Chennai Summer 2019

Rohit, Class 3, Vaishnavi, Class 4 and Vinay Class 11. Reached after a long travel of 8 hours, spanning many buses. Where their phone stopped working midway. And they requested phones from their co travellers to make calls and check directions.

Rohit,on reaching,  in a tragic voice, "Of course we have to go to the beach today. I am here only for 4 days. Tomorrow, day after. Then again tomorrow, day after. And then I go back to the village."

The joys and angst of childhood days ! When the farthest horizons of life are defined by the next 4 days.

Joy is as simple as a handful of sea.
Joy is as simple as taking a child to the sea.



...

This is Rohit and Vaishnavi.

Today they were having an argument, pre lunch. Suddenly there was a sharp sound. Rohit had given a

tight slap on Vaishnavi s cheek.

There was pin drop silence for a few seconds. As Vaishnavi digested the unthinkable fact that she had been slapped.

Then she went for his collar. "I'm older than you ! And you dare hit me !!"

Rohit, "lm taller than you !"

Vinay disturbed from his nap, cuffed both of them, and the potentially volatile situation was defused.

First time in a hotel is very very special. 

Rohit is coming to check up the time every ten minutes. "We have to go out to eat."

Yesterday @Srinivas asked if he can take the kids out to eat for lunch. 

Srinivas is a friend who recently connected on FB, suggested we take PaalaGuttaPalleBags on Instagram. I suggested back that he do that. And the entire building presence of PaalaGuttaPalleBags on Instagram is his persistent dedicated work.

I replied saying I usually kept their stays simple because these spaces are out of their worlds.

Then my daughter pooh poohed, saying that they would love going out and eat, and that I was over reacting. She said she would also love to go with them !

She usually makes sensible points and so I re messaged to Srinivas saying that he could take 3+1 out.

Rohit is pure energy today. "I have never eaten in a hotel.", he repeats as he flits aroud.

Srinivas asked, "What kind of food do they like ?" I dont think they know there are different kinds of food.

But they are all set to have fun all right. Vaishnavi, Rohit and Vinay.

 

They came, they saw, they conquered. And they left. 11th June. By bus to Tirupati, and thence to PaalaGuttaPalle.

School starts tomorrow.

They came.

They scattered shining pieces of joy.
They left.

"We will come again for padi rozulu leavelu".
10 days leave. Dussera.