Aasim’s new school

This morning, I asked aasim as to why was he acting nervous. His reply was “any kid would be”. Reason – he started with his new school The Jain International School.

Till last year, the school he studied in was his home turf – he knew everyone – classmates, seniors, teachers, school principal everyone.. and people knew him. He could get away with a lot there. Getting nervous about change of school is ok and he dealt well with it.

This new school was something which he was looking forward to go to so, was excited about its lovely campus and location.

He just returned back beaming with excitement, he has already made a few friends, and has choosen swimming as his primary sports activity.

Free As in Freedom of Expression!!

This isn’t the first time its happening, unfortunately and wont be the last either. As long as the moral brigade keeps getting their fodder from politicians, they will continue to rape in daylight and get away with it. The only ones to stop it is us -most of us who prefer to look away because “it has not happened to us” or because “O! its there far away in Gujarat, not in central, or east or north or south India” WAKE UP!!

We all read newspapers, form opinions, sometime discuss it with friends and family, and forget about it -however, slowly things seem to be changing. With Internet, people and artists blogging about such things, writing their personal opinions and some day, I am hopeful, it will wake up enough people to make a difference.

http://shubha.underscorerecords.info/2007/05/12/leave-art-and-artistes-alone/

Creative writing by Aasim

Here’s what he wrote yesterday

“My tooth is breaking. It pains very much when your tooth breaks. Its like being pregnant for a few days.
Till now eight teeth of mine have broken. The first two were taken out by the dentist The dentist recommends you to have ice cream after he or she has a tooth taken out”

Grammar, parts of speech

Aasim – “Mamma, what happened after the Wright brothers took their first flight?”
I – “They became immortal”
Aasim -“ who was the second one fly the plane?”
I – “Aasim, no one remember’s the second person who did anything, its always the first one that the world remembers”
Aasim (with a very straight face, emphatically) – “The third person is always remembered.”
I – “huh?”
Aasim -“ I was talking grammar!!”

Love beyond life

From Urban Legends Reference Pages: Jack Benny Sends Roses After Death:

Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
“I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.

She knew this was the last time
that the roses would appear.
As they were delivered
every year.

She thought, he ordered roses
in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know,
that he would pass away.

He always liked to do things early,
way before the time.
Then, if he got too busy,
everything would work out fine.

She trimmed the stems,
and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase beside the portrait
of his smiling face.

She would sit for hours,
in her husband’s favorite chair.
While staring at his picture,
and the roses sitting there.

A year went by,
and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude,
that had become her fate.

Then, the very hour,
as on Valentines before,
The doorbell rang,
and there were roses,
sitting by her door.

She brought the roses in,
and then just looked at them in shock.
Then, went to get the telephone,
to call the florist shop.

The owner answered, and she asked him,
if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her,
causing her such pain?

“I know your husband passed away,
more than a year ago,”
The owner said, “I knew you’d call,
and you would want to know”.

“The flowers you received today,
were paid for in advance.
Your husband always planned ahead,
he left nothing to chance”.

“There is a standing order,
that I have on file down here,
And he has paid, well in advance,
you’ll get them every year”.

“There also is another thing,
that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card…
he did this years ago”.

“Then should ever I find out
that he’s no longer here,
That’s the card…that should be sent,
to you the following year”.

She thanked him and hung up the phone,
her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking,
as she slowly reached to get the card.

Inside the card, she saw that he had
written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence,
this is what he wrote…

“Hello my love,
I know it’s been a year since
I’ve been gone,
I hope it hasn’t been too hard
for you to overcome”.

“I know it must be lonely,
and the pain is very real.
For if it was the other way,
I know how I would feel”.

“The love we shared made everything
so beautiful in life.
I loved you more than words can say,
you were the perfect wife”.

“You were my friend and lover,
you fulfilled my every need.
I know it’s only been a year,
but please try not to grieve”.

“I want you to be happy,
even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses
will be sent to you for years”.

“I have always loved you
and I know I always will.
But, my love, you must go on,
you have some living still”.

“The roses will come every year,
and they will only stop,
When your door’s not answered,
when the florist stops to knock”.

“He will come five times that day,
in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit,
he will know without a doubt,

To take the roses to the place,
where I’ve instructed him,
And place the roses where we are,
together once again”.

Return of the King

Yesterday was a day which we will not forget all our lives. Returning back from the new home (site) while I was driving at a breakneck speed of 75-80, Tarique told me stop the car immediately. “STOP STOP VULTURE!!!” Tarique almost shouted.

I shushed him “ stop day dreaming! vulture, here? you are crazy!!, must be Osprey or something”. But, by then I had already slowed down a bit and I stopped a little ahead. I spotted something too. Sitting on an almost bare tree, along with black kites, was a form that looked much bigger than the black kite and the form did look like a … (gulp) Vulture.

So, while Tarique stood guard, I rushed back home to get the camera (our current home is just 1.5 kms away from the sighting place) I made a few phone calls to city birders thinking if it really is a vulture, more pair of eyes should see it, I reached back 15 mins later, to see the bird still sitting there, Tarique took over the camera, while I parked the car and followed him. The clicking begins, and we see the results, IT IS A VULTURE!! WOW!!! more frantic phone calls and I found out that people have already left their respective work places and residences to reach the spot. We prayed, this bird should wait here for some more time atleast till some of the birders arrive.

We also discovered a carcass down below , black kites were troubling the vulture and we were perhaps approaching nearer to its comfort zone, the vulture flew, right over my head, but the sun shone in my eyes so could I not identify which vulture. We left the identification to later and kept clicking. The bird then flew away far after being with us for a good 35-40 minutes.

Jaimesh, Mr. Gopal Thosar (Hon.Wild life Warden ) and Dr. Pimplapure arrive and see the photos, discuss the carcass (it was a calf freshly killed by someone and thrown) and while we all were gloating over the find when all of us shout again almost in unison IT’S BACK! the majestic bird, as if to prove a point, came back and circled for about 10 minutes and then vanished.

So which vulture was it? Long billed ? White back? No! it was the Red necked Vulture AKA the King Vulture

Question my 10 year old asked!

Yesterday night.
“Mumma, can i ask you a question? it is very personal and silly for a man to ask but… ”
“How does it feel to have breasts?” “I mean, do they feel heavy or something”
“it does not feel strange, they are a part of a woman’s body. Do you feel strange to have hands? or heavy”
“no”
“its the same with breasts”