Fate

I work as a full time freelancer.

About a month back I get this long time well paying project: a freelancer's jackpot. I had worked on a similar project last year as well, so I get excited and start on it. This project expects me to spend about 5-6 hours each day: a commitment made by me at the onset of the project.

A month later, that is a few days back, I get a similar kind of project. Long duration, good payment, etc. etc. Like a double whammy!

It is almost like working at two offices for a regular office going person: I am okay as I can put in those kind of hours!

I get mentally set up to dedicate those kind of efforts and let my family know about my expected busy schedule!!!

But as luck would have it, I have been suffering with a bad cough for a week now. Medication driving me sleepy and weak, I end up calling this weekend as a medical leave!

Makes me think about how unpredictable life can be and things, both good and bad, can happen when you least expect them!

So am keeping ALL MY WORK on the back-burner, and binge watching The Mentalist with a bowl of hot soup in my hands!!

lol

Dear Lee

Insights

A very interesting evening in terms of conversation with LeeSia today.

Today was Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti aka the birthday of Shivaji Maharaj, an Indian warrior king. Schools and office were closed today for celebrations. All over Maharashtra, there were celebrations in terms of enactments of incidents from his life that highlight his virtues, "dhol-tasha" aka musical bands that generally follow a kid dressed up as the king on a horse, etc.👑

I could not take the kids to watch the entire lot of celebrations in our neighborhood as I was pretty busy with work. So when I learnt about the celebrations proceeding nearby, I took the kids out.

Now they are still young to know about this great leader and I have planned for small lessons videos and night time stories for them to learn over time. So they were still calling him out as "that Shivaji" like he was some kid off the block.

Lesson no. 1: call out respected leaders and elders in a respectful manner as Shivaji Maharaj in this case.

Sia was excited all the time. When I asked why, she said, she wanted to see the birthday cake!!! 😂😂

It took me a loooong time explaining why there would be no cake: this birth anniversary was a different one than the birthday parties that we attend.

So as the people beating the drums and wishing the king glory forever (Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai) came closer, I could see both of them watching the proceeding with astonishment.

Sia even shouted: Look, there's Shivaji, pointing towards the kid on the horse. I had to tell her that Shivaji was no longer with us, he was with the Gods (they don't know the concept of heaven yet) and that it was a regular kid on the horse dressed up as the king. Then began a long explanation of the concept of real-unreal, truth and acting. 🙄

I told them how he fought off all the Mughal kings aka bad people and made everyone happy. Likhit was like, does he beat up bad boys and girls too? 😂😂

I educated them as how on these days we remember these great people and see how well they behaved and try to do similar in our lives.

After an "educational" hour, we reached home.

Near bedtime, Likhit finally asked what was on his mind: going to the gods.

I always approach the topic of death with great care.

I told him how people get old, they die and then go to Gods. He asked me if that's where my dad, his grandpa was. I replied yes.

He then hesitated and asked if I and his dad, Mandar would also grow old and go to be with God.

I said everyone does.

The expressions on his face were of pure anxiety. I quickly added: well, we will be very very old and be with kids for a long time, so he need not worry! 🤞

Sia asks if there are pink toys to play with, at God's house (her world is always stuck at pink toys! 🙄😘). I told her that if people behave well, god gives them all that they wish for. And by the time she went to God, she would be an old lady, no longer playing with toys!!!

Likhit then confirmed our parenthood for the next birth as well: so you guys will be our parents after you come back from God, right?

I hugged him tight and said Yes!!!

Here's hoping this was a helpful dialogue for them!

Boy, parenthood is no cakewalk!!!

Love them both!😘😍

I give up!

Trying to do cardio when Sia is at home is a near impossible task.

Trying to ride my back when I am doing yoga lying down, 😟

Trying to tickle me 😂

Asking questions on why am I bending in a certain way 😯

Messing up my count on purpose 😜

All the time laughing at my actions and mimicking 😁

Serving me make-believe dinner and desserts 🙄

Messing up my exercise space with her toys ⚽

I finally let go of my exercise and cuddled her and played with her!!! 😘

Where's the creativity???

My son Likhit is watching this much awaited movie of his favorite cartoon character: Little Singham.

Guess what? It's a blatant copy of Infinity War movie. Thanos is some "kaalrakhshak", infinity stones are some "mani" and Little Singham is stopping the kaalrakshak from getting them all.

Meh!!!

They really need creative storylines than this outright copying! 🙄

Feeling nostalgic

For those who wish to have an amazing start to your day, and if your work schedule allows you, I urge you to switch on music channels like Sony Mix and B4U. Sony Mix plays these amaaaazing Hindi songs from (8:30am to 10:am) that I can actually hum along with. Interestingly today's songs are so overpowered by the jarring music, one cannot remember even the second line of the songs!

It feels good to know that I still remember the entire songs, and I love to discuss the movies, their snippets with my maid cum babysitter....the poor soul is my only audience at that time! lol

I have been a music buff for all my life. My school and college days were filled with hindi movie songs as much as they were built around english sitcoms on star world and movies on HBO and star movies. Sadly, my current freelance career of translation, transcription does not allow me to listen to anything else through the day, with my headphones on.

No wonder I enjoyed playing songs at one of my previous office and was known as DJ for the team! hehe
I think it is so great that one gets to choose some awesome tracks and liven up the moods of people around you....

So go ahead and tune up these channels and have a great day ahead!!!

Blessed!

Likhit being the first baby of the house, his childhood was obviously celebrated and treasured. With Sia's birth, I was blessed with another chance to witness pure innocence.

She is exactly opposite to her elder brother, and very talkative, creative and just an amazing child. As she is growing, I feel her beautiful, precious, innocent childhood slipping out of my hands to time. How do I capture her using some wrong terms, her absolutely hilarious grammar, her so-called "scholarly" debates with her elder brother, her confusing of tenses by calling yesterday as today and tomorrow as yesterday (a total mix up there, but so very adorable)?

I keep loving her every moment I get. (Likhit has a social life with his friends and does not get a lot of time with me due to his school, studies and playtime) I have formed this absolutely beautiful bond with my daughter that just aches my heart, and I am spellbound by the magic of this relation!

I remember phrases of Likhit's babble when he was a kid. I hope I am able to save up on Sia's nonsense talks as well, and treasure memories through videos, for me to enjoy these beautiful days when she grows up to be a real smart kid!