KidSpeak :)

I'm going to my see my entire family at my sister's place in Shillong this weekend. Yippppieeeee!!!!

Out of my normally extensive hyper-excitement on seeing my nieces, I called them last evening to know their toys preferences. I understand my sister's little one, rightly called Chotu, is learning Hindi. My sister encourages me to converse in Hidni with her for the sole purpose of entertaining myself.

Me: "Hi Chotu"

Chotu: "Hi Mamma. Kiiya karta hai tum?"

Me: "Hum toh aapse baat kar rahe hai. Aap kya kar rahe ho?"

A little more than a minute of complete silence. I think, shayad thoda zyada ho gaya.

Chotu:  "Main toh gaan gaa rahi hu"

She means she was singing a song.

I'm almost on the floor, rolling with laughter.

Me: "Oh, aur Papa kya kar rahe hai?"

Chotu: "Papa toh papa na Papa . Mera Papa toh ." This goes on for a while and then "Papa toh TV ka andar hai"

She means my brother in law's watching TV.

Me: "Aur Mummy?"

Chotu: "Ranna"

That means cooking in Bengali.

Me: Aur Diya? [Diya is my sister's older contribution to India's population, about two years older than Chotu]

Chotu: Diya toh maar khaati

That means Chotu just gave Diya a nice beating for reasons known best to her.

This reminds me of the time Diya was learning Hindi, and was equally hilarious. Even with English, her concoction of the new languages with Bengali used to keep us entertained all the time.

I haven't seen my parents since October. I haven't see my brother in law since more than a year and a half ago. My sister, the kids and I met up in Calcutta in January. But still, I'm most excited to see the kids again. I'm waiting to go and learn about all the new things they've seen and heard, learnt and felt. I'm waiting to hear all about their news explorations, and a few secrets they wouldn't tell anyone but me. I'm waiting to teach them obnoxious things to say so that they can suitably shock my parents. I'm waiting to hear all the new songs they've learnt and who in their 5 and 3 year old eyes is "hot". [Uh, that poll is for men and women aged between 40 to 100. And strictly within the family]

Yeah, this should be a fun trip.