He yanks at our blankets early morning with a million dollar smile on his cute but naughty face. If we do not respond then he pats our cheeks with his small but effective palms and throws all his weight on our body with a big giggle. Its wake up time for us. We see the clock face showing 6am. We rise reluctantly otherwise a sharp cheek bite would follow as per as Dooglu's protocol of waking up his parents. The lull of the early morning is just about to shatter as my son Dooglu is on the prowl. I think, his body clock follows some another country. He is smart enough to gently nudge Chaitra, he never wakes her up as she is his favourite. All the time, he runs behind her yelling 'Chaitaaaa' 'Chaitaaaaa'!
As soon as he wakes up, he wants to listen to the latest Bollywood item numbers which set him tapping his feet and with arms swaying, he goes into a trance like mode. He shrieks with joy and claps his hands. Suddenly his demeanour changes into a serious mode with his eyes becoming glassy and all the dancing stopped midway. He becomes like a statue under a strain. This is his potty time. As he is being cleaned up, he makes it a point to roll all over the bed making it difficult to put new diapers for him. After milk and cerelac, he is all ready for his morning sojourn.
He has a fleet of vehicles to choose from. A red Ferrari, a yellow Tri-cycle, a Mobike or a simple Pram. He decides according to his mood. As he is being ferried around, he waves to his admirers like some big star. The morning walkers group dote on him.Everyone stops by to pull his cheeks. A customary slide and swing ride is a must before taking him home. I think, he secretly communicates with the doggies as they gather around his pram wagging their happy tails. He heads back home merrily banging his small fists on the elevator door.
At home, after a tub bath he begins his routine of mayhem and destruction. Any item lying on the floor is perceived as an edible delicacy by him and it promptly enters his mouth by dexterous maneuvering of fingers. We have to be on guard at all times. The fan regulator is pulled out by him and he frequently plays with the switches like toys. The remotes are dessert for him as he chews the juicy rubber knobs off them. Mummy's hair and dupatta are his staple chewing pastimes. The tonic and oil bottles are deftly opened by his sharp teeth. The water bottles too meet a similar fate and the water spills on the floor with Dooglu playing around the puddle. The CDs are used by him to scratch the floor. The books regularly fall from their shelf. He takes a book, pretends to read the last page and slyly bites off a corner for chewing. The fruits in our tray bear tiny teeth marks. He does not spare anyone. The balcony is solely used by him to fling toys outside our house. The watchman scolded him the other day but he just smiled like an assassin.
At meal times, we lock him and the maid in his room with a virtual "do not disturb" board outside. They watch TV and finish the meals. Any distraction and he starts running away from the meal. He takes a post meal walk in our house like an old grandparent checking on everyone. He has started saying a few basic words now at full volume. His noisy chatter sounds like music to our ears. In the evening he again goes for his rounds in a pram and seeing his parents off to work. We have to give him a round in our car before waving him good bye. He is contended then.
He is fast asleep in his cradle by the time I reach home.
As I see him peacefully sleeping, he smiles at me coyly.
He knows, his daddy's home!
I look at him and hug my wife.
He may be a naughty kid but he is our bundle of joy.
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