My favourite Indian Writing.

I don’t remember at what age I started reading books. I always loved the books that were part of the school work and used to finish reading the English and Tamil books which had short stories, Non detail books, etc... even before the school year began. And then one day my sister and I stumbled upon the big, rusty Trunk potti. It belonged to my mom and she had loads of Tamil books in it. Pages torn from the Tamil magazines every week and neatly bound, sort of like a DIY novel! And I was hooked. I was too young to read "that" kind of books, according to my parents. I was 12. So I sneaked them to the bathroom or to school or to the terrace and devoured them. I have forgotten the titles and authors of so many books I read during that period of time but a few of them left a lasting impression. Here are some of them.

Paalangal by Sivasankari.
It was about three generations of women. I vaguely remember the story but I can say for sure that it was unputdownable. I love the details in her books. The elaborate way she describes the customs and the rituals of the older generation when a girl attains puberty, during an engagement, the wedding,... Its the same thing I have heard from my grandma a dozen times but when you read it, you wish you belonged to that generation where you did nt have a care in the world or so I thought! I got to get hold of this book soon. I wonder how I will like it after 18 years!
I remember another book "Naan Naanaaga" by Sivasankari which I read again recently. Its about a 40 year old woman who is bored after her sons go off to college and takes up dancing once again much to the shock of her family. A simple but lovely novel.

Kadal Pura by Sandilyan
My mom absolutely did nt want me to read books by Sandilyan until I finished my 10th standard, when I would turn 15. But her rule only made me curious and I finished Kadal Pura even before she found that the book is gone! Its a Raja-Rani story set in historic times and is an absolute thriller! Im ashamed to say I don’t even remember the story line. Another book, I am not sure if its Mannan Magal, was an amazing read too. I understand there are tonnes of more books by Sandilyan. Its time I pay a visit to a Book shop in Chennai the next time I go to India. I’m rubbing my hands with glee already at the thought of it!

Another book from my Moms Trunku potti was Pirivom Sandhipom by Sujatha. The teenage me loved this book. Is nt this the book with Kamal Hassan and Sripriyas photos as illustrations? Was this book made into a movie with them? I never found out. But loved looking at Kamals pictures while reading the story! I also read Aa and Karai Ellam Shenbagapoo. Don’t remember anything about the former except the title illustrations but liked the latter a lot. Pratap Pothan and whatshername completely spoiled it for me in the movie! His short stories, Srirangathu Dhevadhaigal are my favourites and I am hooked to his articles, Katradhum Petradhum, in Anandha Vikatan magazine.

Works of Kalki R Kirshnamurthy
Oh, where do I even begin? Kalki is my most favourite writer in the whole wide world. (Kalki and Roald Dahl to be honest!) I am sure every person who reads Tamil will have Ponniyin Selvan in their favourite list. What a book! Its a long story with five parts and it took me a couple of months to finish all of them. The last part I finished in a 10 hour flight without a wink! Its a book set in historic times and the amount of research Kalki must have done for this book leaves me absolutely dumbfounded. And since my birth place is Kumbakonam and I grew up there, I could imagine the places he describes, the temples he writes about and made me realize what a historic place I am from and how clueless I have been about the Cholas and their history. I am sure kids will learn a lot more if Ponniyin Selvan is recommended as a text book for schools instead of the boring history books! I am the proud owner of all the five parts.

I read Sivagamiyin Sabadham before PS which I found in our local library in the UK. This is the book which introduced Kalki to me and am I thankful to the library! Soon after, I bought Alai Osai and that’s another classic. I have read loads of articles and short stories by Kalki in the Kalki magazine and every time he proves what a great writer he is. Veenai Bavani, Sunduvin Sanyaasam, Kailasamaiyar Kaabara, ... Oh I can go on and on about his short stories. Some are so hilarious that I have literally rolled on the floor with laughter! A sample passage from கைலாசமய்யர் காபரா -

பாம்பை அடிக்க வேலைக்காரன் கொண்டு வந்த தடியைக் கைலாசமய்யர் பிடுங்கிக் கொண்டு பையனை அடிக்கப் போனார். நல்ல வேளையாக, அந்தச் சமயம் ஜோஷனாரா பீகம் வந்து குறுக்கிட்டதால் பையன் பிழைத்தான்! ஜோஷனாரா பீகம் என்றதும், சில பேருக்குச் சுவாரஸ்யம் தட்டலாம். ஏதோ இந்தக் கதையில் நவாபுகளும் அவர்களுடைய அந்தப்புரத்து அழகிகளும் வரப் போகிறார்கள் என்று நினைக்கலாம். அப்படியெல்லாம் ஒன்றுமில்லை. கைலாசமய்யருக்கு வடக்கத்தி ஹிந்துஸ்தானி சங்கீதத்தில் அதிகப் பிரியம். "பயமில்லாமல் கேட்கக் கூடியது ஹிந்துஸ்தானி சங்கீதந்தான்" என்பார். ரேடியோவில் அவர் அடிக்கடி லக்னௌ ஜோஷனாரா பீகத்தின் சங்கீதத்தைக் கேட்பதுண்டு. ஆனால், வீட்டிலே மற்றவர்களுக்கு - முக்கியமாக அவருடைய மனைவிக்கு - ஜோஷனாரா பீகமும், அவளுடைய சங்கீதமும் கொஞ்சமும் பிடிப்பதில்லை. எனவே, அவர்கள் வீட்டில் வளர்த்த ஒரு கறுப்புப் பூனைக்கு 'ஜோஷனாரா பீகம்' என்று பெயரிட்டிருந்தார்கள். இந்த ஜோஷனாரா பீகத்தைக் கண்டால் கைலாசமய்யருக்குக் குலை நடுக்கம்! அச்சமயம் அந்தப் பூனை வந்ததினால் தான் அவருடைய பையன் மண்டை உடையாமல் தப்பிப் பிழைத்தான்.

Is he a genius or what? I hope to read every short story written by him. Is there a collection of short stories by Kalki? Any book suggestions?

Though I have always wanted to read Mogamul by T Janakairaman, I started reading Sembaruthi last month at my sisters place. As you would have already guessed, I was hooked and spent more time reading the book much to my sisters disapproval. And that idiot would nt let me borrow the book. I could nt finish the book before I left. If I die without finishing the book, you know who will be haunting your bathroom, Sis? The book is set in the 40s and is about a young man Sattanathan Pillai and how he struggles to bring up his family which includes both his brothers family. It has an nice flow and the feeling and emotions of the women folk are surprisingly well told. I hope to finish it soon.

I have a love hate relationship with the works of Balakumaran. But his books have always made me think so got to give credit to this eccentric man. I would have read a dozen books by him, I don’t remember a single title. I would dislike him less if he stops telling women how to be a woman.

For the first time, I followed a story in Anandha Vikatan magazine. Usually I have always read the novel later after the book comes out. I have never read the thodar kadhai.(One chapter each week.) But this one was too engrossing. It was Karuvaachi Kaaviyam by poet Vairamuthu. I have always disliked the man for reasons unknown. May be many of his lyrics for the Tamil film songs irked me, I don’t know. I have never given him a chance. And then one day, I read the 3rd or 4th chapter in Vikatan and predictably, I was hooked. I followed the story religiously for around 40 weeks. Its quite thrilling to read a novel that way, a chapter a week. Its about a village girl, Karuvaachi and her depressing story and how she raises above it all. The illustrations by Maniam Selvam were apt. Every week, I saw the pictures and wondered what’s going to hit Karuvaachi next. (Trivia: Maniams Selvams father Maniam did the illustrations for Kalkis Ponniyin Selvan in the magazine) Especially this one chapter where Karuvaachi goes into labour and all alone in a deserted part of the village, the description of how she gives birth to her baby is amazing. I could nt help wonder if Mrs.Vairamuthu wrote that chapter. The entire story takes place in a remote village with village slang, their customs and traditions, their daily lives and to be honest nothing surprised me as I have grown up in a village myself and know what he is talking about to a certain extent. I am glad I followed this story from beginning to end and pleased that Vairamuthu proved me wrong about the impression I had on him.

I have read very few English books by Indian authors. Lots have said about those books too. So for the record, I LOVED God of small thing by Arundati Roy, Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, Sister of my heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni(did not like its sequel, The Vine of desire though!) and RK Narayan of course!

Seeing everyones list has onle made me hungry to read more. Im sure Im going to spend a small fortune on books the next time I go to India. Thanks Desi Girl for tagging me. I am surprised I even remembered all the books I read 15 years back. Brought back loads of memories. Thanks again.

I tag UTBT, Priya, Terri, Kiran, Tharini, Gauri, Kodis Mom, Rohini, Sheela and Kowsalya. Take it up if you are interested guys! (Terri, no pressure!) And any one who wants to, of course. It would be great to read all your list and add to my alarmingly growing list of books to read.

ps.

One of the reasons it is tough for me to recollect all the Tamil novels I read a long time back is back then, I read for instant pleasure and was weary of getting caught. My dad thinks reading is a waste of time and was very strict when it came to his school going daughters. So I never discussed the books with anyone which is very important to remember them, if you ask me. I was always on high alert not to include myself in book conversations and none of my class mates read anything beyond Ramani chandran, Tamil Nadus answer to Mills and Boons. Oh, I read her too! :) And then of course once I went to college, it was only "Englees" books to look cool! Funnily enough, my dad never bothered to reprimand me if I had an English novel in my hand. Poor guy!

pps.

The Tamil translation of this post is here. How can I not write about the Tamil writers in Tamil, however finger breaking that ordeal is!

Day 7 proves to be lucky.

After Day 5 of school, we had a long weekend as we did nt go to school on Thursday and Friday. So on Monday, Day 6 I thought we have to start all over again. Hd went to leave her in heavy rain and traffic, trams we re nt running and he got quite frustrated by the time he reached the day care. He dumped Ashu at the school door even before she opened her mouth to cry and rushed to office. Couple of hours later, I left home to pick her up. And it started raining again. Though the trams were running thankfully. She started crying when she saw me but was OK once we came out. Then the trams stopped running again and we were stranded halfway from home waiting for a bus which never came. Then Hd borrowed his colleagues car and came to rescue us. By the time we came home, I was ready to call it quits to school until the rains stopped.

Then on Tuesday Day 7, I went to drop her, again in the rain of course! And all my hard work(!) paid when she went and hugged Miss.A and said "Bye Amma"! I was speechless. She was nt smiling when she said Bye but at least she was nt bawling and that's exactly what I wished for. No crying. So my baby has let me go at last! When I went to pick her up, she cried of course. But I can take that! Miss Hooley told me that yesterday was the best day so far with her having fun and trying to eat some food there. She also did some coloring and asked for a tissue when her hands became messy and Miss Hooley said that's OK, we can wash later. So madam went and wiped her hands in Miss Hooley's jeans! LOL! Take that, Miss Hooley! I was walking with a stupid grin the rest of the day happy that Ashu is OK with school and looked forward to the next day. But of course mother proposes and child disposes. She caught a terrible cold all of a sudden and it worsened in the night with her coughing continuously and crying. Shes clinging to her Appa and her nose is running like a tap and shes has slight fever. So no school today of course! And guess what? It is not raining today!

Love is...

Last Sunday at the Boo household...

Usually I make Pasta for Sunday Lunch. Hd loves Italian next to Indian and so do I. Last week, I was in the mood for a full fledged Indian meal. So I prepared everything - chopped the veggies, soaked the tamarind, cooked the dal,... And just before putting everything together, with a silly grin I asked Hd,
"So what do you want for lunch? Do you want Murungakka sambar, Lemon Rasam, Potato fry, Vendaikaai curry and rice or would you like Pasta".
"Pasta", came the answer.
"What!", I exclaimed.
He repeated, "Pasta".
Almost with tears in my eyes I said, "I prepared everything and asked just to see your expression when I told the menu. And you want Pasta?"
"No no. Of course I want Murungakka sambar. (slurp, slurp) I said Pasta because thats easy for you and why do you want to strain yourself making so much?"
With a relieved smile, I muttered "May be I should make Vendaikaai Morkuzhambu instead of the curry!"

This Sunday at the same household...

"So What are you going to make..."
"PASTA", came the stern reply from me even before he could finish the question.

As the saying goes, Love is...
...temporary!

Off to School - Part 3.

Day 3 Monday:
We went at 10 am. Ashu started crying as soon as I left the school. I roamed around for a couple of hours and went to pick her up at 12.30. She bawled as soon as she she saw me. Miss. Hooley told me that she wanted to be carried all the time and cried whenever she left her down. I came home and seriously contemplated quitting. The pouring rain every day does nt help much.

Day 4 Tuesday:
Good news at last. Though she cried when I left her, it seems she stopped in 15 minutes and started playing. She had bombarded Miss Hooley with questions, "whats this, what that" looking at all the toys and generally had a good time. She cried when I went but it was not the high pitch cry like the previous times.

Day 5 Wednesday:
Ashu got up and declared "No school". I said ok but went on packing her bag. She saw me packing and started crying! I gave an exasperated look at Hd and he volunteered to drop her. Ashu thought that Appa is at last taking her to show his office and happily went with him. Hd told me that "Caesar" would have been proud of her for the look she gave him at the school entrance. Et tu, Brutus? Miss. Hooley told me that she settled down in 5 minutes and started playing. Relief! That day was the first time I got some home alone time. I did what any self respecting woman would do. I removed unwanted body hair and took a long shower! When I went to pick her up two hours later in the pouring rain and howling wind with a broken umbrella, she gave a fake cry. I was never so happy to hear her fake cry!

After the first day of school, I felt as if my child's spirit has been broken. She was unusually quiet, was nt clingy, played and talked with herself sitting in a corner, had a tired face and cried in her sleep asking for me. That's how I used to feel when I was young and got into trouble and my father hit me while my mom watched helplessly. Lonely, quiet, betrayed, emotionally drained,... I could nt bear to look at Ashu. She looked like a prisoner out of the jail after serving a long sentence. I know I was over reacting but that's how I felt and no point in denying that. Life goes on and I ll always remember that day as the day the umbilical cord was completely severed. By me.

The end. (Or is it the beginning?)

Off to School - Part 2.

In all honesty, I thought Ashu would take to school a little better. Though the suspense was killing me and I could nt wait to find out how she would react, I thought she would be okay and she will like it. I sincerely felt that she was bored at home all day long with this horrible Amma and would love to have a change. She loves to play with kids so I guessed she will have fun. But what do I know? She likes her boring Amma better than anything else. If this is nt pure love! :) But I should have known better. I should have known that the Genes always win and a mothers curse always comes true!

Now for a little history and no surprises here, I HATED school. Right from when I was 3 years old when I joined LKG until I finished the 12th standard, everyday was a battle. I just did nt like going to school. I was fine once I entered the school gate and was top 3 in my class through out my schooling. Either my classmates were really dumb or perhaps I was just lucky. I complained I had a stomach ache every damn morning just before getting into the rickshaw to avoid school. A few times it worked and my dad allowed me to stay home so I tried it everyday. I always had a big lump in my throat when I left home in the morning. And to think that my Big Sis loved going to school. She hated taking leave so every time there was a wedding or some other family function out of town, either my dad or mom used to attend and almost always I bunked school and accompanied them. Any reason not to go to school. And my parents made my life easier by allowing me to take leave occasionally. And I love them for that. I mean if not your parents, who else can make your life easier, huh? The way my sis and I are, I have doubts about the term "parenting" now. With the same set of parents and the same parenting style, we are as different as chalk and cheese. So kudos to my folks for making our lives as much easier as possible by encouraging us to do what we wanted to do rather than what they wanted us to do or what was the right thing to do. I was just a lazy child. Going to school was work and I wanted to sit at home, eat, read comic books and play with my imaginary friends. So even though children might adjust and stop crying and settle down in school after the first few weeks, they might not like it at all. Like me. And I continued to whine through five years of college and 8 months of work.

And today, I have to be the grown up and tell my daughter to go to school. I hate being in this position. And shes only 2 years old. She wants her Amma and if not now, then when can I be for her? I don't have anything else to do anyway. I am thoroughly confused. I feel like a total hypocrite. And all this emotion for sending a 2 year old to a stupid day care since 3 days. Am I crazy or am I crazy?

Off to School - Part 1.

Me: Ashu, what did you do in School today?
Ashu: I cried.
Me: You cried? My poor little darling. Why did you cry?
Ashu: I want Amma. I cried.
Me: (gives her a hug swallowing the tears.)

Yes! My baby girl started school from this week. We call it school but its just a small day care. "Drop the kids anytime, pick them up anytime, kids do whatever they want to do" kind of day care. We had checked it out 2 weeks back and Ashu seemed to like it. I talked about the school and the caregiver, lets call her Miss.Hooley, all week long to Ashu and prepared her.

On Wednesday (27th June 2007, when she turned 26 months old) we got ready and I dropped her at 10.30 am. I planned to hang around a bit and see whats going on. But Ashu started playing with all the toys there and did nt bother to look for me. So I sneaked out. I called 30 mins later and Miss.Hooley said shes doing good. It was raining cats and dogs so I was just sitting in the tram and going nowhere in particular for one hour and then went to pick Ashu up. She was eating a cookie and as soon as she saw me she started bawling. I hugged her and said its ok but she kept sniffling until we reached home 45 mins later. She had her lunch and went to sleep. When she stirred from her nap, she started crying and asking "Amma, where did you go" and it broke my heart. In the evening she said she liked the school, she liked Miss. Hooley, she liked S and S who are her friends who go to the same day care and she would go to school the next day.

On Thursday, I left her at 10.30 am and said Bye and she waved back at me. I walked by the lake and did some window shopping and checked with Miss. Hooley by phone half hour later, she told me that Ashu is looking for me and crying a bit and clinging to Miss.Bee who is another caregiver there. She told me she will be ok and not to worry. I worried. When I went to pick her up 90 minutes later, I saw Ashu holding Miss. Bees hand and whimpering with a tear dried face. As soon as she saw me, she started crying. I hugged and told her to STOP crying. She did. She happily said bye to everyone there and we took a tram home. She gave the same "I like school. I like the teacher. I ll go to school tomorrow. I wont cry" feedback in the evening.

On Friday, we bunked.

(To be continued...)

Update on Ashu at 26 Months.

I'm in the kitchen warming Ashus milk in the microwave. I take it out and while stirring it, spill some milk on the counter top. I go "chee chee chee chee"! Ashu who is sitting on the sofa in the living room hears me and asks "Amma paal kottitiyaa?" (Did you spill the milk?) I went speechless for one whole second! HOW? Am I wasting *that* much milk everyday?!

We have now entered the grand era of doing everything on our own! But theres a mix up between "you" and "I". She says "You do it" which actually means "I ll do it." The first couple of times when she said "You do it" and we did it, she screamed and did it herself. Now when we tell her - Its not "You do it" Ashu. Its "I ll do it" - she thinks we want to do it and screams again!

Yesterday we were playing with the Play-Doh and I made a tortoise. I mean, I tried. Ashu sees the finished product but does nt have a clue what it is. So I giver her a hint and then declare "Its a tortoise Ashu" and she goes "No Amma. That's a Snail!" My baby girl knows SNAIL? How?

Today as soon as Hd came home from office, the little rat ran to him and said in Tamil, "Appa, I threw the play doh and Amma got angry and Amma hit me"! LIAR! Usually when she does something naughty, we make a sad face and she goes to the other person and says "Amma/Appa is making sad face because I hit them" irrespective of whether she hit us or not. So now madam is complaining that she has a sad face because I hit her. Everyone believes the child much to my inconvenience. I dont have to hit you for the stupid play doh, Honey! You give me plenty of other opportunities, so beat it!

These days, when she says "sorry", I MUST say "its ok" or else she ll keep on saying sorry and it will get louder and louder and then her voice will break and she ll start crying. Sometimes she herself will mutter a "its ok" after a sorry and move on. At other times she ll NEVER say sorry when the occasion demands it and after a double time out, she ll mutter a sorry and would nt care if its accepted or not! The bigger the mischief, the tougher it is to get a sorry out of her. For example, if "I" bump into her, she ll say sorry immediately. But if "she" throws the remote at me and it gets me on my nose and I see stars, she ll NOT say sorry until I order her to.

This weekend we had guests over for dinner and Ashu had fun playing with 2 kids. She shared her toys, played with them and there was no violence whatsoever. Just when I was relaxing, I saw Ashu climb on our bed and saying "Ashu bed this. No!" to the other little girl. Where do kids learn these? And it was nt even her bed! I mean how do they associate that this is "our" house and "our" bed. Because according to her something is either hers or others. She always says Amma appa bed and Ashu bed or Amma laptop, Appa phone, Ashu dress, etc... But in front of a guest, Amma appa bed has become "Ashu" bed! Such a brat!

Her language is also evolving. From Babulu to Dabbu Dabbu, now she clearly pronounces W as Double U much to my chagrin. As if this "huge" change is nt enough to dishearten me, her silly dad is hell bent on teaching her to pronounce F which she says as S. Fan is Shan, Phone is Shon, 4 and 5 are Shore and Shy respectively. Until yesterday that is! Instead of doing the dozen things that has to be done around the house, he showed her how to say F before sleep time last night and she got it immediately. And he sent her to me to gloat. She did too. "Phone" sounded so wrong coming from her mouth after listening to "Shon" for the past one year. Every morning when the alarm in our mobile phone goes off, she used to say "Appa Shon, Appa Shon" and wake us up. Now it will be just a dull "Appa phone". Sigh! My lil girl is growing up.

Walking in the Rain.

Ashu is dressed in a white and green checkered shorts with a flower print. A white and pink lacy top with flowers and butterfly print. Pink Dora shoes and a colorful head band. And oh, ear rings. Shes all of 26 months old. And the Doctors assistant takes a look and asks me "boy or a girl?" Its an insult, I say!

Ashu got two shots today, second dose of MMR vaccine and the Meningococcal vaccine. She let out a scream and then quietened down when I told her I ll put a Dora plaster when we get home. (And she made sure I changed the plaster when we got home.) It started raining heavily when I was about to leave the Doctors office. I had one umbrella with me. I decided to wait for a while. I was getting hungry as I had nt had my breakfast. So I sat on the floor outside the exit door and rummaged my handbag to find a box of Ashus colorful fishie biscuits. We both started munching on them. Theres something about watching the rain through the glass door and munching on snacks with your loved one. As I was thinking about how heavenly that moment was, Ashu accidentally dropped the biscuits and they scattered on the floor. So I was cleaning up while giving dirty looks at Ashu and she has the gall to ask me for more biscuits. Evil incarnated! I decided to brave the rain and go home. I let Ashu hold the umbrella and I held the top while pushing the stroller. She was quite thrilled to go in the rain and to hold the umbrella. It took hardly 10 minutesto walk home and while I was fully drenched, she was bone dry! Now if that does nt explain parenthood...

Bitter nothings.

Some time after a fight...

Husband: I am sorry ok? Forgive me.

Wife: I will never forgive you for what you said.

H: I'm saying sorry right?

W: So?

H: Just say I am forgiven.

W: OK you are forgiven.

H: You did nt mean that!

W: How do you know? You asked me to say it and I said it.

H: Mean it.

W: How will you know if I mean it or not? You are not a mind reader. You are definitely not that!

H: I ll know. Say it.

W: No I wont.

H: Don't make me beg. It was just a silly thing.

W: What do you mean by silly?

H: I mean there are lot of other worse, unforgivable things.

W: You mean I should be thankful that you are not doing worse things?

H: I did nt mean that. What I said was stupid OK? Forget it.

W: Only stupid people say stupid things, You want to me to forget you as well?

H: Stop it now. I cant take this anymore.

W: Neither can I.

H: Then you are free to do whatever you want.

W: You don't have to tell me what I can do. I KNOW I can do whatever the hell I want!

H: So basically I should nt tell you anything.

W: At last you get the point.

H: OK I ll shut up.

W: Whatever! That's your answer for everything anyway.

H: But you want me to shut up.

W: As if you always listen to me?

H: Of course I do. *muttering* Ask anyone!

W: Excuse me? I heard that.

H: I mean when have I not listened to you?

W: Only like a million times. I know people think that I have twisted you around my finger and you dance to my tunes! But who knows the reality? When have you ever done anything without a long argument? Only God is a witness for all the problems I go through. To whom can I go and complain about you? Everyone is on your side. Even my stupid parents! I have nobody! *sob sob*

H: I am sorry OK? Forgive me.

W: I will never forgive you for what you said.

H: I'm saying sorry right?

W: So?
.
.
.

ps.
This is a work of fiction. This does NOT happen in Boos household regularly.

Fathers day, car seat, day care...

After a hectic shopping for groceries and stocking the fridge and the kitchen cup boards to last a week, realized that Saturday has flown by. Hds colleague, a single girl, new to Swiss and getting bored living alone invited us over for lunch on Sunday. Poor girl, must be really desperate for company! :) So as soon as we got up today at 10.00 am, I rushed to the kitchen to make some Sabji and rice to take to her house. Shouted at Hd for not waking me earlier and the next second realized that it is Fathers day! :) So wished him with a sheepish grin. Ashu got up a while later(we are still not out of jet lag!) and I gave her a pen and asked her to scribble something in the card I had bought earlier and she gave it to him. Its a funny card which says something like, "Dad, I know you do so much for me... but I totally deserve it!" :) I had also bought a fridge magnet in the US which has Homer Simpson in it and says "Best Dad in the house". Hd growled at me seeing this gift! This man cant take a compliment gracefully! ;) Is nt this a cute gift, people?

Back from the friends house after a hearty lunch. Thanks to the US trip, Ashu sits in her car seat quietly these days while I can sit in the front with Hd for a change. The Nursery Rhymes CD from a friend is of huge help as well. Don't know how long the novelty will last though! Since we take a rental car only during the weekends, she is nt getting used to it here. She drops a book or her doll and asks me to pick it up for her. And as soon as I twist myself and turn to the back and pick it up, she drops something else and asks me to help. I can as well sit at the back for all this twisting and turning. Today, she flung the doll back and it fell into the trunk. And she started crying for the doll. What a drama queen!

We have found a day care for Ashu where the care takers speak English. We checked it out last week and it is okay. Just a place where Ashu can be with other children for a couple of hours. Nothing fancy. If shes out of her jet lag, she might start this week. I cant wait for the Dday. Wondering how she ll react and how everything is going to work out. Most importantly, how I am going to cope with this big step! I am all excited but very much scared at the same time. I mean how do you trust strangers with your BABY? It is indeed going to be a huge milestone for me even if not for Ashu. *sniff sniff*

And the awards go to...

Thanks Art Navy and Utbt for making me walk a few inches above the ground for the past couple of days. Yes, awards do that to me and I have been acting all high and mighty and even avoiding cooking much to Hds concern. Hes waiting for me to come back to Earth.

Trying to come with five people was nt as difficult as I thought it would be as there are so many bloggers I deeply admire and lot more people I would love to tag are already tagged not surprisingly.

Without much ado, the awards go to...

Dubukku - My blog Guru who made me think as much as he made me laugh. How real life simple situations can be described in a totally hilarious way - got to learn from the master! If I live long, it would be thanks to him. Mudhal Vanakkam, Anna! :)

Gauri - According to me, every mommy blogger deserves this award because well... I am a mother and we deserve every recognition which comes our way. And Tharini and Gauri are a huge inspiration and they both are up there in a pedestal for me. I look forward to Gauris posts and to read about her children. Every post leaves a mark on its own and if I am a better mother today, shes definitely one of the reason. Need I say more?

Madura - She writes both in English and Tamil proficiently though her Tamil blog is missing these days. The subject of her posts and the research she does and her thorough knowledge on the subject she deals with make me her ardent fan. Write more, Madura.

Premalatha - When I was new to the blog world and started reading blogs, Lathas posts made me very nostalgic and wished she wrote more. I never thought that one day we will be on first name basis as she was like a celebrity to me. Her strong opinions on some topics make me wish I was nt such a wuss! ;) People like Madura and Latha who write excellently in more than one language leave me with awe as I know how difficult it is to keep writing in both as my sorely neglected Tamil blog will tell you.

Ashok - A writer, an architect, a painter, an artist, a poet, a photographer, a proud father,... His talent amazes me. I hope this award jolts him awake from his hiatus and he writes more often. I miss you Ashok. Or did nt you let me know about your new whereabouts?

If you choose to pass this award on, these are the Thinking Blogger Award rules:
This award was started here.
You have to award five others whose blog you think deserve this award.
Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging.
If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all — blogs that really get you thinking!

Cut to Zurich.

Back in good old Zurich fighting the jet lag and busy unpacking the gazillion things I bought from the US. Ashus wardrobe is brimming with bright and new summer clothes. I hope the summer lasts really long this time! Got some picture frames from Michaels and at last put few of the good photos I have taken to better use. Hence my living room looks a little presentable. I would nt feel too bad to invite people over from now on! ;)

Got to catch up with hundreds of posts, take up a couple of tags and also update on Ashu. And not to forget the photos taken in the new camera as lot of you have asked for. So here I come with a bang. Hang on!

All Good Things...

When Hd arrived last week, it was a total surprise for Ashu as I had not told her that her dad was coming. On Thursday evening, Bil picked up Hd from the airport and came home. We made Ashu stand near the door and she was thinking that her Pepa was coming back from the office. When the door opened and Hd stepped inside, Ashu was so shocked for an instant and we could see her go speechless. Then she started jumping and doing a tribal dance of some sort and then running to her Appa. She said "Appa, Appa" and then stuck to him like glue for the next 2 days. Even her precious Pema was ignored much to my sisters disapproval. Then we left for Las Vegas where Pema ruled again as she was the one who always carried Ashu and also baby sat her in the room while the rest of us gambled away Ashus inheritance! ;)

Vegas exceeded my expectation and we had a swell time. The hotel we stayed was awesome and the service was excellent. We never wanted to leave the room which was in the 25th floor or the jacuzzi in the bathroom. But when we left it and entered the casinos, we never wanted to go back to the room either! We visited almost all the must see casinos like Wynn, Bellagio, Ceasars Palace, Treasure Island, Planet Hollywood, The Venetian, The Mirage, MGM Grand, Luxor, Paris, New york New york, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, etc... Watched Cirque DuSoleil's Mystere show at the Treasure Island. It was mind blowing. The stage production and the original music and the spectacular performance makes it a must see show in Vegas. We also did the Manhattan Express roller coaster at the New York New york. It was amazing. Then of course gambled until late night at the blackjack and the slot machine. I gathered guts and sat at the blackjack card table and played $5 chips against the dealer. As soon as I got back the $20 I started with, I got up and ran out. It was the more thrilling than the roller coaster ride and I found out how addictive gambling can be. Stayed away from the tables for the rest of the trip. But then I lost some on the machine which was totally worth it! :)

Children under 18 can only pass through the casino floors and should not even linger around. The casinos are completely smoke covered anyway. Ashu took in all the colorful machines, the lights and the noise and could nt figure out what the people were upto. She had fun at the MGM watching the Lions and two newborn cubs. She enjoyed the aquarium, the rainforest cafe and our hotel room. After she slept, three of us sneaked out for some late night gambling. It was like college again. The desert heat was tolerable this time of the year and the free drinks at all the casinos made up for the meagre amount of money we lost there! Not to mention the waitresses who brought the drinks and their barely there costumes!

Hd and I had the best anniversary which began at midnight while we kissed and wished each other under the security camera of a casino. He had given me the Nikon D40 two days earlier. I gave him a cheap card which I just remembered to buy before midnight but did nt have a pen to write! I had told him I will get him a sun glass as he wanted one, but he did nt like anything so the day went without a gift from me! We have hardly unpacked the bags from Vegas and now we have to pack and leave the country.

We are leaving tomorrow to Zurich. There has been a lump in my throat and a sudden heaviness in my heart whenever I think about Ashu saying "Bye" to her Pema and Pepa at the airport and disappearing from their sights. The next second she ll be asking me "Pema illayaa","Pepa illayaa" (No Pema/Pepa?) in a hurt tone and I'm sure I ll have tears in my eyes. I feel as if I am snatching their baby from them and going away. But then, what to do?

Sin City.

Its our wedding anniversary today. And I forgot to buy a gift for Hd. I did nt even get him a card. So last night at 12.00, I gave him a $20 bill and he blew it on the Blackjack machine! Because we are in Las Vegas baby!!!!!

I cant begin to describe this city so I wont. We are taking turns baby sitting Ashu and the rest are gambling away to glory. We are leaving tomorrow and I am already sad! Oh by the way Hd got me this camera for our anniversary! More updates later if I don't gamble away my flight ticket! ;)

Dear Appa,

I know you are coming here tomorrow. Though Amma is keeping it as a surprise for me, I know. Just because I don't ask for you or talk to you on the phone does nt mean that I have forgotten you. I miss you loads and as Amma is telling everyone who has ears, I am not very good at long distance relationships. I am just waiting for you to come here so that we can continue from where we left off. I am having lots of fun here with Pema and Pepa and loads of other people. I am too young to realize that this is temporary. I live in the present. Which is good if you ask me. I don't get all sad like Amma or Pema that times flying and there are only 10 more days remaining in this trip.

Amma says that you wont recognize me at all as I have turned from an adorable angel to a total brat. I think I have grown taller too as I can reach those fridge magnets on the top now. I cant wait to show you all the cool stuff I am doing here. So come soon. It would be nice to have one more man listening to my every whim, so looking forward to it.

Luv,
Ashu.

ps.
I wrote you this letter because as you suspect, theres no scheme going on here to brainwash me in forgetting you. Do you think I ll let these people do such a thing to me? They cant even make me eat, for Gods sake!

Ashus antics at her Aunt's!

I think its high time I write a post when even Hd mails me and asks why there has been no update in my blog for a long time! The reason is that I don't find any time. How you working moms, moms with two kids and other busy SAHMs take time to blog is beyond my understanding! Do you girls ever sleep? At least I am having so much fun here that theres no time to even think about a post. And also I cant complain about my sister in this space as she reads it too! ;) Oh yeah and her house has a pool.

Here's some tit bits about Ashu and how shes spending her time for the past two weeks at my sisters place:

I don't recognize her anymore. I think she knows shes 2 years old and is trying to act her age.

Before as soon as I say "time to change your diaper", she used to run to her room, take a fresh diaper, changing mat and wet wipes and be ready to get her ass wiped. Now she runs to the farthest corner of the house and the chase begins. It takes 10 minutes to catch her, hold her on the mat and change her. She wriggles and wiggles and kicks and screams. This is on a good day.

She has twisted my sis and Bil around her little finger. So much so that right now they would do anything for her.

My Bil's sister had come here last week with her infant and Ashu would nt let my sis or Bil hold the baby. She wanted to be carried too when either of them carried the child and threw a tantrum when they did nt. I was absolutely ashamed of this behaviour though I could nt do anything about it. She was very gentle with the child and missed him when he was nt around and got very close to the baby's mom, Aunt V in just one day. She called her "Athai, athai" dozen times an hour and one time when she went out for shopping, Ashu started crying because Aunt V left her. But hear this! She was OK if I carried the baby though. Go figure!

Ashu has already attended two birthday parties including her own surprise party and theres one more next weekend. I'm eating all the good food I can and Ashu is getting all the balloons and party favors she wants. Its a win win situation since Sis pays for the gifts and drives us around. Now you understand why I have decided not to complain about her, don't you? And all those trips to the parks, of course!

She calls my sister "Pema" and my Bil "Pepa", for Periamma and Periappa which means Big Mom and Big Pop respectively in Tamil. Its always Pema this and Pepa that. She even calls me Pema first before changing it to amma. That's how many times she calls her Pema every day.

Ashu and I are having so much fun and so much social life here that I am wondering whats there in Zurich for me to go back to. Its not like I have a job there or anything, right? Just kidding, Hd!

One day Ashu had fun at a friends place with her two kids and it was a pleasure to watch her with another toddler. Jumping on the bed, playing ball, reading a book, having a make do picnic, kicking her and getting kicked back and playing big sis to the infant by bullying her. I have never seen so many sides of Ashu before. It was a total revelation. This ones no sissy as I thought she was.

Yesterday Ashu had her first of many more to come "falling down from the big bed" accident. During the night she shifted from the middle of the bed, crossed a wide bridge which is me and fell down with a big BANG. Shes going around and saying "Amma pushed me from the bed" to everyone now. Yes, I deserve it!

As if its not enough that Ashu is hooked onto Noddy and Dora, now she has started watching Diego too. Which I learnt is a boys version of Dora. She has switched her loyalties from Dora to "Digogo" now. Typical girl, huh? ;) We don't get Diego in Zurich and my sis is thinking about buying a DVD for Ashu so that she does nt forget him. Remember fingers? Twist? See what I mean? And she was so serious when she said that as if that animated boy is some dear relative. Get a life, Sis!

Yesterday, a fellow blogger and his family who also know my sister were kind enough to drop by. So for the first time, I have met a virtual friend. Hurray! Thanks Sundar and San for the cute dress for Ashu and shes still asking for Akka! Ashu is so good with kids a little older than her and I can also let the kids be without supervising them every minute that I so want a Big sis/bro for Ashu. Can I have the Junior, Sundar?

Its also confirmed that my child does nt believe in Long Distance Relationships. Just like she would nt talk to her grand parents over the phone after we moved to Zurich from India and run as soon as she hears my dads voice on the phone and would only say Bye to him at the end, shes doing the same now to her dad. Till now, she has never asked about her father or spoken one sentence to him on the phone. Except this one time, when she saw the climax of the movie Finding Nemo on TV and asked me "No Appa?" I hope she realizes soon that I'm Marlin in this house who would fight the entire ocean to come and see her. Her dads just the side kick Dory with an even more short term memory disorder, if that's possible, mainly existing to annoy Marlin!

There are so many other interesting(!) things which Ashu is saying and doing but let me stop here. More later if you are nt already bored to death.

ps.
Hd, you asked for it!

Ticket to ride.

Sunday was another fun filled day with a day trip to a big park with a dear dear friend and her kids. Then to my cousins place for lunch where while Ashu took a nap we played the board game Ticket to Ride. My sis has the US board and my cousin has the Europe board and she and her husband has painstakingly made an Indian Board by themselves too! So we were trying to make train routes from one city to another city and having pure fun! Every time my sis and I meet, she introduces us to a new game and the poor old games are totally forgotten. Ticket to Ride is so addictive that the old games which we used to play like crazy past midnight did nt even come out of their boxes. Every night after Ashu goes to sleep, we take the board out. Got to see what she does if we play with her around. There are so many coins and cards of different colors, I'm sure she ll invent a game of her own and snatch our board away. This reminds me of those days two decades back when my family used to play card games and exclude us kids. I used to create hell and cry my lungs out. Especially after my sister was included in the game and I was still the Uppuku Sappaani. (the third wheel or the spare tyre comes close to this Tamil expression meaning "She does nt make a difference to this game!") I'm happy we are able to do some adult stuff too in spite of having a toddler at home. Probably Hd and I should start playing some board games after Ashu goes to sleep in the nights. Otherwise its just one laptop each and doing our own thing as we have lost interest in watching even TV these days. And to think that I left the previously loved Settlers of Catan board game back in India as I was sure we would nt have any time to play. May be I should buy my own board of Ticket to Ride and take it to Zurich. And what do you know? Our wedding anniversary is just around the corner! Are you hearing Sis? ;)

Hola this is Dora!

If I ever have another child, it will only be because I would want Ashu to be a sister and if shes half as good as a sister like my sister is, then well the second one will be half lucky as I am right now! OK if that was nt a confusing statement to start a post! I cant begin to explain the fun I am having here with my sister but let me give it a try.

So on Saturday my sister was supposed to throw a surprise baby shower for a friend who's expecting her second baby. My sister and I are those kind whose lives are so inter mingled that all her friends are my friends too and all my friends are... well... lets just say she knows them too!! So I was expecting to see all our friends and their new babies and 2 of my cousins and their families too. My sister was busy making the food and I was wondering why she had nt made it a potluck. Since it was Ashus star birthday, we went to the temple in the morning and then got ready for the party, cooking and cleaning and dressing up. At 4 pm, guests started arriving and everyone gave gifts to Ashu and wished her a happy birthday and I was like "Oh! How sweet of them to bring gifts to Ashu since they are seeing her for the first time!" My sister had decorated the party area with Dora theme and Ashu was going gaga over all the Dora tissue, cup, cap, tattoo, stickers, etc... When my sister suggested I dress up Ashu in a pink party frock, I said no! I think you guys figured out by now where this is going. But I ll continue anyway since I am very gullible and not very smart in the smarts department! Anyhow, my sis brought out the cake after all the guests arrived and what do I see? Theres this beautiful Dora cake with "Happy 2nd Birthday Ashu!" on it. Well, what do you say for that? Have nt I got the best sister or what? Ashu was mighty pleased when everyone sang "Happy birthday to you" and could nt get enough of Dora! I rushed her to the bedroom and changed her into the party frock just before the cake cutting! (Listen to your sister people! Shes always right!) We cut the cake, played, caught up with friends, opened gifts and went crazy with all the books and toys. It was a blast! Thanks sis! You are the best! Ashu would probably be the youngest to get a surprise party like this one. And I certainly would be the oldest to fall for such a silly trick!

ps.
Yes, we missed you Hd. Eating two whole pieces of that delicious cake was tough even for me. ;)

Safe and sound.

I survived. Yippee! Ashu was a doll and behaved fabulously and made me proud when half a dozen people complimented her on how sweet and how nice she was through out the flight. But its never enough is it? Even if you travel with an angelic child, 14 hours in a stupid airplane can tire anyone out!

Pros:
The first row seat.
Personal TV screen.
The most friendliest steward I have ever seen. I strongly vote for Male Stewards. Fire those damn rude air hostesses!
A good natured child. Especially if its your own.

Cons:
OK I don't know how to say this. But this guy who was sitting in our row next to Ashu kept plucking his hair and EATING it. He was at it for 10 hours. He had bald patches in his head. Once I saw him pluck a lump of hair, ball it and eat it like cotton candy. I did nt let Ashu sit next to him. I kept her in my lap all the time except when food was served. I always looked at my right instead of that hair plucker(Translate this word into Tamil if you know the language!) and sprained my neck. I wanted to throw up violently every time I saw him doing it. I wanted some one else to see him doing that and almost told the friendly steward. But held my tongue at the end. This has to be the grossest thing I have ever seen in my entire life. Every time he was about to smile or about to strike a conversation with me or Ashu, I turned the other way and wished he disappeared. It was HORRIBLE. I am scarred for life. I don't know why he of all people had to sit in our row. And to think that nail biting annoys me...

Ashu went to sleep when the flight landed in SFO. I cleared immigration and collected the baggage. Carried sleeping Ashu, folded the stroller and kept it on the trolley. And pushed the heavy trolley with one hand while balancing Ashu with the other. The ten minutes walk to the exit was painful to say the least. I wish there were some airport staff to help passengers traveling alone with kids. What if I had more luggage? What if I had two kids? (How do you moms who travel alone with two or more kids manage? Do tell. ) Anyway, I come out and see what? No Bil! Sis had told me that she was nt coming to the airport. And there was no Bil either! I was bone tired. So just sat on a chair and decided to wait. 35 mins later, I see my Bil coming. I give him a fake smile and ask what happened. My sis comes behind me and gives me a hug. I am relieved to see her because I don't have to fake with her! I shout at her and tell her I don't want to talk to her ever. Ask her to carry Ashu as a punishment which she happily does! Hmmph! Ashu gets up and looks at them in a daze. Goes to my Bil and says Bye to me! That little Brutus!

California here we come!

Ashu and I are flying to SFO tomorrow morning. 12 hours of flying and 2 hours stop over at London. With a toddler. So you can imagine my anxiety so I wont go into a long rant. Just wish me luck. The exciting thing of course is I am going to see my sister! Yippee!! (And BIL you too of course!) The last time I visited them was four years back which was also my first trip to the USA. This time its going to be Ashu's first trip to the US, my sis has a new home, Im going to see loads of new babies as lot of our friends have been busy since the last time I met them and I can do loads and loads and loads of shopping for Ashu. Unlike last time when I was shopping for my friends two young boys and wished my friend had at least one girl looking at all the pretty clothes in the Girls section. And now I have one! :) And the books! I can buy English books without going bankrupt. Double yippee! We are going to be there for 5 weeks. Hd will join us in the last week. Poor guy, hes already missing Ashu and is changing her poopy diaper without me asking him to. Must be really miserable! ;)

Over and out folks! See you all from the land of Desis! ;)