You @ 4: A bright & fresh Strawberry...
My dear Niky,
Let me start with a big, long, tight hug to you, just the way you
give me one every morning when I wake you up, every time I return home and
every night before going to bed… you are all of 4 years and you manage to melt
away all my stress and weariness, with these hugs, every single day… You
complete 4 years today, giving us 4 wonderful years full of zeal and zest… this
last year saw you growing from a tiny bubbly toddler to an effervescent,
animated, and a bright child…
Talking of your smile, I have to tell you that, you smile like
your Anshoo Bua, infact you look so much like her… This has been a huge topic
of contention so far within our family because perhaps everyone wishes that they
get credit for your gorgeous smile. This smile also helps you hide lot of your activities…
all the ‘masti’ and ‘khurafaat’ you do is in ‘mute’ or ‘silent mode’, without
garnering anyone’s attention, with your smile as a cover-up… only way to find
out that you are upto something is when the sound of your yapping is not heard
for say 2 minutes… that’s when we know we need to check on you :-) In all this masti, your partner
in crime is Nithila… you both have grown to be so attached to each other, it is
impossible to think of either of you individually…
Inspite of being so talkative, inspite of being a charmer, you don’t
make friends very easily. You have just a couple of friends with whom you play
everyday, everyone else is insignificant… Manu (girl) and Nanu (boy) are your
two close friends these days and you play with them in the park everyday. Today
you asked for them many times and wanted to have them with you for your
birthday. But we are in Mumbai today celebrating your birthday with family and
friends here. Today we spent a larger part of our day at Kidzania with your
friends Manya and Shona. You had lot of fun there doing various activities,
holding Manya didi’s hand… in the evening we celebrated your birthday at home
with our close family – Papa, Nithila, Aaji, Aaba, Mama, Mami, Kshitij dada, Kshipra,
Omkar Mama, Anagha Mami. Its been a fabulous day for all of us. Your day today
started with wishes and blessings from Dadi, Babaji, Anshoo bua and Ankoo bua,
and then ofcourse in the Brit accented personalized wish from Aaru… As you guys
grow up, it is indeed going to be fun listening to your conversations with him,
your south Indian English accent vs his Brit English accent, which I barely
understand…
You are very particular about your looks… you love your long hair,
tied in two ponytails… you decide what to wear everyday and make a huge fuss
around it… you also are fond of yellow colour in general… and you are in
absolute love with strawberries, in all shapes and sizes and forms… strawberry
print on dress, on bedsheets & blankets, strawberry piggybank, strawberry
hairbands, strawberry ice-cream, strawberry cream biscuits, anything that is
strawberry… Actually in some ways, you yourself are similar to this strawberry…
bright and fresh always, unvarying sweetness inside and outside too… shows up
in everything you say and everything you do…
Let me start with a big, long, tight hug to you, just the way you
give me one every morning when I wake you up, every time I return home and
every night before going to bed… you are all of 4 years and you manage to melt
away all my stress and weariness, with these hugs, every single day… You
complete 4 years today, giving us 4 wonderful years full of zeal and zest… this
last year saw you growing from a tiny bubbly toddler to an effervescent,
animated, and a bright child…
Your animations are all accompanied by striking expressions reflecting
in your eyes and a plethora of words… most of the times you speak in Hindi, but
these days, you are learning to speak English too… Listening to you speak longish
English sentences, with jumbled up words, is such amazing fun… The other day
Papa called you and asked if you are missing him and you said “no Papa, I don’t
miss you. When I go away anywhere, I don’t miss anyone, for anything”… trust me
Niky, Papa and me both miss you everytime we are away from you… your smile,
your conversations have such great magnetism, that we perpetually remain pulled
towards you… here are couple of your most amusing conversations
Me: Niky apne haath se kab khaana seekhoge?
You: Kabhi nahin
Me: Par tumhare age ke bachhe apne haath se khaate hain
You: Kaun kaun?
Me: Your friends Manu aur Nanu, dono… aur Nanu toh tumse chota hai
You: Ok mein unko bolungi ki apne haath se nahi khaaye, phir theek
hai?
Me: Arey tumhare kehne se kya hota hai? Unko unki mummy nahi
khilaegi toh voh apne aap hi kha lenge
You: Haan kyun ki unki mummy aapki tarah achhi nahi hai na, is
liye unko vaise khana padta hai… aap toh sabse best mummy ho, mujhe hamesha
khilaaoge
Me (to myself): Shabbash bête, ab iske aage mein kya bolun?
Me (on phone): Niky baby, how are you?
You: Hamesha yehi kyun poochte ho? Kuch aur poocho
Me: Kya poochu?
You: Poocho ki Niky tumhe kya chahiye?
Me: Ok Niky tumhe kya chahiye?
You: Aap Papa ko bolo mere liye laane.. chocolates, books,
barbies, strawberries, frocks aur ice-cream bhi…
Me: Itna sab kuch kis khushi mein?
You: Kisi khushi mein nahin, mujhe khush karne ke liye…
Me: Kuch ek hi milega. Sabse jyaada khush kya milne pe hogi tum?
You: Aap ke milne pe
Me (smiling to myself): Aww really baby?
You: Yeah, par aap toh ho nahin mere paas. Is liye papa ko bolo baaki
sab de de
Me (to myself): Yet again she did it !
Me: Niky, how was your day in school?
You: Very good Mumma
Me: Wow baby… What did you do?
You: We played with clay and mud
Me: Oh that is why it is good?
You: Yes na, you don’t let me play with clay and mud at home. So I
have to go to school and play.
Me: That’s not what you go to school for. You go there to study and
learn also
You: Who told you?
Me: I know it
You: You don’t know anything Mumma (and you laughed loudly)
Me: Why are you laughing?
You: They fooled you (and you continue to laugh). We go to school,
play, eat, sing and come back
Me (to myself): they are actually fooling you babes, you will soon
know how :-)
This year you moved from a small playschool to Lower-KG in a big
school. I had gone to your pre-school on the last day to collect your documents
and activity work. As your teacher spoke about you and how you have been in her
class, tears welled up in her eyes… I was initially a bit concerned, but she
said in last 5 years of her teaching such small kids, she got most attached to
you… she narrated how you would ask her what had she brought in tiffin, you
would ask her about her family, about what she ate for breakfast, about her
favorite colors, about her favorite teacher… so much that her husband also didn’t
know these details about her… you can really get someone go crazy for you... Now
since June, you go to a big school… first exposure to a structured classroom,
school etiquettes, strict discipline, longer timings, and some serious learning…
you have loved all of this right from the first day… and every day thereafter,
you have gone off happily to school, leaving us behind with a wide smile…
Talking of your smile, I have to tell you that, you smile like
your Anshoo Bua, infact you look so much like her… This has been a huge topic
of contention so far within our family because perhaps everyone wishes that they
get credit for your gorgeous smile. This smile also helps you hide lot of your activities…
all the ‘masti’ and ‘khurafaat’ you do is in ‘mute’ or ‘silent mode’, without
garnering anyone’s attention, with your smile as a cover-up… only way to find
out that you are upto something is when the sound of your yapping is not heard
for say 2 minutes… that’s when we know we need to check on you :-) In all this masti, your partner
in crime is Nithila… you both have grown to be so attached to each other, it is
impossible to think of either of you individually… Inspite of being so talkative, inspite of being a charmer, you don’t
make friends very easily. You have just a couple of friends with whom you play
everyday, everyone else is insignificant… Manu (girl) and Nanu (boy) are your
two close friends these days and you play with them in the park everyday. Today
you asked for them many times and wanted to have them with you for your
birthday. But we are in Mumbai today celebrating your birthday with family and
friends here. Today we spent a larger part of our day at Kidzania with your
friends Manya and Shona. You had lot of fun there doing various activities,
holding Manya didi’s hand… in the evening we celebrated your birthday at home
with our close family – Papa, Nithila, Aaji, Aaba, Mama, Mami, Kshitij dada, Kshipra,
Omkar Mama, Anagha Mami. Its been a fabulous day for all of us. Your day today
started with wishes and blessings from Dadi, Babaji, Anshoo bua and Ankoo bua,
and then ofcourse in the Brit accented personalized wish from Aaru… As you guys
grow up, it is indeed going to be fun listening to your conversations with him,
your south Indian English accent vs his Brit English accent, which I barely
understand…
One person we missed sorely today is Polo… I know you would have
loved feeding him your birthday cake… Polo came in our life about eight months
back and has grown to be your playmate… you hug him, cuddle him, sit on him,
pull his tail, feed him, order him and like one good boy, he surrenders to you,
wags at you, plays with you… you both will grow to be two besties I know, and
yes, it’s a pleasure to see you getting attached to him and loving him in your
own petite ways…
One other very important development that has happened this year
is you joining an art class… as such I got you to join this class along with
Nithila and me, so that you don’t get bored alone at home… but its been a huge revelation
to me… your knack for drawing, your hold over your fingers, your imagination,
your sense of colors are outstanding I say… even our art teacher is highly
impressed… hope you continue to work on this streak and excel (here my
responsibility is higher I know)… and let me be candid here, this will be like
inheriting the core of me, and I will be the happiest person to see you
achieving something which I only dreamt of…
This sweet flavor is in your kiss and is my most favorite taste…
the moist fragrance of your hair is my most favorite smell… the gentle hold of your
hand is my most favorite touch… the hum of your deep breathing when asleep is
my most favorite sound… and the jingle of your laughter is my most favorite blessing…
God Bless you… a very Happy 4th birthday to you again… :-)
Yours Mumma
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