Weddings, Birthdays and other functions

Since Pari lives in her mother's hometown, where her grandparents have relatives and acquaintances all over the city and around, she gets to attend many family functions throughout the year. The situation has become such that she knows and recognizes more people than her Mummy does. She knows that in birthdays, cake is cut and gifts are given, and there is a huge variety of food in weddings. Her third birthday was celebrated in Nagpur, of which she remembers that it was on 14 October and she had invited her Mummy and Daddy for it. Most of the functions she attends have a common set of relatives who always wonder how this little girl stays away from her mother. In spite of the fact that its been more than two years now, they marvel at the strength she, her mother and her grandmother have for doing what they are doing. Once in such a function, one of her Mummy's quite elder female cousin asked her why she didn't bring her Mummy along. To this Pari replied that her Mummy has to study hard and go to college for becoming doctor and also that she (Pari) studies hard and goes to school for she has to become a doctor too. The interrogation continued to, "Tuzi Mummy jevha yete tevha tuzyasaathi khaau aaNte ka? (does your Mummy bring sweetmeat for you when she comes to meet you?)". Pari paused for a moment and then replied, "Naahi, maazi Mummy yete tevha ti mala khaandyavar zopavte (No, when my Mummy comes she puts me to sleep on her shoulders)". The interrogator aunt and all the people around who heard this conversation were awestruck at the little one's wit, and how 'khaandyavar zopavaNa' is more important for her than the 'khaau'.

Speaking of functions, yesterday at home people were watching the video recording of Pari's Mama's wedding. Hell broke loose when she noticed that she was not present in that wedding. It hurt her for how all the people she cares about, even her Mummy and Daddy, were there but not her. Athak wasn't there too, but for some reason it didn't make much difference to him. Aaji told her that since she and Athak are too naughty, both were left out. She then complained about that to Mummy on phone. Mummy tried to console her by saying that she wasn't brought from hospital till then. Mummy apologized to her and promised that next time she will be definitely taken along. That's when she got convinced and said not to leave her in hospital with doctor aunty next time onwards.