No means..

..'No'. Not when it comes to my mother though. Sample this:

At the dinner table
Mom: 'Shall I get you a second helping?'
Me: 'No'
Mom: 'Alright.' <Proceeds to add more food to my plate>
Me: 'No Mom, I am full.'
Mom: 'Alright, just finish this. I won't give you anymore.'
<What just happened? I obviously finish off the second helping.>

Me sitting content on the couch
Mom: 'The cushions need to be washed.'
Me: 'No. I had them washed a couple of weeks ago.'
Mom: 'Alright.' <Proceeds to pull out the cushions from under me and around me, ripping off the covers and placing the bare cushions back on the couch. The covers obviously go into the wash.>

Me leaving for work
Mom: 'Shall I pack a snack for the evening?'
Me: 'No. I will be back by 6.'
Mom: 'Alright.'
<On the way to work, the lunch bag feels heavier than usual. I check it to find 2 additional boxes of snacks. Gah!>

I can go on and on here.

Please Mumma, 'No' really means 'No'!

Of spring cleaning..

Disclaimer: This post was written a long time back, as a hurt woman's response to a cranky, whiny husband. It is my reference guide- intended to be pulled out to justify myself everytime I invest a little too much time in spring cleaning. Other than that, it serves no better purpose and you wouldn't be any wiser reading this. 

I used the last weekend for spring cleaning and it took me the longest time to organise the 3 wardrobes shared between Pari and me. And the husband, saddened by the colossal waste of time and being the master of generalization kept lamenting on how I always manage to turn a simple task into an endless chore that eats up the better part of the precious weekend. Actually, here he is only stating the fact. I indeed take a very long time to organise my clothes. And I think I have good reason for it, and it is unfair to compare his wardrobe to mine. I provided him with a detailed explanation which I think is important to be documented, for quick reference, should similar questions arise in the future.

I have the following sections in the 3 wardrobes(Pari has just 2 shelves, so we can ignore her at the moment). And not to forget the 4 suitcases that I use as extended wardrobes!
1. For Office wear - western semi formals
2. For Office wear - Indian formals
3. For Fridays - Jeans, capri's & t-shirts
4. For executive meetings - western formals with jacket, full sleeve formal shirts, skirts and stockings
5. For office wear on small occasions - Indian salwar kameez with glitz
6. For office wear on major festivals - Sarees with glitz but still classy - no red, yellow, golden!
7. For leisure - casual local outings - casual clothes
8. For formal outings - like to Pari's PTA's or dance classes
9. For beach vacations -shorts, wrapping skirts, jumpsuits, sarongs
10. For city vacations - nice casual dresses
11. For vacations with parents or parents-in-laws - conservative version of 9 & 10
12. For vacations in winters - trench coat, jackets, scarves
13. For staying at home during winters
14. For home wear at my house
15. For home wear at my parents/aunts/uncles' houses
16. For home wear at my parents-in-law's house
17. For festivals
18. For family weddings
19.For friends/distant relatives' weddings
20. Night wear when it is only me, husband and Pari
21 Night wear when we have company
22 Yoga gear
23 Gym gear
24 Rain gear
25 Travel wear for flights
26 Travel wear for trains

I don't think that I am done yet, but you get the drift, right? 

And we move to Grade 6

I realised that this post is still lying in the drafts and we have already moved to Grade 7. I have hardly blogged last year, and will soon forget what my Grade 6 child felt like. The damage cannot be undone, but let's post this one quick and dirty.

The child has moved to secondary school. The first day in a new class is usually exciting and insightful. Pari comes home happy and enthusiastically proceeds to relay the events of the day and whatever has managed to make an impression on her at school. In the middle of her jibber-jabber, she says something that catches my attention and perks up my ears.

'Mumma, this year we have 3 new subjects - Physics, Chemistry & Biology. But you know what.. luckily Science is over! We have finished it last year and don't need to study Science anymore.'

The irony of this statement doesn't escape us. She is the daughter of 2 engineers and we have each dedicated at least 10+4 years studying science. Oh Pari.. I really don't know to laugh or to cry! I just pray that you stay this innocent and blissfully unawares of the rather painful facts of life some more.