A face in the clouds!!!

The day has come

I’ve waited a lifetime

Trepidation in my vicinity

More questions than answers!!!

 

How different will it be???

Will I be welcome???

Will he recognise me???

Has he aged beyond belief???

 

Is all the family together???

Has he stayed abreast of my life???

Will I have to chronicle my journey???
 

Has he changed with time???

 

Am ready to depart

A stunning white carriage too

A lonely ride I'm sure

And no one to say goodbye

 

The road is pristine and promising

Lined with trees and an aura of yore

Cloud capped mountains at a distance

There’s still a long way to go

 
 

A princess like feel

Decorous for a change

Expectations galore

And apprehension aplenty

 

The unpretentious white picket fences

Unlike the towering ornate ones I’d imagined

Secured by none and silence unnerving

They know am arriving

 

 

Am on my own

Have been enrolled by mere presence

Devoid of the hustle and bustle

This is heaven, I better get used to

 

Am free to mosey around

But where do I go???

Am at a crossroads

With no signboards

Then the sight of a familiar figure

Just like I know him

A big smile and twinkling eyes

A warm embrace that says it all

 This is my home now

Where my Dad’s been for long

No questions, no answers

Just happy and whole again!!!

 

To my dear dear Dad!!!

To my Monroe...with love

 

How do I know???

I hadn’t met her before

What do I hear???

A shrill and deafening din

 

Precious few once a year

Fun on a cornucopia

Hide and Seek to name one

Chatter just a load of 'baloney'

 

Jaywalking under the blazing sun

Shopping garments and trinkets

Exhibitions and Ferris wheels

Restaurants new and old

 

From sweet nothings

To adolescent chinwag

From falling in love

To healing heartbreaks

 

A 'roomie' for long

The secrets tumble unsure

Jealousy from one in particular

Life's still at its best

 

A chance on me

When am down and out

Lots of song and dance

And some mortifying moments

 

A marriage on the cards

I will never be ready

Then the going away

A wheel comes undone

 

Husbands and Boyfriends

Embracing responsibilities

Life juggles on the express highway

A family expanding on the go

 

Excursions on the threshold

A new foursome

Forging new bonds

Back of a journey abroad

 

Long distance tête-à-tête

Not giggly anymore

Adult to adult

A little baby talk now and then

 

Welcome road trips

Trials and tribulations

Amidst the highs and lows

The journey still an upward curve

 

My first trip to her new world

And many more that follow

Fond memories always

With progeny in tow

 

New secrets unfold

Not on guard anymore

Judgements not lurking

Sarcasm for good measure

 

Fun and frolic age defying

New age recipes keeping us fresh

Opinions and advice unabashed

Growing old is just a state of mind

 

She is my best friend

At the end of my extended hand

Can’t ask for more

Perfect as it is now

 

Friends can be chosen

Family comes on a well laid platter

Blessed is an understatement

I have both rolled into one

 

Love you and miss you !!!

I am 2 and am loving it!!!

I wake up to a string of morning wishes

From mummy to daddy to grandma

Can’t wait to get my mojo on

With milk, and a basket of toys

It’s time to sparkle my pearly whites

How I dread the time on the potty

Love my mummy for that hot bath

She lets me play with soap and water

Glued to my favourite nursery rhymes

A whiff of my piping hot breakfast

My favourite meal of the day

Can I have my fork and spoon???

Mummy is ready for work

I shriek out my good-bye

Daddy goes with her too

Will return soon enough though

Daddy works on his computer

I sing and dance to the mirror

Love my time on grandma’s bed

Must see, to believe

Hear grandma call my name

It’s time to talk to her plants

Little does she know

I just want to spray around water

My eyelids start drooping

Have had a lot to do

A short nap should suffice

To re-energise the bunny in me

A big glass of milk for energy

While I pick out toys to play with

My favourite is the drum

It’s cool when the stick hits it

I love reciting ‘ABC’ and ‘123’

Grandma listening intently

Swiftly move on to ‘Teddy Bear Teddy Bear’

Grandma and I laugh ‘Ha Ha Ha’

I sense my lunch time

Empty vessels make much noise

Nanny gets into the act too

Can’t I play with them instead???

I push away in haste

I’m too busy, I remind

They don’t seem to heed

I don’t get to decide

Time for a nap, says nanny

If I want to go out after

I wake up all refreshed

More energy from my banana porridge

A glimpse into my wardrobe

Am dressed to the tee

My friends downstairs waiting for me

Love the space, open and free

Back home, nanny says bye-bye

Another glass of milk, toys strewn

Mummy and daddy still away

Grandma and I rehash our day

I eye some spicy snacks

While I go merry go round

Grandma spilling the beans

Mummy and daddy making sense of it

Meal time it is, grandma standing by

Familiar clatter from the kitchen

Oh Lord, I just don’t understand

Why can’t I just skip it???

I sing and dance

To my favourite jingles

Mummy, daddy and grandma looking on

They laugh, egging me on

It’s time to bring the curtains down

On my very eventful day

A few minutes of playtime on my bed

And, Manasi is sleeping, goodnight!!!

Happy Birthday Naannu!!!

My Little Red Riding Hood!!!

There’s anguish when I say I don’t know her very well, haven’t seen much of her either, blame it on our overseas assignment. Then again, we do meet briefly every Sunday, thanks to technology. Who does she think we are, I often ponder, People on a small screen TV or just people who visit her via laptop??? Either way, our rendezvous makes for some animated conversation, us in English and her in a language, which bears no name. In the midst of all the baby talk, we are also introduced to her new moves and wares, cruising in-between people moving in and out of our radar.

My most endearing moment came last week. We had not met her for close to a month. She had been on a busy touring schedule. I was busy myself, losing sleep over an image of her having forgotten our exisitence on her return and, having to make our grand entrance all over again. How silly!!! She did know me as that woman who performed her own lousy rendition of ‘Ol' Mc Donald’ every week, repeating the verse about pigs over and over again. 'A wee-wee here and a wee-wee there' was enough to get her started into her chuckling rountine. I would put my own routine on pause, just to give her and us some time to absorb the moment. Coming back to last Sunday, we were pleasantly surprised to see her break into a guffaw when we connected, unquestionably ecstatic to see us. She then turned to her Father and Grandmother sitting on her either side, probably to check if they were as elated. In a few seconds she turned coy, displayed with her tiny finger in her mouth. Then the finale, her new exhibits, a book on birds and a miniature candy pink cup from her basket of toys.

I present to you my adorable 15month old niece, Baby Manasi, the apple of ‘Indraprastha’ and certainly enjoying every bit of attention under the big bright sun.

Here’s a dedication to her, my most loved Nursery rhyme to date, as I remember it. I have no idea where this rhyme originated or if it were actually taught in school. It features one of my favourite farm animals…the pig. As for ‘piggy’, I absolutely love his pout.

Piggy on the Railway

Picking up stones;

Down came an engine,

Broke Piggy’s bones.

“Ah ! “ said Piggy,

“That’s not fair”,

“ Oh !” said the engine driver,

“I don’t care !”

The first of many….

Truly, Madly, Deeply.....

All I see is the smile

A broad, alluring smile

Legs dangling from a desk

A human pyramid surrounding him

 

I strain my neck

Catch a glimpse of a chocolate faced boy

In burgundy rimmed glasses

And squalid white sneakers

 

He appears from the huddle

A small frame

A wide grin on his face

Intriguing, yet not a man of my dreams

 

Christmas arrives

He forbids me to touch the calories

Couldn’t he have been more diplomatic

Impishness and charm not subtle

 

The walk down the stairs, every morning

Through the corridor

Past my table

Just to have some piping hot coffee???

 

A tap on my desk with a set of keys

On his way in and on his way out

It’s impracticable to ignore him

Followed by the yearning to see him

 

A holiday on the threshold

It's goodbye for a few days

Am at the exit

He's at the elevator

 

My Father’s hometown,

A souvenir shop beckons

I spend hours for my gifts

While my cousin lingers

 

Why does he get the best???

I wonder too

But I can’t stop myself

And her prying eyes

 

The calls in the evening make a splash

It’s just a ‘hello’, am assured

The questions from my Mother,

A noose around my neck

 

I confront him, it draws a zilch

Playing hard to get am sure

I pursue feverishly

I want my answers, I get none

 

A few indecent proposals

Am not about to give up

A yes, when I almost hang up my boots

Not convincing, yet am on cloud nine

 

Mars versus Venus,

Practical versus theatrical,

Composed versus excitable

What was I thinking???

 

Challenges from all directions,

People, places and ideologies

Nothing seems to deter me

From pursuing my flight of fancy

 

Foolish as some people would call it,

Am sure am right on this one

No qualms lingering over my head

Teething problems in plenty

 

He knows where his heart lies

He sure knows where his head lies

He knows how to separate them

So, I tell myself

 

Protective and indulgent

Thoughtful and considerate

Sensitive and strong

Humorous and young at heart

 

Life gets easier

Love grows fonder

Spirit soars by the minute

What more can a girl ask for???

 

Happy Birthday Love!!!