This and That

Ah! The Radha came first, the vegetable vendor came second and the pink butterfly landed in the third spot. A victory for the mother's artistic talents.... Not to mention liberal scribbles from all the kids on our floor. A few muddy shoe-prints cleverly masked with glitter. It was fun. She sang her own version of the Gubachi song

The Diwali came and went so quickly. I usually wake up by 5am on Diwali (vaguely trying to emulate grandmoms who used to wake the whole household by 4am). This time I didnt set the alarm, convincing myself that I cant possibly sleep through the noise of crackers in the neighbourhood. I underestimated my capabilities and ended up waking up at 7 am. What a shame! It was too bright to do the flower pots and rockets and vishnu chakrams.

Anyways, quickly did damage control and the kids were out bursting crackers with all enthu. V was very much scared, but didnt want to show it! She would find some reason like 'I want to see the flower in your saree' to hide behind me.

And then the Mysore trip. First time in ages that an adult was accompanying me on any journey. So the kids were more or less taken (great) care by the husband. While I just had to do the driving. It was great. For everything one had to go to the palace circle and then take a detour. What simplicity!

Fancying a dress

November is here......so is Children’s day....and today I was supposed to fill out and submit a form to the school wherein I am to solemnly swear to dress my child V as _________ on November 14th and not to change my mind about it.

I don’t like that last clause.

Last night, at 12:15 am, as the train was just pulling out of Central and inching towards B.Bridge, I was cleaning my handbag (undoubtedly a Sisyphean task). That’s when I noticed this cyclostyled note from school. That’s when a friendly roach peeped from a crevice to say hello to the butterfly embroidered on the V's pink blanket. Suppressing all human emotions such as fear, I decided to see poetry in the scenery. And my mind dilly-dallied between the two winged creatures and chose the more pleasing one. BUTTERFLY, I scrawled on the note and tucked it deep into the handbag and went about looking for ways to shoo away the roach.

This morning when the principal sternly reminded me about the form, I gave it to her ...and now I realize the last clause. What if the nylon wings scratch her? What if the butterfly bites her? Won’t Rahul who is going to dress up as a Dinosaur eat her up? What if she wants to be Cinderella because she can get to wear pink? What if she wants to wear flowers on her hair like Radha?

Aha! Now I get it....she will be a pink butterfly with flowers wound to the antennae, a halo around her head, a wand in her hand, and with a detachable set of fangs, to out compete the rest.