Looking at the brighter side of things

It's really strange that someone whom you think knows you so well, actually doesn't necessarily know everything about you. Confused? I am too! Well, to put it in a simpler way, if I am close to somebody, I would assume they'd know if I am pissed off about something or if something is really bothering me. The least they would do is come ask you what the matter was or if everything was ok. Right? YEA RIGHT! I am so wrong - there are people existing in this world, so full of their own bloody selves, their own work, their own schedule, their own routine and not bothered if you've had a rough day - work wise or even otherwise. And I'm talking about people whom you're close to -- supposedly. Phew. Don't want to waste time writing or ranting about such characters here. I'm just learning to let go and learning to not be too needy or clingy, I never thought I was, but seems like I'm hard to handle so maybe I'm mistaken. I dunno. Frankly I'm getting used to being this way.
Moving on to brighter things in my life --
a) Festival season I told you was here! And boy. It was an extremely busy Navrathri season - lots of Golu hopping, Lots of socializing. Good times! And with Diwali around the corner, things are only heating up even further. I've already gotten my new outfits, blew quite a bit, but full thanks to parents and in laws :-) Pretty excited about wearing it all - got myself a new hair cut and smoothening session, loving all the self pampering ;-)
b) My good buddy flew down all the way from China and landed home - was a super duper surprise!!! Loved having him home with me - only wished I had somehow known - would have cooked him a nice meal  - On second thoughts, its probably a good thing I didn't know - errr, I'll face it, he didn't miss much! :-(
c) Spoke to my chweety Chachu for a long time last week - Bliss! He's still the same sweetheart that I love and miss so much!
d) My bestie M - moved to a new city, with a new job! Wondering why I'm excited? Of course! This is her big opportunity and I told her to grab it!!! I'm hoping she does well and enjoys every minute of her time alone!Good luck, Mousie!!
e) Was a great week in terms of catching up with old buddies - especially the ones I studied with in the US! Sindhu, Esther, Zam, Rads....... good times!!! :)
f) Made Semiya Paysam for the first time and it came out tasting nice! Or so my in laws claimed. Oh well! =)

Gtg now, will post later, feelin much better already, I knew I would! But before I sign off wanna wish my baby boy, Rayyan, a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! =)
Gosh you're such a big boy already!!! 

"Count the Aishus" :P

My inbox is full of emails from family, friends, loved ones and I've treasured many such mails over the years - was digging up something today and this is what I found! Priceless! When I was studying in the US, I had this taped on my wall :-) An email from my darling Chachu, who was about 4 when he typed this up and sent in 2007. 
Wanna see him this instant! :( Love you! 




hi aishu where are you.  aishu i love you. aishu buy  a plane for me. aishu dont buy anything for devi. aishu can you come here.aishu whisky ( my dog in kerala) is very naughty.aishu can you come for my birthday. aishu my mama got married to sreela ammayi.aisuh buy dirty juice for acha.aishu yesterday my amma made pizza.aishu in december is my birthday. aishu there you have a computer.aishu devi full time seeing TV.aishu devi is very naughty nowadays.aishu did you see neopets. aishu devi will get up in the morning and will tell can i see tv can i see tv.aishu aishu you got any pets over there.aishu aishu there you got any friends. aishu is it nice and cold over there.aishu you got any chocolates over there for me.aishu aishu is it bright over there. aishu is it fun over there.aishu is there big big dogs over there aishu.aishu there you buy one robot for me.aishu shin chan is very finny. aishu in your house pooja was there ok.vishal came and he took my power ranger gun and took  home.aishu,ha, you know in kerala nice breeze and thunder came and scared my dog. aishu that dog is very naughty. you know my dog bit me one day and was running and catching me.and that came up and i was jumping jumping jumping jumping.aishu for your house pooja we put rose flower everywhere and i was also helping anu aunty. sekhar uncle told he love crackers.aishu you know my sister ,she is seeing hanna montana and all the dirty things.aishu you love your dad or your mom. aishu you know my friend gireesh, he is very small.aishu you know tom and jerry, tom and jerry is very very funny.you know aishu tome and jerry you have too everyday. you got mosquito bat over there aishu.aishu you know devi is a naughty girl.you know my sister everytime do computer or tv.aishu you know roshitha gone to calcutta. aishu you know my van friends are naughtier than the van driver.aishu you know malayalam.you know my sister is the naughtiest girl in the whole world. aishu my friend gireesh got a big car like my car same height in his house.

Chachu and Me

Happy Birthday to u.. Happy Birthday to you.. Happiee Buddayyy Chachuuuuu naaa.. Happieee Budday tooo UUUUUUUU!!! :-))

April 30th 2002 - Trivandrum, Kerala : Chachu aka Sachin came out screaming into this world!!

May 29th 2002 - Chennai, Tamil Nadu: The first time I laid my eyes on this precious bundle of joy... He was 30 days old!! His mom brought him home from Kerala and they moved opposite our house.. Little did I know that it was gonna change my life forever!! He wore a small white piece of cloth and diapers of course.. He was chubby, extremely fair(a very Mallu trait, that is!), wore a small gold chain, and had no teeth!! It was love at first sight for me... :)

2002 - 2003 - Chennai, Tamil Nadu : I started seeing him almost everyday when I got back from college... He always had a blank expression when I carried him and kept him on my lap.. just kept looking at me.. slowly I tried to take him home for Appa and Amma to see.. He was calm when he was with me.. The minute he looked at Appa he'd start bawling.. I mean, he was LOUD! Quickly, I'd take him back home.. that happened for about two weeks.. things changed eventually... a month later, he hated going to his house!!

2003 - 2005 - Chennai, Tamil Nadu : Best times of our lives!! I mean, it was magical!! Chachu and I became inseparable!! He'd go wherever I go.. except to my classes of course.. Thatha nicknamed us "Mary and the little lamb"... and Chachu of course loved all the attention from my grand parents, aunts, cousins, parents, friends(the girls, of course!)... He soon became a part of my family.. He was at all family events, weddings, birthdays.. He stayed with me till 9pm.. We ate breakfast and dinner together.. lunch was together over the weekends..

A conversation at Chinmaya Vidyalaya(Chachu's school) between the Principal and him, when he was there for his "admission interview"

Principal: "Sachin, how many sisters/brothers do you have" ?
Chachu: Two...
Anju(his Mom) completely perplexed!?!?!
Chachu(continues).. "Devi Chechi and Aishu Chechi" ***

Me thinking to myself... AWWWWWWWW!! :-))))

Another conversation between the two of us at home on a boring Saturday afternoon.. He was 4 years old then!!
Chachu: "Aishu Chechi, I'm sooo bored here!! "
Me: " I know da.. me too"
Chachu: "Come lets go to Coffee day"!
Me: "Whaa-ttt" ?? lol..

August 2006 - Chennai, Tamil Nadu: I try telling the little one that Im about to leave.. to UMM-REECA(in his baby language!).. He hates that place.. He understands that Im about to leave and would not be back to be with him for a long, long time...... He always tries and avoids that conversation.... even when I try and talk about it, he changes the topic..

Aug 10th 2006 - Chennai, Tamil Nadu: The day Im leaving home... I packed up all my stuff, got all my documents ready to leave home to go the airport.. Fortunately for both of us, he was asleep.. I still remember kissing him on his forehead... just crying sooo much.... that relationship we shared was/IS soooooooo special... I wanna cherish it forever!

April 30th 2009 - Me in Springfield, Missouri and Chachu in Trivandrum, Kerala : He's moved to Kerala now, for good.. family situation not very favorable in Chennai.. Anyway, I called and spoke with him for a good one hour on the phone.. He's still the same... Its soo strange how some things never change... He still fights with Devi(his elder sister) and tries to grab the phone to talk to me, chats endlessly about cars(his latest fave being Audi), still asks me to come and spend time with him in Kerala.. still wants to fight with my Mom(over chocolates!), still makes me tell him funny stories... and laughs in his cutest, funniest way, still loves me and misses me!!! He's the younger brother that I never had!! :-)

Chachu baby.... I love and I miss you.. I know am gonna see you really really soon!!!! Hope you have a truly fantastic birthday!!! :-)

*** - Chechi is Malayalam for elder sistah!!