Christmas Present

by Anu Karthik

With 2013 behind us and a brand new year ahead, Anu Karthik believes that one has to cherish the chaos of everyday life, the comfort of a snuggle, the joy in knowing the house is messy and there are things that never get done on her list. Because through this all, life reminds her that she is alive, that she has a lot to be thankful for. For one knows not what he has, until that is no more. She shares her thoughts in this short story.

There is a slight buzzing sound. It seems distant, yet very real. It is constant. After a few seconds, Varsha realises it is her iPhone alarm buzzing – telling her it is time to start the day. Groggy and wanting to grab a few more minutes of sleep, she hits the snooze button and snuggles close to her son, Sachin.

A few minutes later she is up and starts getting ready for the day. As she comes out of the bathroom after her shower, she is greeted by her second born – 16-month- old Veer. Smiling sleepily at his Amma he stretches his arms wanting her to hold him, carry him, and allow him to nurse one more time. Varsha reaches out cooing to her little one, careful not to wake Sachin, who is still asleep. Lifting him up, she heads down to the kitchen to pacify her growling stomach and cook something for the long day ahead.

She seats Veer on her kitchen counter as she boils the milk for coffee and gets breakfast and lunch ready. She gets busy, constantly opening and closing the refrigerator, taking boxes out, stuffing rotis into the lunch bag, preparing cereal for breakfast and omelette and fruit for Sachin’s school lunch. Thankfully, Veer got food at his day-care so that saves her a good ten minutes in her hectic morning routine.

“Amma,”screams Veer. Varsha turns to notice that he has split milk all over his outfit and needs a change. She grabs him, turns off the stove and runs up to get him a new set of clothes and also to wake up Sachin and get him ready for school.

Somehow much to her own amazement, she manages with two hands and with Veer on her hip, to get Sachin up and on the bathroom counter to get his teeth brushed. Yet she is unable to manage Veer who has already gotten down, pulling down her hair bands and comb, messing up the floor. In a fleeting second,Varsha decides that the mess will have to wait till the evening to be cleaned, when the kids are in bed. Amidst a lot of chatter, a few screams and some grumbles, she gets the boys ready.

“Chocolate Waffles, Amma,”says Sachin as he goes to say his prayers. Thanking that he had not picked pancakes on a day when she was already running late, Varsha heads down. She restarts the stove and hopes to get her coffee soon. As she puts breakfast on the table, she does a visual check to see what is left for her to get ready before she can grab the kids and head out.

Thanks to technology and Curious George and Funny Pingu, the kids are done with their breakfast. As she puts the dishes away, sighing that there is just is no time to unload the dishwasher yet, Veer decides to wipe his mouth on her shirt sleeve.

“Veer!” cries Varsha. Frustrated, she grabs a wipe to clean most of it off; at least enough for her co-workers to not notice. They grab their jackets, hats and gloves and somehow rush out the door to start yet another day in their lives. Coffee will have to wait until later.

As they drive, Varsha looks lovingly through the rear view mirror at the two children snuggled up in their car seats – looking out the window. She looks forward to the few minutes in the car as she talks to them about the upcoming day. “Sachin, have you written your letter to Santa? What have you asked him?” she asks her older son eagerly. Sachin looks at her with a longing, desolate look in his eyes. “I did Amma. I asked him for our Appa.”

Anu Karthik is a passionate person with a strong sense of will. She blogs at http://anu4karthik.blogspot.com