Piku's Tricycle

This thing has been pending for quite sometime. Ankita had been asking to buy a tricycle for Piku since long and I had been avoiding that since long.

Even if she had not told me, I knew that my excuses were all lame, because the actual reason was that I was being over-protective for my kid. How else could someone justify excuses like "we don't have space to keep it (despite having a patio where we can park our car)" or "i will get him a bicycle instead of tricycle (regardless of the fact that Piku was hardly 1 year old at that time)".

There was just one way to end this procrastination and wifey knew that way very well. Last Sunday, when I woke up in the morning, the scene was somewhat different than usual. Wifey & Piku, both were getting ready for some outing. Upon noticing I'm awake, wifey prepared tea and said smilingly "Honey, here is your breakfast".  "I must be dreaming" I thought while she completed her sentence "...and did I tell you that this is also your lunch and maybe dinner!". I don't know whether it was the caffeine or thought of not getting anything else to eat; but I was wide awake after that first sip and second sentence.

Of course, she didn't mean what she said. She had prepared some nice breakfast (although I've a hunch that it was sufficient enough only to keep me moving). After all, someone with lots of weight to carry (my own weight), needs reasonable amount of energy to stroll in a mall in one shot;  especially if that mall has multiple outlets like Big Bazaar, Shopper's Stop, etc. spread across opposite corners and that too on different floors.

So, we walked through sections after sections, store after store, occasionally coming across various tricycle models; some were unnecessarily high priced, some unnecessarily low quality. Ones that Ankita liked, I  disapproved; ones I liked, she turned down. It was very hard to decide upon which tricycle to purchase. It was even harder to get Piku off from every tricycle we saw. Believe me, it is very tough to handle a tantrum throwing kid who starts rolling on the floor in a mall; but, it is much tougher to handle a tantrum throwing kid who gets clung to every tricycle he sees.

Anyhow, we managed to concur upon a tricycle in just 4 hours. Can you believe it, just 4 hours. Finally, when we came back home and  seated Piku on it, and positioned him to pedal, we found that we've taken things into hurry.

His legs don't reach the pedals yet!

So, currently Piku has disdained his good old little puppy toy, because now he has a bigger toy to drag around - Piku's Tricycle.

The ubiquitous question!

It has been nearly 2 months since I moved from Indore to Noida!

Having spent 7+ years in Indore and then moving to Noida, the comparison was inevitable, but so was this question. Log on to any TV Reality Show during elimination round, or, move on to any news channel, interviewing some grieving soul; you will get to hear the question: "आपको कैसा लग रहा है?"

The answers, force me to think about the difference between Indore and Noida. Depending upon the situation (& whats crossing my mind), the answers to similar questions vary, drastically. Here are a few examples:

You're driving at 80 kmph. How are you feeling?
Indore - I'm thrilled, because one rarely gets chance to cross 40 kmph
Noida - "मुझे डर लग रहा है"! In fact, I'm freaking out because cars are overtaking me at 100+ kmph, from both sides

Tonight you have a function to attend at a friend's place.

Indore - Its just 3 km. I might as well walk.

Noida - I could've reached Ujjain if I had to travel this much distance in Indore.

You're stuck in traffic jam. How are you feeling?

Indore - It has been hardly 10 minutes (besides, it happens once in a while)

Noida - It has already been 1 hour (thankfully, we are at least moving)

What do you want to have for breakfast?

Indore - Let's have some poha. Light breakfast lets you focus on work.

Noida - Lets get chhole-bhature. पेट भरा रहेगा तो दिन में खाने की टेंशन नहीं रहेगी. 

When do you plan to go to Lucknow?

Indore - Don't know, no reservation available in Indore-Patna Express for next 2 months (because it operates weekly) 

Noida - I'm choosing between the trains, which one has better facilities & is mostly on time

Let's go for a walk.

Indore - Too much dust

Noida - Too humid

Both the above answers translate to - I want to watch TV at home!

There is however, one question, answer to which hasn't changed:

"What are you plans for the weekend? "

Indore / Noida - "Movie जाना है" :)