I wrote this letter 15 years ago (before the blogging era) describing our visit to the circus with our then 2 year old daughter Ashwini (Anupa). We recently discovered a copy of this letter while cleaning a cupboard.
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11th May 1998
Dear Preethi,
Yesterday, all of a sudden, I had the brilliant idea that it is time I educated my off-spring about animals. And what better way than to take her to the friendly neighbouring Gemini circus?
Arrive at the circus with just 5 minutes to go for the start. Start rushing for the ticket booths ....
But, Anupa has her priorities right : "Ice Cream" she commands.
The one-eyed robber at the ice cream stall sizes up Anupa's mood and decides that he can ask for a premium and get it easily : "Fifteen rupeees" he demands for a tiny ice cream cup which costs only Rs 11.
Then the rush to our seats past the smelly elephant, horse and hippopotamus stalls.
Very stuffy and hot inside the circus tent. Anupa decides to pour some ice cream on my lap to cool me down.
"Anupa, look at the elephant riding the cycle". Anupa looks at the elephant with a bored expression which seemed to say : "So what is so great about an elephant riding a tricycle - I can ride a tricycle better". No quarrel with that.
5 minutes later Anupa decides she has seen enough elephants riding tricycles to last her a life-time. "Let us go home" she says.
We buy her silence by bribing her with some biscuits.
The joker of the circus makes his appearance and carries out his buffoonery. Anupa laughs. We become happy that Anupa is at last enjoying the circus. But alas we are mistaken. She is only laughing at the small baby in the next seat who has started liberally drooling over the chair. The circus is for the birds.
The joker is carrying out his buffoonery. "Anupa, look at the joker". Her response : "Pichs. I want pichs".
"Chips, chips anyone, hot chips" shouts a voice in my ear as a chips seller clambers over my feet and displays his wares to Anupa knowing he has got a captive audience. These vendors are everywhere treading on someone's toes here and blocking somebody's view there. Why, some of the enterprising vendors have even clambered on to the stage and are trying to sell some chips to the joker.
"Anupa, look at that horse standing on two legs".
Anupa gazes uninterestedly at the horse, and suppresses a yawn which seems to say "So what, I am also standing on two legs". Then she looks at the chips seller and says : " Pichs, I want pichs".
"Anupa, look at those people jumping up and down on the trampoline".
"Pichs, Pichs" she says and starts jumping up and down on my lap.
Finally curtain call and we head back home.
The neighbouring uncle greets us on our return. He asks Anupa : "So sweet heart, where did you go today?"
"Cirrrcussss" she says, gladdening her parents' hearts with her quick response.
And what did you see there?" the uncle asks.
She knew this question was a toughy, so she gives careful thought to the question before answering.
"Pichs" she says.
And they say kids love the circus? Now I know why.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11th May 1998
Dear Preethi,
Yesterday, all of a sudden, I had the brilliant idea that it is time I educated my off-spring about animals. And what better way than to take her to the friendly neighbouring Gemini circus?
Arrive at the circus with just 5 minutes to go for the start. Start rushing for the ticket booths ....
But, Anupa has her priorities right : "Ice Cream" she commands.
The one-eyed robber at the ice cream stall sizes up Anupa's mood and decides that he can ask for a premium and get it easily : "Fifteen rupeees" he demands for a tiny ice cream cup which costs only Rs 11.
Then the rush to our seats past the smelly elephant, horse and hippopotamus stalls.
Very stuffy and hot inside the circus tent. Anupa decides to pour some ice cream on my lap to cool me down.
"Anupa, look at the elephant riding the cycle". Anupa looks at the elephant with a bored expression which seemed to say : "So what is so great about an elephant riding a tricycle - I can ride a tricycle better". No quarrel with that.
5 minutes later Anupa decides she has seen enough elephants riding tricycles to last her a life-time. "Let us go home" she says.
We buy her silence by bribing her with some biscuits.
The joker of the circus makes his appearance and carries out his buffoonery. Anupa laughs. We become happy that Anupa is at last enjoying the circus. But alas we are mistaken. She is only laughing at the small baby in the next seat who has started liberally drooling over the chair. The circus is for the birds.
The joker is carrying out his buffoonery. "Anupa, look at the joker". Her response : "Pichs. I want pichs".
"Chips, chips anyone, hot chips" shouts a voice in my ear as a chips seller clambers over my feet and displays his wares to Anupa knowing he has got a captive audience. These vendors are everywhere treading on someone's toes here and blocking somebody's view there. Why, some of the enterprising vendors have even clambered on to the stage and are trying to sell some chips to the joker.
"Anupa, look at that horse standing on two legs".
Anupa gazes uninterestedly at the horse, and suppresses a yawn which seems to say "So what, I am also standing on two legs". Then she looks at the chips seller and says : " Pichs, I want pichs".
"Anupa, look at those people jumping up and down on the trampoline".
"Pichs, Pichs" she says and starts jumping up and down on my lap.
Finally curtain call and we head back home.
The neighbouring uncle greets us on our return. He asks Anupa : "So sweet heart, where did you go today?"
"Cirrrcussss" she says, gladdening her parents' hearts with her quick response.
And what did you see there?" the uncle asks.
She knew this question was a toughy, so she gives careful thought to the question before answering.
"Pichs" she says.
And they say kids love the circus? Now I know why.
1 comment:
HA HA HA WOW !! good one !!. enjoyed reading and laughing.
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