COFFEE TALKS and a lot more!

  Afternoon naps: You cling to me, your little arms wrapped tightly around my neck, and I hold you close—patting gently and singing all your favorite lullabies: Nanna Muddu Thaare, Jo Jo Laali Naa Haaduve, Amma Naanu Devarane Benne Kaddilla, Chandiranethake Oduvanamma, Thili Mugila Thottilali … and finally, when I softly begin Achutham Keshavam , I feel your tiny fingers loosen. That’s when I know—you’ve drifted off to sleep. I, who had been rocking back and forth under the fan, carefully lay you down on the bed. But even in your sleep, your little left hand clings to my neck, as if to say, “Don’t go.” If I shift even a bit, you pull me back with that same sleepy strength. You want me right there, stuck to you. And then, I slowly slip away to brew myself a cup of chai and sit beside you. Watching you sleep so peacefully, your chest rising and falling, that little moon face of yours... oh, it fills my heart with so much love I could burst. But just the previous night—oh, what a ...

The weekend I longed for is finally here! I had big dreams—of blissful, uninterrupted sleep under my high-speed fan, my little heart cuddled up tight in my arms, and an absolute nothingness agenda. Ahhh, perfection! But wait—TADAAAAA! My lil heart had other plans. His grand gesture? A full-on wake-up mission. Not even my mother-in-law has ever asked me to wake up this early. Yet here comes my tiny commander, stomping on my face like a determined squirrel, making it very clear that my dreams of a lazy morning were officially CANCELLED. With no way out, I followed orders. Operation "Kitchen Time" began as he led me there, demanded to be placed on the kitchen counter (mat and all), and instructed me—like a seasoned head chef—to prepare breakfast. Meanwhile, the man who promised me, “You sleep, I’ll handle everything,” was now sitting at a safe distance, thoroughly enjoying the chaos. Sushan, who was happily enjoying the scene, somehow managed to take him on a walk amids...

 After a long day of adventures—annoying Amma at the kitchen counter, keeping Appa company on a long walk amidst the Nilgiri trees—he finally gives in to sleep. His tiny body rests against Appa’s shoulder, the weight of his love pressing gently as Appa slowly transfers him to me before his office call. I cradle him to bed, thinking he’ll stay put, but even in his deepest sleep, he pulls me close—his little hands searching, holding, never letting go. Even in his deep sleep, he extends his arms, wrapping me into him, our cheeks pressed together, his breath warm and soft against my skin. And every time I try to pull away, even the tiniest bit, he instinctively pulls me right back. And in that very moment, everything that bothers me feels like one insignificant speck—completely irrelevant—because here I am, wrapped in the sweetest drug, this little human who makes me feel utterly high on love. Nothing else matters. Everything else fades. I just get totally transcended by him. The si...

 It was the third day his nanny was on leave. For the first two days, his Appa had lovingly taken care of him, and on the third day, I unexpectedly had a holiday. The night before, I made up my mind—I would spend the entire day with my little heart, not letting a single minute or second be stolen by thoughts of chores. After all, that’s what his Appa always reminds me to do. The next morning, after bidding his Appa goodbye as he left for work, I nestled right next to the cradle, just waiting for my baby to wake up. And when he did, oh, that smile! It was everything I wanted to capture and hold onto forever. There have been other days, even Sundays, when I’ve wanted to sleep in or lie around lazily. But not that day. That day felt special, like it had been set aside just for us. When he finally woke up, his eyes sparkled with the most magical twinkle, and my heart melted. This was a moment I never wanted to end. I gently lifted him from the cradle, holding him close and planting a s...

So, it’s Thursday evening, and you know that feeling—weekend vibes are setting in a bit too early 😌✨ , and I'm craving something crunchy—something really snack-worthy 🤤 . But I’m also feeling incredibly lazy, with absolutely zero energy to make it myself 🛋️ . Instead of asking directly for a snack (where’s the fun in that? 😏 ), I get a little crafty. I start with a completely random request—maybe for a pair of earphones 🎧 or some other small thing I know he’ll think is absolutely unnecessary at the moment. He’s in the middle of his important office work 💻 , deeply focused, and I’m over here, relentless, nudging him again and again 🙃 . At first, he tries to shrug it off, barely sparing me a glance 🙄 , but I keep at it with my “who, me?” look—that perfect mix of innocence and just a hint of playful annoyance 😅 . He finally snaps, sighing in frustration, something like, “Can you please just wait?” And that’s exactly the moment I was waiting for. I don’t even need to say an...

It was during the Navaratri vacation, and our lil boy was driving us crazy with his constant antics. In a moment of frustration, we jokingly said, "We'll give you to the Pili Vesha Anna!" The idea of being handed over to a tiger dancer terrified him!!!  But after all the struggles we had gone through—debating the menu for the baby shower, the delivery, the sleepless nights, buying him endless clothes and toys—the thought of giving him away like that just made us burst into uncontrollable laughter.  That afternoon, as we sat together after lunch, talking and laughing about it all, we realized how much joy and meaning this little boy had brought into our lives. Moments like these make life truly special. It’s one of those mornings where the kitchen is the heart of all the action, and we’re each in our little corners, but somehow tangled up in each other’s plans in the most delightful chaos. One’s parked on the counter, swinging their legs, another’s on the stool by the wind...

It was one of those perfect long weekends—a lazy Saturday afternoon right after a Friday holiday. The rain was pouring outside, but we were nestled on the bed, pulling each other's leg. He had played that little trick, saying, "We’ll go wherever you want," only to cancel last minute, citing health reasons. I couldn’t help but tease him, “Smart move to save your pocket, huh?”Between all the laughter, we drifted into one of those heart-to-heart chats about life—how much brighter and happier it had become since our little bundle of joy, now sleeping peacefully in the cradle, came into our lives. And just like that, he knew how to make up for our cancelled trip. Soon, we were sipping on steaming cups of chai, the rain still dancing outside, as we started planning our next adventure, this time with no excuses!

There are moments when our little one just can't get enough of cuddles, giggles, and all the fun we share. He wants to jump on me, wants me to googly-googly his chubby cheeks, and I'm right there, soaking in every bit of his joy. But then, out of nowhere, a tiny thought sneaks in—about the dishes waiting in the sink, the prep for tomorrow, the tasks still left undone. And just like that, the smile fades a little, the joy feels interrupted.  But then, once he’s off to play, or we decide to head back to the kitchen, something magical happens. I walk out and see the dishes are already done, the prep is all sorted, and there he is, sitting with a warm smile, asking if there's anything else he can help with. That’s when I feel so incredibly blessed to have a forever roommate who makes everything better. And then we all gather together, hugging and dancing to our little one's favorite song, and that’s when I know—these are the moments that make our day truly perfect.

 Once upon a lazy evening, when the day felt like it was stretching way too long, I found myself in that funny little place between wanting to do absolutely nothing and feeling a bit bored. So, I turned to Sushan and suggested a tiny adventure—a city ride, just for the fun of it. “Let’s go to a mart,” I said, “not to buy anything, just to wander through the aisles and see all the colorful things on display.” 🌈✨ Sushan, who was probably just as sleepy as I was, smiled and agreed. That’s the thing about him—he’s always up for my silly, spontaneous ideas, even when all he really wants is to call it a night. We bundled up our little one 👶 and headed to the nearby city mart. As soon as we got there, we placed our baby in a shopping trolley, his eyes wide with curiosity. With no plan in mind, we slowly meandered through the store, taking him on a tour of the aisles. We showed him the vibrant gift items 🎁, sparkling crockery sets 🍽️, and neatly arranged vessels 🥄. He was fascinated b...

As I keep scrolling my phone through reel after reel, a reel of Malai Sweet reminds me of the malai sitting on the kitchen counter, waiting to be churned. I head to the kitchen, where the gentle evening light bathes the room. The cute beauty of the jasmine string, which adorned my head till then and now sits on the windowpane, has already filled the kitchen with its rich scent, instantly making me smile. I lift my little one onto the kitchen counter and start making butter, preparing it for ghee. We both sit there, looking through the window, enjoying the peaceful evening. My little boy points at the subtle bubbles forming in the pot and smiles, saying, "tuppa, tuppa." We sit together for a long time, watching and waiting, until the fresh aroma of ghee fills the air. Just then, Appa walks in and grins at us, signaling that it's time for a snack. We all get back to our tasks, but the delightful aroma reminds us of the cute moments we just shared, keeping smiles on our face...

Meet this extraordinary man who rises with the sun, even on weekends, and heads uphill with his tiny bag to tend to his beloved areca plants. In the blazing heat, he tirelessly works, checking drips, cleaning filters, and nourishing the soil with fertilizer—all without needing a single chai or coffee break! Returning home, he refreshes his sun-kissed face with cold water and stretches out on the cool floor, the fan whirring overhead. Despite his exhaustion, when our little boy leaps onto him, he responds with cuddles and a smile, never once raising his voice. Amidst a world where many boast about their work but rarely deliver, he stands out. He doesn't seek recognition or rewards for his tireless efforts; he simply keeps working, day in and day out❤️ When ever we are in the native,He keeps working Weekdays with laptop(laptops?!) ,Weekend in the areca plantation which he built from the scratch!! That dedication without even a little bit of show off is really hard to achieve!!!  He s...

The table is beautifully set for lunch, with the windows wide open, inviting in the fresh air and filling the room with a delightful aroma. We're greeted by buttery soft, steaming matta boiled rice, accompanied by freshly picked tender kokum saaru (rasam), gently tempered with crushed garlic in ghee. The tender kokum peel oozing juice in every bite,A rustic mud pot holds the comforting homegrown veggies and buttery soft jackfruit seeds bendi(jeera coconut curry), while the sun-kissed onion-loaded raagi fryums and jeera-infused sabudana fryums add a crispy touch. Thick curd and crunchy tender chestnut pickle complete the feast! We all relish every single bite, exchanging stories and laughter. Sometimes, the delightful crunch of the fryums makes it hard to catch every word, but we're too enchanted by the flavors to mind😁 Slurping on kokum saaru(rasam)-infused buttermilk brings a satisfying end to the meal. And to top it all off, a dainty piece of banana halwa awaits. After indul...

Long drives with deep conversations are the absolute highlight of our vacation! And when our little boy peacefully drifts off to sleep, it adds an extra layer of sweetness to the journey. 🚗💬💤 We share countless stories, engage in friendly debates, and the rapid-fire rounds are always a blast! The illuminated flyovers, star-studded sky, steaming chai, and the presence of our little boy create the warmest memories that we'll cherish forever. ✨🌟☕️👶💖

The moment I was guided to breastfeed my newborn for the first time, I was flooded with emotions. Watching my little one latch on with such determination, as if he'd been practicing, filled me with overwhelming happiness. Yet, amidst the joy, there was a tinge of uncertainty. I longed for some time to recover from the delivery trauma and heal from the pains like any other mom. However, as days passed, I adapted. What truly brought peace was connecting with loved ones, sharing experiences with fellow moms, and indulging in some light-hearted stand-up comedy. Those moments of laughter and camaraderie made the journey a bit more adorable and manageable. Ah, truly, the heartwarming conversations over golden lattes, homemade chaklis, and sweet manni (rice fudge), with my darling moon-faced little one, were like rays of sunshine (Sonshine?!) on a cloudy day, filling me with the strength to rise above any feelings of blue! Challenges:  • Almost drifting into sleep, but the newborn decides...

That morning, just like every other day, I went to check if the little boy was still sleeping. Feeling the urge to snuggle up next to him, I crawled close and gently patted him. Despite being in deep sleep, he reached out and wrapped his little hand around my neck, pulling me closer. I could feel the warmth of his baby cheeks against mine! It was a heartwarming moment that stayed with me throughout the day. I couldn't help but think about how I've become his snug place. But at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling that he's growing up too fast. I know I'll miss these precious moments filled with love and happiness😌Also, I carefully treasure them so that I can share them with him during our coffee talks💕

Waking up even when I badly want to stay snuggled in bed, only to be greeted by the cries of the little boy as his cozy spot vanishes. His dad lifts him onto his shoulder, attempting to prolong his sleep. Standing before the tawa always brings me comfort, especially when making these banana dosas with the sweetest bananas my mother-in-law gave us! The golden dosas not only tempted us, but the little boy also relished them, sitting on his dad's lap alongside his brother. The crispy golden texture, the porous perfection, and the aroma of ghee wafting through the air—these mouthwatering dosas, paired with Chatpata kempu (onion) chutney, followed by frothy coffee, gave us the perfect kickstart to our day! I don't make them because the lil 💙 demands it, but because I love doing so 😁

On lazy Saturday afternoons, we all would gather in the cozy corner- the master bedroom! Appa would recline on the bed, the ceiling fan whirling gently above, while Amma begin on her customary ritual of exploring the wardrobe's treasures. Each item she unearthed - from vibrant sarees to old, knitted sweaters and half-finished socks - held a story waiting to be told. Among the clutter, we discovered gifts of brass and random jewels, imported soaps (May be expired! 😁) each with its own tale to tell. As we delved into the memories, teasing exchanges with Appa and Amma luring them to share their love story once more. Our fingers would trace the pages of old photo albums, while Amma carefully unfolded her cherished wedding sarees from a well-worn suitcase. Lost in admiration for the vintage designs and faded colors, we lost ourselves in tales of their beautiful yesteryears😍 Then, there it lay - the saree that held a special place in our hearts. The very same saree Appa had lovingly gi...

Upon returning from the vibrant ceremony, I was greeted by a familiar sight of slight chaos in our room. Some clothes lay scattered, some awaiting their turn for the dry cleaners, and a few misplaced items added to the disorder. However, amidst the disarray, there he was, wearing a cheeky grin as he relaxed on the bed, having already completed his share of tidying before the event, leaving little for him to do. With a satisfied smile, he snuggled our little bundle of joy, their laughter resonating throughout the room, filling it with warmth and happiness. As I began the task of folding my saree, our little one seized the opportunity to join in the fun, giggling with delight as he playfully disrupted my efforts. The sound of his laughter as he throws back his head and laughs were contagious, and his antics brought a twinkle to my eye, even as I pretended annoyance. With each playful interaction, our bond deepened, and I couldn't help but goggle at the love and bliss that infused our...

  One enchanting evening on our vacation, we gathered in the grandparents' room, sharing tales of our day's adventures. Feeling playful, I decided to let the little boy experience the joy of a jacuzzi. As I adjusted the knobs, the jacuzzi unexpectedly transformed into a lively fountain, surprising us all. My Appa, who was happily observing the scene, swiftly stepped in, and the little one leaped into his grandpa's arms, holding on tightly! In previous instances, the lil boy hesitated to go to my Appa, but on this magical night, Grandpa became the hero! The way he clung to his grandfather, tiny hands wrapped securely around his neck and lil feet gripping, brought indescribable joy to everyone! I can never forget the smile on my Appa's face holding the lil boy!! After the delightful jacuzzi escapade, we were advised to return to our cottage and rest. Pretending to heed their suggestion, we headed to our cottage. And then...... Entering the jacuzzi 😁, the three of us rejo...

  The 40-day journey began with meticulous planning, a culmination of wishes gathered from conversations with loved ones, and personal reflections noted down before the delivery, Google searches. Once home, after a much-needed rest, I, with the assistance of my dear ones, transformed my room into a haven tailored to my desires. The bed adorned with soft pillows – one supporting my back, another for feeding, and a precautionary one to prevent any baby mishaps. My table hosted a calendar from Ramakrishna Mission, offering daily uplifting thoughts, a space for medicines, baby essentials, my chanting beads, and colorful stones to tally my chants. Soft toys added a touch of joy, and a cozy rug marked my sleeping spot, while the cupboard stored treats like laddus and dry fruits. 💖🏡✨ Falling in love with the routine: waking up to savor Appa's special golden latte! Embracing the morning chores, from cleaning, sweeping, hand mopping my room to opening the windows. Organizing the baby...