I stretched myself. Enough of lazing around. Need to do some work. Before that I need to see who's in this room. I flipped, resting on my stomach. What! Nobody is there in the room? It's time to execute my plan. My plan was to draw attention. So, I started crying.

Within a few seconds, the honey-bottle lady came in. The back of her right hand touched her forehead and she wished, "Good morning, Anika. Good morning, Anu."

I smiled. I wanted to wish her but I don't know how to wish her. Lifting me, she took me to some room. There was a grey box in which some things were moving. What's that? Looks good but I am not interested.

"I am telling you for the last time Arun, I am not going to that doctor," screamed the familiar-scent lady.

"I am telling you Chaitra, you go to him or I will straight away tell Bava to take you back to Aurangabad," warned photo clicking uncle.

"I don't believe this. You're my younger brother yet you are ordering me? What do you think, huh? I am scared of going to him? Nah! I will take Anu to him. This time I won't make any mistakes," she declared.

"Fine," he stated. He was about to come near me when she warned, "If you want me to visit Dr. Joseph then make sure that you reach your college on time."

He stood near us and said with a sad face, "Anu, did you listen? Your Mummy is blackmailing me. But I will go to college and you go to that doctor for monthly checkups. Okay?"

I kept looking at him. What is he telling? Who is Anu? Why do these people look at me and say 'Anu' or 'Anika'? Which doctor is he talking about? By the way, what's a doctor?

"Arun!"

"I'm going," he said, irritatedly. After a few moments, I saw him running with a cloth on his shoulder. I can never understand what these people tell. Understanding them is more difficult.

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"Wait a minute, I will wipe this rice sticking to your mouth," said the honey-bottle lady. I don't like that wet thing on my mouth. I turned my face away but she managed to wipe my mouth.

Which place is this? So many babies are there! We have come to some place for sure. I think I have come here before. We came here by something that was very shaky. It would make some 'beep beep' sound.

I heard someone crying. Wait! That fellow is crawling! Idiot, why are you crying? I can't even do that. Just then I heard some squeaky sound. Gosh! That other fellow is walking. Even I want to do that!

"That auto ride was so bumpy. Amma! How many I have told you not come? But you'll never listen to what Arun and I suggest. Speaking about that Arun, how can he just send me to Aurangabad without even asking me?"

the honey-bottle lady replied, "After your father's death, he's the head of our family. He's quite capable of doing that. He got a job offer in Vidhan Soudha, finance department. He wants to take up that job but I want him to study more. He never listens to me."

I can never understand these talks. I want to play with them but I don't know how to crawl. I am feeling so bored.

"Anika Reddy," called one lady. Must be someone.

the familiar-scent lady stood up. "We are here!"

They took me to a room. A dark fat man was sitting there. Something was hanging around his neck. He was wearing white coloured fabric. He had two round glass-like things on his nose.

"Make her lay on this bed," he ordered. He took some small red thing in his hand, pressed somewhere on it. Suddenly, light came from it that surprised me. Is this the same thing which photo clicking uncle had used? Well, I don't know what photo is neither I know what is in his hand.

He directed it towards the right side of my face. "Mrs. Reddy, can you tell me when did you clean her ears?"

"A week ago, doctor."

"Ear wax has formed again. How many times have I told you not to do it on a weekly basis? You should do it when it is formed. Why will you people listen to what the doctor says, you all are busy watching daily soaps. Anyways, when did she take a bath?"

"Two hours ago," replied the honey-bottle lady.

"When did you breastfeed her?"

"One and half hours ago," replied the familiar-scent lady.

"When did she eat over boiled rice?"

"Just five minutes ago."

"Was it properly smashed?"

"Yes Doctor," replied the honey-bottle lady.

Fabric around me was removed. Each and every inch of my body was analyzed. Everytime he would repeat the same thing. Seeing their faces dull, I felt a bit bad. I must take revenge.

"No matter what sort of journey it is- long, short, train, bus, auto, car or two wheeler, make sure she doesn't wear diapers. They're very dangerous for infant's delicate skin."

He lifted me up to hand me to the honey-bottle lady. At the very same moment, I had a strong urge to empty my bladders. After a few moments, I felt my dress was wet.

"Aiyyoo! Anika! What have you done?"

"Parvagila Aunty, she's an infant. In my profession this is very common," he assured.

After my fabric was changed, he was talking something but I was too sleepy to listen. I tilted my head on the familiar-scent lady's shoulder and slept.

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Translations :

Parvagila- It's okay in Kannada.