Perfecting the mummy business!

So I played mommy to perfection today. Its been a hectic week, starting last Sunday, my cousins wedding functions took a toll on us, what with late night on both the Sundays, pre workshop stress, post workshop fatigue, change of weather that triggers lethargy, shorter days that make life tough in general...

Last evening, around 6.30 I crashed on the couch and told Rita to keep Aarshabh entertained while I recharge my batteries with some casual tv time. And just as I closed my eyes my boy started INSISTING on "Dhoklaa khanee hai!" At first I ignored it as one of those unreasonable and soon to be distrated out of demands. So we played along "khichdi khaayegaa babu? Pastaa khaayega? toast khaayegaa? cheezelings khaayegaa?" And no he wouldn't budge! "Dhoklaa khanee hai" he continued to pester and soon broke into protests almost going "Dhokla dhokla abhee chahiye dhokla"

Offo! Koi mujhe chain se jeene mat do I said to myself and quietly locked my self into the kitchen.

Within 20 minutes flat the Dhokla was prepared and served to his highness!

As I started to feed him little morsels of Dhokla a strange contentment took over and I was smiling to myself seeing the satisfaction on my son's face.

My God! Saala main to seasoned mummy ban gaya! The kind who dons the apron the moment the child demands an item number!

Its a mixed feeling of success (Dhokla was my first ever attempt, I struggled for a few minutes with the Dhokla steamer how the hell does one decode it!) I must mention my Just dial a recepie service - my mother! Yeah so mixed feeling of success and fear of the unknown now that the terrible two is slowly but surely clenching my skin into its slimy, thorny, poking claws, what demand shall come next.... one wonders! Will I be able to do justice? Will it ever end?

Aarshabh the song writer & composer

Dear Aarshabh,

off late you are constantly entertaining us with your impromptu rendition of some real 'masterpiece' numbers - some are original tracks but remixed to your own tune and others are modified to suit your sentiments.

The latest I am being entertained with comes while you are on your potty seat where typically you are at your creative best ...

'Chanda ne poochcha taron se, taron ne poochcha becharon se,
sabse pyaara kaun hai???? Hmmmmmm

Papa mere papa .... Gaurhav mera Gaurhav,
Mumma mera mumma ... Surhbhi mera Surhbhi

Ritaa mera rita ...

Masi mera masi ...

Nani mera nani ...

and the list continues right up to Atharvee to Puru.'

'Sajde kiye hain lakhon .... the stanza goes
chaahat kee gajar se kismat ki towel se apni wafaaein likh zaraa'

Among the bhoole bisre geet that have been remixed are

1. Dil ka haal sune dilwaala (complete with aalaap and THREE stanzas)
2. zindagi khaab hai
3. Hai hai ye nigaahein kar de saraabi jise chahein (with stanzas I even did not know)

I remember my mom tells me my Grand dad said about me "yeh woh radio hai jise chaalu karnaa aasaan hai par band karnaa naamumkin hai"

Tumko dekhte to bolte "iss radio ko toh chaalu bhee nahin karna padtaa"

Bolte geet rangarang kaaryakram

What is with Kareena Kapoor, somehow she is featuring in songs which your mother seems to be liking.

Yeah! Yeah! Keep the excitement down, I know you have a solid crush on her. We all can tell from the way you break into Aarshabh style dance the minute 'chhalia chhalia' comes on air or 'golmaal' comes on air or 'Ale' etc.

I am dedicating one such Kareena number to you my son! Whatever you do in life grow up into one chilled out person, take life as it comes and always be happy and always remember you are very special and much loved!

Here goes a song which contains all the messages your mother wants to convey to you and knowing you - what better way than music!

Yeh zindagi, raftaar se chal padi
Jaate hue raahon mein, humse abhi keh ke gayi

Hamara yeh waqt hamara jo ik baar gaya toh aaye na dobara
Samajh lo zara yeh, hawaon ka ishaara, mere yaaro

Apna har din aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Jiyo toh iss pal aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Apna har din aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Jiyo toh iss pal aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho

Hum sab jo saath mein rahe
Khushiyan sab haath mein rahe
Hum se bas faasle rahe yun, arrey tu ru tu ru
Chaahe kahin kisi bhi modh par
Bhigdegi bhi koi baat agar
Milke ik dujhe se kahe yun

Yeh baatein, hai chhoti moti baatein
Yeh aaye jaaye jaise ki din aur raatein
Na aankhon se lagana kabhi yeh barsaatein mere yaaro

Apna har din aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Jiyo toh iss pal aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Apna har din aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Jiyo toh iss pal aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho


Duniya matlab ki yaar hai
Iski aadat bekaar hai
Iss se kum rakhna vaasta tu, turu ru tu ru tu
Apno se rakhna dosti
Inn se doori har kami
Inn mein hi dhoondh raasta tu

Na jaana, yeh tune na jaana
Yeh manzil teri, inhe tujhe hai paana
Hai maine kaha hai jo, uss se mile zamana mere yaaro

Apna har din aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Jiyo toh iss pal aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Apna har din aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho
Jiyo toh iss pal aise jiyo, jaise ki aakhri ho

Words of wisdom II

So I am not a very tired mom today, I was yesterday though when you chose to woke up at 4 am and didn't sleep at all after that :-( Will you ever understand that mummy has a busy day and less sleep makes her tired! But as they say inconvenience is adventure wrongly considered, I thoroughly enjoy your entertaining and funny ways when I am forced to stay up with you and I can then appreciate what a great treasure it is to be enjoying a GOOD NIGHT'S REST.

As a result of having been well rested last night, I woke up early and am on the tedious task of preparing for winter - garam kapde nikaalnaa, dhhoop dikhaana etc. Isi beech ek coffee break toh bantaa hai boss! In the cleaning process I found a crumbled paper in some old book which I realized was among my long lost treasures.

While I was growing up, whenever I found something inspirational I'd scribble it on a piece of paper. One such random scribbling is being put here for you to have ....

This one is from 'success - The Glenn Bland method
"I do not choose to be a common man (in my case woman),
it is my right to be uncommon, if I can,
I seek opportunity, not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen,
humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk,
to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole,
I prefer the challenges of life to a
guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment,
to the state calm of Utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence,
nor dignity for a hand out.
It is my heritage to think and to act for myself,
enjoy the benefits of my creations,
and to face the world boldly and say,
"With God's help, this I have done!"

Brilliant! These words echo my life's story and ideology so perfectly and also will help you appreciate why your mother makes the choices she makes :-)

Chooda karma Sanakar!

Chooda karma sanskar or Mundan is one of the 17 main sanskars listed by the Vedic pholosophy that an individual must perform from 'womb to tomb'. The relevance ... well its there in the Sankar Vidhi book, I'll just gift one to my son when he is old enough to follow.

So Mundan is basically shaving off the hair on the head that the child has had since birth. As per Sanskar Vidhi, for boys the appropriate years are odd ones(eg having completed two when the boy is in third year). So Aarshabh was eligible for it this year.

While I follow the Vedic Philosophy and my ancestors were active reformists contributing in a big way to the Arya Samaaj movement, I wanted to honor Aarshabh's Grand Mom's (daadi) sentiments to perform this Sanskar in Navaratri.

So yesterday, October 9 2010 was the day. Actually I planned it for Sunday as in our world Sunday is auspicious (basically practical - I work Saturdays even). But on talking to G I came to know he was on his way to England on Sunday and would be stopping over in Delhi for an hour. Within two hours he called again, asking if I could prepone the whole thing so he could attend on Saturday.

There was no way I would get a Purohit to perform the ceremony at such a short notice so I decided to the honours myself. (Not that I am a castist in a bad way)but what the hec ... I am a Brahmin both by 'janm and karm' :-). Besides all these years of my Grand Father and later my parents creating the environment where perfoming havans becomes second nature has to pay off right!

So Dear Aarshabh,

here goes the account.

I know baby, I made a promise to myself that I will follow all the sanskaras by the book, and have done so far; supported with great celebration and having lots of people over, starting from Seemanto nayan sanskar (three months of pregnancy). I had reasons to go low key this time.
You know how I feel about Yajur bhaiya, he is not only your elder brother but my elder son even. He came in our lives and we celebrated like there was no tomorrow, thanking God at every step. It just so happened that we celebrated his Mundan again with alot of enthu, putting pictures of him on the invitation etc. Aur beta, Mundan ke theek baad, Yajur bhaiya was diagnosed with Lukemia. I know we are not illeterate, Mundan may not have any role in this, but hum jinse pyaar karte hain, unke liye hum dar jaate hain. Uss function ke baad ke sannate se hum itnaa dar gaye ki dobaara itnee dhoom dhaam karne ki himmat kabhee jutaa nahin paaye.

That is why we never went with a bang while celebrating your functions, it was either in Arya Samaaj with a simple lunch as prasad or at our residence with select few people attending. And both your Dad and I have developed a certain phobia for Mundan. Even Maamu may not wish an elaborate affair for Atharvee.

But true to my menti sental style, I did things to make it special for you. For one, I convinced Daadu to perform the Mundan for you (shaving your head). Papa did his bit by making himself available. I bought you and papa Kurta pajaama from Fabindia following a theme of blue (your dad is fixated on blue). I wore a green suit again from Fabindia. So on the occasion we were one Fabindia Family:-)

Naani, Maamu, Atharv and especially Yajur bhaiya (who is running high fever) came to bless you with lots of love, presents and your favorite 'shuun paapri'. All in all it was smooth.

We had our roles defined, papa held you on his stomach while you slept in prone position and daadu started first with a pair of scissors. I did purohit's role, dabbed your hair with ganga jal and kachcha milk along with chanting the required mantras, tied your hair in 7 partings with molly and dhoob (grass). Daadu first cut off those 7 strands while I had the movie camera in one hand, sanskaar vidhi in the other and kept chanting the mantras. This alone took us an hour. Then you woke up just in time for the shaver. At first you retaliated by crying, but soon you got engrossed with Papa's antics and were amused. But that could not keep you engaged for long, enter Debbie duck - the online story you love watching on my laptop. I set that up for you and we were nearly there ... the final touches were the most challenging because you had lost patience - we were at it from 3 pm till 5.30 pm. I think most of all it was Daadu who might have got really tired owing to all the concentrating and focusing he had to do.

The end result is Fantabulous. After having a bath with turmeric, yogurt and sarson oil paste, I got you ready, with a chandan kaa teeka.

MY GOD! itnaa divya tej .... thu thu thu ... meri hi nazar lag jaayegi.

Par beta tum bohot sundar lag rahe ho. Sachchchi!

Its a different story that since morning you have been bringing me clips declaring 'clip lagaayegaa babu!'.

So goodbye and good riddance to dreadlocks, good bye and good riddance to long shampoo struggles and finally good bye and good riddance to the trauma you went through every morning and the pain I went through while making your pony.

I do miss that bouncy little tail of yours especially when you swing from side to side when you dance.

And yes ... all your colorful bands ... mummy inherits them .... yippie!

My Prayer for my Son

Maa,

Aaj is Jivit Putrika vrat ko poori shradha se karte hue aap se meri yehi kaamnaa hai ki apnaa varad hast mere bete par banaaye rakhein. Aur aapke charanon mein meri prarthnaa sweekar ho ...

Meri Prarthna (I picked it from Yajasva)

Iss ghar kaa yeh deepak pyaara baalak aayushmaan ho,
tejaswi, varchasvi, nirbhay, sarvottam vidvaan ho.

Bane suman saa komal sunder, daani bankar daan kare,
dushton se naa dare kabhi yeh shreshthon kaa samman kare,

Maanav dharm samajhkar, chalne waala chatur sujaan ho,
Iss ghar kaa yeh deepak pyaara baalak aayushmaan ho.

Vijay chaotarfaa jai ho iskee, paaye sukh samman bhee,
shat aayu se adhik ho jeevan, kare dharm hit daan bhee.

Neta bane desh kaa apne, jag bhar mein samman ho,
Iss ghar kaa yeh deepak pyaara baalak aayushmaan ho.

Param bhakt bankar Prabhu kaa, apnaa yash failaaye yeh,
laachaaron ki sewaa karke sachcha sewak kehlaaye.

Mera naam amar kar jag mein, sabhee gunon ki khaan ho,
Iss ghar kaa yeh deepak pyaara baalak aayushmaan ho.

Jeevit Putrika Vrat!

Dear Aarshabh,

today has been a special day. Jeevit Putrika vrat is a fast observed by mothers (particularly in Bihar) for the well being of their Sons. Well the 'sons' bit is very patriarchal, if you ever have a sister, I shall observe the fast for her as well with as much enthusiasm :-)

This day begins for us mothers at 4 am when we offer prayers to Goddess Durga who is the Godess of seamless power and compassion. Maa Durga as we all call her, will always watch over her children and provide them with all her blessings and strength. We observe the fast and break it only next morning at 4 am.

You and I just sat through our special 'Aarti' where we actually sang 'Jag Janani jai jai!' Needless to say, as always you made it very difficult for me to concentrate, what with trying to reach the flame of the lamp, insisting on holding the incense stick from where it glows (lit part) smearing Digga (Teeka) all over your face looking totally like a monkey, and continuously demanding for Prasaad with 'Prasadda khayegaa babu". Its so difficult to keep you calm these days, but as always 'Om' chanting does the trick. But you don't stop do you? The next thing you break into is "Ab Adritta kare OM (and your Om is really loud) Ab Ananyaa kare OM, ab Aarav kare OM, ab Atharvee kare OM" and you go on chanting for all your friends.

I will forever be grateful to God for sending you to me, you are every one of my prayers answered :-)

May God bless you!

Woh gaana hai naa "maine tujhe maangaa tujhe paayaa hai, aagey humein jo bhee mile yaa naa mile ...... gilaa nahin!"

The Dreadmill!

Dear Maa,

For a change I decide to write something myself.

Ever since this thing you call treadmill, came in our home and lives, I have witnessed all possible actions on it saving the ONE action it is meant to do! I mean I get to climb on it, invite some of my toys as well (despite your continuous disapproval). Oh! save me the 'no no's; don't you see I am just trying to help.

Once you see me on it at all times, you'll remember that the treadmill is around for use! But you don't seem to get the hint. Then I get all blatant and say "mama karegaa slowly slowly walk!" To which your ready excuse to yourself is "I will; once Aarshabh sleeps" which, you should know by now ... happens quite rarely! I mean you need to jam it in the schedule with me MOM! My last resort is "Babu karegaa slowly slowly walk" which gets you all anxious and your "Nos" become louder and firmer.

So today, when Mamu came over for our boys evening, I told him "Babu karegaa slowly slowly walk" He gladly obliged, and put me on the treadmill, switched the button on, and there ... I walked effortlessly on it!

Wow! The experience, I can not even begin to describe, but what I can describe is the look on your face ... horrified, stupified, astounded, dumbfounded! I know if it wasn't for Mamu, you would have had me off the thing even before it started.

So mom, take a chill pill and get on with it!!!!!

Love

Aarshabh.

To my son,

honestly I was scared to see you walking on the treadmill, but I trust Mamu so I knew you'd be safe.

I get the hint, will follow your lead and really 'get on with it'!

Thanks for inspiring me my love :-)

Putra ki Abhilaasha

Every morning, on the Guargaon Faridabad road, that takes us into Phase I, on our way to TARA - my son follows a routine.

He looks out of the rear glass of the car and scrutinizes the traffic carefully until he spots something, and he claps effervescently and shouts "itane saare oto (Auto with a very heavily rounded o sound) riksaa!"

What follows next is "Oto riksaa chalaayegaa babu!"
Then he looks out again, the scrutiny continues ....
"Truck chalaayegaa babu"

The he says with finality "Snowplough truck chalaayega babu"

Oho! ab inse snow plough truck chalwaane ke liye mujhe kahan jaana hoga?????

My first ever movie theater experience

So last evening mummy took you for a movie outing. It was supposed to be a movie outing for mummy and Neha masi, but you needed to come ... well we need a man right, as chaperon ;)

I was anxious, have never done this before, never taken you out in the evening, once Papa and I tried and you cried so much because you didn't quite appreciate so much darkness. This time Nidhi masi was so keen we came, she was so eager to meet you, that I gave it a shot (with fingers crossed)

You were pretty cool about getting ready for ghoomi ghoomi in the evening, insisting on "mama passi jaayega babu" (this is what happens when Punjab meets Bihar - I mean passi and babu??????!!!!!)

Alright my little monkey, cling with me as much as you want, just don't get anxious and cry. Well you were happy that your usual partner Neha masi was also going. In the car, half way through the journey between Gurgaon to Delhi, you were bored with the music and insisted "Ghar jaayegaa babu" So we changed the channel, and kept hoping the radio guys go on playing your favorite numbers, Masi was quite a pro at that - being the jockey i.e.

Thanks to Neha who has way better orientation to places than I do, we reached the venue on time. You took well to the mall, unlike another time sometime ago when as we entered the mall you started howling, getting all stiff and red in the face causing both Papa and me heart attack and we had to come right back.

Infact you were very comfortable with all the lights and people. You were shy (as usual - N-31 trade mark) when you met Nidhi masi at first, and Nani, and Mamu but when you saw Harit, you were happy and shouted "baby passi jaayegaa babu".

It all began in the theater - for the first 5 minutes you sat on your seat like a well behaved child, and then the restlessness started to set in. You were repeating every SINGLE dialogue to the best of your ability. Then you wanted to explore the place. So you hopped off the chair and no amount of mummy's barricading the way with her leg, bag whatever else she could find would stop you.

And so the expedition began, mummy watched most of the movie hopping from one step to the next, holding Aarshabh's hand echoing his 'step down' from the top most step to the last one. We must have done some 100 ish rounds. And yes we even went to the fron row where you chose to break into a dance on the background score, thanks to all the floor lights giving it a disco effect. You stopped by every floor light, explored it in every possible way, touch, bang, hide, chaaaaa, circling it and constantly uttering a running commentary.

You also plunged into the garbage bin which was quietly standing in the side trying so hard not to attract you, and as I pulled you away from the bin saying "chee dirty hai" you broke into a never ending "chee chee chee kya kar diya maasi nein" You continued chanting your chee chee song along the rows, ensuring every one got to know 'kya kar diyaa masi nein"

Then you decided it was time for some academic work so you looked at each alphabet along the rows and started saying "A for apple, B for foot ball, C for cat - cat kaise boltee hai --- meaaooown, D for rita Didi, E for elephant - hathi raaja bohot bade ...and the poem) F for ..... and right up till Z there were alphabtes for which you didn't have names so you used intelligent fillers like H for Mamta didi, N for anima didi, L for Anjali aunty etc.

Completely disregarding an exhausted mother aching to focus on the movie, it was numbers time. And you went on a random number naming spree using words like 'untalis, paintalis, chhabis" etc.

Masi and Rita didi did come to my rescue from time to time, but mostly you wanted 'mama passi'.

I was happy to be with you because the movie was clearly not for you, very loud at some times and violent at other times. Each time anybody would scream, I'd hide you in my arms. Twice I had to take you out of the hall, but thank God you were so engrossed on your exploration that you were oblivious.

When I took you out, you just sprinted in the corridor not ONCE turning to look out for me, as though the whole place belonged to you!

I was telling Nidhi masi - "he seriously wanted to ensure that the money you invested in making this event successful is utilized well, so he enjoyed every moment of it".

I mean you were at it till the end, the movie ended at 11.30 and there was still no stopping you.

The only good it did was that once home, one did not require any effort to get you to sleep, you dozed off the minute you hit the bed and mama had to change your clothes while you slept peacefully.

But I must admit, it was extremely tiring for mama, and mama couldn't really focus on the movie. Even then, it was a good movie and Mama thoroughly enjoyed seeing you have so much fun.

I wish G could have been here. (But I told him every thing about it and he really laughed).

Gaur-e-talab hai what Sushant mamu said "it was such a pleasure watching him through out the movie, no marks for guessing he is your son, possesses the same spirit and chirpy enthusiasm like you possessed back in school".

And I grin being the proud mother. Iss par aapke Naanu kehte

"maa par poot, pitaa par ghodaa
bohot nahin toh thodaa thoaa"

My son is all grown up!

So we struggled this morning waking him up for Tara.
So he resented every routine ... brushing, bathing, eating ...EVERY THING!
But we just went on with the rigmarole completely disregarding tantrums.
In the car when he saw all his attempts failing, he did what he resorts to as his brahmastra (yeah Honey! I know all about it, I've seen it before, Neha masi grew up right under my nose ... and ... well it takes one to know one!!)

Well he started coughing with so much effort, khouwn khouwn as though inviting the khansi kaa devtaa to come to his rescue. Which, the silly Devtaa obliged and with enormous generosity. Aarshabh threw up right there in the car! All over himself and me.

(Oh! Shit!!!) I instructed the driver to take a u turn back home, we were almost near Tara when this happened. On the journey back, I called school to say I will take the day off, need to focus on battling with this lingering cold and cough both us mother and son are struggling with. Aarshabh's medicines are running out, need to get more from Delhi.

So as we reached our apartment building, I was thinking my boy is so uncomfortable with all this wet and sticky stuff around him but no .... he shouted "Yeah! ghar aa gaya!" I looked at him with amazement, normally people throw a fuss with all the mess .... but this guy is so thrilled to get home that he was happy to go up without me with Rita didi.

I dropped him and left straight for the medicine shop. When I returned, I was a little anxious - my poor son must be cranky, anxious, crying for mummy.

I opened the door to see this chilled out guy with Rita's mobile in hand and swinging away to Chaskaa chaskaa

I mean what was that supposed to mean!!!!!!!

My first serious scratch

Last week while playing 'Fountain in the mountain' you fell down and got up sporting a huge red patch of blood clot. You whined a little at first but got busy with the outdoor yet again, and my heart started bleeding.

Back home, my hands were trembling when I was applying dettol to cotton and was so nervous to clean your knee. I prayed to God and started reciting Hanuman chalisaa (however much I know) loudly so you could get distracted by the chant. And with shaking hands and tear filled blurred eyes, I put the cotton near your knee, and then with one swift attempt - on the bruise. You cried loud and I cried with you. I am sorry you got hurt.

It kills me to see you in pain. The other time I could not contain myself was last December when you were hospitalized owing to extremely high fever and they were making a prick for inserting the cannula. Normally I am very strong as I feel I need to give you all my strength when I am asked to hold you, your hand etc, but this time I was asked to step out - and God, even as I write this, my eyes well up ... turning away from your child who is communicating so much through his eyes is the most difficult thing to do. I just stood behind the door trembling, wiping my tears and praying to God to help you go through this.

I don't think I am as good a mother to you as you are a son. I feel I could not provide you the best start, I am still struggling to provide you all that I want to.

I just wish I am able to do justice to the amount of love you have filled my life with.

Now I end this teary eyed emotional drama with a little song :-)

Aansun tere niklein dil meraa roye,
chot lage tujhko to dard mujhe hoye,
tere zakhmon pe apnee zubaan rakh doon,
aa meri jaan main tujh mein apni jaan rakh doon!

You are the bested baby in the whole universe!

So you are learning to throw your weight around

This new thing you've started doing these days when in company of young children (your peers).

If you take a liking for a child, you just go and sit in their lap regardless of the fact that they are old enough to accommodate you.

You go and hug in such enthusiasm that the poor other child is knocked over and you fall all over them.

You treat your peers like dolls, you pull them by the legs while sitting, cuddle them, squeeze them like they were a soft toy and sprawl all over them.

Mrs Ahmed from Tara says its all very normal because you are finally recognizing your presence and getting a grip on life.

Your dad is always hyper and nervous and wants to know why his son is becoming a bully to which I reassure him that you are not being a bully just playful.

And before making complaints, I feel people need to see that you are definitely in need of more daddy time, which could perhaps be the balancing effect. Mummy is very nicely wrapped around your little finger.

It would be so nice if your dad could be there for you too.

Would make mummy's job far less challenging and help mummy be far more chilled out!

Aarshabhese Decoded

I have been meaning to do this for ages, but never got around to doing it.

Today I start the journal which will regularly decode the newly invented language called Aarshabhese (by the the Great Mr. Aarshabh Prateek)! This will be ongoing and I will keep adding to it as and when time permits.
For now:

1. Katlaa kat katlaa: The ultimate expression of endearment invented in Aarshabhese - when you find something / someone so delectably cueete that you can just go mad you say "Katlaa kat katlaa" Like I keep saying to Aarshabh and I did when I saw this picture above!

2. Digaa lagaayegaa - I want to put teeka (he loves putting teekaa - pucca Brahmin hai)

3. Nahin pehnaa makhin - I don't want to wear rakhi (he calls it makhi)

4. Mummy ne lagaaye mehni - mummy has applied mehndi

5. Bander kya jaane Adritaa kaa swad - He has a little monkey so I once said 'Aarshabh Bander - bander kya jaane adrak kaa swaad' he picked it up instantly and ever since says it whenever he plays with that monkey - Adritaa is his friend from tara.

6. Kappalbhatti Pannaayaam - Kapaal bhaati pranayaam.

7.

Words of wisdom from an otherwise really tired mom!

My Dear Aarshabh,

As I was rocking you gently back and forth, while making you sleep, it occurred to me that it has been ages since we had a mother - son chat! Baby, you have turned two! A big milestone indeed, and someone told me the 'terrible two' is a preview to the teenage! Here are some words of wisdom that I collected over my teen age and kept them locked in a diary for the day my child can have them! On your birthday, mama spent a month planning and getting all the 'right kind of toys' that will not just entertain you but also provide opportunity for you to use your creative instinct, for you to investigate, explore, experiment and enquire. But what I will give you now is for you to absorb, assimilate and imbibe in your day to day dealings ... as you grow in life. You may not understand most of it today ... or even in next ten years ... but after that ....this will make alot of sense! So happy growing my baby!

We start with 7 pearls of wisdom as it is your birthday month number(also I am tired and can't think of anymore for now, but will keep coming up with more I promise)

1. "Ghar se mazjid hai bohot door chalo yun karlein .... kisee rote hue bachche ko hasaayaa jaaye" always be compassionate to the lesser privileged, the helpless and the ones in need of help. If you can do something for someone, NEVER procrastinate,DO IT NOW; and always be kind, kindness pays!

2. In Shakespear's words "It is excellent to have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant". Always strike the perfect balance between physical strength and moral strength. Never be the cause of anybody's pain!

3. Always find a reason to smile (you inherit your smile from me)! Always be the reason for people to smile! Laugh alot, its alot of fun (trust me) as they say "Life is not a laughing matter, but can you imagine life without laughing?"

4. (this is something I keep drilling down your father's throat and I warn you DON"T FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS) "The Perfect way to add drama to life is to wait till the deadline looms large!". Be like mama "a stitch in time, saves nine", be organised and always have a contingency plan in place. Keep your things in order, remember 'a place for everything, and everything in its place".

5. Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights before the dark hours of reason grows .... always be connected with your inner child, because it is the childlike innocence in an individual that makes him unique and special.

6. Be careful about knowing excellence from perfection, excellence we all can strive for ... perfection ... is God's business.

7. Life is a movie and you are the star .... make it the ultimate block buster ... the grosser of the century!!!!

love you loads,

Ma!

Khatoon kee khidmat mein salaam apun kaa

Today is a breakthrough day! A day to be marked in gold in the history of the Prateek Sharma household! For it is today .... at 9:45 pm (IST).... that Mr. Aarshabh Prateek walked up to his mother and .... (take a deep breath)

Readily .....

Willingly .....

Patiently ....

brought his hand out to mama and said "Khaatoon khatwaayegaa" (well he says that all the time) but this time ..... HE MEANT IT!

Can anyone imagine my joy! I was so overwhelmed that it was just short of tears running down my cheeks with a beauty queen patent gesture of 'OH! thank GOD!' with my face in both palms!

OK, gone past the melodrama .. here are the facts!

Normally, in the Prateek sharma household, one is witness to this never ending chase between mama and son where mummy runs after baby with nail cutter in hand and baby runs further ahead 'Nahin khatwaayega khantoon"

(Khatoon Khatwaayegaa in Arshabheese is decoded as getting nails cut)

Poor mama has always been the victim of dirty glances by aunties who see Aarshabh's over grown nails as mama's continuous failure at being the good mother, or feeling guilty whenever a scratch appears on that beautiful face of an otherwise angelic child - and mummy feels why can't I do a better job at this! Having tried everything, warm water soaking, singing & dancing and making the ritual fun, doing it to self to the extent of losing the skin even, as nails on mama are long forgotten history! But nothing EVER works. Mama has to resort to the ONLY one thing left ... jalladism. She and Rita didi hold a hand while baby sleeps and clips those silly nails off. (Phew! Mission accomplished!)

But today was a different day! He ACTUALLY CAME UP TO ME AND GOT NOT ONE BUT TWO NAILS CUT! Thereafter of course .... his better senses prevailed and he was back to normal .. resisting any further mention of nails!

Never the less, its a start! We got two nails down with no drama and melodrama!!!!

May God almighty bestow upon my son more of such wisdom and may my child allow me more access to his Khatoons!

Tum Jo aaye zindagee mein .... Baat ban gayee

My Dear darling Baby,

A very happy second birthday.

While you are aware how I have been so excited and have been planning your day a month in advance, doing rounds of toy shops, cloths shops and searching the BEST things for my boy to own. We had a great birthday bash with just the people who mean so much to you. While we did miss Daadu, daadi, especially Cookie bua, but we still managed to have fun with Chaachu, chaachi, maamu, maami, Atharvee, Yajur B, Naani, Maasi, Mahen kaka, Rita didi and of course the CHIEF GUEST - Papa!

The Gajaraj cake was the highlight of the evening, and not to forget the decoration; where Rita didi blew the balloons with a pump, mum made the bunches of the balloons by wrestling with the thread so much that it injured mum's finger and thumb and Masi and Papa put the whole thing up - and conveniently took the credit for everything!!!! (this is when they burst so many of our bunches which were put together with great effort, and not to forget add to this, they broke a side lamp in the drawing room)

But over all it was a great show!

Like I keep saying to you all the time I LAAAAAAAAAAAVE you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! You bring a sparkle in my eye, you bring meaning to my existence and you fill my life with such beautiful colors that I can not thank God enough for sending you to me!

Thank you for being my baby.

Mummy loves you and will always be with you no matter what!!!!!

Hmmm ... Yeh hui naa baat

Dear Aarshabh,

Since your birthday is soon approaching; part of preparation was to give your not so updated blog a makeover! The other thing I promise is to update more frequently than what I have been doing in the past one year.

Keeping aside the many incomplete attempts of updating your milestones, achievements and making note of all the lovely things you do keep doing, I'll just say that you have filled our life with so much love and fulfillment. Just remain the most entertaining and delectably cueeeet (cross between sweet and cute) baby that you are!

Baby .... did I just call you baby!!!! OMG ... I'm so sorry ... we are so not baby anymore ... we are a Torrential Toddler.

If anyone wants a preview of the teenager experience they will be subjected to once the 'dependent' gets there .... this is the time. Let me put in a sample conversation

ME - (politely) " Aarshabh, pajama pehen lo"
A - (equally politely) " nahi Pehenna" ... and the pajamas are pushed aside

ME - (Firmly) "Aarshabh khana kha lo"
A - (even more firmly) "Nahi Khaanaa" .... and the plate is pushed aside

ME - (Sternly) "Aarshabh idhar aao"
A - (defiantly) "Nahin aana" ... and he turns away

ME - (defeated) "Aarshabh so jaao"
A - (victoriously) "Nahin sona" and he continues on his own trip!!!!!

I mean why must each sentence start with a no?

But I am smart ... I have started playing bhed (divide and rule) from the sama, dama, dand, bhed brigade and tell him

"Ok mat khaao, main joker baby ko khila detee hoon," and I start feeding his clown ... its working so far .... I hope it works for a long long time (fingers crossed .... hands crossed ... legs crossed .... the whole world crossed)

Sunny boy, feeding is such a struggle with you .... where exactly does one find the 'maa rotti ... maa lassi' kind of boys these days.

Chalo .... blog kee shuruat ho gayee.

Ab chaltee hoon .... lautke miltee hoon!!!