Sumeetha Manikandan's Blog, page 15

Rak's toys and buyer's remorse

I know I have been absent since new year. Thanks to Vaikunta Ekadasi, Pongal, Kannum Pongal, Maatu Pongal, native place (husband's) temple festival and finally rak's birthday, my itinerary was full. Here is a blog that has been pending so long...


Buyer's remorse is nothing new to me. I could relate sagas about toys that we bought for raks in our enthusiasm and the way we repented for it in leisure.

Music Fish

A musical fish. Now how cute is that. It  rushes through the floor with a melodiou...

Hindi Serials Vs Nobita

This time around Raks and I ushered the new year at my mother's place for a change. Raks was very excited because a trip to her favourite 'amamma's house' always meant great deal of cuddling, squeezes and a chance to indulge herself in my mom's excellent cooking.

Coming to my mom's home mostly means stuffing my face with goodies like peas pattis, cauliflower parathas, peas paratha, peas soup, bisi bela bath, carrot halwa... I could just go on. And It also means that I am truly on a holiday tha...

Tambrahm Wedding Part 2: Surviving the reception

For raks, wedding reception is synonymous with the following items; make up, flowing ghagra choli, gold shoes, gifts (sadly not for her) and ice cream. And since I was on bridal duty, the daunting task of getting raks ready, fell on my sister and mother.

Needless to say, my mother was jittery and with good reason, she knew what a 'tantrum queen' her grand daughter was. But my planning was impeccable, or so I thought.

2.00 - Get ready for second engagement
3 - 3.30 - Second engagement
3.30 - 6 - M...

Tambrahm wedding part 1: Mehendi Mania

The charm of all Indian weddings is chaos, confusion and trying to look organized, when you surely are not. I have been to a few North Indian weddings, some christian weddings but unless you have seen and experienced a tam brahm wedding, you won't know the meaning of 'chaos'.

For the past one month, we have been gripped by wedding fever, matching blouses, colour coding accessories, extra plastic covers and questions about 'What to wear when?' and whether one will be repeating the sari that was...

I had a dream...

No. This isn't Martin Luther King's iconic speech in past tense. It is rather a tale that testifies how much creativity is needed in today's world, to convince a kid to wear a dress that they would rather not.

Every morning, my day is made or spoiled, depending on raks' response to the outfit that I pick up for her. And most days, she would opt for her favourite t-shirt, a faded yellow sleeveless top with a couple of sketch pen marks that no Ariel or Surf could vanish. After many tantrums...

Raks and Chess

Chess is an approved game that most tambrahms love to teach their kids. And why wouldn't they? After all Vishy Anand is from the same fold.

So while we were debating between  Karate and a Taekwondo class (apparently taught by authentic Japanese and Korean masters and not by the local Munnuswamy), I bought a game of Chess for Raks. 

To own the truth, I didn't want to buy yet another barbie set. I mean we already have the barbie baby toilet set complete with a potty that made reali...

5 Challenges I Face Everyday As A Writer

Since I am busy with diwali shopping, gorging on sweets and generally trying to look to busy in the kitchen, there won't be any new blogs until the diwali is done celebrating. Until then do check out my entry for IFW Blogging contest that won the second place -

Sometime ago, I wrote a light-hearted blog about the mystery of my profession. Many found it funny, some shared their own experiences, while some actually came back and asked, ‘Oh! I didn’t know that you write. So what do you write?”

I g...

Raks Bhavan in Mylapore

I happened to eat at a restaurant newly opened in Mylapore. There are no waiters here, no cleaning boys nor manager. It is a one-man show or rather a one girl show.

"Please come and sit" she said pulling my hand. If you were not inclined to sit, she might just push you on the chair, so you better sit.

"What will you have madam?" she asks placing my latest telephone bill on the hand. I almost berated her for raiding my mail from the handbag. But held on when she looked at me with  her eyes...

Jodha Akbar according to Raks

For the past ten days, thanks to Navrathri gollu, we are unable to go near the TV or the DVD player.  With result, we had to watch the same DVD whenever we got bored with Chota Bheem.

And we watched Jodha Akbar movie so many times that Raks could tell her own version of the movie. Here is a mini movie version as per her understanding...


Raks: This is Jodha. She is a princess who has lot of jewels. And she even wears most of it to bed. Someone should tell my mom about it.


Raks: This is Jalal...

Navrathri Gollu in Mylapore

It's Navrathri in Mylapore. And even if you didn't know what that means, you must have surely noted the silk sari clad women with loads of flowers carrying heavy bags (reads gifts).  Keeping gollu is definitely an art but keeping raks away from it, is a challenge of the highest form. 

They say every doll has a story behind it. But ours have many stories and not all are mythological...

Take this Krishna for instance. He came to us three years ago, straight from my husband's ad shooting...