Of all short stories PUNYAKOTI wins the Gold medal

Sugar loves stories especially those that have animals and we parents try to come up with a few that bring sparkle in her eyes, yeah discovering bit of a hidden talent here. So, yesterday I was suddenly reminded of the ‘Punyakoti’ story. If I’m not wrong, this story can never be erased from a person who has done early schooling in Karnataka (Primary school to be precise). I was super thrilled to narrate it to Sugar and she was equally excited to hear about it. While narrating the story, I realised how I fell in love with this story all over again. It brought back a lot of memories and how emotionally it was narrated by the teachers. To me, there is no other short story that has made such an emotional, yet positive impact. The moral is so lucid and perhaps that’s the reason why this story remains intact in our minds.


Sugar, while listening to it didn’t like the bit where Tiger wanted to attack Punyakoti – she kept saying…I don’t like tiger but she loved the bit where he let Punyakoti go to her baby calf. Sugar’s expression – “Mummy Cow is happy happy to go back home to baby calf and give paala and mammamm…. Yay!”

I now hope to teach Sugar the Punyakoti song.

My Daughter, my Delight!

It’s been ages since I blogged and don’t know quite where to begin. It’s fair to blame it all on our hectic routines and with living life. Yes, I have been absurdly busy and so to speak, that writing about Sugar and recording memories have had to fall by the wayside. I feel somewhat depressed – and I’m no different. Being up at 5 am to get ready for a hectic day and falling into bed exhausted at 11 pm does not an active blogger make! But it’s all good as I finally found time under the sun to do some writing… some recording. Sugar is growing up and too soon (scares me as I don’t want to miss her baby-ness which I’m cherishing to bits). She is 2.2 yo now and I can see self-identity traits budding in her already. She loves pink, her eyes twinkle and wears an instant smile when she sees my jewellery box. She keenly observes me applying lips stick and says “Mmmmm that’s Amma’s Lips Stick…Niceee”. Oh! By the way, Sugar talks in English with a ‘Brit’ accent – thanks to the Nursery, its staff and her friends. We talk to her in our local language and she picks both Kannada and Tamil well, replies in English. I don’t complain as long as she understands the two languages. She’s learnt to say “I Don’t Want It” when I try to feed her dinner (although I make sure I don’t feed her regular boring stuff) and also acknowledges if she likes the taste of something I make, says SUUUPER (with her fingers showing the super sign). She loves singing and dancing, she can dance to any tune or just wiggle her body, nod her had in rhythm to any music or even some of her favourite nursery rhymes. She loves Happy Birthday song and she is ever thrilled to sing it to any birthday person. She loves her nursery and her best friend is JESSICA. They are inseparable. She likes to be clean and loves cleaning stuffs herself. She craves for a kitchen towel only to wipe tables, the sofa and her toys that are in her vicinity. She likes her mouth to be dry and hates it if I spill water while feeding her from her tiny bottle. She slowly wants to drink milk from her favourite green beaker. She loves visiting my sisters here in Stratford, loves to play with my little nephew – her baby brother. However, she doesn’t like the idea of me or her dad cuddling the little bundle there!


She is truly the light of my life. She's good, and obedient, and polite, and helpful and naughty, but not the kind of naughty that gives a parent panic attacks. Just the kind of naughty that makes you smile, sigh a little. When I am rushing back home in the evenings my energy is at an all-time low. Magically, my spirits and my energy levels rise dramatically when I see her and hold her tight in my arms. I so crave for that moment when she lovingly says “Hi Ammaaaa” and gives me a nice big hug again. She's all I need to get through the rest of my day/night.

My daughter, my delight. Every day in every way.

b.l.i.s.s.fullness

Watching you sleep is b.l.i.s.s

Feeling the warmth of your snuggle is b.l.i.s.s

Tracing the curve of your cheeks is b.l.i.s.s

Hearing the deeply resonating sound of the 'ammmmmaaaaa' when you say my name is b.l.i.s.s

Your cheeky smile on demand is b.l.i.s.s

A glimpse of all your tiny teeth is b.l.i.s.s

Watching you wave those 3 tiny fingers when you like the taste of something you eat is b.l.i.s.s

Holding your hands as we walk together is b.l.i.s.s

To have you lie like a dormant kitten on my shoulder is b.l.i.s.s

Singing to you as I change your diaper is b.l.i.s.s

Feeding you is b.l.i.s.s

Dressing you up is b.l.i.s.s

To hear your chortle of delight at every squeeze, however uncomfortable, is b.l.i.s.s

Feeling your hand on my cheek when you wake up in the middle of the night is a comfort beyond measure and a complete b.l.i.s.s

To know you is b.l.i.s.s…to look upon you in everything you do is b.l.i.s.s... And to love you.....h.e.a.v.e.n!

May you be showered with the best of everything in life, little one. Mmmmuuaaahhh!

Sugar's First Birthday Bash

Sugar, please excuse amma for posting this topic really late. But hey...'Better Late Than Never'!

First Birthdays are always special. Sugar’s First Birthday bash was hosted on 8^th September 2013 in Mumbai Junction restaurant in Harrow, London. It was a fun filled party with yummy food, a lovely compact venue, delicious cake and awesome guests. Sugar was overwhelmed when she had a good glimpse of happy crowd wishing her, cuddling her, where she, in no time decided to go all cranky and was least interested in the cutting the cake. We thought she would be fine when she heard ‘Happy Birthday’ song in chorus, but in vain, she rather decided to take it as a new Lullaby! She fell asleep and we parents were glad that at least she was awake while the candles were blown and the cake was cut. A and I loved arranging and sorting out things for the party. Thanks to the grand parents for all the support in showing equal enthusiasm and involvement.

Sugar

I’m back and I love it. I hope to be able to write often now for I have a sweet reason. Last few posts were sad and upsetting, but today, I’m a better person, my soul is happier – God gave me this best present, my daughter. The following posts in this blog are dedicated to my little one, I call her ‘Sugar’ and this space is reminiscence of the growing years of my little girl. Sugar, my hope!


On July 16, 2013, Sugar turned one. I took a day off from work to be with her all day - it was great fun. Abhi waited patiently for her to wake up and gave her the best cuddle. She was happy to be safe in her dad’s arms and the sight made my morning so special. My parents (her favourite people and best buddies) made sure that even the chores they did looked special. Mom cooked yummy delicacies; dad took Sugar out to show ducks and birds by the riverside in the morning. We sang ‘Happy Birthday’ song for the first time to her and she absolutely loved the tune so much that she wanted us to go on and on. We then took advantage of the song (quite odd, I know) as we sang while feeding her breakfast and she finished it within a few minutes, plus it was her favourite lullaby for the whole day. It did magic for sure.

We planned to take her to the ‘Play Centre’ that she goes to every Tuesday, at 10 am. The little one blissfully slept longer than usual so we got late by 40 minutes. I loved visiting the place myself as I rarely get to go there. I mentioned to the staff that it was Sugar’s first birthday and if I could distribute chocolates and cookies to the kids (obviously I had to consult each parent if her/his child could take the sweets fearing allergies that the kids might have). I’m glad the kids weren’t disappointed as they could go for either chocolate or cookies. There again, the staff announced that it was Sugar’s first birthday and wanted to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ song to her. She was thrilled to bits when she heard the song again and this time in chorus. She had the most amazing smile on her face throughout.

In the evening, we had simple celebrations at home as we wanted to keep it simple. Sugar’s chitti and chikappa (my sister and BIL) came in the evening bringing more joy to her and we had another couple-friend. Our small house looked full and bright. There were simple decorations and a tiny cake. We plan to have a party in a couple of months just when MIL can join us here in London. So many affectionate phone calls poured in to wish Sugar from different parts of the world. I felt so blessed. Abhi and I discussed how fast the past year had gone by and how beautiful the journey has been.

We love you Sugar and may God bless with a WONDERFUL life ahead. Thankyou for making our lives ever so BEAUTIFUL.