Happy First Birthday, Arjun!

Dear Son,

Your dad and i cannot help wondering where and how time flew by. Today,as you turn a year old, we can see you proudly flashing those 4 and half teeth and boy!those nimble limbs ambling away to glory. Each milestone was full of precious moments of joy and happiness. It was a delightful time seeing you break pots and pans, dig up plants and catch ants and how you preferred to chew on vegetables than your teethers. 

Your love for everything electrical and gadgets doesn't come as a surprise.You love trying anything new, which is good and your dad gently calms my anxious nerves from time to time.

Your dad and i want you to be as loving and fearless as you are now. People say, one ought to fear God - but we feel, God is a loving one.You are a remarkable kid - you've inherited your dad's travelling genes and many believe, my demeanour (which i disagree sometimes). 

Stay cheerful and continue to spread love and sunshine and we will be reminded of our follies with that hearty and infectious laugh of yours.

Love,

Papa and Ma

Monkey came to say hello

While in school, those of us who did not know how to sing decently in the choir made do with this ditty,

      " i wish i was in the monkeyland,

        the place where i was born.

        a monkey came and kissed my cheeks,

        and said, "goodbye!" to me!"

And, there are three versions of rendering the same song. Really, it was some song. The only vivid but remote monkey tales of my childhood were going to Lady Hydari Park and teasing our evolutionary ancestors from a safe distance. Yes,my brother got attacked and scratched by a big male for having touched the cage. Our first landlady in Shillong was the monkey-old lady ( word for word in the vernacular, meaning the old lady who had a monkey for a pet).

Of late, Hyderabad is gradually experiencing the summer in the air. The mango blossoms sway in the gentle breeze of the afternoon and the jackfruit just hangs in there in the sun taking its time to ripen. The chickoos, stoic as ever show no signs of friendly banter. And, the yellow and pink blossoms on those graceful trees adorning the boulevard is quite a visual treat.

And yeah, we got back from our jungle safari weeks back but methinks, i have jungle signal-lag. I was so used to the guide and driver telling us to keep our ears alert in the jungle and to differentiate one animal sound from the other. So I know how a monkey hoots.And, yes, i am not imagining - Jubilee Hills these days, our road reverberates with monkey hoots. There are so many fruit trees fencing every house. Of course, V dismissed it with as much disbelief. My maid - ditto.

So that afternoon, post lunch the young man was getting ready for his early evening bath. He was in the living room with the maid crawling all over the  house like a cub leaving oily marks here and there.The kitchen door is always left open for the afternoon sunlight.It is quite a pretty picture.I went in to get his clothes and other accouterments ready for his majesty's royal bath. As i walked back i see a bushy-tail on the dining table, yes the dining table. Excuse me? Not the neighbouring Tamil cat, is it? No, that's not a catty-tail. That looks like a monkey.I ran towards the kitchen, and there he was waiting. I scared him from the word go. He gnarled at me. I had nothing around me to throw at him save a basket of oranges on the dining table. No, i am not sparing them for you.I grabbed that half-filled plastic water bottle and hurled at him. In no time, he was gone and i could see him on the roof of our neighbour's servants quarters, plucking a berry here and there. He seemed like a total loafer.I called out my maid and showed her the monkey proof. She was like - wah! We both promised to be careful since we have a delicious crawler in the house.

Called V and reported the appearance of the monkey. The father in him suddenly became protective and we thought we should inform the municipal authorities but have you heard of a monkey catching squad ever in India? Jai Hanuman!

My maid brings home monkey proof stuff. Don't ask me what!

Arjun and the Giant Ferris Wheel

Yes, i am not devoutly regular in blogging about what my son is upto these days. My husband tells me to capture those memorable milestones lest i forget the details. Yes, i forget so many details  to note,everyday, every waking moment. He is such an engrossing personality - he just won't allow me or rather remind me to go pick up the pen or the keyboard. He observes, quite intently and loves attention.

So we took him to Numaish - V has nostalgic tales from childhood and what a different Hyderabad it used to be without too many shopping malls and the jazz. As we entered, the bright and colourful stalls selling lovely apparel and bags for young girls and the footwear just made me want to have a fully grown daughter.

The Kashmiri stalls cannot be missed- the suits, the saris, the shawls, the carpets and the dry fruits. The UP traders and their handloom stuff - not everything is handloom, though! You have pretty much everything you want for your house in one or the other shop.What struck me the most was the humanity teeming there - small and big families. It was heart warming to see families from all backgrounds- the father bringing his kids and the mother of his brood there and gently alternating the rides and games among the siblings without making one child less loved.The candy and ice-cream treat took care of the rest. I have to admit the govt. has done a great job in terms of arrangements like toilets, security and police bandobast - yes, the complaints, nonetheless. Our thumb rule has been, never buy anything that is already and readily available in the city stores. Spotting the unusual knick-knack and some childhood toy here and there - we still ended up spending close to 3.5K and not a single item is clothes or shoes.

So we are at the rides area and we look at the closest to what is baby-friendly.Not the baby-rides, if you know what i mean. We were going to take one ride as a family.The Giant Wheel? I was like trying to race back in history when was the last time i sat in one - it was quite some time ago.V kept asking me if i will be fine and i kept telling him ya ya!Tickets and queue. On closer inspection, the seating box was a swinging basket!Oh!And the board read - Today special - 5 rounds!Once secured in the case, i held myself secure to the railings on the side while V held Sonny boy and gradually, we went up.We had a bird's eye view and all. And the descent was not at all comfortable for us adults.The next moment, everyone i can hear, is screaming their lungs out as baskets took turns to swing sideways in mid-air - you get the feeling you will topple out. The 5 rounds became 10. Sonny boy gave a strange look, closed his eyes. I was relaying that bit of info to V.V, nervous because i was nervous asked me to keep talking to Sonny boy. So i was talking very loudly to Sonny boy - everything's gonna be ok! Just 5 rounds ok!Just 5 rounds! we are fine! we are fine! Sonny boy never winced or screamed, he was growing uncomfortable with how we were holding him tight and secure. He was also feeling sleepy. Finally, the ride came to an end. Sonny boy was more than awake. He was on an eating spree after that!

What a Numaish!V is waiting for the boy to grow up fast for bigger adventures.Like really.