chip, please? :)

The Kid said...

Oh you mean the "Abhiraami, Abhiraami" dialog in Guna that Kamal delivers after he gets a shot of pentathol?

That is a brilliant scene :)

Daisy said...

What a smart cookie?!! that is so damn cute.. btw, how dare you compatre her story to that annoying Guna's dialog?cmon..

Anonymous said...

I loved it...wow...continously talking for 40 minutes...going round in circles...and in the end such beautiful story.
Stories tell us about their vivid imagination and thought process. I am spellbound like dotmom.

AI

DDmom said...

40 minutes of non stop walking and talking? wow!! Its amazing to see them spin stories, making characters on the fly from things around or their familiar animals. just too cute..

noon said...

Totally delightful! :)

P u said...

Achacho.... how sweet! Cant wait to see her next! The tiny little one I saw last has now become a tale spinner! Cant believe it!

Imp's Mom said...

Awww...how cute!

Cant wait to see what my little one will do when she starts talking..

Unknown said...

this is when you really need to do the secret video stuff!

:)

Anonymous said...

one signed copy of each book please!! :-)

Anonymous said...

what an imagination.. Lovely story about a story!

Asha said...

I bow to Thee!! You must be really patient..

But it IS sweet... I am sure you did enjoy

Waiting for more stories :)

Lavs said...

Cool!! Do record some of her story telling sessions so that one day she can blog about it!!!

mayG said...

aww this is so cute :D
can't wait for the day my little one starts telling stories too.. I happen to be the official story-teller for now and she just wants me to go on and and on and on...urghhhh!

upsilamba said...

Boo,

That was splendid! (hmm..splendid was not really the word I was looking for...spectacular and a wohoo...)

When my co-worker came asking for a file, I told him that I really need to finish up an important read and would come get him in five minutes.

Ashu rules. And Boo, you rule at the narration.
====

By Deepa and Supriya said...

the days of the audio casette!! I have some of Uj's where he is narrating stories as a child...I havent had the patience to record Lil A..i should, I guess.
But great job Ashu...now you have more than a child, a true companion, no??

Usha said...

how sweet! I love to hear the little ones narrate. we realise how much of our story, mannerism and tone they absorb. I have always believed that the best story telling kids are the ones with great story teller ammas.
so the credit is shared, you may take a bow.

Mona said...

damn, boo! ashu's one smart cookie. all that spinning! she had me splits.

Anonymous said...

Boo..I like the line "unleash on my sister". Poor dear it was you before now Ashu also...Really it was funny. Enjoyed a good laugh. your narration was superb & Ashu..really sweet.

Ajith.
Dubai.

Anonymous said...

That is interesting. Some of the best teachers I had PACED with a vengeance. And totally got our attention!

Spontaneous Mini said...

amazing post. I like the indoor park one too.

Subhashree said...

So sweet... but I think she's giving you the taste of your own medicine, ie, your story telling antics. That 'Abirami, Abirami' was a nice touch! :)

Anonymous said...

Absolutely CUTE...!!!

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