Spin it

I am generally a very good, rule abiding girl ;) But every now and then I get into trouble and I have almost perfected a  technique to get out of it by spinning a tale which elders find funny and adorable.

I was struggling to drink kanji (porridge) in the morning and especially the last few sips are the hardest as there are some lumps in it which I don't like at all. Today especially was hard. ammA was feeding the last few sips so that I can finish it fast. After pouring down the lost few drops into my mouth, ammA went into the kitchen. When she came back she saw that I had spit out some of the kanji (porridge)! She was so angry and lost for words. I immediately jumped in with a perfectly logical explanation for this mess.

¨ammA kochikAda. (pointing at the belly button) en thoppaila otta irukku dhaane? nee kuduta kanji vaai vazhiya thoppai kku pordhudhaane? Thoppai la ottai irundha vella dhaane varum. adhaan kanji vella vandhudutthu. nAn edhuvum pannaley. thoppai ottai kku edAvadhu pannu¨

(ammA, don't ger angry. (pointing at the belly button) There is a hole in my stomach right? The porridge that you gave me went to the stomach through my mouth, right? If there is a hole in my belly, won't the porridge come out? So, the porridge came out. It is not my fault. Do something about the hole in my stomach)

That's how you make an angry person spell bound with logic and lots of creativity :)

What an amateur!

I might be the little sister but my elder sis has a long way to go in growing up. Want to know why?

Once, one of our toys was stuck somewhere in the bed railings and we called for help. ammA came and squeezed and pushed it through. It fell right under the cot. She looked under the cot and not only did she get the toy out but about 4-5 candy wrappers too! OMG! I totally forgot about them! Now an attack is going to be launched and I was bracing for it. But my elder sis had to blurt out that she did not eat the candies even before we were questioned. What an amateur mistake! Good for me though :) Probing started and my sis blamed me and swore her innocence. I said very little and with a sweet innocent face denied eating the candies. The investigation was over for the day and we survived it. yay!

The next day, it looked like everything was forgotten and forgiven. But in the afternoon, ammA heard some rustling noise and it came from behind the sofa. She went there without making noise and saw my elder sis opening a candy and stuffing it into her mouth. Caught! Now you just can't escape, dear sis. ammA was now pretty sure that my sis was guilty of eating the candies and hiding the wrappers under the cot. The case was strong against her now. No amount of pleading helped her.

Then she pulled me into this and asked to me tell the truth about the candy wrappers. Hmm... Oh my! What did she do now? But she was deep in trouble and does not know her way out. So, I told ammA that I ate the candies before . Cold stare and a lecture followed.

My sis interjects in between and says ¨ nAn appadi munnAdi pannala. First time try pannen. AnA mAttinden :( ¨ (I have never done this before but tried eating the candy hiding in a place but am caught :(

Ufff.. what an amateur!

My first Half Haircut

After my first birthday, my elders decided to take away all my hair - my first Full Haircut.
Today, my amma took me to my first Half Haircut. After I came back, I had an interview with my appa.

<In thamizh mostly>
Appa:           Madhura, enga ponai? (Where did you go?)
Madhura:   muDi cut paNNa ponen (Went for a hair cut)
Appa:           kaDai pEru enna? (What is the name of the shop?)
Madhura:   <after some thinking.. and with a tinkle in her eye indicating she is making something up>  Mysore!
Appa:           yaaru veTTinaa? (Who cut?)
Madhura:   yedho oru girl (some girl)
Appa:           girl-a? unna maadhiri oru chinna poNNaa? (girl? a small one like you?)
Madhura:   appa, naa big girl; ava ennoda big (I am a big girl. She was bigger than me)
Appa:           enna paNNinaa? (What did she do?)
Madhura:   ava kathiri vecchu cut paNNinaa.. naa "calm"aa irundhen.. (She did the cutting with scissors, and I sat calmly)
Appa:           "calm"naa enna madhura? (What is "calm?")
Madhura:   (with lots of action) appaDiye silent-aa okaaNDen.. naa satthame poDalai (Made no noise)
Appa:           Evalo paisa kuDuthai (How much did you pay?)
Madhura:   5
Appa:           5 enna? (5 of what?)
Madhura:   5 dhaan.. amma kuDuthaa (Just 5. Amma gave)
Appa:           5 Rupees-aa? nee yen kuDukkalai? (Why did you not give?)
Madhura:   naa periyavaalaa? periyaavalukku dhaan paisa irukkum (Am I an elder? Only they have money)
Appa:           onakku eppo paisa varum? (When will you get money?)
Madhura:   enakku paisave varaadhu. neeyum ammavum dhaan enakku kuDuppel (I will never get money. Mom and you will give me. no?)

...and they lived happily ever after :)

My school log

Now that I have settled well  and enjoying at school, I am publishing my experience of the first few days at school. I have to clear the air since my parents have their own version of my initial days at school.

Day 1 - After being brain washed about what fun school is, I am eagerly waiting for my first day at school. And yes, I keep checking with ammA if she is also going to school with me. After sending Paaduka off to school, ammA and I get ready for our first day of Montessori :) All new kids enter the room with their moms. I decide not to say a word to my teacher and hide behind ammA. The teacher asks me to remove my shoes, keep it in the shoe rack, take a mat and sit on the circle. I am now confused now. Does school mean more authoritative adults? Shock #1.... I manage to get through the half hour of school sitting on ammA's lap and tensely looking around while the teachers sang and allowed us to play. Oh wait.. I visited the bathroom too. School inspection is complete now.

Day 2 - To school with ammA :) I smile at my teacher and follow her instructions. But I ensure that ammA stays close to me. Half hour is too less to explore the toys in the shelf. I got a candy and a star drawn on the my hand. Exciting! I made sure that Paaduka knows that even I get star in my school :) 

Day 3 - I remember the way to me class from the gate :) yay! I make sure ammA is in the class but I am much more comfortable with my teachers. I ask for the a sheet of paper to colour and help to go to the bathroom. School is short and sweet just the way I like. I can also go to the park and say I am a big girl since I am going to a school now :)

Day 4, 5, 6 - Now I have to stay longer at school. One hour ammA says and of course ammA also attends one hour of Montessori these days. Now I am attempting to answer the roll call but no one hears me :( More time to sing and play. At times I am feeling that ammA is hovering around an little too much. ammA, please remember that I am a big school going girl!

Day 7 - Well, I am truly at ease now. I follow the routine without being instructed. ammA pulls a mat to sit beside me.  Shock #2 "ammA, nee velila wait pannu" (wait for me outside ammA). ammA was taken aback and was a little embarrassed when teacher asked her what I told her. My teachers were delighted and asked ammA to stay out side the class. I coloured a picture and wanted to show it to ammA to cheer her. So, I walked out to show but she was too eager to come back along with me. "nee angaye iru, classkku varadhey" (stay outside and do not come into the class).  

Day 8 - Well.... Things are truly going to be different from today. Parents were not allowed beyond the school gate! Gulp gulp..something was blocking my throat. Shock #3. My teachers held my hand and took me inside the school. ammA is nowhere to be seen. I was sad, really sad and made it known to everyone inside the compound by crying on top of my voice. My teacher carried me and I spent the entire time at school on her lap.

Day 9 onwards -  Tears starting welling up even before the gate opened. After initial crying bout, I settled down. I am getting better staying away from ammA (sob.. sob.. sob..)

After about 5 days of vacation to Chennai we came back to school and now I have to go to school in a van just like Paaduka. Shock #4. I protested initially bu running away from the van and made ammA drop me off. But now I have my friend who comes with me from our apartment, so it is a fun ride. 

And thus Madhura Shri Rangarajan goes to school like a good girl :)

Is it not obvious?

Finally I was given the cute and cuddly elephant bag which I can take to school now. I am in love with the bag but my parents are more protective of the bag than I am !

While I was playing rough with the elephant bag, ammA could not stand the bag being dragged and handled badly. She told me twice that I was going to tear the bag. Since this did not have an impact she decided to change strategy.

ammA - madhurA, nee adikara yaanai-a (madhurA you are hurting the elephant)
madhurA just smiles back
ammA - yaanai azha pordhu ipo (The elephant is going to cry now) yen adikara nnu ketkapordhu (It is going to ask why you are hitting)
I continue to play rough as it did not make sense to me! But ammA continues to ramble trying to attribute emotions to the elephant. After a while I had to put a stop to this and show her that I am not a little baby to buy this argument.

madhurA (a little angry)- ammA, indha yaanai pesumA, sApdumA, azhumA? idhu pAppa vA? idhu bommai. (Does this elephant talk, eat or cry? Is this a baby? It is just a doll.)

ammA - ok !?!

appA, ammA I am becoming a big girl. Get ready for more of such retorts. Here is my favorite :)

While eating some spicy murukku...

appA - madhurA porum. innum sApdAdha (madhurA, enough. Don't eat anymore)
madhurA (sighs) - pidichirukku (I like it)
appA - stop eating madhurA. ingarundhu po. (go away from here)
I look around and see that ammA and appA are devouring the yummy murukku. I see that there is no hope of something left for me :( I ran into the toy room with the packet of murukku.

ammA - murukku enga madhurA? (where is the murukku?)
madhurA - yen kitta irukku ( It is with me)
ammA - yen edutha? (Why did you take it?)
madhurA - safe-a vechukarthukku (I have to keep it safe)
ammA and appA - !!!!

(Pictures) Jan-Jun-2014

click for more sweetness

Why am I turning 3?

I am so excited about my bowday (read as birthday) tomorrow. I can't wait for the cake to be baked.

madhurA - cake pannitiyA (have you made the cake?)
ammA - nalaikku (tomorrow)

A little later....
madhurA - ippo nalaikku aachu. cake pannitayA (Now it has become tomorrow. Have you baked the cake?)

ammA could not stand my constant pressure about the cake, so she tried to test my persistence towards turning three tomorrow. Here is my on camera interview session.



ammA - Why are you turning 3?
madhurA - (What kind of question is this? I am going to give her an irrelevant answer.)
I went there and then came here. I played with this, ate that, dropped this in the garbage and then played with toys. That's why.
ammA - (Not understanding that I consider her question redundant, she persists)
Is this because of all this you are turning 3. Why should you turn 3 and not stay 2 years old?
madhurA - (Let me humour her.) I played with these toys and became 3.
ammA - So, you turned 3 because you played with toys? So what are you going to do when you are 3 years old?
madhurA - (What a question! Can't understand my mom.) I am going to play with toys.
ammA - You played with toys even when you were 2.
madhurA - (What else do you expect of me.. build a spacecraft?) I played when I was 2 and will play when I turn 3 and then also eat..and become 4 and later 5. (Let me change the subject)
ammA - When are you going to turn 4?
madhurA - (dah!) Of course later after I eat... after I eat thayir saadam (curd rice), I will be 5
ammA - Whose birthday is it tomorrow?
madhurA - (Why do think I am being so fussy? Take a clue ammA!) It is my birthday
ammA - What are you going to do?
madhurA - Cut birthday!
ammA - Are you going to cut birthday? really!?
madhurA - (now she is tiring me) I am going to cut the cake..
ammA - What are you going to do after cutting?
madhurA - Eat !( what else?)
ammA - You alone will eat?
madhurA - I will, Paaduka, you and appA can also eat
ammA - What song should we sing?
madhurA - (Now how much can I educate regarding birthday) Sing "happy birthday to you"
ammA - What did they sing at school today?
madhurA - "happy birthday...."
ammA - Do you like school?
madhurA - (She is getting into uncomfortable area now) yes I like
ammA - What do you do at school?
madhurA - (I have to now list some rhymes phew!) rolly polly... chapatti song (yeah really!)

I am not going to translate this anymore as this questioning gets into embarrassing details of my crying at school. I have my end of the story well documented and will publish the genuine version soon.

As of now "Happy birthday ennakku(to me)" :) ......

Fair bargain!

I was watching little Krishna eagerly and trying her best to understand the story. Often I have to ask my ammA or pAdukA for clarification. In one of the stories, a cow names Bahula and her calf Tara were saved by Krishna...

madhurA - yen Krishna umachi Tara va good girl sonna? (Why did Krishna call Tara a good girl?)

ammA tries to use every opportunity to drive home the importance of obedience :) especially since I am a rebel at home. I tried to challenge her attempt very innocently and subtly.

ammA - Tara ammA sonnadha ketta adhunAla dhaan Krishna ummAci good girl sonna (Since TAra listened to her mother. So Lord Krishna calls her a good girl)

madhurA - Yen (why?)

ammA gives no answer

madhurA - naan good girl-a? (Am I a good girl?)

ammA - nee Tara madhiri ammA sonnadha keta good girl (If you listen to your ammA like Tara, then you are a good girl)

madhurA - nee Bahula madhiri irundhaa naan Tara madhiri iruppen ( If you are like Bahula, I will be like Tara) nee maadu aarayaa ma? (will you become a cow?)

(Pictures) Aug-Dec-2013

loads of sweetness here

Competitive spirit

Being first is important.. very important. What does it mean to be first? Well, it meant nothing much a couple of months back. Paaduka used to be and still is very particular to add the word "first" to every activity she did. So, I assumed that it should be important. Once...

Paaduka - nAn first kulikkanam ammA ( I have to take bath first)

ammA gave me a bath before Paaduka. So, Paaduka was very upset. I felt really sad for her. So I consoled her.

madhurA - Paaduka naan first thulichen ( I took bath first) ippo nee first thuli (now you take bath first)

Now I know about doing things first much better. I need to compete to be first - the lesson Paaduka has taught me. Our parents knew that our competition has reached a new high after they over heard this :-

Paaduka - enna kosu kadichirukku (a mosquito had bitten me)
madhurA - enna thosu thachidhu (a mosquito has bitten me)
Paaduka - enna copy pannadhey (don't copy me)
madhurA - smiles
madhurA - thosu enna first thachidhu (mosquito bit me first)
Paaduka - ilai enna dhan first kadichidu (no it bit me first)
and so the fight went on for the next five minutes before we were both distracted by something else.

Quest for answers

I am exploring quite a lot now a days and I get into trouble often. Everyone around questions me as to why I did something but I do not have any answers. After trials and experimentation, I have found the right answer when I am questioned for being mischievous. The charm of each answer wears off with time. Here is how I evolved and refined my response mechanism.

Original response

ammA - madhurA, yen jalam kottina (why did you spill water?)
madhurA - silent but looking innocent not knowing why it is such a big deal.

Stage 1

appA - crayon vechi ezhudinaya tharaila? (did you write on the floor with crayon?)
madhurA (nodding) - chumma ezhudinen. poo floweth ezhudinen (I have drawn a flower)
appA - (cools down) paperla dhaan ezhidanum (you should write on paper only)

Stage 2

ammA - yen patram laam eduthu kizha potta? (why did you take the vessels and keep them down?)
madhurA (pretending to be sad) - yen edukka kudAdhaaa? (why shouldn't I take?) naan vilaiyaada kudAdhA (shouldn't I play?)
ammA (calming down) - toys  vechi vilaiyaadu (go play with your toys)

Stage 3

ammA - paint yaaru onna edukka sonna. paaru odambu muzhukka paint! (who asked you to use paint. you have paint all over your body!)
madhurA - pAdukA pannalaamA naan panna kudAdhA ( pAdukA can paint and I can't)
ammA - ! (Am I being unfair to her?)

Stage 4
appA - ennoda phone yen charger lerndhu edutha?(Why did you pull my phone out of the charger?)
madhurA (even though she did it) - nAn pannala pAdutha dhaan edutthA (I did not do it. It was pAdukA)
pAdukA - poi sollara appA (she is lying appA)
madhurA - pAduthA poi sollara nnu sollarA appA (pAdukA is saying I am lying) badh dhirl (bad girl!) fight starts between the two..

I should confess that stage 4 response is quite effective as I redirect the attention to pAdukA. It is an even battlefield when I fight with her and the original question is lost in that. Looks like I found a winner response which is here to stay for a while :)

My fundas

I am growing up indeed ! My retorts and answers stump my parents more often than not.

My parents carry a small bad with snacks and water whenever we step out of the house. They refused to give me biscuits in the car on our way home.

madhurA - bisset thuthiyA? (will you give me some biscuits?)
appA - no kai laam azhukku (no, your hands are very dirty)
madhurA - pees thuthiyA? (please, can you give?)
appA - no sonnen madhurA (I said 'no' madhurA)

10 minutes after reaching home madhurA takes out couple of biscuits from the snack bag.
appA - yen biscuit sApadrA (Why are you eating biscuits now ?)
madhurA showing both her hands
appA - yen sApadara (Why are you eating?)
madhurA - kai azhuthA ilai ipo. (My hands are not dirty now) yen thutha matta? (Why wouldn't you give now?)
appA - rowdy...

In the restaurant we were waiting for food. ammA's food arrives first.

ammA - nAn sApada poren (I am going to  eat)
madhurA - bad ammA
ammA - yenna sonna ? (what did you say?)
madhurA - sharth pannalai na madhurA bad girl (If madhurA does not share she is a bad girl) sharth pannlai na ammA bad ammA (if ammA does not share she is bad ammA)
ammA - ok! nAn share panna poren (I am going to share)