On our way

June'09

December'09

For Dummies

Tips for surving a student spouse, who is also employed full time. As a bonus, a toddler tails along (this is important).

• First off, you donot know what mode he is in. He might be tuned in as a student, an employee, a doting father or a grumbled hubby. Learn to pick signs asap. Serious unshaven face - student mode, don't talk unless you want to re-repeat. Picks up the toddler - father mode, your clue for some serious self-time - rush to make lunch/dinner, clean home, take shower. (Rachel Ray just cooks in under 30 mnts. Phew! What a show off!) Poker face - hubby mode - this one is a bit tricky, but with practice you can be a pro. Ask him to take garbage out, clean your car, transfer laundry from washer to dryer. Say all these at once and he will turn into other useless modes. Delegate in intervals. Use your charm, even if you smell of garam masala.
• For your sanity, befriend a fellow such mom. Misery loved company. They are still very much in love.
• If you happen to cross his Advisor on the grocery aisle, resist the urge to throw the rotten tomatoes. Be polite and ask if he needs help bagging some tomatoes.
• When a common friend comments on the hardwork he does, think about The Alpes, the snow covered peaks and the cows with those bells. If you are still out of control, grab your child's rattle and shake it. Under no circumstances shall you grab the friend instead of the rattle.
• When your boss wish you to have a relaxed weekend, don't tell him your relaxation is from 8 to 5, Mon - Fri. He might think you don't work at work.
• If you are overtired, chances are that you may not fall asleep as qucik. Feign interest in his thesis. By the time he explains a theorem, you would be in deep REM.
• Reinvent your culinary skills. Bring out the hidden chef in you. He might be starving by the time he is home that even brussel sprouts-artichoke Gumbalaloob would be appetizing.
• Your toddler will open a book and read, "donot disturb Daddy". Find humor in this.
• Do not vent your exasperation on your child, unless you want to be featured on his biography as the lunatic mom. Chances are that you will characterized so anyways, but why live/die with a guilt.
• Finally, when you are all set to shoot those pigs that will fly (he is receiving a PhD), award yourself with a PhT (Putting hubby Through). It is all together a different matter, if you have arthritis and/or bed ridden by that time. Thank God if you don't suffer from amnesia.

Disclaimer: Any resemblance to people in Upsi's household and vicinity could be purely intentional.

10:29 AM

did I not hurt you last night?

I didn't talk to you,
I was angry and
shoved you into your seat;
didn't let you finish the sand 'appam' you were making,
hurried up the bath you were enjoying
read stories you love in a haste
and lost my patience
over and over.

And this morning:

you called out for me
with kisses and hugs
pats and cuddles.

You really don't remember?

Or this your way of paying me back?

You won.
And I am sorry.

And I wish for you, son
that you win your battles so.

ps: Sometimes, I hate the rat race I am in. Racing against time.
I want to waste time.
I want to lay down on the green grass, face up, with my son and watch the blue sky.
I want to breathe in his baby smell and listen, really listen, to his world.
And do you know? That, I had to set up a time for that? A time to waste time?

Perumazhakalam

Daddy's don't love their children every now and then

Mr. Upsi and the Lil One had always shared a corner that I am seldom invited to. Sometimes I get a glimpse of it and my heart whimper to join their jovial company; they donot shoo me away nor are they rude in any way, but I step back and let them be. I have to be honest and admit that this bothered me a wee bit in the beginings, but now, almsot three years into motherhood, I know better. So most times, I stand back and watch the boys, unknow to their very selves fostering their relation. With jealousy behind me, I now enjoy and bask in this glorious father-son affection. I donot know if it is visible and prominent for any passer-by to register and remark on it. Perhpas it is the little observation that comes with constat companionship, that I have made. However, it gives me immense joy and a strange sense of satisfaction.

The Lil One (who is no longer the wee lilttle, but an young man with a whim of his own) had a hard time getting back to his routine of being dropped at school and picked up later in the day, after his month long vaccation in India. I donot blame him, it was such an onus to drag my own weary self to work after the holidays. But there were no time for such whimsies and we had to be back on track and get going. He cried every morning, feigned stomach aches and fever (which is when I realized I had to stop calling him the Lil One), begged and pleaded to be left back home. He even promised that he will cook by the time Maama is back from work. Now, that was a deal sealer and I was tempted, but sigh, those days have to wait. It went on for days and the high fever plus throat infection he had during that time were not helping either. This was bogging every one of us down. The evenings were windy and chilly and I couldn't lure with 'will-take-to-park-after school-if-u-dont-cry' bribes either. With the fever, he lost his taste, he didnot eat, the cough caused disrupted sleeps and his parents were not budging. What a terrible state for a toddler to be in! I tried not to loose my patience (failed), went down to his level (succeeded) and brazed myself for his tantrums.
He cried when the stop light didn't turn green the very second he wanted it to, when I went to the loo, when his toy truck didnt beep when he pressed the wrong button, when...you get the drift.
I was ready for a solo vacation and be back when he is thirty....or sxity.

Two weeks ago, he was back home from school and while he was deciding on a bait to cry for, I warmed up his milk, offered a plate of Parle G biscuits, sat with him with a cup of coffee for myself and asked about his day. He gave me snippets - that he had a lunch of spaghetti and meat balls (his school offers only veg food, so..there!); he worked on colors and glue and oh, R has a guitart (guitar - but he adds a 't' in the end) and mamma, please, I want guitart too. I carelessly nodded, my mind already on what to cook for supper. He told about the guitart again that night, before going to bed and to Mr. Upsi. He remined me the next morning, while brushing, having breakfast and later into the evening and night. It suddnely struck me that this was one of his 'firsts'. Him badly wanting something and conveying it to his parents of his need.

The guitart would cost thirty dollars. Not cheap, but not non-affordable either. I battled on whether to yield or wait a little longer, say, till his third birthday. In the car, on the way home, I told him I don't have enough money to buy a guitart and realized soon after that it was too early for him to make a connection of saving/having money and buying. Nevertheless, I kept repeating 'no money' whenever he asked for it, which was very now and then. A live pop-up reminder that could beat your outlook and such, hands down, any day.

Earlier this week, Mr. Upsi got home from school, weary and with an onset of flu-like symptoms. Oh-ho. The solo vacation should not wait any longer. I should be on board and not chopping onions! "Acha, where is my guitart?", is all it took me to be back. I will have to pass on that cocktail offered by that cool dude on my vacation. I looked up at Mr. Upsi and saw that faint glimmer of his foggier frog eyes melting under his son's plea. I donot recall what he replied. The mustard seeds were burining already.

Two nights later, I tucked the Lil One in our bed and was reading to him when the familiar click of Mr. Upsi opening the front door caught his attention and a gentle smile crossed his face. I was watching him -- his father's footsteps nearing and the anticipation of seeing him anytime now drawing near. Within seconds, he will be smothered under Mr. Upsi's hugs, his tummy would be tickled and laughter will fill the now silent room.

I wasn't too happy with Mr. Upsi's timing. A few mintues of delay, the Lil One would have slept and I could have moved on with my kitchen chores. But whom am I to come between the unconditional love! They hugged and rolled in the bed and Mr. Upsi went to change.....or so we thought. Because he was not seen in the closet where he usually changes. I was just about done replying to the Lil One that Daddy might be in the office room, when along came Mr. Upsi with a screech of "Loook...Guitart!!!". HA!!
I was not the least surprised and let myself be a silent spectator of what unfolded before me in the time that followed.

The Lil One was taken back for a few seconds - on seeing something he longed for, but unsure whether he would ever receive. Then he jumped up and down, pausing in between, marvelling at what is in front of him and back to his monkey dance again. He waited ever so patiently for his father to open the box and untwine the plastic wrap, where he could lay his hands on his much beloved guitart. Mr.Upsi, always the silent keeper of emotions, I watched his face, now a mirror of selfless pride on being able to offer his son a fulfillment. Their eyes matched -- brimming with happiness - one to give and the other to receive! Their hearts matched -- beating as one -- love in its most simplest form! It lasted for a few mintues, but I knew it will be etched in my memory forever.

So I am writing this down, for posterity. Because soon, my Lil One would have lost his childhood innocence. His wants and demands and needs will not be met by his father (a balded professor by that time) with the same intense. There would be fights, slamming of doors and days of no communication.

.....And maybe, at that time, this lengthy note will come handy. Reminding them of that winter night, of a much simpler age in time. And I want them both to know that "daddy's donot love their children every now and then......but that, that love is an endless one".

Much love to the boys.

Crisp white cottons

The whole thing confused her. She was never quite sure which ones went into the white batch and the other bright batch. At every load, she heaps them all onto a pile on the floor and begins to separate the whites from the brights.
The pure white ones were always easy, she found out. White under wears and t- shirts. Then comes the neutral tone ones, the ones that give her a headache. Neither bright nor too dim - the average ones, the typical ones. The ones whose place she is never sure of. Which pile do they go into? And she makes a separate heap for those.
In the end, there would be about ten whites, a few more neutrals and quite a bit of the bright ones. She puts the bright ones first; but there is so much space left in the washer. In a moment of insanity and indecisiveness, in goes all the three. And she watches them mixing, twirling and whirling around. Sigh. Life is such.

Heart at home

In a couple of hours from now, before the Sun gets his chance, Ammuma would be up. She would bathe and lit the lamp and chant the slokas. But today, it would be slightly different. She would pray more, kneel down a little longer and read a few pages extra from the Bhagavad Gita. By that time, Ammayi would be up, boiling water for tea and switch off the verandah lights.
Then the children would wake up, one by one, and the household would turn into a beehive. Bath and breakfast. Idli sambhar chutney. With their new clothes on, they would then go pick flowers, in blue red white purple green and yellow; yellow always dominating.

Ammuma would sit in the corner of the verandha, watching the ruckus - how the flower colors should be co-ordinated, what the design theme should be and the associated hubbub. She would sit in that corner, and think of you and me. She would close her eyes for a moment and remember how little we were and how soon we grew up. And grew away. She will think of each one of us, longing and yearning to see us all. Missing us dearly, wishing us the very best in life.

For, no Onam is ever complete without a thought to the loved ones in our life.

Happy Onam.

Midnight junk

There is something about the rain, something in the rain. Maybe it is her force and power to unabashedly leash her sorrow, desire and longing. No one asks her why. Her heart brims in abundance, washing away all that she sees, all that comes her way, until she finally reaches her one true love.

"I am sinner, I am saint. I am the beloved and the betrayed.
I have no joys which are not yours, no aches which are not yours.
I too call myself I".

I silently cheer her, longing to be her.

Motherhood, questioned

I've tried to keep our fights blow up after the Little One is fast alseep in his bed. In effect, first we'll let the tension brew, then we slowly simmer our anger and finally it pours down pipping hot, when he is tucked away and safe from the fury of his parents bickerings. Unless one of us find humor in the way our nose turns up or our lips quiver, and points it out to the other. The build up melts and harmony and much teasing ensues.

But sometimes, in our rush and hurry to satiate our egos, to decide who really was right, in our greed to outrun the other, we forget the Lil One, watching us from the corner. I catch sight of him, for a split second, his big beady eyes trying to decipher what's going on. I fail to register his face, lost in the war of our words.

This has happened rarely, but then he is only two, plus a few months. First when we lost our cool in front of him, he was way too little to chew solids, but I remember him wailing his guts out. Second time around, he watched us with a stern alert and cried copiously as our levels buzzed up.

And then, there was yesterday. Mr Upsi seated in the couch, yours truly in the kitchen and the Lil One caught in between. This time however, I registered his presence and knew clearly well that he was watching. That we were being watched. Since it was only an argument and no one was at gun point, I let it brew. Thinking it was okay for the Lil One to see his parents argue respectfullly, mind you and within boundaries the Lil One can decode.

At some point of time, Mr Upsi (it's always him. if he wants to protest, he can start his own blog) raised his voice. Since I did not have much points to butt heads to begin with, I let it pass. I was sinking it in and suddenly, there was a little finger holding onto my hand. I looked down and saw the Lil One looking back at me with such fondness that I picked him up, not knowing what else to do. He let himself be picked up, let his limbs and arms loose and rested his head on my shoulder. That snippet of time, I wished myself to be a good mother, if not the perfect. A quick kiss, and I put him down and went to bed to rest for a while. He followed me, asking 'why why'. I asked him to go out and play, not to disrupt me, not to cause a headache.
He okay-ed, laid down by my side only to sprint up a few seconds later and ask, 'mama, why?'.
I lost my patience and asked him to just get out. Mr. Upsi came by and picked him up.

Rest of the evening, I was at the back stage, not playing with him, but kept an eye for him all along. It was a much happening night to say the least, and when bed time came, I was only too happy to snuggle beside him and let everything pass.

I have seen him imitate raising voices and direct reprimanding at us, recently. Those times, I question my nurture. On what I impart. On the values. On the way I am bringing him up.

Years from now, I want to see him as an young man, who would offer his hand for a cause and always be good at his heart. Hopefully, I wouldn't frail away from offering him roots and a platform to spread his wings....

The white petticoat

Sometimes all I want to do is go back in time. Back, when I was the little girl with nary a care for the world, holding onto Amma's finger tip, wearing that white petticoat and watching the world with awe.

Now, life sucks.

I lost that petticoat and with it, my innocence.

Riddle-me-Ree, Who can she be?

Greetings wonderful MTBs!!!
and good work to all of you!
For having solved the riddle before
I give you all this clue.

The letter " K "

Write it down, add it on...
And let's move on to the next little song.

“A peapod she nurtured
A jelly bean she adores
Packing a mystery into an enigma
How entertaining she is, everyone knows”

Solve it and you get your lead
Misguess, and you lose your speed
Solve it slow but solve it now
And before you go, take a little bow

Go to 'Comments' and leave me a clue
Tell me which blog you are off to.
Good luck! Good luck! Be on your way.
You have your work, cut out for the day!

Stop. Please honk.

Among the lot, I like V the best. She borders on insanity and that by itself, scores her my brownie points. Plus, she shares her cinnamon rolls with me and if there is only one left and she is equally craving for it, she will 'accidentally' cut it unequally and offer me the bigger 'half'.

And today was her birthday. Which we knew atleast a month ago. As is the norm on birthdays, the girls will get together, pick a place for lunch and another place for 'deserts only' and crawl back to our office space after two hours of official lunch break. But V, being V, proclaimed that she wanted her 54th birthday to be special. I asked her if she is dying and if so, what her last wish would be. Not her last wish, but one of her wishes, she said, is to visit India. With me. I told her that is not happening, she can go to India, sans my company. We left that conversation at that, to proceed to the details for her self-proclaimed special birthday. This time, she wants to take us all, to a surprise location. She will drive and we will haul ourselves into her wagon to be driven to this rendezvous lunch place.

No post on V will leave the box without the mention of her husband, Kev. An established lawyer, pots of money. Mentioned his obsessiveness with Indian food. Oh really?, I asked. And then offered onion-methi bajji's, that I prepared. Used crushed red chillies and fresh green chillies. After a good greedy bite into one bajji, his whole face turned beet red. Mango laasi was then hurriedly offered, which he gulped in two seconds. Spoonfuls of sugar, and lamaze breathing. He forgave me. A sweetheart of a man.

V mentioned that she is also inviting Kev, his law partner Stacey and her new boy friend, Ryan for the birthday luncheon. So there I was, thinking she is taking us to an expensive sushi joint or maybe a high end cho-co-lat factory....some place, where I was sure I will be billed half my monthly salary. That evening, I casually mentioned to Mr. Upsi that, 'oh btw, I will be going out for V's birthday lunch tomorrow", dripped in pomp and splendour.

I chose my attire for the day carefully. Don't want to look too Average Jane, do I? A little blush and heels would help me blend in to the crowd she will be taking us.

It was noon already and we were jam packed in her car, cooing 'oh where are you taking us?, pray tell!". I noticed that the rest of the girls were also dressed up for the occasion. Ha. I am smart, afterall.

The car screeched halt. "We are here, ladies". I look around, and see trucks all around. Dusty road. Viola! She took us to a truck stop. Truck stop - where the truck drivers, the truckers, stop by for rest and relaxation. Of course.The food, I was later told, was invarialy good at truck stops. V and Kev come here often, it seems.

We walk in to the front door, and is greeted by smoke. And men, middle aged men with pot bellies, beard and a cigar. Another few with one foot already on their graves. Couple of cowboy boots and hats. Most probably took a shower when the Halley's comet was last spotted. A whistle or two, as we walk past these gentlemen. "Sit wherever you feel like, y'all", I turn back to find the waitress. A well endowed woman (front and rear) in her forties, wearing a super tight Tee, five sizes too small, exposing most of her mid section, juggling mass of flesh and oh, the Tee bursting with her buxom, says "wish you were here". Which I am sure, most of the patrons did. I might have had that deer-in the-headlights look, when V shook me and asked me to place the order. The other waitress was better toned, and kept calling me 'honey' and 'chica'. The only thing, I think, the place lacked,
was a good defeaning dose of 'choli ke peeche'.

And I tell you, y'all, what a boost of cofidence you acquire, after having a couple of these real tough truck men call you, hot. Just what a mother of a 2 y old with sagging unmentionables should hear. They might be a little over the hill, so what, so is George Clooney.

C'est la vie.

Open wells and broken hearts

With cupped hands, I hold the water
and I find you, my darling daughter
your eyes, your nose, your lips and your chin
I tremble and the water spills
with it, my heart shreds

I go back,
to my chained life
the sun rays through the creaked window
reminiscing my life with you,
my darling daughter...
===

Wells left carelessly open. When will you start paying attention?

Where the Lil One makes his way to the two's

Yesterday, it was the Lil One's star birthday, where he turned two according to the Malayalam calendar. If one goes by the global calendar, then his birthday is still three weeks away.
But I tend to like the confusion and chaos that multiple birthdays bring and most importantly, if I grew up thus and the Lil One is my progeny, then obviously, the beacon has to be passed. That is only but fair.

So, lo I wake up in the morning, after fighting the inner demon who always nudge me ever so gently to snooze the alarm and get few more minutes of shut eye. And usually I don't scum. But not today, when the motherly hormones are in full swing and I emerge as Mother India. Well, Mother Kerala. Will save the Mother India part on his actual birthdate.

And what do you know. Mr. Upsi and the Lil One wakes up to the smell of payasam and poori, and brewed coffee. And no celebrations are ever complete without those customary calls, first from the Lil One's Mush in India. She has already been to three temples, did archana and naivediyam and was waiting for dawn to break in the US of A, so I would call and she could her the Lil One's voice. By the time his Bappa and Bappu called (maternal grandparents), he had already downed one poori and was licking paysam off the spoon.

The temple visit was scheduled for the evening. The Lil One was picked up from his school and duly brought home.I offered him some paysam as a snack, since dinner was only an hour or so away and we had to be in the Temple on time. He didnt want any and I didn't push. Gave him a quick shower and while he was mocking around, I pulled out one Kancheepuram, two bangles, one and only one mangalasutra, finishing off with sindoor. Red sindoor, if you ask.
The Lil One ofcourse had to have the kurtha, which was sent all the way from India, just for his second birthday, to be worn to the temple. He kicked and screamed and had a huge meltdown.
"Amma, paaaak...". Ofcourse, he wanted to go the park and not the temple. And ofcourse, he didn't want anything to do with the kurtha. He was never picky on his clothes, didn't care and didn't mind what was put on him. So obviously I was shocked. The Kancheepuram was a crumbled mess by the time I managed to put the shirt on him. You know, a little three feeter wrestling with me and I could not win. There was a dirty jeans lying on the floor and he wanted to wear nothing but that jeans. The matching pants for his kurtha lay tossed on the floor. Patience was never my trait and I was this close to smacking him. Mother Kerala! Phew. Bah.

So off we went, in creased Kancheepuram and jeans-kurtha combo, buckled ourselves in the car, whistling our ride to the Temple. Red Chillies live two homes away and I had packed some payasam for her and her family. Suddenly, from the back seat, the little terror shrieked and pointed to the tumbler, saying, yelling, he wanted it. He had no clue what was inside and was done solely to irritate me.
Then I realized that probably he is hungry. So offered a banana, which he happily devoured and within minutes, he was back to a happy camper, singing songs and pointing to trucks to me each time one passes by.

On the way back from the temple, we had dinner of course. Idli, masala dosa with sambhar and chutney, accompanied by filter coffee. At the cashier, we also got some meeta paan.

The Lil One slept on the way home.

This morning, he woke up happy. But two minutes into the day, he was acting cranky. Wanted to have my toothbrush to brush his teeth. Only Amma's toothbrush. I ignored him, which led to a meltdown, I continued ignoring and finally, he came around, asking for his.
Breakfast was waffles. I asked him if I shall cut it into bite sizes. He nodded. And watched me cut the waffles. I was almost done, when he got most upset and told me, "No amma, no, no", complete with hand movements, pouting lips and fat tears. He wanted an uncut waffle. Duh.

The two's are here, I guess. Say hello.

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars

There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.

There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.

You feel it, don't you?

- Rumi

Some days are like these. Days, when no matter how well I completed a task, how well the lil one ate and how well I cleaned and scrubbed the home, and later in the evening, when Mr. Upsi comes in and encompasses my life, the little family we are building up --- no matter how settled I feel - there is still a void. Something that makes me ponder if this is all there is to it. That call seems so intense and yet not vivid, that it leaves my mind perturbed, unsettled and, the heart beats unsteady.

Gather up, I say. But the pieces fail to join, and the puzzle remains hazy and scattered.

An urge to do something beyond my regular oiled routine. I understand fully well that I haven't yet mastered the art of my profession. But that is not what calls me.

A need to fight for a cause. Or a need to shelter and offer a humane presence. A bit of selfless compassion. To have stood up and lived a life, and not simply have sat down and wrote about it. But is this the right time? And will there ever be something as, 'a right time'?

So I venture out. To look at those stars, hoping somewhere there my answer lies. Hoping, someday, it reveals. Then, would I have the courage and youthful brim left?

The little one

As I sit down and have coffee in the early hours of the morning, as I drive to work, stop at lights and as I switch on the desktop and see your brilliant smile, I realize how much my life has changed. How I long to see you in the evening and how much I look forward for weekends like never before.

And you, all of 21 months, have started school. A home based Montessori, like I say to co-workers who ask. The past few months have been difficult. First, your great grandma left for India, after taking care of you for almost a year. And not even a day has passed since, without you asking, "Mamma....Mush?". I reply to you that she has gone to India and then you sway your arm up, prompting me to say, "yes kannna..she went in a plane". You then hug yourself and blow a kiss, enacting the moments at the airport. This you repeat atleast twice a day. I wish I could read you, just to know what exactly goes through your little mind.

And then, the daycare hunt saga began. You didn't have a clue, but I think you can sense my anxiety, to a small extent, however much your little brain can process. We decided to go to Miss S's school. That was late November and from December, we started taking you to her place for an hour each every Monday and Friday. So that, when the time came for you to be there by yourself, you are better prepared. So that, the environment is not new and the people there are not complete strangers. This we did for a month and then in the first week of January, the evening before you were set to go, I decided to not go for it. There, you just got a whiff of your mom - spending hours brooding and then deciding on a whim.
Reasons I had many, on why Miss S is not the right teacher for you.

Re-research began, calls were made, lost some sleep and finally decided to visit the school you are in now. This time, however, I had better understanding of what to look for. Well, I was still clueless, but atleast I knew what I didn't want. Talked to the teachers and kind of realized that we share a common platform. Before I asked, they suggested that I could come with you for an hour or so for a week before letting you stay by yourself. And we went. Hand in hand, singing songs in the car and you authoritatively hinting that you would ring the door bell and not me. First day - you went in with me, and the minute we set foot in the house, you cried for a good 10 minutes for no reason. That had me in an all time low. I mean, come on lil one, I am right there standing with you and what in the world is upsetting you. Anyways, after that, you decided to play a good sport. And started enjoying the time you spent there. Then came lil S, same age as you, who cried the whole time we were there. You came running to me, to check why lil S is crying. I said it is alright and that it's all okay, but ofcourse my mind sighed and said, 'little do you know, that it will be your turn next week'.

That week passed in a breeze, you liking a few sessions and didn't want to even come home twice. For me, I got to know more of your teachers, their methods and principles, the way they deal with other little children, and a thorough idea of how the system works.

The next bulleted line in my list was to bid good bye to your Tiya. She was your nanny since you were 8 months old. She became part of our family and we both grew attached to her. A Spanish woman, in her mid forties, with a heart of gold. I am still at loss to express my gratitude for her. You know how they say 'it is a blessing to know you and have you as a little part of my life'. That kind of sums it up. She was Godsend and a true blessing. I could go on and on, but sometimes feelings and emotions and sentiments are best conveyed with a simple gesture. On the day she left, I made you touch her feet and seek her blessings. Ofcourse, she would have none of it and told me through her broken English and choked up voice, that she will always remember you till she dies. Being grateful gives you an inner peace and humility, that strengthens you in the larger scheme of life. Be grateful, dear lil one, always.

I was able to find another babysitting job for her, quite near our home for a desi family. We call each other and talk twice a week, she seems happy there. But she said, she thinks of you often and pray that you take to school well.

Well, this is week three and the going is not smooth, but steady. You cried non-stop for an hour and half the first day. The next couple of days, you cried on and off. Last week, there were improvements, you stopped crying after 10 minutes, got involved in a few activities and ate a few times. That first week and much of the second week, saw you in the crankiest self. It brought forth a stubborn little boy, I didnot even know existed within you. You wanted this and that, nothing pacified you and nothing soothed you. Earlier, it was a breeze to put you to sleep, but then that week you were up way past your bedtime and had to be plonked down on the bed. I tried to be patient, but lost it a few times. Then you caught a little cold, my heavy heart was bleeding and to put some fuel on your weakened body, I switched on the tv and stuffed you with Kanji. This I did for two days and paid a price for it the next couple of days. You wanted TV on for eating, for sleeping and even while reading your books. Well, in the next few days, the tables were turned and it was my call for the battle. You saw in me a stubborn mom, you didn't even know existed.

Towards the middle of the second week, you calmed down, I calmed down and we both waved our white flags. You still cry like hell at drop-off and fake cries at pick up. But after five minutes into it, you settle down in your room, get involved if you feel like it, else you stay and observe. You started eating okay and sleeping okay. Not in a way I really want you to, but that's the impatient me talking. I should not rush. Yesterday, you didn't let the teachers change your diaper and told them that only your Mama could do it. They didnot force you yesterday, but little one, it's not going to be an easy ride if you donot co-operate. I want you to hang in there for now. And I promise you - you will like it and have fun.OK?

From being the nervous bundle to being the 'did I do the right thing' bundle, I am much at peace now. I am able to talk to his teachers every day and after that, I feel much assured and secured. They are working with him, at his pace, gently sliding him in and trying their best. He is not forced to do one particular thing and disciplined in a loving way. I was worrying about his food intake (hi there!), but they asked me to wait it out. He is eating something, which is a good thing, they said. And within the next month or so, when he gets fully adjusted, they will then ask him to finish the food in his plate. In general, I am quite happy with his teachers.

Each day is an improvement and hopefully, you will settle in good within the next few weeks. For now, we just hug and pull each other's hair and say I-love-you in our own little ways.

A Halloween to remember

Rise dear ones,

For I now have a story to tell my grand kids. And oh! what a story it would be. On a cold winter night, the kiddos on the floor, a few lying down and another few sitting up right (inherited from their Grandpa Mr. Upsi, whom I have never seen lying lazily on a floor) near the fire place, me on a wooden rocking chair that creaks every now and then. A warm cozy place it would be. I might even add in a few tidbits to keep the story sizzling. But for now, for you my three readers, I present the actual facts. Fiction down the drain.

So last night, the night before Halloween, I felt bloated (too much of pooran poli or methu vada, I couldn't' tell) and nothing, nothing but a jog, could ease my bloated self. It has nothing to do with watching too much Julia Roberts/Sandra Bullock/Renee Zellweger flicks, where the heroine runs a mile or two, to clear her heart and mind of life's brutality. They come back, sweating and take a warm shower and the next scene you know, they are as warm spirited as a cup of warm cider on a cold winter night. My wanting to jog had nothing to do with it of course. (yes, we have netflix account and movies come and go, like the milkman of yesteryear's).

At this point, I would like to let the readers know that it has been quite a while since I jogged and quite a very long while since I had had a night jog. Mr. Upsi gnawed at my decision, but by now, he has accepted the eccentricities of his lovely wife. Ha, the sweet travails of couple hood!

The little one was fast asleep by now. I changed to my jogging out fit (which is nothing but track pants, white Tee and sneakers. Not that you are interested in my attire, but a story needs to be wholesome). Opened the front door and a cold gust of wind swept my face. It is October, for Lord's sake and no sane person jogs at 8:30 pm on a cold October night. When I was little, I wanted to prove to the world that I was different. And then I grew up. Didn't know whom in the world I should be proving to and what for. But sometimes the streaks of childhood surfaces like flotsam. And last night, maybe, I thought jogging at night would prove something. Its either that or I need to shed my insanity once in a while to keep my sanity.

So anyways, reminding myself of a determined bull ready to knock the rodeo off, I braved the cold and started warming up. Then slowly gathered pace and momentum. Before I knew it, I was running six miles an hour, along the dark alley ways and down the path. The trees loomed larger than life, the clouds dark and gloomy, evoking a tangible sense of danger. The kind of night where one is sure that the battle between orcs and beasties are in full swing in the sky. Or as if Hogwarts school is in full frenzy (now that Dumbledore is so popular).

Everything around me was eerie and creepily quiet. Not a single soul around. But only evil spirits hanging out, grueling Horcruxes and having a vile ball of a party.Thoughts of ghosts, specially of a desi kind, white saree clad and feet a foot away from the ground and long hair, crossed my mind. I keep my desi roots, you see, even when it comes to deathly hallows.

But I kept the pace. One brave woman, I was.

And right then, when I was about to take the bend, I saw the silhouette of a brooding figure, holding on to a dog. The figure half seated on the lawn that joins the pathway. An illusion, perhaps? But a nanosecond later, I knew this was for real. Right there, I was going to be battered blue and dead. Racing pulse, pounding heart. I let out a loud 'help'. Nothing came out at first, but a faint shortness of breath. And then, on top of my voice, gushing with all force and might, and with a thick mallu accent, I shouted 'yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllppppp'. I never knew that would be the first word one would let out when face to face with death eaters. Not an 'AAAAAAAAAaaaa" or "Ammmmmmmaaaa". But an "yeeeelp"!!

The figure leapt out. It was a she with a dog (didn't stay longer to find the gender of the dog, you story-poopers!) The lady apologized 'oh I saw you coming and didn't want to scare the hell out of you. My dog was a little nervous". Or something to that effect. I couldn't clearly hear her, forI was still running.....running for my life....away from her. The dog was howling, and I muttered a 'sorrryy.....I afraid of dogs'. Liar. As if it was just the dog I was afraid of. I ran home like there was no tomorrow.

Stammered for a second on how to narrate this whole escapade with Mr. Upsi and Grandmom. "You know what happened", panted a slightly shocked me.
"what? chased by a ghost or a dog?", asked Mr. Upsi, eyes still fixed on the football game. Faint sound of Grandma's laugh heard on the background.

Second thoughts on Mr. Upsi having an office affair with a blonde and having me out of the way, through this attack? Did he hike up my insurance premium? (Here, I blame the netflix movie over dose.)

"Ok..this is what happened", and I narrated the works.

A slow evil smile dawned on Mr. Upsi and I said "ayayyay.....happy spooky Halloween. I was kidding. LOL, you believed me, didn't you? Jee. HOHAHA."

Grandma looked skeptical. To believe or not, that was her question.
======

Now - Ini, Mini, Miney, Moo (names of my grandkids)-- tell me, did Grandma make up this story?

An overdose

Work, as if
you don't need the money

Love, as if
you've never been hurt

Dance, as if
no one is watching

The sound of music

History has a strange way of repeating itself. Doesn't it?

Take for instance the Upsi household. On most mornings of any given holiday or weekend, the house blares of music. It is in the background when Upsi cooks, fights with Mr. Upsi, plays with her little one and when the family dines.

And then the other day, after putting her little one to sleep, she was preparing the weekend brunch, humming to a long lost tune, when a gust of nostalgic wind found its way through a little crack on the kitchen window sill and brushed her ever so gently. At the drop of a hat, she can wade to distant lands, back to her home, back to where the first rythm of enchating music was taught to her. Back to her place where the hills are alive with the sound of music.

Both on her paternal and maternal side, music was worshipped and sought of as a passion. Most everyone in her family could decently hum a Karnatic keerthanam and discuss the raga it is based on. Well, almost most. Her father lacked the trait to an extent of family disgrace. Put any music on and he would choir with absolute lack of co-ordination. His beats are always misplaced and chords never threaded. Simply put, he was a shame, the black sheep of the family's boasted music lovers. He appreciated music whole heartedly, but you could tell -- it was not his true love.

Now, Upsi's mother, she is a different story all together. Music put her at ease. Hushed her babies, nephews and nieces and now her grand babies and grand nieces with lullabies and, instilled the passion for music in them all. She has a melodious voice, but not enough for the crowd to go wa-wa-wa.

All the kids in the family were taught music. Irrespective of how they sounded. There were no second thoughts.

Geetha akka, daughter of Sharma sir who housed near the Hanuman Kovil, told her grandmom about the music teacher of the locality that they moved to, after Upsi's father got a transfer. Calls were made within seconds after grandom reached home back from her daily temple visit.

It was anyways the month of October, Vidya-aarambham month. Easy enough to choose an auspicuous day to start the first paattu class. In the wee hours of the morning, Upsi and her sister were violently shaken from their sleep and bathed in the freezing cold well water.

Lamp was lit and after kneeling down, they were off to Viswanathan Sir's class.
'Sa...Pa....Sa..., repeat after me', V sir.

They repeated and a second later, Upsi roared with laughter at their horrendous vocal. Noise, not music. She was hurridely hushed by the family elders. The silence that ensued after they reached home and the news of their loss was passed around; it felt like there was a death in the family. To not let the word out that the sisters were such pathetic singers, Viswanthan Sir was kajoled to come home and teach them. Harmonium was brought from Karunakaran's musical shop.

Looking back, I think, the grand elders thought that the prospective grooms' family for the sisters would be looking for a melodious voice in the girls. That they might be asked to sing. Pheww! How wrong!

All that Mr. Upsi asked on their first meet was about some damn project she was working on, which she had no idea herself.

Anyways, V sir came twice a week, and also taught violin to their Mamma. The sisters had to be dragged from their evening game of seven tiles and hide and seek; ushered for a qucik wash and then one of them would get the folded mat from the pooja room, hold it in her armpit and lay it on the floor. Weary from the game and hating the whole world, especially their mom and grandmom, for making them go through an hour of Sa-Pa-Sa, they expressed their wrath through their music. Their mind was tuned to the game outside, that when Chithra yelled after putting all the seven tiles back, they would suppress their happy grins.

"concenrate on the pallavi and anu-pallavi. not on the noise outside", V Sir.

"you both should get up early every morning for the saadakam, practice the raaga, only then will you improve".

Summer holidays were worst. V Sir's schedule was changed and he would come in at noon (sisters nap time) or in the evening right bfore Chithrahaar on DD. Upsi and her sister, tom and jerry on every other matter, united for the musical cause. So if one of them is particulary sleepy and wanted to nap five minutes longer, the other would lie that she is in the bathroom and an unsuspecting V sir would wait.

And oh, how could I forget that particular day when V sir came ater 2 weeks off. Ater gulping down buttermilk, he asked if they practised every morning.

Pat came the non-chalant reply from the sisters, 'yes sir. we did'.

Upsi bought the harmonium and her sister got the mat. They were about to put the 'shruthi' on, when two cock-roaches jumped out of the reeds chamber of the harmonium.

The sisters squealed. Two week thick dust was dusted off and cockroach killed by the 6 year old cousin who happened to be around.

They learnt karnatic sangeetham for five long years.

The older cousins have flown the coop and the little cousins are still learning, back home. One among them stopped a few weeks ago when board exams intervened. Nobody has seen him that happy. Pointless to mention, none of Upsi's gen could sing.

But, it is hard to uproot something you are so familiar with right from your childhood. It becomes a part of you. Kind of inseparable. It might lie dormant, but boy, it would resurface one day! Sometimes with a vigor hard to quiten down.

For, Upsi is now seen running behind her little one, asking him to sit down on the mat - cross legged and facing her. And she goes, "Kannna......sa-pa-sa", repeat after me.

And an unsuspecting Kanna looks backat her and giggles.

Recital

I could write about
how I watch her moves
hawk-eyed.
On how being the first woman ever
just doesn't cut for me
You got big shoes to fit in,
no doubt Ms. Patil.
Show us what you got
Lead us fair and brave
and then we'll append
the XX chromosome,
heck! not a second sooner.

I could write about Dr. Kalam
"Salutations to you, Sir!
Your presidency was well revered.
A mighty heart, I concur
and when you step down,
I stand up and applaud
goose-bumps all over
In the end, I started combing my hair,
Kalam-way."

I could write about -
of wanting to be home
to be with my lil one
'cose he is growing up
taking short flights
a baby step away each day
when all I really want,
is to nestle him close
before he flies away.

I could write about,
Will and Bill
who came & complicated
my work days,
with rules and regs
that I dreamt of OSHA
for a while.

I could write about S & P,
moving away from their crescent cove
I'll miss them,
more than words can tell.

Heck, I can even write about
gosh oh gosh!
of wanting to feel a little-little one
in my tummy again;
and why the practical me,
should wait.

I could even write about my first crush,
his Kathakali performance
and Yanni's concert.

I could write about,
longing to be back home
by the river Periyar.
where I could stop and smell the flowers,
so to speak.

I could write about the testing times
when spirits hit rock bottom ,
and a part of me
got buried deep.
when life was a bitch
and coffee, a saviour.

But I don't.

Instead:

I watch the Dallas rain
at 11:00 in the night
trickling down the pane.
On an instinct I move
and check on,
the two guys in my life
sleeping side by side,
arm on arm.
I rest my head
and watch them content..

all's well in the Upsi-world.