The day tragedy struck

Last night at 1 am, while I was sleeping I heard my mother panic and cry. She was asking my father: “Rajan, what do we do now?”

I woke up and walked to the room where my grandparents used to sleep. It was a mess. My grandfather Mr Chandrashekaran Nair was vomiting blood. Looks like his hands and legs were going cold, for I saw my grandmother rub his feet and hands. She was crying and asking my mother and my father to do something quickly.

I stood still…watching….as my mother tried the Artemis Hospital’s number for am ambulance. But they said it would take more than 30 minutes to arrive. So, my parents decided to take my grandfather to the hospital in the car. It was 1.15 am.

I knew something was terribly wrong, but didn’t know what to do. I was too confused. When my father brought the security guard to help him lift grandfather I knew it was something really dangerous.

At 1.30 am, my mother and my father took my grandfather to the hospital. I think that’s when I broke down and starting crying. Even as I sobbed, I said: “I want God to make achachan alright soon. I will also pray for him.”

After they left, my grandma lay down with me and made me sleep. I was tried and slept off….but I knew my grandma didn’t.

I love the family eating out expeditions

Every weekend we go out for lunch or dinner, at least once. In the last few months we have stopped that because mother says she doesn’t feel nice leaving my grandmother and grandfather at home and going out for lunch/dinner.

“Why don’t we take them as well?” I once asked my mother.

She said: “Your grandfather can’t eat from outside – he can only eat semi-solid food.. That’s why we can’t take them out. Plus they get tired soon.”

So, today my grandmother forced my mother and my father to go out. I heard her say: “You guys shouldn’t change because of us. You have to live your life as well.”

So we went out. Some place called Gola restaurant because my mother wanted to try out something called Sizzlers.

In the first part of the outing, I sit with my mother because she is more patient while giving me lunch. In the second part of the outing – when it is time to have desserts – I move beside my father. My mother never shares her dessert but my father does.

My father loves my expressions

My father loves when I get expressive. He keeps asking me to show expressions and snap pictures. Today he came home early and kept on disturbing me when I was watching TV. When I realized I can’t do much but oblige….I threw in some expressions.

These adults can be so adamant at times. Gosh! I hate it.

I dress up as Radha

Today is Janmashtami….apparently Krishna’s birthday. I am very pissed, I haven’t been invited to any birthday party. Does Krishna even throw a birthday party? Looks like no….because my teacher had asked me to dress up like Radha….I was told she is Krishna’s girl friend.

We have a song-dance ritual in celebration of Krishna’s birthday. Why should I dance, if I don’t get to go to a birthday party and wont get any return gifts?

When I asked, my mother assured me that Krishna would drop the return gift at our house before I return from school.

Independence day, Karan Johar style

Today in our apartment complex there was Independence day celebration. Generally my father shies away from such social gatherings. He compares himself to the Friends character Chandler and says: “I am like Chandler. Funny. But gets uncomfortable in social situations.”

But my mother forced my father also to join in the celebrations saying: “We have to get Rhea to enjoy all these. She should grow up a patriot like you.”

When we went down, it was like a Karan Johar movie. It was raining, there was greenery all around (the function was in the park), there was a stage with the National flag as the backdrop, people were waving the Indian flag….my father commented that only Kajol was missing. Apparently, she is my father’s favourite actress.

We witnessed lots of patriotic songs and dances. I wish I grow up fast and learn to perform on stage.

It was raining all along but my mother, my father and I sat under our umbrellas and sat through the whole ceremony. We finished with the National anthem.

Once the anthem was over, my father turned towards me and asked: “So, are you feeling patriotic?” I replied: “I am feeling hungry.”

I don’t know why my parents laughed so hard.