Wish list for 2011

Well, I thought of writing a blog for my new year resolutions for 2011. Like, for example, I will get up before Sri wakes up every day, I will not torture people by writing blogs, etc. But then thought, why waste time and energy penning down things which I know I will never follow. So, instead this blog has turned out to be what it is now….

How I wish, that I can get my hubby that Honda City, he always wished for, if not that, atleast the Benz E class, if not that, atleast the BMW, or Volkswagen, or Porsche or….or…or…

How I wish that my hubby gets me that beautiful diamond necklace, or atleast that white gold jewellery, or atleast the platinum one…or…or…or…

How I wish that Smruthi stops comparing what she wears to what I wear…(I’m getting sick of hearing ‘nee mattum churidhar pottiurkiye…enakku enga? Nee mattum jeans potturikiye…ennakku enga?’ and stuff like that. Why can’t she just wear what I make her to wear?)

How I wish that Swathi lets me to stop brushing her teeth and allow me to rinse her mouth every morning. Why can’t she understand that all the paste in the brush has already gone inside her tummy and it is now time to rinse her mouth?

How I wish that I can go on a world tour with my hubby and kids in what is called as an onsite official trip?

How I wish that my friend really believes that I DO work in my office…

How I wish that my hubby stops……………………………………

How I wish that all my wishes come true…….

How I wish……………………………….

How I wish………………..

How I wish…….

Chaand Taare Tod Laoon… Saari Duniya Par Main Chhaoon…
Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai… Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai…

Looking back….

2010 is almost over. Another year has gone and I have grown another year older. Sigh! For that matter, everyone I know has also grown older. Yay!!! Just like any other year, 2010 also bought with it, its own share of ups and downs. Looking back, I can remember only more of the ups rather than downs. The first thing that comes into my mind when I think of 2010 is that I have made two job changes in the past one year. I have to slow down.

On the career side, I have grown well in the last year, received some hard-to-get client appreciations and of course have had an onsite experience as well. Personally, well, everyday has been good. Touch wood! With two naughty kids and a wonderful husband, life is moving very fast and every day has bought with it a new experience. On that note, my patience has also reached its breaking point because of them. Smruthi has adapted well to her new school and progressing well. I am happy that she is comfortable in her school environment. Swathi - no comments. She is growing at a rapid pace, outgrowing her sister in the mischief section. Like father – like daughter!

This year has also made me realize the presence of God in many ways. Sai has made me feel His presence in my everyday life. I have got wonderful experiences which has re-enforced my faith and trust in Him.

And the biggest realization of this year has been that my hubby has finally learned to give me surprises. Yes, after FIVE years. When I came back from UK, he greeted me a beautiful single red rose at the airport. So, even this guy has missed me. Not bad! As if this is not enough, he surprised me with a cute teddy bear and a greeting card on my birthday. Well, what more can I ask for? Being apart for one and half months has worked wonders to our relationship. Seems like the onsite trip has served a purpose on the personal front as well ;-)

What else in 2010? To be frank, I am not able to recollect any more of the happenings in early 2010. The recent events of my UK trip, home-sickness and missing my daughters has clouded everything else so much, that to be back with them amidst the usual tantrums feels like a blessing. Only hope that 2011 also brings as much joy and happiness to me and everyone around me just like 2010. (Minus the onsite trips please)

Thank you 2010 and a warm welcome to 2011.

Wishing you all a very happy, happy and more happy and prosperous new year 2011.

May Sai bless us all and bring peace and happiness in our lives….

30 days passed

It’s been 30 days since I last saw my family, my loving kids and my beloved husband. Somehow, the 30 days have passed.

On the official front, I am now confident enough, than I was during the beginning of this trip. We have attained clarity on what needs to be done, and what’s not to be done. Having gained that, time seems to run very fast. On that note, it’s only 7 more working days before I leave offshore and there’s a truck load of work to be done. And I am working really hard (though some of you may say that I hardly work – stop that PG!) to complete my assignment, mainly because I want to do justice to this trip and most importantly, I don’t want my trip to get extended because of the delay.

Time has a very bad habit of speeding up when you want it to slow down and slows down when you want it to speed up. I wish it would slow down when I am in office and speed up when I return to my room. The eight hours in office vanishes before I know and another day has gone pushing me closer to my deadline. But the moment I enter my room, loneliness hits me. I think of the days when my daughters come running to me when I return from office, leaving behind whatever they were doing, the fight between them as to who gets to me first and so many other things. I while away my time thinking of those moments, and obviously end up crying to sleep. And the worst part, there are still TEN MORE DAYS to go. Given a choice to stay and complete my work or return immediately, which one would I choose? Family or career? It would definitely be my family (as my hubby already knows), because, I can manage these tasks anytime from offshore. How I wish that a fairy would come in front of me like in the Cinderella tale and take me back to my family – THIS INSTANT... Time, time, fly away fast…

The countdown still continues…
10 more days to go…

Realization hits…

Before coming here, I knew that I would definitely miss certain things in my life like:

-My family
-That cozy hug (including my kids)
-Home-made food and so on.

What I never knew was that I would miss even the not-so-important things in my life, like

-THAMIZH. Meeting a person outside our group who spoke in thamizh would bring so much joy to our hearts.

-South-indian food. God knows what the attendant thought of us when we shamelessly hogged on the pongal, sambar vadai, and masala dosa in the restaurant in London yesterday. (After such a long time). He couldn’t control his laughter when we asked him “Ingayaavadhu coffee-la paal viduveengala” and he answered, “pakka namma ooru coffee tharen”. And yes, he did give that pakka namma ooru coffee.

-Climate. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would miss Chennai climate. CHENNAI CLIMATE. My God! But, to leave the house, as and when you wish, without having to wear a hundred extra fittings, without covering all your beautiful dresses with a stupid winter jacket, and most importantly, without the stupid monkey cap, is really a blessing.

-Couples. To see couples walking hand-in-hand would bring a pain pang in my heart. I knew that I would face this, but it is still a pain nevertheless. And last, but not the least…

-BATHROOM MUG – Yuck!!!!!! (This one word summarizes it all.)

On a bright sunday morning...

View from our restaurant window

Yeh pyaar kaise hota hai....

Woh pehli baar...jab hum mile...
haathon mein haath..jab hum chale...
Ho gaya yeh dil deewaaana…
Hotha hai pyaar kya? Kisne jaana??????????

The Countdown has started….

You never know what you missed until you experience it. (Old)

And you never know how you would be suffering, until you experience it. (New)

For so many days, I have wanted to go onsite and was waiting for one such opportunity. Now that I have got one and I am here in UK, I don’t want it. Hope my manager does not hear this statement. No, its not because of the work, just that I have started to get home-sick. Yes, within two days of staying away from my family. And to think that I have to manage for another 5.5 weeks, God save me.

Since it has already been established many times that I am a sentimental idiot, why, why, why did I think that I can manage without my family for 6 weeks? And why Sri, Why did u let me come here?? Why didn’t you stop me from going? It should have been like he got back his bachelorhood without his wife around for so many days. It must have been too good to resist, and that’s why he said OK. I know it was all my choice and I am using the ‘Blame him for everything’ strategy again, but that’s OK. After all, being his wife, I do have that liberty, don’t I? And I don’t even want to come near the kids section. They are being wonderfully nice and managing beautifully without me. How I wish that I had such maturity. My MIL was right in saying “Ur daughters will behave well. See to that, you don’t come back crying, half-way through your trip.” It seems like her words might come true any day.

All I have been thinking ever since landing here is “What made me think that I have the will power to stay away from my family for so long?” I agree that six weeks seemed like a short duration when I was in India. But now, oh God, time is just not at all passing. Every night, when going to sleep, I just count the days passed, and not even a single week has passed since I came here. Its again like my courtship days, when we were doing the countdown for the marriage day. Dear, the countdown has started again.

38 days to go…..
(Oh God, please help me)

Letter to hubby...

Since it is now confirmed that I am moving out of the country officially for the next 45 days or so, I would like to tell you a few things to keep in mind.

1. Please, please spend some time with our girls. Whether it is Smruthi who wants to show you her homework or it is Swathi who wants you to pick her up, please listen to them. The TV and the newspaper can wait. Our daughters are more important than all the news in the world. I am leaving it up to you to make sure that they don’t feel bad when I am out of town.
2. Unlike Smruthi, Swathi likes to brush her teeth when she gets up in the morning. The moment she wakes up, she would point to the bathroom. Take her there and she will let you know where her paste and brush is. Remember, she will NOT let you rinse her mouth until she sees her brush is loaded with the paste. So, first put the paste in her brush and only then, she will let you rinse her mouth. Don’t let this habit die because you get up late, or because it is late for Smruthi, or whatever the reason is.
3. As to Smruthi, well, nothing can be predicted about her. Leave her in her own way, and she will be alright.
4. Control your temper in the household. Remember, I will not be around to say Sri, Sri….. everytime your temper starts rising.
5. Hope you don’t do the “En pondaatti ooorrruukkkuu poitaaaaaaaaa” act in the Airport. If I ever come to know that you have done it, remember your fate is in my hands. I will be back to Chennai in a few days, so its just a matter of time.

More updates will follow as and when I remember. For now, all I can say is “U will definitely be missed.”

Half a century

Yippeee...This is my 50th post. I never thought that I would have a hobby, which I would maintain for such a long period. What started as a timepass has almost become an obsession now.

Latest updates in my life?

New business, new job, new people, new roles...Life is going to be challenging from now on, I guess. Hope only that my work-life balance does not get disrupted.

Dear girls, if you don't get to spend enough time with me henceforth,because of the above mentioned challenges, please understand that it would be only short-termed. Definitely.Ultimately, all these efforts are only for your well-being. (That is what I say to console myself)

More updates on upcoming days.
Hope everything goes well.

Happy Friendship Day...

I know Friendship day falls in August and not in October. But it was in October, exactly this day 10 years before that we first entered our college.

Miss u dear college, Miss u dear labs and workshops, Miss u dear HOD and professors, Miss u seniors and juniors, and miss u dear friends...



This blog is a special dedication to all my college friends and especially to you PG.

10 years of friendship. Not bad huh!!!

Circle and Semi-circle

During another random conversation with Smruthi yesterday.

Me: Darling, why don’t you take ur old school bag to school tomorrow, since this one is very heavy for you?

She: Ma! Tomorrow is Friday. Ma’m will give me homework tomorrow. That will not fit into the old bag.

(And gives a ‘don’t-you-know-even-this’ look at me)

Me: Oh! Ok. So, what is going to be your home-work for colouring tomorrow? Any idea?

She: I think it is a semi-circle, coz, we colored that yesterday in school.

Me: **going bonkers** SEMI-CIRCLE?? What does that mean??

She: You put a ‘round’ in a paper. That is a Circle. Erase half of it. Then it becomes a semi-circle.

Me: (speechless)

I don’t think I understood the difference between a circle and semi-circle until I learned Trigonometry in X std. And my darling is teaching me the difference, in her kinder garden. Kids of today!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is ‘Report Card’ day in her school, combined with a PT meeting, and I hope that I will hear all praises about my daughter. (They better do that for the money we have paid them.)

…..To be continued by another post (based on the results)

Kann vizhithu soppanam kanden…

For one of my team-mate, marriage has been arranged and fixed. Like how mine was before 5 years. And he has got a nice 5 months time before marriage. Like how we had. And needless to say, he is constantly on the phone, like how we were. So, here I go, back to my flashbacks, day dreaming about those lovely, ever-green days and torturing hubby everyday (for the past one week) talking to him about those days. Till date, he is patient enough to listen to me and say ‘mmm’ and ‘yes’ at all the appropriate places. (Dunno, how long this patience will last though!!!!!)

Soon after the official match-fixing was made, I mean the ‘pen paarkum padalam’, I still remember how I was waiting for my supposed-to-be-fiance to ask me out for a date. The expected phone call from him never came. How much dumber can a man get? Does he expect me, the girl to call him first and ask him out for a date? What if my whole idea backfires and they think me cheap? So, I waited, hoping that some day he would call me, at least once before marriage. And all in vain for one week. Finally, when I lost my patience and was about to call him, he luckily called me and saved me from embarrassment. Unable to control myself, I, like a stupid idiot, asked him why it took him ONE WEEK to call his fiancée. And the answer I got??? “I fell sick the day I saw you.” What a romantic beginning!!!!!!!!

But, that was just the beginning, and there was no stopping us after that. Not a single day went without each other talking over the phone till the battery went dead. Not a single weekend was wasted. Not a single movie released in town went unseen. Not a single restaurant was left. And not a single sundal-boy was missed in the beach. The special ringtone for that special call, the sweet nothings, the wait for Gud morning and Gud nite SMSs, the continuing sms even after the gud nite sms, the shopping sprees, the wait to see each other, the countdown for marriage, each and every minute was enjoyed and looked forward to. Even the teasing from friends and relatives seemed enjoyable. No matter how much enjoyable and romantic the marriage life is, nothing can ever replace this golden period. Even after 50 years of a happy married life, the memory of these courtship days is what will keep the marriage young and fresh, throughout life.

Love…brings a smile in our face when we wake up in the morning, a reason to get up, (inspite of only a few hours of sleep). Love makes life worth living for. Love makes life more beautiful.

Fall in love. Live Life King Size.

Exam jitters

Its Assessment time in Smruthi's school. Madam is being assessed for her learnings in school for this quarter. She has got a list of long portions and the corresponding syllabus. Doesn't this look like too much overload for a 3.5 year old? If you agree with me, then you are wrong. Wait till you hear the subjects.

1. Art (which is coloring or scribbling to be much precise)
2. Physical Education (Throwing and catching the ball)
3. Rhymes (Now, this is something on which she is already trained for the past 1 year)
4. Numbers - THIS, now, is the actual reason for the blog.

How I wish, syllabus were as easy when I was in school!!

Now, Here goes the story.

I return from office and call Smruthi to 'study' her syllabus for the next day's exam.

Me: Smruthi! Come, let's study for tomorrow's test
Smruthi: Naalaiku enna exam???
Me: Numbers
Smruthi: Idhukum 'portions' irukka?
Me: Yes dear
Smruthi: Enna padikanum?
Me: Identification of numbers 1 TO 4 (Please note this point)
Smruthi - Appo 3???
Me: (confused) what 3??
Smruthi: U said 1, 2, 4. Appo 3???
Me: :S (Sigh!)

Evan da kandupudichan indha exam, test, idhellam....Sigh!!!

Shradhha...Sabari..

om bolne se mann ko shanti milti hai
Sai bolne se mann ko shakti milti hai
Ram bolne se paapon se mukti milti hai
To dil se bolo **((om sai ram))**

5 reasons...

Dear Mr.kg3,

Its our fifth anniversary…Can you believe this? FIVE GOLDEN YEARS… And you have given me all reasons to be a proud and happy wife of yours. Here are the first five reasons why I love you…

1. I can be myself to you. I need not think twice before talking to you.I can be stupid, oversmart, cry baby, act intelligent, be a dumbo,whatever…and you don’t mind.

2. More than a loving husband, you are a wonderful father to my daughters.I saw you glow with pride when Smruthi showed you the medal she won for her running race, and when they stay away from us , you miss them more than you have ever missed me. I know it though you don’t show it.

3. Inspite of me pestering you to buy me gifts and surprises, you never take pains to do any of that. You just say “I love you” when I least expect it and that is worth all the gifts and surprises in this world.

4. I don’t know if you even remember, but once before our marriage, in our favourite beach, you held my hand and said that you will take care of me like a princess “Unna raani maadhiri vechu kaapathuven”, and you have lived up to that, atleast till now.

5. Dude…I don’t need a reason to love you. Even if I don’t have any of the above reasons, I will still love you, as always….

“Love is not because of something….its inspite of everything…”

Happy Anniversary to us….

Motherhood is...

…crying when watching the doctor stitching the forehead of your one-year old.
…having to hold her head tightly when the doctor is piercing her head.
…feeling the pain when your kid is crying.
…hate the fact of being helpless when your kid is looking at you to help her from the pain.

Swathi has got a big cut on her forehead and the doctor has put four stitches on her head.

“un kannil neer vazhindhaal..en nenjil udhiram kottudhadi….”

I fully realized the meaning of these words today.

All the souls reading this…please pray for her fast recovery.

Theeradha vilayaatu pillai...

Last Friday was Sports Day in Smruthi’s school – and hear the venue – NEHRU INDOOR STADIUM. That was the first time I saw Nehru Stadium in my life and my little one was into an event in Nehru Stadium at 3.5 yrs of her age. My friend asked me what my ‘padipaali’ was going to do in Sports Day. And hey dude…here’s your answer. My padipaali won the FIRST PRIZE for Running Race in her section. Howzzatt!!
The mighty feat of the tiny feet!!!!!

Her daddy always used to say that if one of our daughters (or both) becomes a sports-person and an international player, then we might get a chance to tour the world for their sake. And now Smruthi has given him a reason to start dreaming.

Big successes start with a small step…All the best to you dear for reaching great heights. (And don’t forget to take your parents when you are touring the world for your matches :)

Thaana...thom..thanana...Thaana..thom..thanana...

I fall in love with a song even if it remotely says something about love. Such an idiot I am. Ok..Ok..Having established that fact, lets move on to the next fact. Whenever I hear such a song, there will definitely be atleast a single line in the song which will impress me. (Even if the so-called love song is a huge flop.) And having been impressed by that line, what do I do next?? Go back to my flash-back scenes - yes, I am talking about the good-old kadalai-potta days between me and my hubby, recalling any particular incident. That incident would have been the main reason why I got impressed by that line.

Now, why am I like this today?? Because I heard one such song today and NO...this song is not some such stupid not-so-good song. Everything about this song is so good....right from the lyrics, to the singers, to the music....I have not seen the song yet. So, I cannot comment on that part. I am talking about the song "Pookal Pookum.." song from the movie Madarasapattinam. OH MY GOD!!!!! So good...so romaaannntiiic, so melodious....that I was not at all in a mood to work today. I was sort of even addicted to this song, that the moment my PM was out of sight, i popped the head-phones to hear this song.

There was this particular line "Netru varai naeram poga villaye...unadharuge...naeram podhavillaye...." aiyooooo kadavule....such a beautiful line...and my darling hubby knows (hopefully) why i am impressed by this line....and there was this one more line "Netru thevai illai...Naalai thevai illai...indru indha nodi podhumee....", impressed again for the same reason.

Here are the lyrics for the song. Dedicated to the most special person of my life......


Pookkal pookkum - Madarasa pattinam song lyrics

Pookkal pookkum tharunam aaruyirey paarthadhaarum illaye
Ularum kaalai pozhudhai muzhumadhiyum pirindhu povadhillaye

Netruvarai naeram pogavillaye...unadharugey neram podhavillaye..
Edhuvum pesavillaye...indru eno...edhuvum thoandravillaye idhu ennavo..
Iravum vidiyavillaiye, adhu vidindhaal...pagalum mudiyavillaiye...poondhalirey…
O… O… O…
O… O… O…

Vaarththai thevaiyillai vaazhum kaalamvarai paavai paarvai mozhi pesumae
Naetru thevaiyillai naalai thevaiyillai indru indha nodi podhumey

Ver indri vidhaiyindri vin thoovum mazhaiyindri
idhu enna ivan thoattam pooppookkudhey

Vaal indri por indri valikindra yutham indri
idhu enna ivan ambu enai velludhey

Idhayam muzhudhum irukkum indha thayakkam nenjikkullum irukkum
Idhaiyariya engu kidaikkum vilakkam adhu kidaithaal sollavendum enakkum

Poondhalirey…..

Endha megamidhu endhan vaasal vandhu engum eera mazhai thoovudhey
Enna uravu idhu edhuvum puriyavillai endraboadhum idhu nee enben

Yaar endru ariyaamal perkkooda theriyaamal
ivanodu oru sondham uruvaanathen
Yenendru ketkaamal thaduthaalum nirkkaamal
ivan poagum vazhiyengum manam poagudhey

Paadhai mudindha piragum indha ulagil payanam mudivadhillaiye
Kaatril parandhey paravai maraindha piragum
Ilai thoadangum nadanam mudivadhillaiye

Idhu edhuvo……

Thaana thom thanana, Thaana thom thanana
Thaana thom thanana thaananey nananaa
Thaana thom thanana, Thaana thom thanana
Thaana thom thanana thaananey nananaa

Its all in her hands…

Last week in kg3 household…..

Swathi: Amma…Amma… (Everyone is ‘Amma’ for her)
Paati: Enna venum??
Swathi: aaaa…..aaaa…. (and tries to show something closed in her hands)
Paati: Enna vechirukka kayila??
Swathi: aaaa….and opens her hands…

And there went running a LIVE COCKROACH from her hands….

Now even a cockroach can’t live in peace in this house… God only knows how she caught a running cockroach.

Ever since, this incident is used by her daddy to threaten smruthi every time she does not listen to us.

“Smruthi…olunga brush pannu…illa…swathi-ya oru karapaan-poochi-ya pudikka solliduven”

Not that, this trick works well, but its worth it just for the look on her face :)

Like mother...Like daughter....

Smruthi – This time, the update is for the Padipaali of our house. The way the things are happening – she might have as well joined IAS directly, rather than pre-KG. Every day, after their dinner is over, she leaves to her ‘study room’ with her paati and sister where she ‘studies’. (And I complete the rest of my work in peace). If for some reason - like her paati is not feeling well, or some guests in home, she is not able to study; she creates a big scene before going to bed. Or otherwise, she is very upset that she is not able to read that day.

Every Friday, she brings home her coloring notebook from school, where she is expected to color a similar drawing, which her teacher has marked and take it back on Monday. And every Sunday, she gets to work very studiously. Believe me or not, last week, when she was coloring, (in her study room) her grandpa was watching TV (in the hall). This lady went straight to him and said “Thatha....TV-a chinnadha vai. Enakku ore disssttaarbaance-a irukku” And you know what...he switched off the TV, because Smruthi was studying.

If you think that this girl is hyper-active in this area, just wait till you hear of her grand-parents. They act as if Smruthi is the only child in the whole wide world who is studying or who is capable of studying. The way they praise their grand-child is too much – even for me to hear them. If one of her crayons has become small or missing, and when I tell her to adjust with what she has, they treat me as one who is spoiling the entire career of their grandchild, and the next day she has a new crayon set. I get irritated when such things happen and to top it all – they want to buy a new computer for her. When told that she can “study her IAS syllabus” in the existing laptop itself, it seems like she can concentrate only when she has a dedicated system for her own. I mean, I didn’t have a computer even for my engineering project.

Though one half of my heart makes me feel proud of having such a daughter, the other half is seriously not able to take up all this. Sometimes all I can do is just laugh when such things happen. And my laughter irritates her all the more. Who will not get irritated when someone laughs at their supposed-to-be-serious thoughts?

Born to be a prankster!!

The Tupperware saga….

We have a tupperware container in our house to store the rice, or any other flour. Swathi has reached a stage where she has understood that she can reach objects if she stands on something elevated. Here comes the Tupperware (henceforth mentioned as TW) into picture. She takes the TW box, places it near the microwave stand and tries to get on top of the oven by standing on top of the TW. In the meanwhile, all the buttons and knobs in the oven are subject to her whims and fancies. Fearing another fall and another huge cry-baby drama, we tried to keep the TW on the second top shelf far from her reach. But she tries to reach the second shelf by climbing on the first shelf and pulling the TW. So, we loaded the container fully with wheat/ maida. Now the TW was full and heavy, unable for a one-year old to carry it. So, she couldn’t use the poor TW as bait to climb. Such a brilliant idea, right? Wrong. She now started to PUSH the TW towards the oven and started climbing. If only the TW had legs, it would have left our house long back. That’s it. The poor TW lost all its patience and CRACK! There came a strong line exactly along the center of the lid. Now, has anyone ever heard of a Tupperware breaking? Atleast, I have not. The poor TW, which had seen its days in my home even before my marriage, had finally met its end. May its soul rest in peace. Amen!

All doors lead to home…

The brilliant architect who designed our house has made it in such a way, that there are three doors – one the main door in the hall, a side door near the kitchen and a back door. A person can go through any one of these doors and enter through any other door – provided it is open. Now, the Ms. Smarty of our house (Ya, Swathi) knows how to get down the steps (even if it is just one step to get through the door – a step is a step right?), and there she goes exploring her new talent. The moment any one of the door is opened, she comes running even if she is another corner of the house to get out. If the house is silent for a few minutes, it is a red signal that madam is up to something. It should have been that someone has forgotten to bolt the door, and there’s no use searching for her inside the house. Let her walk all day and night and she is a happy baby – a VERY HAPPY BABY.

Best time pass ideas…

-Swathi enga kanumeeee??? Tries to close her face with her two tiny hands
-Swathi jump – jumps like hell in the bed. (Jumps only if she is in the bed)
-Bends and touches the floor and tries to see the world through the gap between her legs
-Takes a hand-kerchief from the shelf, sits in one corner where no air can enter and start folding it
-If nothing else – grab the things from her sister and when refused – grab her down, pull her hair and give her one big BITE and make her cry.
Point to be noted – Now, it is only Smruthi crying and not Swathi. Remember that history repeats itself???

Dear hubby

I am writing this because, I wanted to thank you for something which you did yesterday. When I lost my job yesterday and informed you after coming home, you were neither disturbed nor worried about this. You told me that it didn’t matter much to you. You told me that I am capable of getting a better job anytime and that is the reason why you were not worried. Do you know how much this confidence means to me? You also told me that even if don’t get a job, I can be a home-maker as per my wish anytime, and you trusted me enough that I will be able to manage financially too. Thanks for that.

When I got this news yesterday and when I informed my colleagues, almost everyone appreciated me at how well I handled the situation. Even when the news came as a sudden shock, I didn’t react and I took the news very boldly. That’s what they said. But you know, how much ever I project myself as bold and confident to others, I can be myself to you. That is why I cried the moment I saw you. I knew very well that you will not think me crazy or over-reacting, when I express myself to you.

You always give me advice when I need one most. In other times, when I feel let down, you just lend me your shoulder to cry on and that is all I have ever wanted. Love you Sri. Be there for me in both good times and bad – Always.

Love,
Ur one and only wife.

3 mistakes of my life....

I saw this book on the stands in Landmark yesterday, but hubby did not let me buy it since I had already bought one yesterday. (Love Story –Erich Segal) But the title intrigued him and he asked me about the three mistakes of MY life. I answered him on the spot 1. Sri, 2. Smruthi, 3. Swathi – the 3 mistakes.

There have been many times when I see a couple in the beach or a pair in Spencer’s, I used to wonder about my good old pre-parenting days. (Before the kids, I used to wonder about my pre-marriage days…that’s a different story) There are so many couples in today’s world, who postpone their decision of becoming a parent owing to their career, owing to this or owing to that. Why didn’t I belong to that category? Life would have been so much more blissful. There are still some who are totally against the idea of becoming a parent. They don’t want to get committed.

Becoming a parent comes with its own pros and cons. The first hit is for the husband-wife relationship. There is absolutely no time for the spouse. If it’s a working mom, then that’s all and if the mom is in IT field, then gone!! No time even for the kids – let alone the poor husband. The second hit is for the self. All the interests and hobbies, favourite movies, everything vanishes.

Having said this, if given a choice to go back in time and change my decision of having kids, would I? Definitely Not.

Kids of today can give you about a 1000 reasons to make you think of your pre-parenting days – to wish that you could have enjoyed that “couple-only” mode a little longer. But taking a decision not to have a child will give you even extra 1000 reasons to remind you that you might have been wrong. All the Tom, Dick, Harry and Harry’s relatives, friend’s friend in the world will advice you against your decision of not having a kid. But if you decide to become a parent, you will never regret it. All your world revolves only around your kid. Whatever you see, and whatever you do, you think of only your kids. Even when you spend time alone with your spouse without your kids, you talk only about them. Whenever you see a kid suffering, you pray that it should not happen to your child. You become totally committed to your kids, even if you didn’t want to become committed. You undergo this transformation without realising it. The bonding created is invisible, yet so strong, that there is no going back and you DON’T want to go back. The gummy smile which your kid gives ONLY for you, and the hug with all its warmth is worth everything else in the world.

Moral of the story – Have kids! Increase the population!!!

PS – If you don’t agree with my points, replace all the “you”s with “I / me”s in the above blog.

Holiday....Jolly day...

11 Jun 2010 was the ideal day for me, which I have often dreamed of. I bunked office to see my daughter going first day to her school. I know, it sounds silly but still, its ok.

So, on Friday, I woke up early, prepared breakfast and lunch, and woke up Smruthi, bathed her myself, made her ready for school myself, prepared her favorite Bread toast, fed her, packed lunch for my hubby and FIL, dropped her in school myself, spoke to her teachers and picked her from school myself. Then we spent some “our time” – just the two of us. We spoke about her likes and dislikes, her wants, her happenings in her school, laughed, played, and watched her favorite playschool annual day CD. She told me that she wanted a new ‘straw’ water bottle like the one V had in her school and not her old sipper bottle. She also needed a new snacks box.

2:00 – 4:30 – ‘My time’
Smruthi slept, and it was net time for me. Blogged, chatted and browsed. Then cleaned the house, and SLEPT. An afternoon nap after such a long, looooong time. Woke up at 4:30 – both of us.

5:00 – 6:30 – ‘Shopping time’
Went to some two three shops with Smruthi, before she could select her favorite Orange color water bottle and snacks box. Bought vegetables and groceries and returned home.

6:30 – 10:00 - 'Dinner time'
Prepared my hubby’s favorite aloo paratha with bindi masala side-dish. Received him with a smile, when he returned from office and served him dinner hot-hot. Since I don’t believe in being humble, I take pride in saying that both the dishes came out very nicely. I have understood that a dish becomes tastier, not only when it is made out of the right ingredients, but when it is made out of love. And to top it all, my hubby complimented me on the dish, and that too, without me asking him how it is. Vasishtar vaayala brahma-rishi. Then we chatted, played, told bed-time stories and finally, I went to sleep with a happy smile in my face.

One-day unplanned leave to office is worth this any day.
How I wish I could spend each and every day like this with my family. Sigh! *Deep breaths*

PS: If you are wondering why Swathi is nowhere in the picture, she had gone to see her atthai payan with her paati in my SIL’s place and she returned only after the weekend

MY School saga begins…..

Hey, I am starting my first school today. Not that I am new to this school environment, since my mom pushed me into a playschool when I was only 1 year and 10 months – the reason she gives for that is of course I could meet other kids of my age group. But I know her actual intention – she couldn’t bear with my naughtiness. Huh! But now, she is paying for it. I’ve trained my little sis to compensate for me. Ok, ok….coming back to the school part….

I got my school bag, uniforms and text books around some 10 days back and they are great. I was so excited to see my school things, but my excitement was nothing compared to my grand-dad’s. That man is absolutely crazy about me, I tell you. And he wanted to see me in my school dress then itself. And so, I obliged. I was waiting for my mom to arrive from office to show-off to her and she arrived 45 mins later than the usual time. Of course, she was so happy to see her little angel (ya, that’s me) in school uniform and bag. She said that I looked like a big girl. Mom – wake up….I AM a big girl now**. Just because you saw me first as a kid doesn’t mean I will be a kid all my life long – ok? Mothers!!!!

Ever since that day, she has been trying to wake me up early to train me for the school timings. Why can’t she just understand that I cannot sleep till 8’o clock once my school opens and so let me sleep now? She tried all possible tactics to wake me early all these days – by trying to threaten me saying that she will return all my uniform, bags and books to school and not let me go to school if I continue to wake up at 8. Huh! As if she will, or as if the school will accept them back. And so, I continued to sleep till 8.

I am a very good girl, and even as a kid, I liked going to the playschool. I never cried much even in my beginner days and so, my mom didn’t have to train me on that front for this school. Made one job easier for her. Poor female.

And today…I got up at 6. I knew that today was THE DAY and not just another one of my mother’s wake-up gimmick. So, got up promptly. And did all the right things at the right time. And I WORE MY NEW UNIFORM, SHOES AND SOCKS. And then it was time for mom to leave for her office. Actually, mom was getting all senti-senti again feeling that she couldn’t see me off even on my first day to school. She even thought of bunking office, putting sick-leave or something. And you know what? She has really bunked office today. Have you ever heard of anyone bunking office to see their kid go to school? My mom is totally crazy. But still, I love her for this. So, she started to continue making me ready, and my excitement continued…..

You know what? I am going to school. I AM REALLY GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL. I am going to enjoy it. I know that I will enjoy it. Due to all my excitement, and since I talk much, they have a feeling that I am going to be a gang-leader or something in my school, but tell me practically, have you ever heard of gang-leaders in pre-kg? And also, like any other parent, my parents expect me to be a class topper or something, not that it matters much to them, but still. Hope I have inherited my mother’s brains (u know who is typing this blog, right??) and let me see if I can live upto that.

So, I was all ready, prayed God and got into the car and picked up my friend S, (her dad and my dad are friends and we were in the same playschool and now in the same school), and hey…we have reached. Sorry, I have to go inside now. It is getting late for me. But I am sure that my mom will soon update you on my school experiences. That lady just cannot stop writing blogs. Can she?

Catch you all later.

Love,
Smruthi.

(** She said “Amma, naan periyavala aayitten…chinna kolandhai illa”. She really said that.)

Updates on the ‘Paasa Malargal’

It’s been a long time since I updated my kiddos’ activities. And here it is.

After the vacation in their paati’s place, the gals have developed a separate sort of affection towards me – u know the “I-missed-u, so-don’t-leave-me-again” types and I am feeling so good about it. But still, I would say that this vacation proved all the more that Smruthi is mother’s girl and Swathi is father’s girl.

After the 10 day break, when I went to my parent’s home (yes, what was ‘my home’ some years back, is ‘my parent’s home’ now ), fully expecting a hug from both my daughters, I was in for a big shock. Smruthi had gone out with her perimma, and Swathi was sitting on my mother’s lap, when I entered the house. On seeing me, she literally RAN AWAY FROM ME AND DID NOT COME TO ME. Well, my reaction? I leave it to your imagination. I thought that she had totally forgot her parents in these 10 days, but NO. When her father arrived after 15 minutes, she immediately ran from my mother into his arms, and did not get down from him for at least 1 hour, not even to allow him to go to the wash room. My reaction? Again, you can imagine it. The same happened when Smruthi came back, but this time it was totally the opposite. She came running to me with a big hug from the gate. Thank God! But after 1 hour, Swathi seemed to regain her memory about me and more than that, I feel that she came to me, mainly because she couldn’t stand seeing her sister on my lap for so long.

Ever since, both of them are totally attached to me and whenever I am at home, they are stuck to me. And Smruthi has gotten into the habit of saying “avala mattum thookariye…ennayum thookiko”, “avalukku mattum nee mammam ootariye…..enakkum ooti vidu” and this goes on for everything happening in the house. Call it insecurity or my mis-reading the facts, but Smruthi is feeling over-possessive about me and I think it is because of her vacation and not because of her sister. One day, she suddenly came into the kitchen, when I thought she was asleep, and I shouted at her for not having slept still. (I know, it was bad on my part, but it was the after-effects of a tiring office journey and the time was 10:15 PM.) And she replied very calmly, “Amma, I came to talk to you only. Please don’t shout at me. Let’s be friends. I will wait for you to finish work and we can go to sleep together”. This girl knows perfectly well how to make me feel guilty.

And Swathi. OH MY GOD! She is growing so fast. She has learnt to express herself. Whenever she wants something, she draws our attention to her and points the thing which she wants. She can inform us when she wets her pants – but yes, only after doing her job and not before it. She is bringing in a new definition to mischief. Whatever she holds in her hands, she wants to throw it out, and if by mistake, that thing does not fall out and is within the boundary, she takes the pains to push it out of the window. And then gives me a satisfied smile as if she has reached the moon. She is the lady on wheels in our house. If her sister is a talking machine, she is a walking machine. All the time she is awake, she wants to walk. Her aim in life I think is to live up to the line “Miles to go before I sleep….” Literally!

We once made the mistake of taking Swathi to a movie and I was only able to hear the dialogues and not see the screen, since she wanted to constantly walk in the theatre and would not remain seated even for a second. Luckily, we got the corner seats in the last row near to the door, so, I could let her walk and help others see the movie in peace. There was one moment, when I did the mistake of seeing the screen and she popped something from the floor into her mouth. When I asked her to spit it out, she shook her head and swallowed it immediately. Sigh! So, me and hubby switched roles after the interval, and during his shift, she slept. Now, that is what I call as karma!

Coming to the “paasa malar” relationship, so-far-so-good. They are very affectionate towards each other, as long as one does not want the thing which the other is having. Whenever Swathi gets hurt or something, she runs to her sister and shows the place where she got hurt and her dutiful sister in turn pacifies her. Smruthi is joining school this week and she has started teaching her sister now itself. Her coaching is so good, that when asked to tell 1..2…3…., Swathi shows her palms and points her fingers to indicate 1, 2 and 3 respectfully. Way to go girls….

As I have said previously, life is still becoming interesting day by day……

Career woman vs Home Maker

Working women in today’s modern world seem to manage both their personal and professional life beautifully – or so I think. I am also a working mom, but I don’t think I am very much successful in managing both. In fact, I have a feeling that I am failing in both. I have always wanted to be a home-maker after my kids, but till date I am not one. So, I don’t concentrate much on my career hoping that I will definitely be a home maker some day.

Though my salary is not my family’s main source of income, with the education costs reaching sky-high these days, an additional income has become more than a necessity. And when there is a trust-worthy person like my MIL to take care of my kids, working should not be a problem - This is my hubby’s view point. And though I have not asked her, I know for sure that my MIL will never let me resign my job, even though my kids are giving her an extra tough time each day - and I know it is NOT for the money. In her view point, any woman, however good her family and husband is, needs to be financially independent at any cost. I agree with her and I love her for this. But still………

Some of the reasons which I feel valid for wanting to be a home-maker, is that I want to get involved in whatever my kids are doing – be it playing hide and seek, or fighting among themselves or eating, studying, watching and dancing, etc. I don’t want to give them a timeline to be with me. I want to give them ALL my time. The moment I enter my home after a tiring journey from office, both of them rush to me with their biggest smile, leaving behind whatever they are doing at that time. Though I feel blessed in this moment, I feel guilty to know that they miss me during the entire day. Of course, they have got used to it and Smruthi has become mature enough to understand that her mom is working for her sake, but I am still not able to shake-off my desire of becoming a home-maker some day. I want to be there when they wake up, I want to make Smruthi ready for school, prepare their breakfast and lunch, I want to say Tata, Bye-Bye when she leaves for school, to feed Swathi myself, to play with her, to receive Smruthi with a hug when she returns from school, to teach her home-work, to watch them fight, to keep the house clean, to receive my hubby home with a smile when he returns from office, to prepare his favorite dishes, serve them in his favorite crockery sets, to tell bed-time stories to my children, and many more. I feel bad whenever my daughters want to play with me during bed-time and I tell them to do it tomorrow since I am feeling very tired today….but unfortunately….that tomorrow never comes. And if there is one thing which I hate to the core about being a working mom is coming to work, when my kids are unwell. I simply hate not being there with them when they need me the most.

There have been many discussions and serious fights regarding this between me and him, but the results are always the same. He wins and I am still a working mom. If it had been the other way, I would have spent this time with my kids in home rather than wasting my time writing this blog sitting in office. If I had my own way, I would have long before resigned my job to be with my kids. But deep below in my heart, I know that his decision is correct (even though I don’t admit it in front of him) and I trust my hubby enough to allow him to take decisions for me. So, I continue my work without any complaints. But more often than not, I start feeling miserable again about being a working mom and the vedaaalam in me will yerify the murunga maram, I want to immediately quit my job and again starts all the drama between me and him. And my hubby is patient enough to bring down the vedaalam from the murunga maram and let me continue my job, and I like a good wife accept his view points and drop my idea of quitting my job. But still…..someday…. I want to be a home-maker. But when? Only God knows.


Reason for this blog – For the past one week, the vedaalam in me is again trying to climb the tree and in order to prevent the fight which will again occur in due course, I am venting out my feelings with this blog and saving (trying to save) my hubby from the unwanted drama.

Dear friend…

Hope you have read my previous blog. You asked for it and here it is – a tribute to our almost 10 year friendship, and that on your birthday. Coming to your birthday, you must be really grateful to me, because among all my college friends with whom I still have contact, its ONLY YOUR birthday that I remember. It is not just because that you are still my best friend, but it makes me very happy to wish you every year on your birthday, because it feels great that I am still 5 months – exactly 5 months elder than you. Mind you - not older, but elder. There’s a difference. (And that is how I remember your b’day.) I know that you will make fun of me saying that I have grown older than you, but friend remember, old is gold. So, at least from now on, STOP making fun of me and my height. Got it? Good. And STOP laughing too!

Have a blasting birthday bash and remember that bag of assorted chocolates (for me) is still pending from your side.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PG!!!

Mustafa…Mustafa…don’t worry Mustafa…

Along the path of life we meet so many people and each person plays their role in their own way. But there will be only very few phases of life which brings back tears of joy whenever we think back upon them. College days are one of them. In spite of all the hardships faced in my college days, the thoughts still brings a smile on my lips.

You like a person when you meet one, you want to become friends with that person and you really become friends with that person. And then college days turn out to be exactly how you wanted them to be – the way they are portrayed in films. (Minus the songs, that is). Friends seem to be the most wonderful persons in the world and friendship seems to be the best. You want to cherish each and every moment of the college days – the raggings, the seniors, the boring lectures, sleepy notes, practicals, the Sebastian sir, workshops, ED classes, vijay raghavan, phone calls, fights, compromises, study leaves, the group studies, the 30p Xerox, the bus journeys, the semesters, the all the bests, the “how did u dos?”, the inplant trainings, the “karuppan” in BEL, the _ _ _ _ talks, the jollus, the site-s, the crushes, the loves, the symposiums, the paper presentations, the final year, the match makings, the college tour, the night shows in the tour, Thulluvadho Ilamai, Kaadhal konden, Jeyam, tambaram railway station, the train journeys, the projects, vivas, HOD, SB, and then the misunderstandings, the farewell party, the tears, slam books, the “keep in touch”s, the campus recruitments, job placements, and much more.

“kalvi payilum kaalam varayil…thulli thiriyum engal vizhiyil..
Kaneerai kandadhillai…thendral Saatchi…..
Nanban pirindhu oor thirumbum naalil mattum dhan neer thalumbum
Kaneeril dhane engal farewell party…”

At the end of these days, we have now achieved what we wanted, good placements, five digit salaries, sophisticated life styles, but how much of the enjoyment which we had in those days still persists. After all the “keep in touch”s exchanged during those days, how many of our friends are we really in touch with? Especially we girls?

Though I have contact only with few of my friends, yes, very few of them, I am glad, in fact very glad that I am still in touch at least with some of them, and one of them is still my best. After certain events in our final year, it is a great thing that we even talk to each other, let alone being still the best friends. After all, we are friends and what is friendship without fights?

Hey friends, coming this October, it would be 10 years since we entered our college life, and this blog is dedicated to all my college friends. Thanks to all my friends and batch mates who made my college days eventful, even though it was not-so-eventful then ;) And special thanks to my special friend, who wanted me to write this blog, and thereby helping me to recollect those memories and again living them.

Friendship is.....

Friendship is not about “I m sorry“ it’s about “Dei un thappu than ithu..“
Friendship is not about “I m there for u” or “I missed u“ it’s about “Enga poi tholanja“
Friendship is not about “I understand“ its about “Ellam unnala than“
Friendship is not about “I care for u “ its about “Pannada unnai vitutu enga poven naan“
Friendship is not about “I m happy for ur success “its about “Kelambu un treat“
Friendship is not about “I love that girl“ its about “Dei mariyadaiah paru athu un thangachi.. “
Friendship is not about “R u coming for outing tomorrow “ its about “Dei naalaiku trip porom vera engayum poi tholaikatha “
Friendship is not about “Get well soon “ its about “ Ivlo kudicha ipaadi than agum“
Friendship is not about “All the best for ur career“ its about “pannathu varaikum pothum, kelambu vera velaya paru“

Source: from a forwarded email.

"I too had a love story" - by Ravinder Singh

Day before yesterday, when I had been to Connexions to buy a gift for my hubby, (I love surprises…remember?) I found this book on the stands. I love reading books, but I have never really bought any book and definitely not from a book store. But something about the title of this book made me buy it. Since I am spending a good 1.5 hour drive everyday in cab to get to my new office, I thought that I could read this book during that time. And so I started it yesterday morning. And I’ve completed reading the book twice in the past two days.

The book is written by a software guy, about his love for a girl whom he found through a matrimonial site, how they get to know each other, fall deeply in love and how fate plays its role in their life. To love and be loved by the same person is the greatest thing in this world. But to experience pain in this love and to live through that pain requires courage and what more – to put forth that love and pain into words and to share it with the entire world requires a different sort of courage. That is exactly what Ravin – the main character and the author of this novel has done.

Reading through the first half of the novel was like re-living my pre-marriage days with my hubby – those innocent calls to get to know each other, which slowly builds into the something called love, to reach a stage when you cannot wait for that one call from ur beloved, to await each and every moment of seeing each other, the first meeting, the first touch, the first kiss and to enjoy each and every one of those minutes, eagerly waiting for the engagement day, the wait becoming more and more desperate as the wedding day approaches – each and every single moment and feeling is exactly described in this book and reading them from a guy’s point of view made me realize that it is not only we girls who have such feelings, but even guys feel them.

I always like happy endings. Only happy endings for that matter. But this book is not so. Being a sentimental idiot that I am, I always cry when watching love stories, but this is first time I have cried when reading a love story. The emotions were too much for me to handle. I wanted to stop reading the book, so that I can stop crying (I cannot cry in my cab, ‘coz that’s where I was reading this book), but I wasn’t able to stop reading it. The book is written in a very simple way, no romantic or stylish language, but what glued me to the book was that the story is real, and to realize that the story is not a fiction or an imaginary tale, but a real one, something which really happened to two people made me all the more emotional.

So, for all book-lovers who are the romantic and sentimental types like me, the book is a nice read.

Vacationing out there…

I’m here yearning to go to my parent’s place for a vacation, but I can’t due to my new job. But my daughters are out there having the time of their life. Around 10 days back, we went for a small family 1 week trip to shirdi – the small family being 4 couples (me, my mom, my 2 sisters and their respective spouses) and their kids. So, it was around 10 adults and 3 kids.
Since we were out for a week, my in-laws decided to paint our house after getting the assurance from the contractors that the entire work would be completed in a week. But as it turned out, the painting work is yet to get over. (We returned last Thursday.) So, I sent my daughters with my parents directly from the Central station. I knew that Smruthi will be more than happy to be away from her wretched mom, but I was not sure of Swathi. She is only one year and she has not yet stayed away from me for even a single night. But I had no other go. I cannot bring her with me to my in-laws place which was full of the paint smell and I could not go to my parent’s place because of my new job. So, here I am in my in-laws place and there they are in their patti’s place.

With no kids around to shout and scream at, I feel like I am having all the time in the world to do whatever I want. But the problem is, whatever I wanted to do was revolving around my kids and with them not here, the house is feeling vacant and I am about to go mad. No, not in the way u think. What I meant was that I cannot digest the fact that my daughters are enjoying there without me. Its been 5 days since I last saw them and I will not be seeing them for atleast another 5 days. So, I keep calling my mom everyday to check whether they are doing good, hoping that she will say that my daughters are being miserable without me, that they cry wanting to see me, that they miss me terribly, but no…all she says is that they are wonderfully nice children giving her NO TROUBLE AT ALL. Seems like they have totally forgot me. Even Swathi. Though Smruthi talks to me over the phone twice daily, and assures me of her sister’s well being, it still hurts not to be with them. And what hurts more is the fact that they don’t miss me.

How many ever times I shout and scream at you girls, just understand that behind all those terrible screams lie an unshakable love for you which can never be explained enough in words.

Miss you terribly girls. Be back soon! (And pls pls miss me too!)

Last year this day..05.05.2009

You were born dear. Yes Swathi…I am talking about you only dear. U r already 1 year old. Sorry…you are still young…so u have become 1 year young today. You never gave me much trouble during both my pregnancy and at the time of delivery and you are sort of making up for the lost time now. If I had thought that your sister was a mischief maker, then you were born to prove me wrong. She is nothing, absolutely nothing compared to you. Let me come to that later. First things first.

You were pretty fast to grow up, you did all the right things at the right stage, for instance, u rolled over when you were 4 months, started to walk when u were eight months (etta maasam ettu adi), and now you are already one year. One day you started to roll over, and before I could stop admiring you for this, you started to crawl, and before I could get enough of that, you started to walk in no time. What is the hurry to grow up my child?

I wish I could just freeze all those moments in my life, when you first rolled over, your first “abbbaaaa” kiss, your first walk. I want you to be in that stage forever, but then I want to know what you are going to do next.

You always give me your gummy teeth smile on seeing me return from the office and being a working mom is worth just that...i tell you. It makes me so glad to realize that you miss me when I’m in office. For you swathi, your best friend and your worst enemy is your sister. This is applicable from the other side also. Currently I am using only your sister as a bait to feed your meals to you. You never open your mouth to me, but instantly do it when your sister says “Swaaathhiiiiiii….aaaa kaatu….akka solren-la…..vaaya tharamaaaaaaaa”. Dunno how long this will last though.

Unlike most of the kids I know, you are not the one who is supposed to be fed pappu saadam and thachhii mammam. Your taste buds are very sharp and u always want variety. And like your mom, even you don’t like the foods which are good for health. But no dear, this is not a praise and you will have to improve on that front. On this one occasion, when we went to dinner in a restaurant, you refused to eat the thayir saadam which I had ordered for you until or unless I gave you the paneer butter masala side dish. All this even before you are one??? Unakku naakku rumba neelam di.

You are a sport. You thoroughly enjoy going out and you never make a fuss much. Even during your ayush homam, which happened about 10 days back, you thoroughly enjoyed everything, though you were a bit reluctant to go amongst strangers.
And you were the perfect little hostess for the party which happened in the same evening. You really enjoyed the cake which we had ordered and was happily licking everyone’s fingers who were trying to give you the cake. Everyone present were oohing and aahing over what a co-operative child you were and I was all smiles that day. Thanks for making my day.

Coming back to the mischief part, all the scars and swells which you have on your forehead is the proof of what I said earlier. For the one to be taking care of you, we need to have eyes all around our heads. The moment we take our eyes off you….BAM! you are off doing some mischief…be it throwing the onions into the water can, or taking the slippers by opening the shoe cupboard and chewing them or putting some tiny object in your mouth which cannot be obviously seen by anyone else but you. There was this one time when you really scared the wits out of me by putting the lid of the nycil powder into your mouth and started choking. By the time I had taken it out of your mouth, you had bitten my hand to pulp. How that lid went into your supposed-to-be-tiny mouth is still beyond my understanding. I mean there are only so many things that can be kept out of your reach. We cannot carry everything on our heads dear.

Having said all the above, I am still waiting for what you will be doing next. I can never have enough of your smiles, cries, and of course veshamams dear….. Keep mischieving…What’s life without it?

Happy 1st Birthday Darling….A vey Happy birthday to you….

With loads of love and kisses,
Ur mom.

Ayush homam, party and the kids

I know this is a very late post, but am happy that I am able to post it at least before her actual birthday (I meant her Date of birth). So here it is.

Last sunday dawned bright and beautiful, but I did not. Already tired from the previous day’s preparations, it was very hard to open my eyes at 5 in the morning. (For early wakers, yes…5 is VERY VERY EARLY for me, almost like midnight). But still, it is my kiddos’ birthday and its not going to be her ayush homam everyday. So, woke up with a smile on my face. This is saying something, as there was a BIG FIGHT between me and my hubby the previous night and and we were not yet compromised. Since I myself was already tired, I didn’t have the heart to wake up the kids so early and taking into consideration the previous night’s events, I didn’t have the heart to allow my hubby to sleep. So woke him promptly. And after ensuring that he is not going back to sleep, I started all the work. By 7, the kids were bathed and before I could start their make-up, the saastrigal arrived. So what? I told him to wait and continued my work, trying hard not to lose my patience. Thank God, Smruthi and Swathi were very very co-operative.

Then started all the rites and homams, and since the birthday baby was not required to sit in front of the fire, I put her to sleep. Then all the relatives arrived, perfectly oohed and aahed over both the kids. Then the actual homam started, and the entire house was in smoke and everyone was in tears, but thank god, my kids still didn’t cry and managed the heat and smoke beautifully in this peak summer. God bless the guy who invented the AC.

Smruthi fully appreciated that it was her sister’s birthday and she played her role very nicely and she WAS successful. She was singing “Happy birthday Swaaaathhiiii…. “ the entire day. Then we did the anna prachanam where she was fed the sweet rice and the function ended by receiving the gifts friends and relatives. As the gifts were received on one end, they were getting unwrapped at the other end. Courtesy – Smruthi.

Then force fed both the kids and again forced both of them to sleep, since there was again the party in the evening, since I didn’t want her to be sleepy and spoil her party.

At the party:

Again, here Swathi acted as the beautiful little hostess during the entire evening and enjoyed her maximum. Both my kids didn’t fuss, even when I was constantly changing their costume, bangles and hair clips.
They seemed to enjoy even that. Thank You God. Thank You very much. (You girls made my day dears.)

When the cake was opened, Smruthi helped her sister happily by blowing the candle and cutting the cake by holding her hand. .
She very lovingly took the first piece of cake, and as everyone was expecting her to feed the cake to Swathi, she swallowed the entire piece in one gulp and never turned to her sister’s side. How loving!!!!! So, we left Smruthi to enjoy her cake peacefully and we gave the cake to Swathi She enjoyed the cake. It was a White Forest Tweety cake. She was licking each and everyone’s finger’s who were trying to give her the cake. When my boss’ wife came to greet her, she was actually opening her mouth expecting them too to give her some cake.


Then came all the photo sessions and dinner was served and both of them dropped to sleep, the moment we left the hall and entered the car.

So, all in all, it was a great day. A VERY GREAT DAY.

Kuzhal inidhu…yaazh inidhu enbar….

During a random car conversation yesterday, my daughter was telling her father that only our car was the best among all the other cars in the road. So, we asked her what about the previous car we had, and she said that our new car only was good and not the old Accent. So, we asked her if she knew the name of our new car and this is what she said…

“Illama…idhu dhan nallla irukku…namma pudhu car

Maadhuri-ku Suduki”

‘Kuzhal Inidhu Yaazh Inidhu enbar….tham makkal mazhalai sol kelaadhavar”
(Note that the author has wrote it as “tham” makkal)

PS: Hope you understood the name of our new car…for those who didn’t understand…its “Maruti Suzuki – Ritz”

On This and That.

In no particular order……

My cook has stopped coming for the past 15 days or so. :-( The brighter side of it - Smruthi has understood that her mom is going through an extra tough time daily – getting up early, cooking, packing, etc…etc…that she has become comparatively better nowadays…..she brushes her teeth of her own and behaves much better than before. (so what, if some of her teeth are still yellow, she wastes the water and eats the paste?) She adjusts to some extent, tries to help me in cleaning the mess which she and her sister has made on the floor and tries not to fight much with her sister. She however has become more allergic to her father and does not let him near her, except when she needs a driver to go to school. God only knows why!

She is becoming a responsible sister and keeps a watch for swathi whenever she is around. She agrees to share her toys with her (if its not new…that is…), keeping in mind that swathi’s birthday is approaching fast, and that she would be getting many new gifts. So, give now and take later policy. But still, she has her own rules and restrictions. “Chinna toys ellam thara maaten…ava vaayila pottupaaa…” The problem is her li’l sis does not understand these rules and again starts all the drama. Well, one can’t ask for everything, I guess.

The li’l sis mentioned has started to walk on her own and she is exploring her new found talent by walking all the time, and the most important thing is.. she wants to walk independently. She does not agree if we attempt to hold her in the fear of falling down. She jerks our hand away and falls down in the next step. Gotcha!
She gives her best *bokka vaai* smile when she sees her akka after a long gap – like when she sees her akka coming down after waking in the morning, after she returns from school or when she has come out of her room after playing with her toys peacefully. Her whole face lits up and she crawls superfast to her akka, shaking her head and butt like a boom-boom maadu. And this is then greeted by a sweet “aaachichichchiiiiii….. aaachooochoochooo….. enna da chellam…..akka-va paathaale sirippu dhan…..en chellaammmm….” and tries to hug her and make her cry – of course. This akka has kept some nicknames for them both. The akka is “thangam” and the thangai is “ajilu..ajilu….”(No clue what it means though!) She neither accepts nor responds if the nick-names are interchanged.

Now, I have found a new way to wake up Smruthi in the mornings. She refuses to get up if any of her parents are trying to wake her up in the morning and creates a huge scene for disturbing her highness’ sleep, but does not utter a word and willingly gets up if it is her li’l sis pulling her hair, poking her eye and rolling over her in the bed. Don’t know how long this will last though!

Life is becoming interesting day by day…..

Shopping??? Ufff....!!!!!!!!

I never thought a time would come when I would utter the words “Im sick of shopping” and that too to my husband. He gave me “Neeya pesiyadhu?” look yesterday when I told him this. Shopping is no easy task, I tell you. That too with two kids of which one is a toddler and the other is nearly similar to a toddler.

I never thought buying a party wear frock for two girls would be such a complicated task. And what’s wrong in asking for the same design and same color dress for both the girls? If this is there, that is not there. If that is there, this is not there. If both are there, the size doesn’t match.

My second daughter’s first b’day is coming up and I am on a shopping spree. I want to dress them both in the same identical dress on her birthday. Anything wrong in that? My hubby is against it. “Then there will not be any difference between the b’day baby and her sister”, he says. I mean when people are invited for a first b’day function, can’t they even differentiate a one year old from a three year old?

But, when have I ever listened to him? So, sticking to my own ‘identical dress for both” thought, we went to RMKV yesterday evening for buying Pattu paavadais for my girls. And I found one – no. Two of the same color and design. Success!! So, after giving the same for stitching, we went to the kids section. After seeing some around 20-25 dresses, I was not satisfied. Either the designs were not same or the color was not same or the size was not matching. So, I settled with “atleast the same color” theme. Again I was not satisfied.

So, we next went to Pothys. There the guy showed some dresses of the same design, color and size, but my hubby didn’t like them. Now, hear the reason. They are not “costly enough”. I was like “WHAT?” No, I am not blaming his intention of buying nice rich dresses for his daughters, but has he ever said that statement when I WANTED TO BUY SOMETHING FOR MYSELF??????? How dare he? But, since I didn’t want to create a scene in front of the shopkeeper, I reserved this statement for future use and left Pothys also.

On crossing Loyola, I remembered the “Little Princess – the Exclusive frock shop”. Having heard some good feedback about this shop, we took a U-turn and tried that shop. According to my opinion, the place is absolutely “good for nothing’. What I could get for 300 + in Pothys was around 800+ and the quality was sooooo bad. Immediately left the place.

Its already 7.30 PM and we girls and the gentleman with us were dying of hunger. We thought of trying “Hi-style” as our last option. And u know what…they didn’t have party frocks for 1 year old in stock. It would take atleast 2-3 weeks for them to get their order and I should try after that time. For what? Celebrating the after effects of her b’day? I give up and we went to the restaurant, hogged something and went home.

Even having said the above statement, I don’t give up on shopping that easily. So, I am going to try again next week in the shops which I have missed in my first round. But, I’m determined to get identical dresses for them both, even if I have to shop till the last day before her birthday.

Bye…bye…aeroplane

Last year I had to go to S’gpore officially for a 10 day training and my daughter was less than 2 years. My hubby decided to join me since I was in my 6th month of my second pregnancy. Since I was given only 3 days notice, I couldn’t arrange for a passport for Smruthi. We thought 10 days was a long time and were not sure if she would manage without us, especially me. So, we decided to drop her off at my parent’s place where she had my sister’s kids for her company. (She usually forgets me when she is with them)

In the airport, I was all tears to leave my baby for 10 whole days, but this little angel was more interested in the bhoondi packet which my mother had rather than saying Bye to me. I was telling her that I will not be there for 10 days and she had to be a good kid with her paati, all she said was “U go fast, I have to eat my bhoondi”. What a loving child!!

And now, for the past ten days or so, whenever she sees an aeroplane, she says

“Amma….adho paaru aeroplane….neeyum appavum enna vittutu poneengale….andha aeroplane…”

(Pls note that the stress was more on the “enna vittutu poniye” part than the aeroplane)

I tell you, this girl exists solely to make me feel guilty…

Confessions of a IT professional....

BE – ECE – 2004 Pass out. Fresher.

8 months of severe job-hunting in the IT field. Finally, joined for apprenticeship in Bharat Electronics. Returned from the induction programme. Another interview call from yet another IT company. Last hope. If I get this job, it would be great. Else, 1 yr of apprenticeship with Rs 1800 pm stifend .
Took up the interview. “We’ll get back to you later”. (English-la enakku pudikaadha 6 vaarthai) I told them that I had another offer with me and I had only one day time to join the other company. (Didn’t tell them it was non-IT though) Reached home with the assurance that I would know the result by next day. Sitting near the phone next day – eagerly waiting for the call. Finally the call came. Didn’t want to sound very desperate. So picked up the phone in the second ring only.

“Hello”
“Yaaru ma pesardhu? Kicha ponna? Ennama kondhe sowkiyama?”
“Adacha…..amma unakku yaaro phone” (seekiram pesittu vai)

Finally the HR called. “Can you come for the next round of interview by 4:30 in our Tidel Park office?” I see the time, it was 3:30. I analysed the possibility. Oops, I had to take bath also. I told him I will be there by 5. My father took me to Tidel Park. Tidel Park – the then BIG DREAM of all freshers. Took up my second round also and was told to wait in the reception. I was gathering all the will power left to hear the same “We’ll get back to you later” and join the apprenticeship the next day. The HR again called me inside. (Y can’t he say tht dialogue in the reception itself?)

“Good job! You came up so confidently (Yeah?) Here is ur offer letter. Pls read and sign both the copies”

BOOM! I got a heart attack. I was not at all prepared for this. Though I was most eager to get a job, the prospect of getting an offer letter so unexpectedly was more than I could take. I was literally blabbering and went to the reception to show the offer letter to my waiting father. His reaction was priceless.

First Day in my first job: I wear my new dress (the autograph dress in white salwar and maroon dupatta) and was waiting in the reception. While I was waiting I watch everyone entering the office using swipe cards. Will they give such a card to new joinees also? Or should I expect someone to open the door for me everytime I need to move from one section to another? No, logically speaking, they must be giving one card to the new joinees also. So, I will also get one, I think. Oh My GOD! If they give me one, what would I do? I don’t know how to use it. Wouldn’t I look stupid if I ask them how to use this? What if they de-grade me based on my stupid question? No, I shouldn’t ask this to anyone. So, I watch everyone to understand the working of these cards. Should I show the front side of the card to the detector or the back side? How will I know which one is front and which one is back? Should I show the ID card first or should I show the white color card first? Oh God, what am I going to do? First day itself so many problems. But I understood one point. Whenever the light in the detector turns green, the people were able to open the door.

As I was pondering over these, my TL came and took me inside. (Again, I watched how he was swiping his card) He made me sit in a place and asked me if I’m comfortable with that place. “Very much” I told him. (If I had known any better, I would have told him No at that time itself. It was placed in the highway. Everyone who was moving from anywhere to anywhere had to cross my place only and so, everyone can see what I’m doing or what I’m browsing.)

The admin people came to my desk and fixed my computer. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I was expecting someone else also to share my computer. ( I was never used to one-to-one computers. Courtesy – college labs) And when the support guy told me that he has fixed my system and gave me the user name and password, I was literally blinking at him. And then I had one phone with zero dialing all for myself. I was not even given time to adjust to these when the admin called my desk number. I was not sure if the call was for me. After looking around so many times and since there was no one else to pick up the phone, I picked it up and said “hello”, “Hi, this is ur ext number. The bank people have come to open ur account”. Me? Having an extension number? Tht too with zero dialing? Aiyoo, ennala thaanga mudiyaliye….

After finishing the bank formalities, the bank guy gave me one pouch saying “This is ur new account kit madam. It contains ur cheque book, debit card and…” bla bla bla… After the cheque book and debit card, I didn’t hear anything. It was all too good to be true. Pudhu vela….pudhu account…pudhu debit card-u…kalakara gayathri…..tht too all in one day was more than I could digest.


Now after serving 5 + years in the same field, all these old memories brings back a smile to my lips and I cant’ stop thinking about myself “Naa ivlo appaviya irundhirukenaa??” (Ok, ok, I can hear you guys saying “nee ivlo periya alpama-nu”, but still that’s the way I am and I love myself for what I am)

Happy Ponnu Paatha Day!!!

Congratulations sweetheart….it was on this day five years before that we first met…I am so lucky to get you as my wife…..Here’s ur gift…..

Naan kaanbadhu enna kanava…illa nanava…..I pinch myself and OUCH…..kanavu dhan….

My dream is disturbed and I wake up to find my darling still sound asleep. Some choice words come to my thought, but I refrain myself from saying them to him, since this is supposed to be a special day. Having known him for five years, I don’t expect anything and I continue my routine. (For those of you who continue reading thinking that there IS some surprise gift for me…..pls don’t. There is absolutely nothing at all and that is the reason why this blog is written in the first place)

Every year for the past five years, I try to control myself from asking him “You know what day today is?”, but No, I simply can’t. I never learn – do I? The moment I ask this question, only the moment I ask this question, he remembers. (Thank God, he remembers atleast then…) He has a readymade excuse– “I was just checking whether u remember” – as if he remembered. He knows to hell that I will not forget even the teeny meeny things which we spoke before marriage – let alone these dates.

Y are guys like this?? I don’t understand. I simply don’t understand. It beats me how my husband loves to get surprises from me, but it just doesn’t strike him to give me one is something beyond my understanding. And then there is the very fact that I TELL him that I too love suprises every time I give him his gift. Poor me!

There are times when I get most irritated and I feel like not giving him any gift – (leave out surprises), but always in the last minute, I go and buy something for him. Why? Simple. I love him. To hell with this love. I can’t even maintain my resolution. But, even he loves me. Then why? It was all so romantic when the first time he answered “I myself am a big gift for you, then y another gift?”, but every year…same dialogue – man! Give me a break. I NEED A SURPRISE. There! I’ve said it aloud. At least change the dialogue and say something romantic.

How did I – who live for surprises land up with someone like this from the opposite pole? Opposite poles attract – they say, and of course we are attracted to each other…but darling, don’t u think it would be even more attractive if there are some surprises?

PS: Dear….surprise or no surprise…gifts or no gifts…I will always love u…and I am very very glad that this day happened in my life five years ago….Happy ponnu paatha day!

PPS: But I will still never say no to a belated gift either…so plan something fast so that I can post my next blog. Love u always.

krikettu....krikettu....krikettu...

How can men blame women for watching mega-serials when they can eat cricket, drink cricket and sleep cricket? No, I am not against cricket. Even I watch cricket – or rather I used to watch cricket (before my marriage that is) and I like the thrill and excitement, but there could be no one who can watch this game like my husband. (Dear, this is NOT a compliment)

He becomes totally deaf and dumb while watching cricket or reading cricket news. Even I become deaf and dumb when it comes to Harry Potter or Sidney Sheldon, but even when I am deaf and dumb, I can realize if my daughter is curling around my legs wanting me to carry her.

My daughter has the habit of watching rhymes cd while she is eating. I find this comfortable since I can feed her in one place. But nowadays, thanks to IPL, he expects my daughter to finish her dinner either before he comes home or have her dinner without the cd. But u know, like father – like daughter. She is competing with him. She refuses to change to the TV mode even after her dinner is over.

The other day I was discussing something very important to him, while he is channel-surfing, and nodding his head…At one point, he gave a huge exclamation – Ooooooohhhhhh!!. I was like…edhukku ippadi oru reaction and I turn towards the TV….the team has missed a catch. Who am I talking to? The walls?

Last weekend, I needed a break. Since my elder daughter was staying a relative’s house with my in-laws, I decided to ask him out for dinner. I didn’t want to cook since it was only the two of us. We went to the restaurant and he lovingly gives me a seat saying that it will be comfortable for me to feed Swathi, and seated himself opposite to me. It took me only 2 minutes to realize that he was not seated opposite to me, but he was seated opposite to the TV set in the restaurant DAMN this cricket.

U can totally trust my husband to take care of the house and go out while he is watching cricket. Even if a thief enters the house through the front door, robs the entire house and leaves the house after saying “Bye” to him, he will not bother to say a return Bye.

I agree….a guy needs some entertainment after his long and tiring office hours…but shouldn’t there be some limit? Sigh!

Red Rose...

Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow,
with every passing year."

She knew this was the last time
that the roses would appear.
She thought, he ordered roses
in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know,
that he would pass away.

He always liked to do things early,
way before the time.
Then, if he got too busy,
everything would work out fine.

She trimmed the stems and
placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase beside
the portrait of his smiling face.

She would sit for hours,
In her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture,
and the roses sitting there.

A year went by, and it was
to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude,
that had become her fate.

Then, the very hour,
The doorbell rang, and there
were roses sitting by her door.

She brought the roses in,
and then just looked at them in shock.
Then, went to get the telephone,
to call the florist shop.

The owner answered, and she asked him,
if he would explain, Why would someone would
do this to her, causing her such pain?

"I know your husband passed away,
more than a year ago,"
The owner said,
"I knew you'd call, and you would want to know.
The flowers you received today,
were paid for in advance.
Your husband always planned ahead,
he left nothing to chance.
There is a standing order,
that I have on file down here,
And he has paid, well in advance,
you'll get them every year.

There also is another thing,
that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago.
Then, should ever I find out that he's no longer here, that's the card that should be sent to you
the following year."

She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking,
as she slowly reached to get the card.

Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence,
this is what he wrote...

"Hello my love, I know it's been a year
since I've been gone.
I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome.
I know it must be lonely,
and the pain is very real.

Or if it was the other way,
I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything
so beautiful in life.
I loved you more than words can say,
you were the perfect wife.
You were my friend and lover,
you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year,
but please try not to grieve.

I want you to be happy,
even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses will be sent to you for years.
When you get these roses,
think of all the happiness that we had together,
and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you and
I know I always will.
But, my love, you must go on,
you have some living still.

Please...try to find happiness,
while living out your days.
I know it is not easy,
but I hope you find some ways.

The roses will come every year,
and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered,
when the florist stops to knock.
He will come five times that day,
in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit,
he will know without a doubt!
To take the roses to the place,
where I've instructed him
and place the roses where we are,
together once again.

Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.

This is Forever Friendship.
This is the sacred RED ROSE.

My Kids Diary

I’ve heard many people say that you should not compare your kids, especially siblings. But I find myself doing that very often. I am not analyzing which is good or bad, but just comparing. You just cannot stop doing that between your kids – especially when both are of the same sex – that too girls. So ketkave venam. Whoever said – sisters will be similar, here are the similarities between my daughters


First kid – She turned over at the end of the fifth month
Second kid – She turned over at the beginning of her fourth month itself.

First – She started walking without support 2 days before her first birthday
Second – She can stand without support now in her 10th month

First – She developed two bunny teeth before her first birthday
Second – She has 2 lower teeth and 4 teeth are sprouting in her upper jaw now

First – She grasped everything very fast
Second – She grasps everything – if not very fast, atleast fast

First – She got accustomed in my parent’s home by 10 months
Second – She is still not comfortable with my parents.

First – Amma ponnu
Second – Appa ponnu

First – Her hair is silky
Second – Her hair is rough

First – She started getting angry for certain things only after her 2nd birthday
Second – She gets angry for everything now itself

First – She started breaking my head after her 2nd birthday
Second – She has started breaking my head before her 1st birthday

Similarties:

First – She wants ONLY the things which her sister has
Second - She wants ONLY the things which her sister has