My Birthday My Day....

Completely unaware of the significance of the day, I started on a usual note. But, I was the only one behaving in a usual way; everyone else was greeting me differently today. It all started with an early morning call at 12.15 am from Uganda- my Renu bua was on phone to greet me on my birthday; she was the first one to do so. Next morning, I found myself under a flurry of hugs, kisses, pecks and birthday greetings with my mom, papa, dada and dadee showering it all over me......... I was enjoying all the attention and love......

My dada instructed everyone to get ready as our priest was due to arrive early for my birthday prayers (pooja) - my dada and dadee organised it. I was the first one to get ready and got busy with my “picking and throwing” routine.
Soon, our priest arrived and started performing pooja (prayers).

I kept shifting between everyone’s lap seated with folded hands.......
My dadee offered sweets and pakoras to the Lord. It is a Garhwali tradition to cook pakoras made of daal (lentils) and offer them to the Lord during prayers and celebrations. As soon as prayers got over, we assembled for our breakfast of delicious pakoras and parathas .

My dada and dadee left for market soon thereafter to fetch my birthday cake and my gift- a nice pink coloured blanket. As my nana- nanee, mausa- mausee and mama-mamee were planning to come over in the evening, my dada and dadee came back early enough to make preparations for dinner. My papa got busy decorating the house with balloons while my dada, dadee and mom cooked dinner; obviously with assistance from Santoshi didi.

Later in the evening, I wore my new birthday dress that my mom and papa had bought a day before my birthday. My nana-nanee and others arrived on time for cutting of my birthday cake.......I was visibly excited standing in front of my birthday cake..........
My papa captured my cake cutting ceremony on his camera phone........you must watch out for the sight of me eating cake from knife itself......


It would have been nice to have my Rudra bhai and Ridhima didi by my side when I had cut that cake but they made up for that by wishing me on phone. You know both of them were holding their papa’s phones to join me for my cake cutting ceremony over phone- a technological gift.......I got some real gifts too as my nana-nanee gave me a pair of ear-rings while my mausa-mausee presented me a beautiful dancing doll.....

It was time to serve dinner as my papa was scheduled to catch his train to Delhi at 11pm. For a change, I also ate my dinner sitting on the dining chair instead of my usual chair.......sign that I have definitely grown up.......

Oh yes! My unit of measurement of age also changed from month to year........

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Journey Of Thoughts In Sixty Minutes!

When confronted with a state of confusion or uncertainty, human mind and the thoughts it emanates tend to journey from one extreme to another in a flash; searching for that whiff of air of positivity. All along that journey, the unpleasant thoughts in mind outnumber the pleasant ones by a big margin.......Amidst prevailing confusion, all it requires for a mind to come back to a stage of sanity is a confirmation of facts, pleasant or unpleasant; it’s an altogether different matter that no one wants to hear or read anything unpleasant. As soon as facts emerge from the cloud of uncertainty, confusion evaporates and action time begins..........While, human mind readies itself to embark on yet another journey; the cycle continues.....

I witnessed one such journey yesterday evening after my papa returned home early from work. As soon as he had set himself to unwind, he received a phone call.......The voice on the other side was that of my Renu bua ...........she was crying .........crying because her doctor refused to hand-over her FNAC test reports to my dada. Fearing extreme, my bua called up my papa and told him to speak to my dada......My papa tried his best to comfort my bua instructing her to go to doctor........He, then spoke to my dada who told him that doctor wants to do my Renu bua’s ultrasound scans before handing over her reports. By then, my dada had already requested my father’s cousin to accompany my Renu bua to doctor’s clinic situated at a distance of 6 kilometres away from our Dehradun home.

And with that began concurrent waiting sessions........my dada was waiting for my bua to reach clinic, Renu bua’s wait was to know the result of her tests, my dadee was waiting to hear about her daughter’s well-being, my papa was waiting for the telephone number of the concerned doctor so that he could speak to him............All along, every mind was journeying from one extreme to another; waiting anxiously...........And, it seemed as if moments ceased to have any end to it; endless! I was watching everything while seated on my father’s lap; completely helpless! My papa, although worried was getting his power from his belief and faith in his God. With prayers on his lips and finger on the phone keypad, he was dialling my dada waiting for the phone to be switched on........And when it did, the news from the other side was a comforting one. Nothing serious was what doctor said and everyone heaved a big sigh of relief......I could see the expression of thankfulness on my father’s face; God had answered his prayers.....

However, my bua will now have to choose between surgery for the removal of lump or a temporary relief in pain for a year or so by taking some injections...Another temporary solution, as per doctor is to go for second child........and, then go for permanent cure. Whatever decision she will take, my love and prayers will always be with her.......

Infact everyone's!

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Happy Birthday!

..........to my dadee as she celebrated her birthday today with us in Gurgaon; while my dada, Renu bua, Ashu chacha, Shikha chachee, Ridhima didi and Rudra bhai celebrated in Dehradun.

We all went to the market (Gold Souk Mall) in the afternoon to buy my dadee her birthday present-a diamond ring. She wasn't comfortable with the idea of giving her a ring but my parent's persistence made her agree to it. Actually, it was my Renu bua's idea as she had told my papa about it yesterday. I was at my boisterous best at the Jewellery shop; I guess being a girl was the other reason apart from general excitement! Later in the night, my dadee would cut her birthday cake and I will be the first one to taste it.
Before I end this post, let me write few words directly to my dadee:

Dadee- As I can't speak yet; I want you to know through these words that I have a deep love and affection for you in my heart. My wishes for your good health, happiness and joy in this New Year and many years thereafter are always with you and I pray to God for that........

I have seen you taking care of me during these first formative months despite your back-ache; complaining not even once......I know it must have been tough for you to; ...... be with me in Gurgaon when your own daughter (my Renu bua) is in Dehradun for the treatment of her stomach ache after returning from Uganda for that reason only.............or, to let my dada live alone in Dehradun .........or, to leave comfortable climate of Dehradun for blistering heat of Gurgaon........all for my cause! I don’t know what to say about that.........

I can always say- I love you dadee!

Come wednesday and we all will be in Dehradun.....so, three more days!

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Airport, People & Emotions

It is 2 am here in India and I am still awake; remember that 2 am or 2 pm thing on this post. Actually, we just came back home after visiting Delhi International Airport to see off my Rakesh Mama (uncle) - my Renu bua’s husband. This was my first visit to any airport and will stay with me forever courtesy this post. Since Delhi Airport is in the midst of a major renovation and construction exercise; so there is not much to write about the state of infrastructure. From the looks of it, future of this airport looks better and I hope to write about it sometime soon.

A keen observer, which I am, soon got busy witnessing the airport scenes. But, what attracted me most at the airport wasn’t the swanky airport building but people. Actually it is a given in India; sort of a freebie. With its huge population, sea of humanity follows you everywhere. Delhi Airport was no different either; it was full of people. And, with people come emotions. There was a son who was taking his newly-wed along; his entire family was there to see him off with tears flowing down their cheeks. There was a group of young guys standing next to the newly-weds with aspirations and dreams in their eyes. An old couple travelling alone were looking for some help to push their trolleys. A young daughter was pushing her trolley with her other hand waving at her parents and tears popping out of her eyes. A group of labourers showing contrasting emotions of hope and fear.......every face had a story to tell.

Present in that huge crowd was a 2.25 year old daughter enjoying the warmth of her father’s embrace completely unaware of his scheduled departure. Sensing the possible, her mom quickly offered her lap to the daughter, which she accepted. Handshakes and hugs followed quickly thereafter (pic of Rakesh mama, Ridhima didi and me shaking hands) and the father took his way to the airport lobby entrance. Seeing her father leave, the girl started crying......calling her papa......You know that daughter was none else but my Ridhima didi and the father was my Rakesh mama. She kept crying until she went to sleep. While my Ridhima didi was crying, my embrace of my mom got tighter and tighter.

What a cruel place an airport can be for emotional people!

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Happy Marriage Anniversary

.....to my dear mummy and papa. You both have completed four years of your marriage today. I know that on this day of 2005 you tied your nuptial knot. Naturally, I wasn't present there on that day but I am with you today to celebrate your fourth anniversary along with my dada, dadee, chacha, chachee and Rudra bhai.

I am lovin' it. Let me document this special day for my reading in future....

My dada and dadee were the first ones to wish my parents followed by a sms message from my Renu bua. She had sent it last night but my papa managed to read it this morning only. I too woke up earlier than usual and wished them in my own way. I liked it when my dadee said- "Reveda-you would have been three today had you come out early." I told my dadee- "I agree but then my parents are to be blamed for that. Apparantely they were in no hurry to bring me into this world earlier than when I eventually did.

Later in the evening we all (my dada, dadee, mummy, papa, chacha, chachee, Rudra bhai, Anil mama and Shubham bhai) went our for dinner. Incidentally, it turned out to be my first restaurant outing as well.

Before I end this post, I again wish my parents on their Anniversary. This day is very special for me too as but for this day, I would not have been here.......at least by Indian standards!

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Our Sunday Chef

They say that DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) intake is good for the development of brain and eyes of a kid during their formative years. It is further believed that algae and fish are the best source of DHA. So, my father used to cook different types of fish for my mom when I was inside her womb; something, he hasn’t done that once since my birth. But, my mom can’t say that anymore as he decided to don the role of a chef again today; after a long time. What he cooked was grilled fish (of white Pomfret ) and Goan fish curry (of Salomon fish). Sandeep uncle and Pallavi aunty joined us for lunch and they enjoyed the taste (that's what they said). My mom is already fond of fish that my papa cooks for her. Cooking fish is always a nostalgic experience for my father, simply because it always reminds him of my Renu bua; she loves eating fish.

For now, I can't eat fish directly but then I am already eating it indirectly- through my mom’s feed. Needless to say that that was the basic motive behind the effort.......Thank you chef!

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My Questions?

Every morning my parents go to work leaving me at home with my nanee. And, unlike past couple of days, I wasn't sleeping when they left for work this morning; I woke up as they were about to leave. Still, I would see them off with a smile on my face. Yes! I was smiling but then I must have asked myself following questions-

~ Where do they go to everyday?
~ Do they miss me or think of me while they are away?
~ If it is really essential to leave me at home for work?
~ If it is a good trade-off?
~ Do I miss them and count the number of hours left for re-union?
~ How would this temporary separation of few hours affect our mutual relationship?
~ How do other children cope with the separation anxieties?
~ Why do I smile moments after I see my parents back from work in the evening?
~ If this temporary separation of few hours make me any different from what I would have been without any spectre of every morning's separation.
~ Do I enjoy taking top feed or I do that just to fight hunger during noon time.

I am looking for answers and any possible answers are welcome!

Well, my papa is bit sad as my Renu bua is unwell in Uganda. She has a stomach ache and doctors are saying that it is due to malaria. My Rakesh mama is travelling for work and is in Rwanda these days; he will return tomorrow morning. My worried papa has already called up my bua twice. Renu bua-I am thinking of you as well as my Ridhima didi; you will get well soon. Don't worry Rakesh mama will be back tomorrow. I know it must be tough to be alone in a far-away land but don't forget that you are my courageous bua. And above all, God is always there to help us.

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