Early memories

*Trying to suckle mommy because I saw my neighbour of my age doing that to her mom. (Don’t remember the age but it was before school) I was a bottle-fed child cos mom couldn’t feed me after 3 months. I have an excuse why I am not tall.

*Sitting in the back door and cutting my own nails. Almost 8 of my fingers bled. Mom got royal blasting from dad and grand mom for leaving me alone. (Don’t know what they were doing.)

*Throwing biscuits to feed birds on a pomegranate tree. In our ancestral home, there was a pomegranate tree and birds used to sit and sing. They sounded ”biscuit peeyo” meaning give me biscuit. Took my share of the biscuits (we are 4 siblings you see. Therefore, ‘my share’ and ‘your share’ had a lot of meaning) and threw it on the tree to feed the birds. I had these small star-shaped biscuits again last May after all these years at a friend’s place.

*Picking up the phone and saying, ”who is speaking?” and “thank you” to everybody. Sometimes, to the operator. In those days, you couldn’t dial the phones.

*Age 2 (Delhi)- Smiling at a lady who did not turn out to be mom. I had been following her thinking she was mommy.

*Age 2 and a half (Assam): Crying because one of the Aunts addressed mom as big brother’s mom. I wanted her to address mommy as my mom.

*Not being able to write A The top never joined.

*Taking flowers from home for Miss (teacher) and seniors taking them away the moment I sit in the auto. Learnt to say ‘no’ a long time later.

*Big brothers sharing a raincoat and giving me one to myself as they walked me to my pick-up point.

* Insisting mom to give me only a boiled egg for lunch. Sat down to eat it. Somebody suddenly dashed and there, went my boiled egg. Learnt to carry proper lunch.

* Singing nursery rhymes climbing on the sofa with actions to all my dad’s unsuspecting colleagues. How much of a torture it must have been! I am sure only my parents loved to hear them. “Found the pea na, eat the pea na, yes na” (peanut, eat the peanut, just now!!!)

*Carrying a wooden ruler home. Wrote my name on it and lied that teacher gave it. Big brother complained to mom. I couldn’t have that beautiful wooden ruler but I learnt not to desire what was not mine.

*Kindergarten- Sitting alone, waiting for dad.
Dad told me he would pick me up as he came back from the airport. I couldn’t concentrate the whole day. Informed all my friends. Class ended by 2.30 for primary sections and the entire school by 3.00 pm. I waited at first with some friends. Little by little, all went. Dad finally came at 4.00 pm. I was so happy to see him but nobody to show off to.