"Anu, wake up!" Mummy called. I open my eyes to see completely different surroundings. Of course! I had been travelling to different places that every time I woke up, I felt like I was in a new place. Like some days ago, I cut the cake where kids from the building came to sing a song and eat. Also, I got some gifts.

Cut to few days where we were traveling in that wobbly train with packed bags. To be honest, the train journeys were horrible for many reasons. Firstly, they are wobbling every time, except the places where there are crowd. I guess that place is called station. Secondly, every time I try to sleep, I am woken up a jolt. Thirdly, there's nothing much to do than to stare at the passing trees, climbing the steps to upper berths and eating food.

When we finally had to get down, two beaming faces were waving at us. I learnt that I had to address them as 'Ammamma' and 'Arun Mama'. I stayed in a big house for some days. That big house was in this place called 'Bangalore'. When I say stay, I meant only to eat dinner and sleep. Rest of the time, we were traveling in the bumpy black-and-yellow rickshaw meeting people.

I don't understand why are these big, huge people have only one question to ask – 'What is your name?' What's so special about that question? I am always stuck in either of two situations. One being that if I answer to their question, I am asked again. Another situation being that if I don't answer, I am forced to reply 'Anika' before I could even take another breath.

This time we travelled in a red 'bus'. I can easily vouch that this was the bumpiest ride I have ever taken. Also, the intensity with which sunrays were hitting my face, as we went further, made me feel nauseous. I ended up puking as we reached, yet another, house. This house was a big one. Now this house was in place called 'Hosur'. I don't think I will remember this name. I feel any house will be big when compared to our house in that building.

I felt tired even after sleeping. Ignoring it, I ambled my way to the source of Mummy's voice. There I saw another lady walking slowly. Mummy chided her, "Garima! Don't walk here. If you need anything, call me or Amma. We will come-"

"I called Amma. She didn't respond. So, I walked here-"

"Why didn't you call me? Your body needs rest."

"I know Chaitra Akka. You must be busy so I thought to come by myself."

I tugged Mummy's dress and asked her, "Anu is hungly. Can give milk?"

Mummy looked at me and said, "Before that Anu should brush her teeth, isn't it?"

I shook my head.

"No! Chee, your teeth will start stinking. Nobody will come near you. Now go and tell your Daddy to take you to toilet and brush your teeth."

With my stomach grumbling, I walked little further. The door was open but it was dark. I could hear some voices. I was sure one of them was Daddy's. Hesitatingly, I walked into the room. I am pretty sure that I had squeezed my fingers out of fear. After stepping into the room, I managed to figure out that there was an entrance to another room. That room sparkled with brightness.

After nearly stumbling upon a strange protruding on the floor, I stood at the entrance. I see racks with things lined up. It looked like the one from which Mummy and I would buy milk. I saw Daddy and ran to him. Hugging his legs, I whispered, "Mummy say you brush."

There were three women and one man apart from us. Everyone's eyes were fixed on us. It made me little nervous. He made me sit on his lap and said, "Pratap, come, I will teach you how to take care of children. It will be helpful when your son grows up."

No sooner do they get up, than they see Mummy standing. Narrowing her eyes, she blurted, "Take care of children? You're always in the office. It's me who is doing most of the work!"

She took some things from the racks. Wait a minute! Why isn't she giving those papers from her purse? Where is her purse? Why is she just walking to the shop without changing her dress? If she had to come here, then why did she send me alone?

As she walked away, I saw other two women chit-chatting with an old lady, were rushing. I wonder what Mummy told them. She can make anyone run! I giggled at my own joke. For a change, Daddy did many of the things, including brushing, bathing, feeding but making me wear clothes went wrong.

"Daddy flock is plicking," I protested as he tried to pass the frock from my head.

"Arre baap re Anu! What happened? How can frock prick you?"

I cannot make him understand. So, I started crying when Mummy shouts from the kitchen, "Did you dust powder on her body?"

"Why are you supposed to do that?" Daddy shouts back.

"So that it is less prickly," she answered.

"Ah! I see!" Daddy nodded. He took the bottle and turned it upside down. I strained my neck but no white powder came out. He started fidgeting with the cap and all of a sudden some of it gushed out. Excitedly, I clapped my hands. With swift circular motions, he dusted my body with a thick layer of powder. I could see my hands, legs and stomach looked white.

This time when he tried passing the frock, it slid from my head as quickly as it did from my arms. It didn't prick much! Then he took a generous amount of powder and smothered it on my face. Taking out his comb from his back pocket, he started combing his hair. I looked at him not knowing how to react. Wasn't he supposed to comb my hair?

After he felt happy with his hair style, he combed my hair. I couldn't point out exactly what but there was something comical in the way he combed. He messed around the table to find a small green circular box which had black thing in it. He circled gently with his little finger. What is he doing? Mummy doesn't do that! Alerted, I tried escaping but he caught hold of me.

"Where do you think you are running away? I don't know how Mummy does it but I think this is how bhindi is put."

I shake my head. "Mummy many colouls bhindi. Mummy ask Anu which coloul Anu want."

He looks at the table. "I am not finding any 'many colours bhindi'. For time being, let me put this-"

"No," I reply.

He smiled, "Do you want me to apply this kajal to your eyes as well?"

I look at him aghast. He uses this opportunity to put a small circle between my eyebrows. I plead him, "Daddy, Anu good, no put black in eyes."

Daddy chuckled. "Arre baap re! I won't put it in your eyes, okay?"

I gave a small smile. Trotting, I reached another room. This was the room which I was scared to enter in the morning for it was dark. I sit on the bed when a lady walks in with a small baby in her hand. The baby was tucked in a towel. She exclaimed, "Look here! Who is this? Our Anu Akka!"

I look around. Who is Akka? She lays down the baby next to me. As she opens the towel, the baby stretches. I notice that the baby looked little different. Before I could understand what, it was, I heard Ammamma calling me. Ammamma is here? We are in another old lady's house. I run out of the room to see her and Arun Mama walking. They had a big white box. Oh no! It's that cake which I hate.

I followed them to the biggest room in the house, which I would learn is to be called as living room. That room had many balloons and a table was being dragged. A light-coloured cloth was being put on top of it.

"Who puts a light-coloured cloth? Put a dark-coloured one," Mummy shouted from the kitchen. Daddy smiled sheepishly. While the cloth was being changed, another funny-looking man with a boy of my age walked in.

"So Abhijeet, go and wish Anu," he instructed. The boy stared at him cluelessly. Abhijeet? Who is he?

The funny-looking man hissed, "Go and tell 'Happy Birthday Anu'."

Meekly, the boy repeated, "Happy birthday Anu."

I replied, "Thank you."

Daddy greeted the funny-looking man, "Arre Bava how are you?"

He replied, "I am fine."

Daddy called, "Arre Padma, look Padmaj has come with Abhijeet."

Only two people walked in then who are these Bava, Padma and Padmaj? Pratap uncle exclaimed, "Bava, Arun and I have bought a cake each. I hope you didn't buy one."

He smiled, "We are here to eat cake."

Pratap uncle laughed unusually loud. What's wrong with him? Was what that funny-looking man told really that funny? On the table, two cakes were kept. Then two candles were lighted. The lady with baby, remarked, looking at her baby, "Only very lucky people get chance to celebrate their birthday twice with same pomp."

Mummy, who managed to drape a saree, replied, "If this was pomp, I don't what you will call when your son's birthday is celebrated."

"Huh?" she asked. Mummy came and stood next to Daddy and me. Daddy whispered, "What was that?"

"Don't deny that your father danced when he came to know his grandson was born."

"Well-"

"I witnessed it. There was no dance when Anu was born."

"I can vouch that there was no dance when his other three grandsons were born."

Mummy smirked. "That's the difference. The other three grandsons are your sisters' sons. That new born boy is Pratap Anna's son. It implies that he is your father's son's son."

"Wait, I am getting confused. What is this logic?"

Mummy took the knife and handed it to me. Instantly, she held my hand tightly. "Ask about this to your parents if they know from where these logics are sprouting. I tried asking my side of family. I didn't get any answers."

Daddy held my hand and we cut the cake. I can tell that except for the kids there, everyone tried putting a piece of cake in my mouth. Arun Mama and Pratap Uncle had come with their own small black boxes that was called cameras. I was forced to smile until my cheeks were hurting.

It was only after the reels were developed into photos; everyone saw how I looked in the photos. It was like white face, wheatish colour neck, white portion of chest till the start of frock neck. Of course, white arms were prominently visible.

***

Hi guys! I hope all of you are doing well. So, Anika managed to got some funny pictures of her clicked thanks to her father. Any type of constructive criticism is welcomed.

Thank you for reading!