No!

No! Thats the latest buzzword in our house.

From the time we get up in morning, till the time we get back to sleep, this word keeps being repeated like background music in Ramanad Sagar's Ramayana. In fact, "No" has broken all records of being repeated.

Interestingly, "No" doesn't come alone; it is always accompanied by another word (which happens to be a noun) - "Piku".

If you happen to spend 24 hours in our house, you would hear the words "Piku, No!" countless no. of time. I tried counting them once, but gave up after 50th occurrence :D

If you are not a parent yet, then you probably might wonder that how many nuisances can a 1.5 years old throw; or maybe we are over disciplining the kid. Well, here are some frequent scenarios (by saying frequent I mean any scenario can repeat as frequently as within 5 minutes):

- Piku, No! Don't throw onions out of window
- Piku, No! Take sleepers out of your mouth
- Piku, No! Don't throw your toy in commode

- Piku, No! Don't put your finger in the switchboard!

- Piku, No! Put the cushions back on the sofa, & the sheet on the bed, & the newspaper on the table
- Piku, No! Give me my wallet back. No, don't disperse the credit cards
- Piku, No! Put the mobile down... on the bed... no no, don't throw it on the floor.... OK, give me back the mobile pieces from the floor
......
If you're a parent (or have a young kid around), then I'm sure you can also quote countless scenarios.

There are a few good thing also. First - now I know whats the proper place of various items in my home, earlier this knowledge was available only to wifey :)
Second - we are becoming much more tolerant for everything. If something or someone is not working properly, we react rather coolly. Kitchen mixer not working - OK, most of the things are not working properly. Electrician over-billed us - OK, at least he fixed the switchboard within Piku's reach & cut-off the power supply. Maid doesn't clean properly - OK ,things were anyhow going to get dirty. Too much corruption - OK, at least they work after taking bribe. Our kid doesn't even accept that. Tension over border -OK, we are already tensed. Meteor coming towards us in 2012 - OK, our home already looks like as if hit by a meteor.

You might have read "having a kid makes you parent", my version is "having a kid makes you patient; very patient"!