22nd June – 28th June 2015 [ Rains have started]

 

Sun: I had bet with Kashyap that if ‘Chutki is born, you will shave your beard and mustache for one year, if Kabira comes, I will shave mine, but once only.’ I lost. It took me 15 days to prepare myself and fulfill my word.

For the first time I had shaved my mustache was in 14^th May – 1992 in Badrinath, just for fun. We wanted to see, how much I resembled Avi. The on 4^th June 2000, I got mustached shaved as per tradition on Daddy’s death. Rinky was thoroughly enjoying the process and clicked many pictures. Muskan was not able to hold her laughter and continued laughing till everyone was doing the same. Only one who was not laughing was Kabira, the person responsible for this situation.

And after this clean shave, this is what some have to say.

Chinky “ You look more like mummy.”

Avi “You look like Moti Uncle.”

Akshay “You look ten years older.”

Kashyap “You look like Manu uncle.”

Enjoying the first rains, for the first time in 510 Ash Court, for the first time with Kashyaps first born, Mummy's first great grand son.

         

Finally, Rain have arrived in Pune. Our terrace received good amount of rain, and to everyone’s surprise, Akshay blocked the drainage and accumulated enough water to splash around. For us to get wet during monsoon is to stand under a waterfall in some pleasant secluded location around Pune during peak time of season. This time practically we were getting drenched in first shower of season!

 

by P G Dodeja

15th June – 21th June 2015 [ Dil Dhadkne Do - Smile Aane Do]

 

Tue: Muskan calls. In a very sad, low voice she informs, ‘She is going.’ 

Now, who is this 'she', where is she is going, why so sad? I search my database for clue, Dhawani will be going to her ‘Mika’ after 30 days, Mummy is not planning a few stay in Krshna Kunj, who else? Then coin drops. Yes, this must be reference to our new maid. I ask, ‘Anita’ Her reply confirms, ‘yes papa.’ So the maids ‘katha’ continues with one more chapter. Our previous maid, Namrata was very efficient, prompt and hard working. But she had this ambition of pursuing the nursing career. Muskan managed to hold her till KhushiRam’s birth, once he was born, she left on 10^th June. One of the old maid ‘Vaishali’ whom Muskan has helped in her time of need, promised and sent her cousin. But her timing of starting new job was bad. How? With Bindiya hospitalization, Khushiram care, work load was high and she was not able to cope it and found the work back breaking. So within one week she left suddenly, without any notice. So hunt is on for next episode, sorry, next maid.

Sat: Mumbai is once again flooded with monsoon water. Whole city is on stand still. Just like it was in 2005 deluge of three days. It has being raining for seven days.

Manju’s parents finally sold off their flat in Pushpa Milan, peddar road, which they had purchased in  70’s. It was a breezy, smack in the posh area of Mumbai with the great view with Jugjit Singh as neighbor.

They accomplished an uphill task with big help from Lali, of getting a customer, closing the deal, doing the paper work, getting the payment which was in crores, and registering the sale documents, all in 2 months time!  Here we are struggling to sell our plot in Lulla nagar for last 4 years with no success. They returned to Singapore, claiming this as their last trip to India, as they both are well past 80’s. Suresh their only son is least interested in India and is not at all willing to put his steps here. He has told his parent to wind up all issues in India.

  

Geeta Chwala

Rinky’s wish of having Saturday night dinner and movie has kicked off nicely. Today’s show was excellent movie, “Dil Dhadakne Do”. A Zoha Akhtar movie, set on a cruise. Multi star cast, family drama set in various locations around the world. Scripting part was excellent, story line and music was ok, presentation was superb and production value superlative.

A child brings in lot of smiles on all family members. Including Dhwani, all are smiling more, Muskan has kind of created a record. I have yet to see her UN-Smiling face in recent days. And here is picture of two nani's. One is from father side, other is from mother side. Geeta Chawla. officially Kashyap Mami, un offically Kabir's Par Nani. And Tarla Shah, Kabir Nani.

All smiles.

Tarla Shah

  

by P G Dodeja

8th June – 14th June 2015 [Week One of Kabira]

 

Kabira era begins. Actually new generation has started in 2005 with birth of Palak. But she is Valecha, and stays in Mumbai, so the impact is very limited and restricted to few days during vacation. Here, Kabir is now commanding and fixing our time table. Based on his feeding time, ‘malish’ time, bath time, all programs are scheduled. He has turned everyone into ‘Dotting…something’. Like Dotting Great Grand mother, Grand Mother, Grand Father, Chacha, Chachi, Great Chacha’s & Chachi’s and above all 14-16 year old ‘Boua’s’

Is he just seven days Old?

First thing you need in morning is great cup of tea, which I make for myself and Bindiya, which we enjoy fully. Now, as soon as it is over, we wait for next need of morning. Kabir Dharshan. Kashyap or Dhawni’s mother brings him down. Mummy removes his all cloths and sets him free under the early morning sunshine. Sunshine shines on the sunshine of Shah’s and Dodeja’s.

 Muskan starts the day with her first Ladoo bite. Hearing her calling him Ladoo, makes me want to call him ‘Jilebi’. I find, ‘Chutki’s brother’ more alluring and nice nick name. Or maybe ‘Chotu’. Rinky wants to call him ‘Rass Malai’. Maybe we should all become Halwais.

Constant flow of visitors is on. Office staff, Kashyap-Dhwani friends, our relatives, relatives from Mumbai keep us, specially Muskan on toes. Till date Chawlas Gang have visited in three installments, Dodeja pariwar has made guest appearance, few of Kashyap-Dhwani friends along with Akshay – Muskan friends have being entertained by Khushi Ram.

I forgot to inform that he was born on 7^th June 2015 at 10.34 am and accordingly his name should start with ‘Kh’. Khamosh. No good name is available in this letter. So, Kashyap stayed with his original choice and Kabir was fixed as popular name. I selected ‘Khushi’ as his ‘Chatti’ name. Deepak Maharaj said, if you are not going to used this name as popular name, add ‘Ram’ to it. So thus in ‘chati i.e. Janmapatri’ he was named “Khushiram”.  I used to call Rishi also Khushi Ram.

On Friday, we all gathered after dinner. Chinky – Rinky were given the task of announcing the name and also informing the boy, privately in his ear that you will be called ‘Kabir’ from this day onwards. Poor fellow will defiantly get confused and try to figure out, which his real name is, till he goes to school. Till date I keep hearing, ‘Ladoo’, ‘Baby’, ‘Chotu’, ‘Chutki Ke Bhai’, ‘Kabir’, Kabira’, ‘Khushi’, KhushiLal’, ‘KhushiRam’ and some more.

by P G Dodeja

7th June 2015 [New Era Starts]

 

7^th June 2015 - Sunday: I get up early at 4.30 am. I make tea for myself and Bindiya, do her routine and prop her up. Today is the DAY. I make calls to Muskan and Kashyap to wake them up at 6.00 am. Time to rise and shine, go to Inamdhar Hospital for ‘C’ section delivery. By 7.30 Kashyap and Akshay get Dhwani admitted to hospital, and they in turn start delivery process. Doctor will enter OT at 10.00 and we will have result out in 10 minutes max. 

We all wait anxiously on 2^nd floor, outside the OT. Mummy has also come to be present at her great grand child's birth. She is going to create record by being only person to be present at birth time of all her grand children and now great grandchild. She looks around and sees, Dhwani’s mother, sister and her husband, LP, Akshay-Muskan-Chinky, Kashyap and his two close friends, one from Pune, one from Mumbai. Mummy tells me, How times have changed, today 10 people are present, during Akshay – Kashyap time, I was only one present in hospital during their birth!

By 10.40 we are were losing our patience, security in charge kept request Muskan to tone down her excitement, or she will lose her job. Kashyap was called in, he put on cap etc and went in OT to observe. Within 2 minutes he was out, we kept gesturing him to turn at least give us indication, if baby is born or not, and if yes, it is boy or girl. He kept his back in our direction. I said, he is purposely taking footage, Muskan said, today I will defiantly kill him, Chinky kept clapping, jumping and flashing big smile. Finally he turned in our direction.

Instantly I knew it is baby boy. His wide smile and thumbs up proved it. He wanted ‘Kabira’ and he got it. Akshay belongs to his party, so he also flashed his 400 watts smile with extra flourish. We all exchanged good wishes and waited for attendant to call us to have glimpse of baby. He came out and saw so many anxious faces, he said, “Wait in corridor, I will bring baby out to you for few minutes.” Kosha used her cell intelligently and clicked boy’s first ever video clip, which was uploaded with 60 minutes.

We all shifted to room 808 and news was spread, everyone asked for baby picture. Now this boy’s father – mother – massi – mausa all are connected with TV and movie making. So, under the influence of Star TV, a plan was cocked. Let’s upload baby pics from downloaded from google and wait for comments and reactions. Comments were hilarious, just out of box and made us laugh at innocent targets. This was too good to last, finally we were exposed. Tina was most offended and attacked Akshay vigorously, who finally uploaded the real picture.

New and Old Wrinkles

In afternoon, after making few calls, I was walking down towards office, when someone shouted, “Prakash.”, it sounded like Ashok, and it was! Mona – Gulu – Ashok were in Pune within 3 hours after the birth of Baby! I was totally surprised and amazed.

This being Sunday, all Mumbai parties visited Inamdhar Hospital. Jayeshbhai and his family, Ashok Ahuja – Gulu – Mona, then Kashyap’s Andheri room partner, Vibha – Ritu were also returning from Mumbai. Then Tanvi arrived at late night. Considering the short span of time, I have come to conclusion that this boy is going to be influenced by moving images, be it on TV monitor, Movie Screen or in 3D format or hologram format in open space.

It will take some time to digest what we were waiting for last few months. Life moves on, silently.

 

by P G Dodeja