1st SMS from London

Sheens 1st sms from London received today at 2.45pm:

Hello mummy... (isnt that the best sound in the world!)

its not too cold at all. More like india but our hands tend to freeze more. The weather is lovely! I can't seem to sleep for some reason. Dinner was awful, I had to eat vegetarian coZ MY teacher thinks i'm muslim. Thus I didn't eat anything. First day was great. We went to some poet's house and walked around a bit.. It gets colder at night, but we've got heaters. And i'm much better covered than others so i dun feel the cold at all :)

:) :) :)
Thank you God - my baby is safe and she's good - I must have re-read the message ten times and I know I will read it all nite again and again. I just can't stop smiling now.

shalini

Cling-y Mom

Kids - they decide who and what you are everyday!
I became a Clingy MOM today...

Nisha left on Nov 14 for her annual delhi trip to my ex inlaws place. First it showed how comfy she was and also how well she has adjusted to the family. Sheens was not going till Dec and yet Nisha was clear that she wanted to go "home" regardless of Sheens being there or not. The first few days I missed her like crazy and call her at least 3 times everyday. I use to wake up saying I wonder how she's doing. And sheens use to say "Oh Grandma starved her and she's dead' or "She's been kidnapped" and the best being "Oh my grandparents sold her off as a slave" and gives me that wierd horrific look - Grow up MOM. I know Nish not my birth daughter but I can't help it if I feel/care so strongly for her.

Sheens left last nite for London. And guess wat - after 15 hours i broke down. This is the first time I never had any sms or call from Sheen for such a long long time. We talk (either sms or phone convo) every few hours wen she's in sin or in india.

First time for 15 hours no news - no convo - no sms.

I freaked out - i started crying. Called Parul and she did not pick up the phone. Called Victor he did not pick up the phone. Called Rakhee next and thank god she picked up the phone and told me to not worry, she's safe and in a flight. Of course she's safe and on a flight! But that "lost" feeling is persisting. I calmed down a bit though.

Kathryne came over to keep me company till sheens calls me. And victor called finally and made full fun of me. Let go - stop being a clingy mom. What happens if she goes away for a weekend with her bf in future or if she elopes. To which my reply was I will pick you up and we will hunt her down - period. No two ways about it.

Finally sheens calls after 18.45 hours. She's ok. A bit cheesed off that her brand new winter jacket's belt has gone missing. It fell off somewhere.

She's ok - and I'm ok now. Victor came over then to take me out for dinner. I had no mood to eat earlier but since Sheens had called, Victor says you will eat now.

For all his bravado and macho exterior - he cares about me and is a true true friend. He came over as soon as he was free, and kept a tab on me till sheens called and finally insisted I eat and took me and Kat to Chicken Rice.

And today I gain the title - Clingy Mom!

shalini

Sheens in Hospital

Does she looks sick to you at all? It just looks like she has a bad hair day rite?

Well she was sick. Got herself admitted in TTSH all because she refuse to see a doc wen she felt her first few pains at her back. God child!

Pain means you are ill. See a doc - get medication!

She had kidney infection. Was in for 5 nites and she was a total baby at the end of it. Was crying with pain cause of the drip connection. Here's a pic of the drip-


She gave me such a scare - even to Parul & Sunil. Come day 3, the nurses forget to give me her medication dosage and the ward doc did nothing about it. By evening, she was in such agony that she couldnt move her right arm. Finally got the doc in and he realised that she had missed a dosage. Gave her an instant dosage via the IV and she was fine in 5 mins. But was a scary & horrifying experience. How could they forget!

Day 6 dawns and she decides to discharge herself. She did. Why - because she got some camp she has to go for. She promised her 2 best friends Hazique & Zhi Yu.

Aiyo.

But she survived the camp and recovered well and now preparing for her London trip.

Thank you god! And thank you Parul, Nidhi, Gana, Lala, Chacha for doing hospital duty of entertaining her. Nisha for being my 2nd arm and always being there at Sheens back and call in the hospital. Muneer & Serena for the high school musical book that kept her entertained for 2 nites. And Kat, Kim & Celine - the flowers and the teddy bear. That brought a big big smile on her face (even mine!) Though I am still wondering - why did i not get flowers when i was admitted? Sigh - life is not fair!

PS - yes the 2 best friend plus some guy named ming yao took good care of sheens, made sure her medication were taken with tons of water and returned her back in good form and spirit albeit without a voice. They even showed her Madagascar as a bonus and till date she can't stop talking abt her camp and her friends - thank you guys for being her angels :)

shalini

Horoscope

Saturday morning. In the kitchen - cooking for lunch since the gang was coming. Sheens starts convo by saying that a school friend for her, Zhi Yu, created her horoscope online. Site being www.cafeastrology.com. No big deal - I dont believe in astrology anyways - as a muslim, there is no such thing!

But guess what - sheens reads the horoscope and everything i believed in flew out of the window. Forget being a muslim, forget being a logical person with brains (at times!), forget being a rational person - just forget it.

According to Zhi Yu's newly discovered site - sheens will not marry. And if she does it will be at 34 and she will not be faithful! No children, she does not like doing housework, is lazy but though its politely defined as she knows how to separate leisure time with work time hence she appears lazy to others.

As HER mom, let me tell you - she is lazy. Period. No 2 ways about it - no matter how beautifully you phrase it. But if she's in the mood, she'll do everything - mopping, vacuming, clean the house to perfection. Otherwise the tea cup will sit on the table till it becomes moldy and smelly but she wont lift a finger at all to wash it. And she has the making of being a good cook - she has that magic in her hands.

Now back to sheens horoscope, she will have good job and money. She likes finer things in life and becomes materialistic.

Panicked - I started by saying:

Me: Listen sheens - marriage is sacred institution. its important to be faithful and committed in any relationship. And it is each individual human being duty to marry and reproduce.
Sheena: Where is it written mummy?
Me: In the Islam & Hindu religion (remember her dad is Hindu)
Sheena: Yeah rite
Me: In the society we live in!
Sheena: Yeah rite
Me: In my book Sheena!
Sheena: Sighs and give me that weird look

So I start again by saying marriage is sacred and how its a holy institution - yada yada yada. And she turns around and says - I am not getting married today Mom! So chill mom.

I did the next best thing - I called India. Spoke to mom and got dad to go to the pandit there and then. Relax Shalini - says dad. Apparently when sheens was born, her khundli was done. And it says she will marry at 32 and have 2 kids. Phew - relief.

Then bomb drops - timing on the khundli is wrong. Aiyo. Panic again and sent dad out to the pandit immediately. Now he goes to some physco pandit who says he wants sheens india time of birth and it will take him 3 days to do it. So am waiting.

Then told sheens to do nisha's horoscope. Bad bad bad choice. She becomes a drug addict! Aiyo! But she gets married and have lots of kids. In hindsight, yeah right! Nisha is the straightest and the sweetest kid around.

In walks Victor for lunch - seeing me frantic he says "kya hua shalini?" and gives me a big hug. Told him the issue. And you know what he does - "Hei Sheens - good job - you have a rocking life" and hi-fives sheens. Next parul, sunil and montu bhaiya walks in. They all are just too happy she has a great life ahead and agree with Victor. And I am left stunned!

Where have i gone wrong? What values have I thought my kids? To be a drug addict, not get married, have no kids, be unfaithful. Oh god - where did I go wrong! Was in a drugged state the whole weekend. And all nisha could do was - laugh and sheens was all smug!!!

Today is Tuesday and am in the office - reality is surfacing in me. Slowly I am coming out of the haze! My mind clearing. I did my level best with the kids, its not something i know, its a fact of life. I refuse to believe my children will turn out such in future. They are good kids with good values. They are my pride and joy and they will not disappoint me.

Besides - how can a website be right - right? And its a horoscope - i have better faith in my kids and my parvarish!!

And sheens you will avoid Zhi Yu whenever she is visiting funny websites! If I ever meet that child....

shalini

Eid Photos

I won!

How often do we win in lucky draws & toto? I guess after cribbing so much on the National Day toto draw, God decided to be merciful and award me a prize.

Recently I won a 32" Sharp LCD tv. Yippee Yeah. It was a customer appreciation lunch and they had lucky draw. First prize being the TV. I had gone there with Pramod, a colleague of mine. Immediately after the lunch, Pramod's mantra was - "lets go na.. we wont win. chal na - lets go"

But I stuck my guns out. And they announced the 1st prize winner - some lady from Singapore Tourism Board, Pramod gave me that "I told you so" look. I sighed - i offered to buy him chai for a week for making him sit thru this.

But no lady came forward - the lady was gone. She did not wait for the lucky draw. The next name drawn was mine. Oh the smiles, the laughter, the joy - the happiness. I won - oh god - i won!

The last time i won a pair of diamond rings were 10 years back at the CK Tang lucky draw. And now this!

First person i called is Victor and he was really sweet about it. Then Pramod says - dont you want to call your kids - oh yes - my kids - how can i forget. Called sheens then parul and put them on conference. Called nisha after that.

Last saturday - i went to redeem the tv. I upgraded it to 37" by paying $400 more. I think its totally worth it. And the new tv will be delivered this sat.

Now the problems this new tv has created for me in my life:

- Sheens is hopping mad. She says I get headache with a 29" tv (our current tv size) and now you got us a 37". I told you to just stick by the 32" rite? I am still trying to figure out - who is the mom here!

- The current tv was given to us by Jacqueline before she migrated to Melbourne. Its a nishani (momento) - how can you get a new tv. How can you just throw the nishani away?

- 37" is too big for our hall! We live in a hdb flat and not a condo!

Aiyo!

First of all kid (the mom is speaking here!):

- I always wanted an lcd tv. since parul got hers 2 months back, i have been craving for one. I would have gotten one sooner or later.

- I am not throwing the nishani away - I am giving it to my bro who needs a tv. So the tv will still be around and we can always go visit him whenever YOU miss Jacqueline auntie too much. I miss her too but i dont need to see the tv to miss her! Child - you got your logic of missing people - distorted and twisted!

- Wats the point of having a lcd flat tv if its only 32"? besides victor and rajiv said for $400 its worth it to get a 37". And once you place the tv against the wall, it will look fine in the hall. So please blame them too for my decision!

Anyways all said and done, am really happy. I won a tv.

shalini

So much happening

Have been really lazy and busy...

- My brain angio happened on Aug 26 and it went well. There must be someone up there who is really happy with me or either all my friends and families prayers came thru. I must say am really thankful and grateful to god, family and friends for always being there when i need them. From next year onwards - its only an MRI - no more angio - yippee yu!!

- Eid. Last week. Was awesome. The family and friends came. Sunil running up and down getting drinks and change for eidi, Parul in a beautiful saree looking gorgeous as always, playing taboo till 11.30pm. The star of the taboo game is Urpala - for an 8 year old - she rocked! All her statements started with either Appa this, Amma this or Akka this. Point to note: the life of this little girl revolves only around her family and it shows how much she is loved and secure in her childhood. Her dad, Raymond, was the exact opposite - boring! Too precise and no fun at all. Came sheena's turn and she says "Mummy when i grow up, I want to be this" And prompt came the reply from Sunil and Victor - "THIN". Sheena was just too shocked and rolled her eyes. The answer was a millionaire. Met the NUS team after 1 year and was just too happy to see them.

- Kids exam going on!

- Sheens falling sick all the time. Need to get some multi vitamin or home made remedy for her. Let me call mom!

- "When will I get a new job?" is a question thats asked to me by Rohini everyday without fail. Any ideas on the perfect reply? I always say - "When i get one babe - you will get one too.."

- JayJay was here for a visit over the weekend with his wife, Navaz. Too short a visit but it was great to see them. First time in 9 years did i see Nisha saying a proper goodbye and with a hug too. Wow - normally she's so cold. But then that is one special couple!

shalini