Get ready for another theme-based post. In an ode to my two adorable cousins whom I live with in NJ, and who are visiting Hyderabad right now, kids and kiddie stuff will be reported in the space for the next few paragraphs. It starts off with an evening with an evening out with Krish, the ex-gf Id talked about earlier.

So Krish came home from college, and we figured we’d go do the movie-dinner thing. She was as pretty and delicate-looking as ever, and everytime I meet her, I wonder why such an attractive Telugu girl ever dated me!!! (Well, I wonder that about every poor girl who ever went out with me…but especially Krish). Hanging out with her is always a memorable experience, I must say…and she’s so much fun to talk to. I really think that ex-gf’s make wonderful friends; you never have to put on any airs with them, and since there are never any ulterior motives involved (such motives remain in tiny doses even amongst the most platonic of girl-guy friendships), the friendship becomes truly open and uncomplicated . Atleast, thats how I feel with Krish. Especially given that she is an honest, down-to-earth, funny and open person, I always enjoy catching up with her everytime I come home.

The evening started off with me waiting for her outside the movie theater, and her waiting for me inside . I had already bought tickets for a 3-D showing of the Polar Express, in the IMAX theater, so after no sign of Krish an half hour AFTER the scheduled start of the movie, Id resigned myself to the slightly expensive tickets ending up in a trash can. Eventually she remembered she had my cell.no (I, being the scatterbrain that I am, forgot to save her number in my cell), called me and we had a laugh about waiting for each other on two sides of the same wall. Brilliant start to the evening, right? Well, we figured we might as well catch the remaining hour of the movie, only to find that due to ‘projection difficulties’, the screening had been held up as well. So we settled in, thanking divine intervention for making things work out in the end!

The movie was surprisingly excellent. Id always thought I wouldnt enjoy it coz it was a kiddie flick, but the realism of the 3-D format made it very exciting and thoroughly enjoyable. Quite a few times during the movie, Krish and me looked at each other and said we wished we were kids again. We both hate being adults now. Fried chicken for dinner made us feel a little better, and the conversation as usual was smooth sailing across calm waters, surrounded by sun-drenched beaches and gliding white sea gulls. Well, maybe that is too extravagant of an analogy, but I always come back from meeting Krish in a very happy state of mind!

On to the kids now. Akshay and Aasha came down from Vizag with their mom. Akshay is almost 6 now, and I’ve seen him grown up from being a terribly bright 2 year old to a near boy-genius at 6. He is the most well-behaved kid I’ve ever seen, and also the most intelligent. Kid can flat out remember EVERYTHING he ever encounters, and process it very analytically and use it at his convinience!

Aasha is an year and a half, and is the only baby I’ve held from her first days! Im proud to say I’ve been a part of bringing her up, and love the cutie endlessly! She’s also the person who want ME back the most!!:) At NJ, she sometimes wouldnt even go to her mom when I was holding her; I was afraid that she’d forgotten me since she hadnt seen my for 2 months. Well, I’ve found out she;s the only girl who truly loves me!:) Ever since she’s been back here, she’s been as attached to me as ever, and eagerly waits for me to come to my grandma’s apartment (where my aunt’s staying). We went on a religious trip on Wednesday, and all through the wait in the temple, she was in my arms, napping in the middle and waking up right when it was time to prostrate before the God (his idol, anyways). Mmm, there are not many better feelings in the world than when a baby is sleeping snuggly in your arms. I think this experience with the kids will help me be a decent father later…!!! (Ladies…I hope this will score me some points w/ you;))

To end the week on another kiddie note, I was treated like quite the baby yesterday at the cricket practice. Apparently, my batting technique is all messed up, so there were about 3 coaches and 2 younger players who spent a good hour teaching me the finer points of improving my footwork and bat-placement. I felt like a kid recieving his first instructions on how to flap about the feet and arms in the local YMCA swimming pool. It was the longest time I’d batted in a continuous, incessant stretch in a while, so ofcourse my back is shot after that stint in the nets. I gained really valuable tips on how to imprpove my batting, though, so I guess it was well worth it.

Sad note of the week: My bat, which I’d bought when I was in 8th grade and has stood by all my cricketing endeavours since then, finally gave in to a higher calling and broke yesterday. One of the other kids was playing with it when it cleanly split into two pieces. It almost felt as if it was waiting for me to learn to bat correctly, and once I got coached yesterday, it decided that it’s work was done,;like an ailing musician letting go after learning that his vagabond pupil had finally mastered Beethoven. Rest-in-peace, my trusted aide.

Till I buy myself the Gunns and Moore long-handle bat that I’ve had my eye on for a while, the heavy monster of a willow that guy gave me will have to do. More punishment for my frail back. Guess I can’t put off going to the gym any longer. Boo Hoo. Can I be a kid again?!!