3 months seemed like quite a long period, but it just flew away! I was all panicky about the first air travel, ear pain and some such discomforts for the little one, but he surprised me by sleeping through the journey. (That he screamed his lungs out throughout the check-in procedure is a diff.story). We traveled Kingfisher airlines (via Bangalore) and the journey (food esply!) was excellent.
There were our parents, siblings & their children waiting to receive us. The kid screamed (and scared) everyone. Thankfully in a couple of days the child understood that home is a place where people other than amma and appa would also reside, friends and relatives come and go.
As husbd. was just on a week's vacation, we had the essential Temple trips planned well ahead. We had Kumbakonam and Tiruvallur in mind. As the Kumbakonam train trip, accomodation, car to take us to the temple etc. were arranged by my ever dependable brother, I was mighty sure that things would happen without any hitch. And yes, the trip could not have been more convenient. Before the Tiruvallur trip (for the child's tonsure) many wanted to click a pic with the boy with all the lovely hair. And they did. The day's trip to Tiruvallur went on fine, and all my imaginations about how the baby would look sans hair came to an end.
After the hectic week, husband left, and it looked like I had all the time in the world. But on retrospection, there are atleast a dozen things which I wanted to do but couldn't. The weeks following saw my best buddies visiting home, relatives coming in to see the little one... The pandemonium caused by the stupid swine flu, and the minor illnesses of one after another at home, saw me cancelling half of my plans.
One thing which I was looking forward to, was meeting Smita. Situation was such that, I couldn't come out of home. She immediately obliged when I asked if she could make it to my house. One would not expect this much of understanding and trust towards someone whom one has never met. Wish I had made the meeting more memorable.
We then geared up for the kid's first b'day which was nearing. I went shopping while my mother was taking care (happily so) of the child. I made the mistake of going saree shopping with father -in-law. Men are such bad company in this area. Seriously. One should not just nod his head when someone asks if this saree would look good on so and so.
Husband landed a day before the Ayushhomam, just like any other relative;)
On the day of the Ayushhomam... There was nothing much for me to do before starting to the hall. Just to get the child and myself ready and leave. Sounds simple, huh? Not so simple when getting ready means wearing the traditional 9 yards saree. Few things are more tricky, I tell ya!! I knew I would need help and confirmed with the aunt who promised to come early for this, if she is sure about the madisar procedure. I was flabbergasted when she forgot what's next half way through. Another aunt came to my rescue and somehow they wrapped me in the madisar and I was all ready.
Just as expected the little one was all irritated with the smoke from the homam, the chattering crowd and the uncomfortable sherwani that I SO lovingly bought for him. During the Kaathu kuthal (ear piercing), before the little one could start wailing, my brother (on whose lap the kid was supposed to sit thru the ceremony) was tightly shutting his eyelids, fighting back tears. I was a bundle of nerves, asking him to open his eyes, he's got to hold the baby afterall!
Overall the function went on well. My maternal aunt, who kept us on tenterhooks few days before the function by falling seriously ill and getting hospitalised, turned up and made my day. Seriously, sometimes people make me feel really weak by being so affectionate. She could have chosen not to come. But there she was.
Oh yes! how could I forget the video coverage! We didn't book any professional for photographs and video, assuming the cousins would take care of things. The phhotographs were taken all right, but the video resembled a thriller movie. The video in charge Mr.Smart had forgotten to switch off the camcorder even when he was not focussing, and so the floor of the hall, the legs of the chairs, the steps, footwear of all present, not a thing on the floor was missed. It was fun watching it, though.
On the day of our departure from India, at the airport, there were the same set of our people waiting to see us off. The first week after reaching here was the toughest. Weather outside was gloomy, I was finding it odd all by myself again, the kid was clearly missing his grandparents' company. But thankfully, now its all back to routine. This longish essay was just to say that I am back! I could have easliy done with just the 3 words, no?
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