Happy Birthday little Ahaani.
How I envy you, a little boy growing up with strong ties to three very different regions of the world. Not too long ago your Pishi struggled a little with trying to find identity in the world, but I think I am a wiser person now. If I could choose anything at all to give you, it would be this: the ability to embrace and become all these places. To absorb place in all its facets until there is no longer a question. You just are.
What is there I can ever tell you, little one, when just by your existence you already know? Your foolish Pishi, numbed over the years has in you love's pure unconditionality.
I don’t know if you will ever read these words. Your Ai has asked me to keep a book in which I should write you silly stories with my leaky fountain pen, so that is what I will do. But I’m not all that old fashioned. I’ll publish them in my blog too!
3 August, 2007
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Once there was a little boy. He wasn’t a baby any more, so you couldn’t call him that. He wasn’t a young man as yet, although when he made his Ai angry, she would sometimes shout out “don’t you dare do that, young man”. You couldn’t really call him a big boy, but if he sat and bounced on your tummy after lunch, you might think he was the biggest boy in the world. So he was a little boy, and that’s what we’ll call him.
Anyway, to get somewhere nearer to the point, there once was a little boy. He woke up one day, put on his shorts, buttoned up his shirt, laced up his shoes and placed his hat on his head. He then packed his rucksack with a pair of chuddis, a train, Mr Dondu, a small pair of red binoculars and a book or two. The thing is, you see, the little boy was going on a safari.
The next day, he found himself in Nairobi, situated in Kenya, situated in East Africa, situated in Africa, situated in the World. He was in a big bus with his Ai, Dadda, Thamma, Thadda, Pishi, Peter, Ansetta, Anna and Ndogo the fierce warrior dog. Off they went on safari.
They met a lion. “RRRRROOOAAARRRR” said the Lion. “Hello” said the little boy. “I’m from Finchley. What are you having for lunch?” “Wildebeeste” said the Lion. “Yuk” said the little boy. “I am having dhal and curd rice”. “Yuk” said the lion.
They met a giraffe. “PHHHMMMPHHHHH” said the giraffe. “Hi” said the little boy. “I’ve got my chuddis in my rucksack. What are you eating?” “Thorns” said the giraffe. “Yuk” said the little boy. “I want some Alu”. “Yuk” said the giraffe.
They met a hippo. “BUUUUURRPPP” said the hippo. “Oh” said the little boy. “Did you just burp? What are you eating?” “Grass” said the hippo. “Yuk” said the little boy. “I prefer chicken nuggets”. “Yuk” said the hippo.
They met a spider. “SWWWISSSSHHHHHH” said the spider. “Hmm” said the little boy. “I didn’t know spiders made that sound. What are you eating?” “A fly” said the spider. “Yuk” said the little boy. “Can I have some chevda instead?”. “Yuk” said the spider.
They met a little elephant. “HAAARRRRRUMMMMMPHHHH” said the little elephant. “Hi” said the little boy. “I am a little boy. What are you eating?” “I am drinking some milk” said the little elephant “then I am going to eat some grass”. “Yuk” said the little boy. “I am going to have some gulabjamuns.” “YUM!” said the little elephant. “Can I have some?” “Yes” said the little boy. So they ate five gulabjamuns each.
“Happy Birthday little boy” said the elephant. “Please bring your Ai and your Dadda on safari again and again to see me and Thamma and Thadda and Pishi and Peter and Ansetta and Anna and Ndogo the fierce warrior dog.”
“ok” said the little boy. And that was that.
