Heartbeats

I was reading this detective story by Enid Blyton in which the author says through her character Daisy that not all that we laugh at is actually funny. Sometimes, we laugh in the moment and later on that particular stuff is not able to tickle any bone. This also happens with me. I have many amusing moments with Vasu and Darsh but not all are able to hold me for days and weeks or even months together. And then something absolutely different happens that leaves an imprint on my heart. Like what my younger heartbeat one night just did.

It was such an ordinary winter night of February 2012. Darsh with his characteristic playfuness asked me to feel his heartbeat. He had recently discovered it. Amusing it was how he had just realized that he also has a heart that beats.

I watched Darsh pointing at it, so excitedly putting my hand on his chest... unaware that I knew of his heartbeat way much earlier than he could imagine. Just 5 weeks after I had conceived him, the gynaecologist amplified his heartbeat for me to hear. It was a sign of him having arrived inside me.

The realization, however, brought something farther than a chuckle to me. It caused me a deep sense of guilt.

Darsh was so much oblivious of the string of thoughts that passed me following the audio-visuals at the hospital. The pregnancy was totally unplanned and uncalled for. For a few days,  I was so confused. Yes, I wondered what if  .... yes, the thought crossed my mind whether it would be a bad deed to.... to do something that today I do not have the courage to even put into words.  Today he is my heart beat. I skip a heartbeat even at the very thought of anything happening to him that could race up his heartbeats, let alone stopping them.

Changing Shoes

That's my boy! :P

Not long ago, I ( like many other Indian parents), would go to any extent to bolster up the confidence of my children. I would praise them generously (often overtly) for just about every simple job they would successfully accomplish. I would fetch sweets or goodies for them to reinforce a good action. I would shower kisses and hugs to show my affection and emote feelings of happiness and proud. (Even if, my tactics often proved to be rather fruitless turmoil of a "learner" parent :-/ ) Not long ago, I did all that and more, to behave like a responsible and dutiful parent.

But yesterday, I realized things are actually inter-changing!!??

Yesterday, extremely lazy and exhausted after a long day at work, I was reclining on our bed against a pile of pillows, lazily watching over their random activities. As time-to-sleep drew closest, Vasu expressed his, as usual, oddly timed desire to cover his rough notebook!!??

"Arghh.." I thought. "As usual!" But then I just let him be, lest I would only hurt my head more severly. Still watching the two in action, doing something with a lengthy scroll of brown paper... remaining at a fairly safe distance from the mess of it all. Darsh was actively prompting Vasu, bucking him up and showing full confidence in his "Uber-cool big brother."

Brothers bonding

Vasu is dismal at being crafty... and there he did it again!  He cut the brown paper too short horizontally, rendering it unsuitable to cover the notebook. I just behaved as if I wasn't watching.  Sitting by, but totally indifferent.

Vasu looked at me for approval, and may face gave away what I truly felt.

Observant Darsh spoke matter-of-factly, "मम्मा आप कर दो, वासु से नहीं हो रहा है. " (Mom, you do it, Vasu isn't able to do it.)

Vasu supported his suggestion and coaxed me a bit more. "Ermm.. Okay! Why not, if it pleases the two!" I said to myself.  

The pair of them watched me carefully. How I took a new piece of brown paper and folded it neatly on either sides of the hard cover; eagerly anticipating when would I use a pair of sicssors!

As I was doing it, Darsh blurted,

"वाह मम्मा! आप तो बहुत अच्छा कवर चड़ा लेते हो! है ना? देख वासु मम्मी कितने अच्छे से कवर चड़ा रहीं हैं!" (Wow Mom! You cover copies so well! Right Vasu? See, mom covering the copy so well!)

Vasu added affectionately (as if he was my elder someone obliged to boost my morale) ... his voice full of sweet smiles and kisses and hugs for his dear "little" mom showing promise and ability,     

" वाह मम्मा! आप तो बहुत सफाई से कवर चड़ा लेते हो! और वो भी बिना कैंची के! Very Good mamma!"

(Wow Mom! You can cover the copy so neatly and that too without using scissors!)

And for a second, I forgot I was their mom... I felt like a child, smiling with pride at my neat skills at covering a notebook. *BROAD grin on my face* [wink] [wink]

  

Changes in the Twosome Team...!

Not long ago, we carefully protected Darsh from Vasu, lest Vasu could harm the infant Darsh. Simultaneously, we let Vasu interact with Darsh quite freely, for it is important and a must between brothers. In the beginning, any lapse resulted into tiny Darsh erupting into bitter painful cries. For instance, once Vasu harshly bit some days old Darsh's tiny tender fingers between his strong milk teeth to leave clear teeth marks etched in his fingers. Yup, that was very bad. We doubled our vigilance from then on. Time passed and we needed to be less and less cautious about Vasu being with Darsh, on their own. And now that Darsh is three years old, Vasu and Darsh are more like friends than brothers. They play together and team up in their mischiefs. The latest favorite game up their sleeve all the time is role playing. Some six months ago, it used to be enacting power rangers' stunts or copying Shin Chan's whacky bum-show. Now, they take up roles of Harry-Ron and more frequently Ram-Lakshman. A stick in their hand and they become the wand holding pair of wizards. Anything that looks like a bow, including hangers in the almirah, stimulates them to take up the Ramayana act. Interestingly, Darsh becomes Ram and Vasu becomes Lakshman. One day I overheard and kind of silently observed their play। Vasu lied down, Darsh standing by his side... loudly delivering his dialogues, "कुम्भकरण!मेघनाद! तुमने मेरे भाई लक्ष्मण को क्यों मारा!... आओ अब मुझसे युद्ध करो !... मैं तुम्हे सबक सिखाऊंगा!" (Kumbhkaran! Meghnaad! How dare you attacked my brother Lakshman. Now get ready for a fight with me! Dare to fight me, I'll teach you a lesson!) Just three, I wonder how and when did Darsh learn so much of Ramayana? I was thoroughly amused. [:)]

Vasu is Greedy! Oopsss!



वासु को नूडल्स बहुत पसंद हैं

Those who have children aged between 2 to 6 must already know about "Bubbles" and all those who have read Bubbles might have also read one of the books in the series titled "Bubbles is Greedy." One of our story time (just before going to bed) shared this story recently. And that kind of gave me an opportunity to educate Vasu and Darsh about the meaning and cons of greed.

 Vasu loves to eat Maggi and other ready-to-cook-noodles, like many other kids of his age. He would eat a plateful of Maggi even if he had just had dinner and his tummy felt full.

Darsh, on the other hand, has altogether different object of desire. He enjoys Maggi, Top Ramen, Ching's Secret and the likes but not necessarily finishes them. He is more fond of biscuits - yes, much simpler choice! 



.  दर्श को बिस्कुइट्स अच्छे लगते हैं

The other day, I had the opportunity to revise their lessons about greed from the Bubbles series.  Vasu and I ate Hot

 Garlic of Ching's Secret and it was too hot for Darsh to share. As a result, we had a lots of it and Vasu needed to be told that greed would cause stomachache. He understood. 

 

 A similar situation arose when Darsh kind of replaced dinner with biscuits and demanded "पांच" (five); each time outstretching his fingers apart and showing them to me. Actually, he was asking me for the "सारा" (entire) packet, but each time I asked him to give me a number instead and "पांच" turned out to be the biggest number he knew. 

Every time he made a crying face and demanded the entire packet instead, when I served only five biscuits in his platter. I had to threaten him of a big cow approaching outside, as she is feeling angry about his stubborn ways. (Darsh feared BIG COW)

I also convinced him that I had met his demands precisely by getting the biscuits counted by none other than his trustworthy Vasu. And yet, his demand for more biscuits would know no end. So, the third time I declined.

I referred the case of greedy Bubbles to him too... and guess how the demand came to me next time.

"मुझे  पेट  में  दर्द  चाहिए , मैं  greedy  हूँ . मुझे सारे  packet  का  biscuits दे  दो!".  (I want stomachache, I am greedy. Give me the entire packet of biscuits!)

Lessons and threats don't work on certain people, do they?

A Constant Feeling...

It seems like only yesterday when I first saw Darsh in the hands of the lady paediatrician, holding him like a young puppy; him looking  equally confused, miffed and nervous as a young one of a dog; I was helpless as I was lying weak and frigid on the operation table right after the ceasarian. He was hardly a couple of minutes old, as she showed him to me with enthusiasm and congratulations ringing in her voice; I pecked on either side of his cheeks, as she insisted that I show my affection to my newborn.  And recently we celebrated his third birthday with usual quiet and courtesy. It was a purely family only affair: the cake cutting, singing of birthday wishes, shower of birthday presents and lots of excitement. 

He has indeed grown up from the first time I met him. 

I remember him as a hairy and a bit unattractive infant. He was an infant; a part of me and I loved him unconditionally. It only comes as a pleasant surprise how he has changed so considerably over the years; he charms everyone around him with his cute expressions, energy and spontaneity.  He is considered as a goodlooking chap by most. Wonder of mother nature, indeed.  

I often recall his infancy and badly long for experiencing his youngest toddler years  all over again. [A deep sigh!] 

Then I choose to be wise, and live in the present instead. I must enjoy the present, because today is going to turn yesterday tomorrow.  

Time bygone, Time to reflect

I apologise for the long break. 

For many months past my last blog, I did not feel much difference in my little people worth noting down; or may be I lost interest or went too self-absorbed into money-making. A web of reasons kept me away from introspecting and retrospecting the bygone time. 

And now, more than a long year has passed by. 

I have lots to tell and share. :)

School Admission Woes

This is my second innings at treading on my heels from school to school to collect their admission forms for nursery admission. This time the child in question is Darsh. Vasu's turn was attended with much more enthusiasm and optimism. I had high hopes and dreamt of getting him inside schools like Mirambika and Sardar Patel Vidyalaya... all in vain. The point system punctured all my hopes of bagging the right school for Vasu, singlehandedly.

My fancies were soon shattered and I woke awake broad-eyed with a jolt of bitter reality. The following year again saw me applying and re-applying to the schools I admire. Sigh! No breakthroughs. But I was not the worst case of the lots. Many parents had to go through a much more tumultuous time. I was in a way a lucky instance. My infatuation with Sardar Patel Vidyalaya has not still exhausted and I have again approached the school, third year in a row, to consider my case considerately. Meanwhile, my constraints and my fancy with a particular school does not make any sense to Vasu and Darsh. They also quite do not know, let alone understand, the persistent sandstorm in my mind that has been blinding me for quite some time now.