Tongue Tied

I often warn Punch that she will have to listen to me and stop making mischief if she wants to go to playschool. One day, this same conversation was going on and I told her that since she is not listening to me, I will not send her to playschool that day. She replies casually " Amma, I will go to ABC (new school which she will be joining in June) school".

When Punch lies or does something wrong I tell her that God is looking at you, he will pinch your eyes. One day as I was trying to put her to sleep, she said " Amma, you have a black spot on your nose, has god pinched your eyes? what did you do?"

What else can I say except...Meri billi mujhe hi meow..

Chimdan Tales

Me: Punch, did u eat tiffin at school today

Punch: Yes

Me: what did you eat ( purposely)

Punch: Dosa, but chimdan spilled the sambar

FYI: I give her maximum 2 spoons of sambar in a tight container and I don't know chimdan spilled whose sambar?

Me: Punch, when is ur happy birthday

Punch: May tonty (20)

Me: what are you going to do that day?

Punch: Cut a big cake

Me: who will come to ur birthday?

Punch: A, B, C, D etc

but amma, chimdan will eat all the cake

so i will not call her

FYI: Chimdan is Punch's version of Simran, her classmate.

Damsel in Distress

Punch was having a nice time in the play area of our apartment complex. As usual, she protested when asked to come home. I finally had enough of her " 2 minutes" and "3 minutes" and I lifted her and carried her away from the play area. She started screaming " Mujhe Chhod do, Mujhe Chhod do" much to my amusement. What a talented nautanki we have here..and till two months back she did not know a word in Hindi.

Where are we moving towards?

Two recent happenings make me think so...

1) I had been to a temple and there was a puja going on..I was standing behind the last row as I was about to leave. All chairs were occupied with people waiting for the puja to begin. An elderly couple holding hands together for support were escorted by one of the volunteers and they were finding it difficult to stand. Can you believe none of the women/children seated in the first couple of rows wanted to part with their seat..Finally the volunteer left and the couple stood in one corner helplessly. It was of no use if they got a seat in the later rows as they would be unable to view the puja. After some time, one teenager got up and her mother offered that seat to the couple, they refused to sit there..Who would?

2) We were standing outside a shop waiting for an auto to go home. A small boy of Punch's age and height came up to us and showed some colouring books @Rs 20 each. He just said BEES RUPAYA (20 Rs) and showed the books. Its really sad that children are made to earn money at this age.

The Great Divide

KP (Known person) 1 (from chennai): so you moved to pune?

Me: Yes

KP 1: So, what do u eat? Do you get RICE there??

KP2 (also from chennai): So you moved to pune?

Me: Yes

KP2: Do you get SUN TV there?

Me: Yes, on local cable network itself..

KP2: oh, I thought u need DISH to view OUR channels...

Everyone knows we get all Indian items in foreign ( I mean USA only since the word foreign covers only the USA , not even Canada can be included )

I say this because a visit to any other country is as good as staying back in India itself! (in the eyes of ur relatives, neighbourhood and the local grocer and carpenter)

Unfortunately, our people fail to understand that within India, most of the time all groceries are available. So KP1 and KP2, I still live in my country and get fruits, vegetables n groceries in abundance and at almost the same rates as in Chennai.

My Hansa

We have a Hansa (Khichdi fame) in our house, only difference is our Hansa is fond of Hindi and here is why she is Hansa

me: Yeh kya hai (pointing out to the glass of milk)

Punch: Yeh Paal (milk) hai

me: Yeh kya hai (pointing out to the slide in the park)

Punch: Yeh sarkumaram (slide) hai

What a diplomatic way to hide the fact that you don't know what to say for milk n slide in Hindi..

Playing with words

I hereby confess that already Punch overpowers me with words at every possible chance..so, she does not take after me in this department too.

e.g.

1. I tell her patiently and lovingly that I am your friend, you must listen to me, I will get you your favourite things etc etc and she retorts back..yes amma, you are my friend, do not scold or hit me, then I will cry no, ok

2. Punch likes shortcuts such as peeing on the floor instead of going to the bathroom when she is engrossed in seeing TV. Inspite of many reminders, she just does not listen to me..but the smart girl she is, she gets up and puts the doormat over the pee area and then comes to me and says amma, get me another dress, this dress is wet and pretends to be deaf when i ask how did it get wet.

Any special tips for me to overpower her?

Want to feel Pampered?

Then come over to our house.. where you can get free service (namely trimming ur eyebrows and a hair cut)

yes, Punch is now in this business..

It all started with a visit to the beauty parlour for her haircut where she had a chance to see the above mentioned services being done while waiting for her turn.

Punch uses superior quality threads for threading i.e. the plastic thread from ur friendly utensil cleaner (brush).. I was subjected to this world class state of the art treatment..so be assured that she uses all hygienic equipments!

and our Mr (remember him) comes back late from work but feels rejuvenated after trimming his hair daily..first Punch uses imaginary spray on him ( with full audio support) and then proceeds with the hair cut and finally shows him the mirror ( and thank god not the main door).. and then the Mr is ordered in English (yes) " All the children, dance"..

So, when are you fixing an appointment? its all free so hurry up..