Dear Amma

you turned 58 yesterday…..

Thats amazing na…I just cant believe we fought about you leaving your job last year and joining Appa at Goa when you could have continued for an year more before you retired…I was pretty bugged with you..but then you were clear that you wanted Appa (yaa yaa who is the baby of the family eh?)

Yesterday morning at 8.30 you called me on the landline and said ‘why didnt you call to wish me?’ (There, didnt I just ask who is the baby of the family 🙂 )

Background being, I forgot my phone at RD’s cousin’s place on Saturday and RD had taken his phone when he went for his run..which means I didnt have any phone and my excellent memory only had the Baroda landline number by-hearted..which means that there was NO WAY I could call you and wish you :):)

So there, we wished you and you were happy 🙂

Amma, hope you have a wonderful year ahead…I guess, sometimes, I sit back and wonder whom I am like more – you or Appa, and more and more I think I am becoming like you…

You behave as if you are the sternest person around, but actually you are a total coconut…stern from outside, but an emotional person from inside…coming all the way from Goa to Ahm just to meet your niece and her son because she couldnt travel is like the sweetest thing you could have done…and no, dont give excuses like you got to meet me and RMB as well…you just wanted to meet your niece na 🙂

You are one of the most just person I know in my life..whats right is right and whats wrong is wrong….no matter who it is, you have always been fair…you have never ever differentiated between RMB and me..and never have I felt that I am only the daughter and he is THE son…

If I cleaned the table after lunch, he did it after dinner, if I washed the wash basin on Monday, he did it on Tuesday, if I kept the patrams in the shelf on Wednesday, he did it on Thursday…you have trained him as well as you have trained me, because you felt everyone should be able to help out their spouses or fend themselves when they grow up..for that Amma, both of us will be always obliged to you 🙂

I still take pride in telling people that my Amma finished her Arengetram when she was only nine years…I doubt many people in this world can boast about it…

I take pride in telling people how your students even after growing up and getting jobs in MNCs come to meet you, and thank you for teaching them the right basics in class 3…

I take pride in the fact that even in public places like the railway station, you have men/women coming and falling at your feet saying ‘Madam, you changed our lives’

You did that Ma…I am super proud of the fact that you will be always remembered as an excellent teacher…you sure will be 🙂

I think you are one of the most large hearted person I know…I dont know ANYONE else who gave away 25 K each to both her maids after leaving Baroda as a form of PF…no one will do it..I doubt whether I will..whatever PF you got, you gave them a share saying that they were with you for 25 years….its not the money that counts Amma, its the thought…I was so shocked when you told me on the phone that you are giving G ben and C ben 25 K each…you are a very very large hearted soul 🙂

I think the relation between you and Appa is something EVERYONE envies..and oh I do know that why you do all the hard work of pretending to shout at him, he finally does what he wants :):) but the love between the two of you…touch wood!!!

I love the fact that you encouraged Bhabhi to study after marriage, ensured she got a job and became financially independent, ensure she half her salary to her parents..not many people would do that Amma...you are a total rockstar as R puts it 🙂

I know you are jealous *ahem ahem* of me when I tell you I read so many books, and now have joined the library to compete with my reading..I totally love you for that..that you are ready to take up a challenge even at this age..awesome!!!

You have come to me whenever I have called you, no matter what the circumstances, you left Appa and stayed with RMB and I whenever we asked you..though you do threaten never to leave your husband and come…you are a sweetie Amma 🙂

and just for the records, my Amma makes better rasam and urgai than your Amma okie? *Sticks tongue out*

Did I mention we all love you tons…well we do..despite of all the fights we have, all the arguments on the phone and all that I have scolded you about, I love you okie?

Happy wala birthday and keep rocking and reading!!

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Happy Vishu to everyone..

As usual in the R household, we made avial (which is only twice an year affair – onam and vishu), rice, khakhra (we didnt want to fry papads so had the gujju touch!), parappu and pal payasam..after I make all this, we get a call from RD’s cousin who has come down from Tanzania that we should come for lunch.

No no, we dont say no, we just keep EVERYTHING into the fridge, hog on the free lunch..and come back and gave the home cooked food for dinner!! yaa yaa we are cheap that ways 🙂