Happy B'day Sanna-ajji!

As I was growing up, I was always envious of other kids who had their doting grandmas live in the same town as them and who never failed to pamper them on their weekend visits. I,on the other hand never got to see my paternal grandma and my grandma on the maternal side, though hardly a doting grandparent, lived in Mangalore. Grandmas hold a unique place in a child life apart from his or her mom and Abhay is fortunate to have his grandmas, both from the maternal side and paternal side staying close to him. Today being his maternal grandma’s sixtieth birthday, what better occasion than this to celebrate what she means to him! Abhay shares a special connection with his maternal grandma whom he fondly addresses as Sanna-ajji and who never fails to engage him in matters that interest him, be it what happened in school, or what happens in his favorite television series, or what story he wants to hear! With Acchu (Abhay’s pet name given by his grandma) only too busy with his Sanna-ajji around, it is I who feel left out amidst this grandma-grandson duo!  Sanna-ajji is not your regular grandma whose conversations with her grandson revolve around food or peripheral questions on his routine, but fully involved discussions on how did M react to Abhay’s new pencil box in class today or the latest developments of who is who’s friends in Class I B of Samhita Academy! Sanna-ajji and Abhay together ponder over what should be the storyline of Abhay’s favorite television series on Nick or who’s their favorite character, etc on the same show, the discussion more resembling the 9' O Clock news hour discussion! Sanna-ajji’s stories are a lot more fun than the stories I read to him as Abhay is always the protagonist in them and it is Abhay who in every story ends up as the winner! Sanna-ajji can act funny or silly or be as indulging and at the same time, she does not shy away from disciplining Abhay when required. When it comes to sharing his surprises and excitement or disappointments or frustrations (of course, he has plenty!), the only other person,  he feels comfortable opening up to, besides his dad is his dear Sanna-ajji! As as his Sanna-ajji is due to retire the end of this month, here’s wishing her a relaxed life ahead with plenty of time to spare for her darling Acchu!

I am excited to have found a perfect book for today without much trouble (which hardly happens!) at the British Library. “The Granny who wasn’t like other grannies” by Denis Bond and illustrated by Valeria Petrone. Tim loved his granny, but sometimes he wishes his granny was like other grannies who were into sewing, knitting or reading. But Tim’s granny would join him in jumping on the trampoline or go-cart across her neighbor’s lawn or come to pick him on a motorcycle. When Tim’s friends would laughingly remark that grannies don’t ride motorcycle, Tim’s granny would laugh it off saying “this one does”! One day Tim accompanied his granny to the park when she joined the football players on the pitch and scored the winning goal. As she was cheered by fellow footballers, Tim could feel everyone’s eyes on his unconventional granny and was embarrassed. At the park fairgrounds, Tim’s granny rode the bumper-cars along with Tim and dashed against everyone making Tim cringe. Tim’s granny screamed the loudest with delight as the roller-coaster hurtled down the big dipper, climbed the monkey bars, danced around the rain and jumped puddles with the children raising the eyebrows of other grannies who thought that grannies weren’t supposed to indulge in things like that but were only supposed to stand and watch. As Tim’s granny went on to indulged in Granny sensed that something bothered Tim and when asked Tim was frank to admit that sometimes he wished she was like other grannies! So from the next day onwards, Tim did not have his granny pick him up on her motorbike, much to the disappointment of other kids who all thought Tim’s granny was cool unlike their own grannies! When Tim came home looking for his granny, he was shocked to find her sitting on a rocking chair knitting, and  as he began to talk to her, she fell asleep! Tim was disappointed as he was hoping to play with his granny in the garden and that’s when he realized that he wanted his old granny back. Tim then confides in his granny that he doesn’t want an ordinary granny but a special granny like her! Tim’s granny is overjoyed and leaps out of her rocking chair and shows him his surprise which is two pairs of roller skates for Tim and his granny to go roller skating round and round the garden! Well, Abhay’s granny may not be like other grannies, but he prefers Sanna-ajji just the way she is! Happy B’day to Sanna Ajji! :-)