And now with immense pleasure I invite my dear friend Sakshi Nanda. Our friendship began with a post on Indiblogger. I don’t remember which one of her amazing posts had caught my fancy but I knew that I had found a star as a blogger.
When my first leibster found way, it was Sakshi who figured out in my ten list. And I am happy to say that out of all the accolades that came her away after, mine was the first.
Sakshi is a proud mother of an amazingly adorable son who finds quite a few mentions in her blogposts much to our liking. And yes what I adore about her besides the writing of course is that she is a feminist who happily claims that taking care of her family is an important element of her life. I love this woman to the core for her views, write ups and her happy go lucky attitude towards everything.
And today it came to my notice that her blog “Between write and wrong” is in the top ten parenting blogs of India. Here’s wishing her many more successes for future.
Now I hand over the baton to Sakshi herself, who has on this Children’s day combined with my “I Travel” theme conjured a hilarious post. I am very sure you will have a constant smile, dotted with a lot of laughs all through the read.
When my first leibster found way, it was Sakshi who figured out in my ten list. And I am happy to say that out of all the accolades that came her away after, mine was the first.
Sakshi is a proud mother of an amazingly adorable son who finds quite a few mentions in her blogposts much to our liking. And yes what I adore about her besides the writing of course is that she is a feminist who happily claims that taking care of her family is an important element of her life. I love this woman to the core for her views, write ups and her happy go lucky attitude towards everything.
And today it came to my notice that her blog “Between write and wrong” is in the top ten parenting blogs of India. Here’s wishing her many more successes for future.
Now I hand over the baton to Sakshi herself, who has on this Children’s day combined with my “I Travel” theme conjured a hilarious post. I am very sure you will have a constant smile, dotted with a lot of laughs all through the read.
* * *
I am flying
high, as the teeny TV before me tells me. A tiny plane over a lot of green and
blue. I am comfortable and snug, and enjoying my thoughts in those moments between
wakefulness and sleep.A little tired. So much to see and do, so much to say
when you are a baby in the air. Ever since I entered the plane …
high, as the teeny TV before me tells me. A tiny plane over a lot of green and
blue. I am comfortable and snug, and enjoying my thoughts in those moments between
wakefulness and sleep.A little tired. So much to see and do, so much to say
when you are a baby in the air. Ever since I entered the plane …
There she stood,
with her hands as if in prayer. Big eyes made bigger with a black sketch pen.
My box of crayons on her face, but how pretty she looked. I grabbed my mom’s
hair, wanted her to look too. She held my hand tight and shoved it down. ‘Spoil not my bun! You brat!’ I looked
away, and back at the woman in red, with a red cap. Extended my hand. She
smiled. Lovely! She pulled my cheeks, which in other circumstances I mind. But
here, oh, just divine. And there my mommy again, to take me away – ‘Come, dear baby’ and off we went into a long
room, where everyone seemed to notice me, the only baby in the plane. Did I
sense discomfort? Oh, must be my imagination.
with her hands as if in prayer. Big eyes made bigger with a black sketch pen.
My box of crayons on her face, but how pretty she looked. I grabbed my mom’s
hair, wanted her to look too. She held my hand tight and shoved it down. ‘Spoil not my bun! You brat!’ I looked
away, and back at the woman in red, with a red cap. Extended my hand. She
smiled. Lovely! She pulled my cheeks, which in other circumstances I mind. But
here, oh, just divine. And there my mommy again, to take me away – ‘Come, dear baby’ and off we went into a long
room, where everyone seemed to notice me, the only baby in the plane. Did I
sense discomfort? Oh, must be my imagination.
The red riding
hood was forgotten.
hood was forgotten.
Why, there was
so much else to be had!
so much else to be had!
‘Just sit still for a bit, will you?’ she
went. But why should I? My seat, my space and my time. Buttons on the armrests
and my own TV. Books? My fairy stories? I was over-whelmed. Press press press
and ‘Stop that! You will spoil the
remote’ and what is that? I can see my face in the metal of this belt. Aa
aa oo oo. I just showed myself my own tongue. How cool the buckle feels to taste.
Lick lick! ‘Sheesh, you dirty child.’
went. But why should I? My seat, my space and my time. Buttons on the armrests
and my own TV. Books? My fairy stories? I was over-whelmed. Press press press
and ‘Stop that! You will spoil the
remote’ and what is that? I can see my face in the metal of this belt. Aa
aa oo oo. I just showed myself my own tongue. How cool the buckle feels to taste.
Lick lick! ‘Sheesh, you dirty child.’
And they put me
on the side, as they manage the big bags. The biggest is mine, by the way.
on the side, as they manage the big bags. The biggest is mine, by the way.
Window. I bang!
Open it open it, let me fly my hands. Is that my toy truck down there? I want
it too. I drool with pleasure. Dribble too. A tiny little pond I see on the
window. Expecting a fussy mommy cleaning it with tissue, I hide it with my
hands. Spread it. Check my hands. Oh how they shine! Let’s make one more. Here
is comes and … ‘Oops! Look what he did.
Now where did I keep those wipes, you dirty pig!’
Open it open it, let me fly my hands. Is that my toy truck down there? I want
it too. I drool with pleasure. Dribble too. A tiny little pond I see on the
window. Expecting a fussy mommy cleaning it with tissue, I hide it with my
hands. Spread it. Check my hands. Oh how they shine! Let’s make one more. Here
is comes and … ‘Oops! Look what he did.
Now where did I keep those wipes, you dirty pig!’
Sanitized, I sit
in the middle. My hands smelling nice, but not shining anymore. Belted. And idle.They
sit on my two sides. There goes the window. There goes the view. The pool. The
lift-off.
in the middle. My hands smelling nice, but not shining anymore. Belted. And idle.They
sit on my two sides. There goes the window. There goes the view. The pool. The
lift-off.
Now, what is a
little baby in the air to do?
little baby in the air to do?
I know – poo-poo!
‘I think he has done it, already. I can smell
it. Before they get the drinks, would you just go change him, honey?’ and
daddy picks me up, carefully avoiding my bum. So serious he looks, as if he
doesn’t do poo-poo. Oh my, buttons on the roof. I kick in delight. With both
hands up, my fingers press press press. And lights! This bus is such a delight.
‘Calm down, baby’ he says. Who, me?
But it’s you who sweat so, daddy.
it. Before they get the drinks, would you just go change him, honey?’ and
daddy picks me up, carefully avoiding my bum. So serious he looks, as if he
doesn’t do poo-poo. Oh my, buttons on the roof. I kick in delight. With both
hands up, my fingers press press press. And lights! This bus is such a delight.
‘Calm down, baby’ he says. Who, me?
But it’s you who sweat so, daddy.
And here she
comes. The red one. I called her? She wants to help? Oh let her, please. I am
sure she knows about diapers ‘L’. Even has wipes. I will cooperate. Be a good
boy bum. Let her oh let her. ‘Im sorry,
he’s just so shifty. Called you by mistake. Sorry!’ What? Shifty? What does
that mean? Call her back. Please. And I wail. ‘Hurry, will you, honey?’ and off he scoots to a small loo. Do not
ask how he managed but he did, I tell you. Saw no water in this pool. Sounded
strange too. Finally, we both breathe. Out!
comes. The red one. I called her? She wants to help? Oh let her, please. I am
sure she knows about diapers ‘L’. Even has wipes. I will cooperate. Be a good
boy bum. Let her oh let her. ‘Im sorry,
he’s just so shifty. Called you by mistake. Sorry!’ What? Shifty? What does
that mean? Call her back. Please. And I wail. ‘Hurry, will you, honey?’ and off he scoots to a small loo. Do not
ask how he managed but he did, I tell you. Saw no water in this pool. Sounded
strange too. Finally, we both breathe. Out!
Re-sanitized, I
sit in the middle again. Idle hands but mind abuzz. What’s next?
sit in the middle again. Idle hands but mind abuzz. What’s next?
‘What would you like for breakfast?’ said
a red man. Who was he and where is she? I see bread and jam. Pancakes too.
Yoo-hoo, and giggle-giggle. ‘Sweet baby’
he says but if only it was her. Hands me a sweet. Like, is that all? Lays the
table. There’s too much here to touch and taste. So many colours so many
shapes. I get excited.So? I am only human. I see forks and plates and I think
music. Clangy-bangy-tangy-doo, shake the glass and drop the spoon. ‘What has gotten into him today, seems so
over-excited.’ And they need to wonder? Why, I’m a baby in the air. Inside
a flying bus.
a red man. Who was he and where is she? I see bread and jam. Pancakes too.
Yoo-hoo, and giggle-giggle. ‘Sweet baby’
he says but if only it was her. Hands me a sweet. Like, is that all? Lays the
table. There’s too much here to touch and taste. So many colours so many
shapes. I get excited.So? I am only human. I see forks and plates and I think
music. Clangy-bangy-tangy-doo, shake the glass and drop the spoon. ‘What has gotten into him today, seems so
over-excited.’ And they need to wonder? Why, I’m a baby in the air. Inside
a flying bus.
But what’s
rolling in my tummy?
rolling in my tummy?
Rumbles.
Wail! Wail! ‘He’s hungry, we’ll need warm water.’
Sob-sniff-sob-sob and stop. I see the red one with a steaming glass. Are you here
to take me for a round? Show me the clouds, the planets, the sun, the moon?
What blue on top of the eyes, what pink on the sides. Pick me pick me, please.
And I stretch my arms. But I wail in vain! ‘It’s
coming, food’s coming, shush will you? Oh my darling one!’ There a steaming
cup of water, and my Cerelac. I call it baby mush. She looks at me and says
something, with her red cap. Sounded like ‘ole ole ole’. Could she be Spanish?
I know not! I care not! I make a huge pout. Out comes a bubble and I blow it
big. She laughs and laughs and laughs. ‘That’ll
be all’says daddy and there the bubble burst. Off she goes, on comes the
bib, a toy for distraction, and it’s all in now.
Sob-sniff-sob-sob and stop. I see the red one with a steaming glass. Are you here
to take me for a round? Show me the clouds, the planets, the sun, the moon?
What blue on top of the eyes, what pink on the sides. Pick me pick me, please.
And I stretch my arms. But I wail in vain! ‘It’s
coming, food’s coming, shush will you? Oh my darling one!’ There a steaming
cup of water, and my Cerelac. I call it baby mush. She looks at me and says
something, with her red cap. Sounded like ‘ole ole ole’. Could she be Spanish?
I know not! I care not! I make a huge pout. Out comes a bubble and I blow it
big. She laughs and laughs and laughs. ‘That’ll
be all’says daddy and there the bubble burst. Off she goes, on comes the
bib, a toy for distraction, and it’s all in now.
Burp! The sound,
why does it need to be excused? Look at my mommy’s face. Such glee when it
comes. Like a ‘well done!’ I make a
mental note. Before showing my maths scores, I will burp my way into her heart.
why does it need to be excused? Look at my mommy’s face. Such glee when it
comes. Like a ‘well done!’ I make a
mental note. Before showing my maths scores, I will burp my way into her heart.
Baby in the air,
what is to be done next? All this glucose in the blood!
what is to be done next? All this glucose in the blood!
Why, let’s stand
up!
up!
I stand on my
seat and peep backthrough the space between the chairs.
Someone does a ‘twinkle twinkle little star’with their hands. Why? Predictable
humanity! I try to smile. Make her happy. Another is making his mouth fill up
like a balloon. Again, what’s with you, people? What am I, 2 months old? In
sheer boredom I let out a scream. The bald pate behind me wakes up from his
dream. Of hair, I assume. Gives me a glare. I give him a scream, and leave a
pool of spit on his Chetan Bhagat. I don’t bother to rub it off this time. I
let it remain. Serves him right, for that glare and for that book.
seat and peep backthrough the space between the chairs.
Someone does a ‘twinkle twinkle little star’with their hands. Why? Predictable
humanity! I try to smile. Make her happy. Another is making his mouth fill up
like a balloon. Again, what’s with you, people? What am I, 2 months old? In
sheer boredom I let out a scream. The bald pate behind me wakes up from his
dream. Of hair, I assume. Gives me a glare. I give him a scream, and leave a
pool of spit on his Chetan Bhagat. I don’t bother to rub it off this time. I
let it remain. Serves him right, for that glare and for that book.
‘Sit down, we’re going to land now, baby.
Dada house is here!’ and joy. Dada house is here. I suddenly hear a lovely
voice in the air. It must be her. Red Riding Hood. Belt, she said. She likes my
belt? I look at it. I have none on. Perhaps, she was dropping a hint, so others
don’t catch it. The red one…
Dada house is here!’ and joy. Dada house is here. I suddenly hear a lovely
voice in the air. It must be her. Red Riding Hood. Belt, she said. She likes my
belt? I look at it. I have none on. Perhaps, she was dropping a hint, so others
don’t catch it. The red one…
And the TV
screen goes off with a blur. I am floating on pink clouds. No, red ones. I’m
going down. Is this the moment of truth, the day of love? ‘And we are here. Dada will love to see you!’ after much ado, we
stand in a queue.The plane landed?Why, I must have been asleep after the ‘sit down!’ The last I checked the plane it
was still flying high on the green.
screen goes off with a blur. I am floating on pink clouds. No, red ones. I’m
going down. Is this the moment of truth, the day of love? ‘And we are here. Dada will love to see you!’ after much ado, we
stand in a queue.The plane landed?Why, I must have been asleep after the ‘sit down!’ The last I checked the plane it
was still flying high on the green.
I could see her
by the door. The red cap. I was floating towards her. Gliding. High in hopes. No,
the plane has not landed. By God, it’s only soaring!
by the door. The red cap. I was floating towards her. Gliding. High in hopes. No,
the plane has not landed. By God, it’s only soaring!
Pop!
What was that in
my ear?
my ear?
Wail! Wail! I
think my ear drum burst. Wail! What was that? ‘Oh sweetheart, come here. Did mommy forget to plug your ears?’I’m
deaf, most certainly I am. I cannot even recognize my own mommy’s voice. Or
wait. Who is this I see? Whose arms and whose red shoes near the exit door? I
stop crying. Blue on top of eyes and pink on the cheeks. She rocks! I sleep.
No, swoon. Swoon.
think my ear drum burst. Wail! What was that? ‘Oh sweetheart, come here. Did mommy forget to plug your ears?’I’m
deaf, most certainly I am. I cannot even recognize my own mommy’s voice. Or
wait. Who is this I see? Whose arms and whose red shoes near the exit door? I
stop crying. Blue on top of eyes and pink on the cheeks. She rocks! I sleep.
No, swoon. Swoon.
And give her my best
gummy smile.She shows me her pearly whites…
gummy smile.She shows me her pearly whites…
As I sit on my
potty-seat today, toilet trained and more grown up, I think back to that 8th
month. I make a mental note. I will write a book one day. ‘Babe in the Air’ it
shall be called.
potty-seat today, toilet trained and more grown up, I think back to that 8th
month. I make a mental note. I will write a book one day. ‘Babe in the Air’ it
shall be called.
And I think you
know why!
know why!
(The baby in both pictures is the little kid we love to read about in all of Sakshi’s posts!!)
Sakshi – Woman, you never cease to amaze me with your writings. Another cracker of a post with the “baby wordings” aptly put. I think that’s enough. I am running out of praises. Must reserve some for later.
Richa – You have an amazing blog, and Sakshi’s piece is a worthy addition. Glad she decide to wield the pen for your blog:)
Thank you so much 🙂 and yes she is one helluva writer 😀
Thank you to the two of you above! 😀
This was just such an unbelievably cute entry for the Travel Week Bonanza of posts that you are hosting here. As usual, Sakshi has rocked with this post talking to us from the viewpoint of her favorite N. Loved the post in its entirety. Kept smiling throughout.
haha yes my travel week has become all the more entertaining thanks to this post! I am myself enjoying hosting all these fun posts 😀
Thanks guys! 🙂
Awww Sakshi, that was again a cute and hillarious post. 😀 And I loved the little cutie’s pics. Just adorable he is. 🙂
“and daddy picks me up, carefully avoiding my bum. So serious he looks, as if he doesn’t do poo-poo.” Ha ha ha…so most of the Daddy’s are the same, I guess. 😀 Enjoyed the post thoroughly. 🙂
Thanks for your kind words, I do believe Sakshi totally deserves all the credit 🙂
No, Richa deserves credit too. The post could not been any less cute for it had to go on her blog, after all! 🙂
And yes, most fathers are the same. They dangle them from their arm-pit when there’s a little yellow in the diaper, as if the diapers will burst or something. 😛
So happy you have fun reading this.
The little one is partial towards the air hostess already.. 😛
Already Hrishikesh imagine! Has taken to mother I believe properly *wink wink*
Certainly the father, the father he is like. I tend to notice the pilots more. 😀
Excellent birds eye view…er…baby’s eye view.
😀 😀
My mother has successfully managed to post a comment. Thank you, Richa. 😀
Oh really she is your mother! Wow I didn’t know that. i feel so glad to have the mother daughter duo at my blog together <3
Each day with each of your post Sakshi I’m more in love with you and the way you play with words. This one is just super cute. And everytime I see N’s picture n FB I literally hug my lap/phn or whatever I have in hand.
Ok. I’m stopping for now before Richa kicks me out! 😛
hehe no not at all! Because that is true with me too 😀 😀
I am ready to fall in love all over again, especially with ME. 😀
Richa, as far as I know, is incapable of kicking anyone anywhere. Too sweet she is. 😀
This was such and entertaining and enchanting tale. I often wonder what goes in a baby’s head. I loved how you managed to creatively write from the baby’s viewpoint. That was just brilliant! ♥
yes it is the baby’s point of view which makes it adorable <3
I certainly do not know if this is what goes on in the baby’s head. Only my guess. After all, when I was a baby myself, I was looking at the immaculately dressed pilots. I am sure, it has to be that! 😀
Kathy, thank you for the ‘brilliant’ and for the love. 🙂
Sakshi brilliant post 🙂 and your son is really cute.
🙂 🙂 I am looking forward to another post from you madame 🙂
Thanks, Sugandha. Does cute rhyme with handful? 😉
Aww!! That’s such a sweet and a cute post!! The baby would love to read this one when he grows up!! 🙂
I hope he will. For al you know, Shilpa, he will sue me. 😀
Thanks a lot for liking it!
Such an adorable post. Almost as if the baby himself wrote it :). I hated traveling with my kids. They drive me nuts!
What drove me nuttier was not my own kid but the fellow-passengers. Sigh! Material for a book. 😀
Thanks a lot for the ‘adorable’ in the comment, Rachna. 🙂
What an absolutely love of a post! You rock Sakshi!
Dagny
Lots of love back, Dagny. Thanks a lot!
tht wa soe laugh riot!
Laughter is the best medicine! 😀
When I read the title ‘babe in the air’ I thought must be about the difficulties faced while flying with a baby. But amazingly put in baby’s voice. Loooooved it!!
Richa, have come across your blog only recently but loving each post. Keep going!!:)
The difficulties faced while flying with this baby are the sub-plot of the post. I cleaned that window sill 200 times in that flight. And that CB book pool I actually did not. 😛
Thanks a lot for reading! 🙂
Richa’s blog is indeed a treasure trove!
Thanks a lot 🙂 I hope you continue to enjoy more of the blog 😀
Lovely post!
Reminded me of the film ‘Baby’s Day Out’.
🙂 One of my favourites. And ‘Look Who’s talking’ too. 🙂
Proactive, thank you. I notice you have been proactive in reading my posts. I really really appreciate that. 🙂
I’m still laughing..!! 😀
😀 😀 And what better compliment can I expect for this mindlessness above! 😀
The world of kid is full of wonders. And you have written that in such a creative way. Thank you for sharing those wonderful thoughts of a little one.
Thanks Bharati 🙂 and yes kids truly have a wonder world of their own 🙂
Only my guess, those big thoughts from the tiny mind. I do hope he will read it one day and agree. If not, he may just sue me. 🙂
Awesome!! Cute, witty and hilarious…I think all these have become synonyms to Sakhi!!
Loving your theme Richa!! Keep it going 🙂
😀 Aditi, thank you. Yes, I can be quite a joker. I am a bigger clown in person. 😛
Love the synonyms. 🙂
Thanks Aditi, I am glad you are liking the theme! And well Sakshi is that and a lot more 😀
This is just so adorable. I had a smile all along 🙂
🙂 Good to know, Jyotsna. Keep reading!
All of us did 🙂 and if you read more of Sakshi’s posts this would be a regular feature on your face 😀
I have just one sentence about this blog post.
You have creative thinking.
Thanks, Ujjwal! 🙂
LOL! Babies….they do the darnest things but we simply can’t get angry with them. Too cute!
We just cannot get angry with them. So true, Michelle. So glad you liked this! 🙂
@Richa: Like u, Sakshi is one of ma favorite and absolutely adore her post. Superb post on the young man:)
Vishal
Thanks a lot, Vishal. Keep reading! 🙂
I will, Sakshi: Fodder for thought..as I said, Writing koi aapse seekhe:))
🙂
young man is following good footsteps 😛 we loved this post.
Haha! Thank you. I believe the same.
Many thanks for liking the post. 🙂
Thinking as an adult is difficult but the ease with which you think like the little baby is amazing Sakshi. Hats off to you. Laughed, stopped, laughed again, thought about your post and laughed again. My daughter is not well and is at home and she has asked me twice already if I have lost it as I am just playing your article in my mind and rolling with laughter.
Oh don’t you worry your daughter. Tell her about the cartoon-of-a-blogger that I am and she will understand. I hope she gets well soon, very soon.
Happy you liked this. 🙂
Omg…that is brilliant…loved it 🙂 I recently travelled with my 2 year old…and boy…its was almost exactly what she did except a slightly grow version of it…ha ha….was just too good. i was able to imagine myself in the baby’s place. Just loved it 🙂
Lovely comment, Preethi. Thank you so much. 🙂
Glad our versions match. 😉
Brilliant again ..need I say more 😀
Thanks, Namrota. No, no more than ‘brilliant’ is required! 😀
Great one, Sakshi, 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
Sakshi, that was awesome…. and mom, a great intro by you there at the top
😀 Thanks!