The Digression Series – 1. The family responds

Now that I have shared with you that Bengalis have a genetic pre-disposition to digression, I can happily blame my DNA and proceed to do so. Ask the coffee shop intellectuals. The conversations around the primary conversation are far more err stimulating. If not more productive!
 

Showed my parents the blog today – they were delighted that I was back to “writing for pleasure”. They were possibly not so delighted with the blog title, however. They read out – Of Nappy Rash cheerfully and ended the Beer Bellies part in a whimper. My parents are simple like that. Alcohol in all shapes and forms are the root cause of all evil from poverty and global warming to inflation and drought. They stole a feel surreptitious glances towards Worse Half, Sprout and me – sending up some fervent prayers I am sure,  that at least Sprout’s Ganapati like belly was because of luchi and aloo and not Beer J.

Worse Half, of course, has a different thought process altogether. He believes that Beer is the root cause of all things fun…that coupled with cricket – any cricket and all forms of cricket.

There are occasions when Sprout has got us into trouble. For example, she sat perched at the restaurant table on my parents’ anniversary, all of five, tucking into a large bowl of dessert and sighing dreamily like a seasoned connoisseur, “This tastes just like wine.”  Lucky she didn’t follow that through with a “And I think it’s a 2005 Château Mont-Redon, Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge!” I conveniently disowned her with immediate effect, while Worse Half gave a false laugh and blamed our trip to the vineyards…

“Over 2000 page views,” I beamed at Worse Half, “in four days. Isn’t that cool?” (yes, readers, of course, I am checking my blog stats every second. It’s the initial adrenalin! And I check for comments. And oh-my-god-I-am-joining-the-populist-band-wagon, I do check for “likes” on my facebookpage. Sheepish grin.)

“I think you should have at least 10,000 page views,” barked Worse Half. “And about 5000 likes. And, where’s the money?”

“The money, the last time I checked is over…till salary day tomorrow,” I responded cheerfully.

And there’s Sprout of course, who doesn’t know that there is a blog about her. I think I will share the link with her when she is finally allowed to use the internet without supervision. That’s should be when she is hurtling towards 40. That’s also about the time, I will let her have her own mobile, let her wear heels and her father will re-think his strategy on “The Appropriate Age to Date”

Till then, I write. Or blog. With an open heart, a free spirit and a mother’s pride!