Dear Avi,

It is just a night until you will be off for your first school trip. There is a lot of chaos with guests around and a crazy scene with no one really to assist me with all the chores. You are out with Pa to watch the Formula One Race and I look around the house in between all this frenzy to just find time to fill you up in my arms. Even after you return from the race, you are busy playing around with your cousins and I barely have time to chatter with you.

It is late evening by the time I actually am able to gather everything and pack for you. You on the other hand are quite a handful running around… dancing in all the excitement of your first school trip. I have butterflies in my stomach and somehow you look smaller today than you ever did. I look at you wondering if you really are ready to go all by yourself?

You on the other hand have never been more sure. But the monkey in you smartly ignores the overly instructive me and jumps around dancing and dabbing (this new age thing which irritates me).

Here is how you go about doing this absolutely irritating but necessary excitement act… “Oh.. Oh my Gawd … Oh … I am going to Ranthambore” 

Finally after a roaring sound from me you come around to pack. Here I am sitting with your favorite colour red, tagging everything with your name, sneaking a glance at you, as you carefully roll your stuff and fit it into the backpack. I wish I can tag you in a way that you are always safe, just the way you were tagged on your wrist the day you were born ‘Baby of Vibha Srivastava’. 

The bags are packed, you sleep next to me with one hand holding mine as always. I look on, as sleep eludes me and I know it will be four days before I will actually sleep. Day time chaos suddenly seems good, the clutter meaningful, the noise melodious but the night… the night will be sleepless.

Love

Ma