Namita Das's Blog, page 87

Motherhood is Confusing

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I still remember the first day when we dropped Kuku to school. He was confused and dismayed. Why Mamma-Papa wants to leave me here? Alone. He was crying and so was I.

“It is a matter of only three hours.” I wiped my tears and said reassuringly to Mr. Husband who looked even more perturbed. The walk back home was turtle paced and home just felt desolate and bereft. Those were the toughest and longest three hours.

When we went to pick him up, we could see the glow on his face. A smile worth a million curved on his tiny lips. He ran towards me and hugged me tightly. “Mamma, Vobbyu” (Mamma, I Love You), were his broken words.  

Since then, every morning it was a new-day-new-trick to get him ready. He would come up with innovative excuses to not go to school but we would have an up to the minute strategy already planned the previous night. After long struggles of reasoning, convincing, pestering; he would finally get ready and we three would walk to school.

The walk to school has always been a joyful one, with lots of jumping and frolicking and watching colorful flowers and pretty butterflies. The outburst would only start at the school gate. As soon as we reached the school, he would scream and cry, call for me ‘Mammaaaa’.

I would leave him there crying each day and would ask Mr. Husband, “When will he start going to school happily.”

“I don’t know, maybe like me even he does not enjoy staying away from you.” He would give some cliché dialogues and I would simply roll my eyes. I prayed every day. ‘I want to see Kuku smiling when he goes to school, I dislike leaving him like that.’

It has been a repetitive routine; until today.

As usual, after all the reiterated reasoning, convincing, pestering, Kuku got dressed up for his school. The bag hung on his shoulders, he held our hands and walked between us. On the way he screamed “Faaawarrr”, pointing towards the beautiful pink flowers and I repeated after him. “Yeah, Pink Flower.”

It is just five mins walk and we reached the school gate. As usual, I walked him to the entrance where his teacher stood to welcome him. This is the place where he has to start yelling now but today, he didn’t. He turned towards me and said. “Ba-Bye Mamma” and gave me his traditional flying kiss. He held his teacher’s hand and walked towards the class ‘happily’. I stood there waving my hand gently watching him go away. Before entering he turned once again, looked at me with a cheery smile and big eyes, and screamed “Vobbyu Mamma.”

This was the sight; I had been waiting for since the day I enrolled him for school. I should be happy but I am not. I am not happy. I have tears in my eyes and they are not of joy. I am gloomy. ‘My boy is getting independent,’ I muttered to myself.

I felt silly. “It’s just a matter of three hours.” I wiped my tears and looked at Mr. Husband who was equally puzzled at Kuku’s sudden change in conduct and my reaction against it.

Back home now, again, I feel, these are the toughest and longest three hours. I am sad, and I can feel the glimpse of an empty nest syndrome already. Just like this day, one day, my boy will be all grown up. One day, he would not need us anymore. One day, he would not need any cuddle sleep at night. One day, he would not need help in cleaning up. One day, he would not have any eating fuss. One day, there would be no messy house. One day, there would be no tugging to play and no pulling for attention. One day, he will be on his own and might have left the house for his ventures; leaving the two of us alone.

I dread that ‘one day’ and I don’t know when it might just come and knock me. Before it is here, I want to cherish all the little moments, till he is still small. Right now, I can’t wait for Kuku to come back, hug me, and say ‘Vobbyu Mamma’.

Stuck On You by Portia MacIntosh

It isn’t really a laugh-out-loud comedy but an adorable and cute one.

Sadie is Damian’s assistant, who is tough to work with. During one Christmas holiday, Damian joins Sadie at her house for the celebration. This vacation helps them look through each other and find out who they really are. It is a charming story, not the general cliche but a smooth-flowing one. It keeps you hooked.

The best part of the book was the Christmas celebration on the island where Sadie grew up. The descriptions are fascinating. Loved it.

It is available on Amazon Kindle Edition, Audible Audiobook, Paperback, Audio CD.

The Cost of One Box of Meal

Five days ago, a video went viral stating a Zomato delivery guy punched a beauty and fashion influencer. The reason being food delivered was late than expected and the customer demanded it for free. I saw the bleeding nose footage and empathized with the lady but one thing could not get off my head. What kind of pressure did the delivery guy have that he ended up hitting the lady? Can a customer’s demand for free food lead the delivery guy to take such a step? Was it the tension of pay cut? Would Zomato recover the cost of the meal from the delivery guy’s salary? Why? Just Why?

Two days later another story popped up, (quite believable comparatively). The lady wanted the meal free from Zomato for the delay in sending. She called the delivery guy names, threw her slippers on him, and started hitting him, ending with a self-punch on her nose. The story was apparently tweaked by the lady. Thanks to social media and all the resources available to the “influencer”. Indeed, a good job was done in influencing.  

It’s still under investigation, and whoever is culpable will be castigated for setting a bad example. But this whole fiasco has persuaded me to ponder. Are we humans so out of leniency that we can’t handle a situation like ‘this’ calmly? How much did the meal cost? Was it so pricey that it was either – get it for free or get punched (by him or self)?

Coming to my personal experience with Zomato Mumbai. They do have free order policies for late deliveries, I have always got a refund for missing orders, canceled orders, etc. All it needed was a tweet or an update to customer care about my delivery experience. The tracker on the app would notify the time required for deliveries and have even received calls from the delivery guys/customer care if it is going to be delayed. Most of the time it was a hold-up from the restaurant or due to traffic (if you know Mumbai).

We have even got our orders delivered as late as 1:30 AM coz we craved for a cold coffee and waffle at 12:30 AM and spontaneously placed orders while binge-watching Netflix.

Doesn’t it make you wonder if the delivery guys really enjoy this job of picking food in the middle of the night when it’s time to get one’s head down? Is it ever one’s dream job to be a delivery guy? I don’t think so. Such a job is mostly adopted for sustainability.

We the ones who cozily sit on our couch and order food through our expensive phones are ‘well-off’ to spend bucks on posh restaurants food deliveries while the sect of delivery guys struggle to keep the family income flowing in. They earn through this occupation and run a household. Aren’t we civilized and educated enough to understand the situation and accept a delay of few mins? Does it really make sense to stretch the matter to an extent where one reaches the hospital while the other loses a living?

Are we beings so stressed that we cant contemplate the gravity of our actions? What is the status of our mental health? Does a food order not reaching you on time justify inflicting abuse, injury, or self-harm?

THINK!

Should one box of meal cost someone his livelihood?

Please THINK!

Daddy Donkey And His Little Son: A children’s picture book about the unconditional love between a father and son for kids ages 3 to 8 (Animal Kingdom 1) by Vedika Agrawal, Kunal Das

It’s a great book for kids where you can teach them that love can be any form. Lion cub Zozo is raised by Donkey Louie. The growing bond between them like a father-son pair is so heartwarming. Loved the story.

The illustrations are gorgeous and eye-catchy. Will keep the kids engaged till the end.

It is available on Amazon Kindle Edition.

Tom Gates #02: Excellent Excuses and Other Good Stuff: Excellent Excuses Cand Other Good Stuff by Liz Pichon

I enjoyed reading this book so much that I cant wait for my son to grow up and read it too.

It’s the story of Tom and his friend Derek, who during the school vacation have come up with their music band. There are a lot of other things happening along with their first band play gig.

Absolutely loved the doodles that are designed between the lines. Quite entertaining.

It is available on Amazon Kindle Edition, Audible Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD.

The Victim: Gripping story of retribution in Crime Thriller by Shanu Shah

This book is about a girl who along with her girl gang is back to avenge.

It is dark and baffling. I was unable to take in and go ahead reading at few places. Hats off to Shanu, to write such a piece. It needs a strong head and brave heart to narrate such a powerful story.

Recommended only if you are impervious.

It is available on Amazon Kindle Edition.

Linger, When You’re Gone: A Romantic Psychological Thriller by Chitra Padmana

This is has happened after many many many books that a book made me terrified as well as brought tears to my eyes.

The first chapter describes the death of Veenu and I was so frightened reading that I had to put down the book for some time and regain my senses to continue. In the end, I cried, well some may say bad happens to bad people but still I was feeling pain for the anti-hero of the story.

All in all a superb story and there is no room for guesswork, every chapter will leave you awestruck and longing to continue reading for what’s about to come.

It is available on Amazon Kindle Edition.

Happy … Day! Fill in the blanks.

Why wait for a single day to celebrate when each day can be our day?

Let’s make this place one where a woman is not judged for her choices, her dressing sense, her body shape, her color. 

Let’s make this place such that a solo woman traveler is making the most of her time on the trip and not constantly watching her back, sacred if someone is following her.

Let’s make this place such that a mother is not commented on parenting style, working or stay at home is not questioned and the number of children she bears is none of anyone’s concern, even if the number is zero.

Let’s make this place such that a woman can live the way she wants her it to be, no peeling of eyebrows or body hair, or decorate it full of tattoos.

Having said that, let’s also make this place such that a husband with a wife earning more than him is not shamed as being less than his woman.

Let’s also make this place where it’s normal for a man to be a house maker and take care of kids while the woman in the family is blooming in her career.

Let’s also make this place where a man is not misconstrued and gets trapped in a fake #metoo case. 

Again, after having said that, let’s make this a place where the forms are not limited to gender as Male and Female.

Let’s all make this a place where all genders are accepted and do get equal opportunities in any field.

Let’s all make this a place where everyone is happy irrespective of their orientation and culture. 

Concluding it with a wish. Happy Every Day to Everyone.

When the quarantine is over… : Funny guided journal by Robb Donaldson, Angela Bates

As the name itself suggests, it is not a book but a diary. This is the one you should have in your closet or bedside table. Something that you can read even years later and remind yourself how a virus brought the whole world to its knees.

It has many pages where you can write your thoughts, on post quarantine days, and also once everything comes back to normal. Hopefully one day.

I was disappointed by the fact that the paperback isn’t available at my location. If you have the option go for paperback instead of Kindle. It is worth having one.

It is available on Amazon Kindle Edition.

51 Inspirational Quotes by Rakesh Savjani

There are 51 quotes in the book, straightforward and forthright. All quotes are inscribed on images relevant to the quote.

It’s a quick and refreshing read. Something that you can read and calm your nerves.

It is available on Amazon Kindle Edition.