Good Old Days

Those were surely the days eh..

Look at me.. all dressed up as 'Ponga Pandit' alongside my sis (read 'My fair Lady' ) at a fancy dress competition..
Where is this kiddo now? Tucked away somewhere in the menagerie of organic matter.













I am told that I was an angel back then (though I like to think that things have not changed at all in this regard even now..). My granny often speaks ever so fondly of the times when she would come all the way from the kitchen to kiss me. How sweet is THAT! My mum would carry me around wherever she went and people would often quiz her on where does she find the strength to do so? Wonder what we are looking at? By the look on my face, its got to be a centipede!

In fact, I'm told that I am lucky to be alive considering that I (mere ten months old) almost choked and stopped breathing for some time when my ever so curious bro (who, by the way was forbidden to carry me, sneaked out of the public eye as the adults were celebrating my aunt's upcoming marriage) tried to lift me by grabbing my neck! Had it not been for another aunt who just happened to pass by the door and hear my soft cry and for my granny who took control, you would not be reading all this now. My sis till date, kids around with this cousin that hey! you must complete what you tried to do years ago!

Growing up, me and my elder sis could not have be more different (I think our "fancy" dresses say it best) and continue to be pole’s apart still. Two words describe her early childhood best – CRY BABY. In fact, one day she cried so much, for no rime or reason mind you, that they had to take her to a doctor. She was subsequently found to be medically fit but guess what, she cried all the way to the clinic and on the way BACK! My granny credits my sis for being the most troublesome grandchild and needless to say that she also had the honour of being at the receiving end of the most scoldings. She loved throwing things off the balcony and would ask our granny, “Beeji, throw? throw?” and before she could respond, wuff! The object would be history. She detested drinking milk and received one slap per gulp from our lovely granny!

Seen here on my birthday wearing what was to become my all time favourite dress and if you look closely, favourite strawberry clips!

Here's to us back then and millions like us now- Flowers in the Window by Travis:

When I first held you I was cold
A melting snowman I was told
But there was no-one there to hold
Before I swore that I would be alone forever more
Wow, look at you now
Flowers in the window
It’s such a lovely day and I’m glad that you feel the same
’cos to stand up I’m in the crowd
You are one in a million and I love you so let’s watch the flowers grow
There is no reason to feel bad
But there are many seasons to feel glad, sad, mad
It’s just a bunch of feelings that we have to hold
But I am here to help you with the load
Wow, look at you now Flowers in the window
It’s such a lovely day and I’m glad that you feel the same
So now we’re here and now is fine, so far away from there and there is time, time, time
To plant new seeds and watch them grow
So there’ll be flowers in the window when we go.