Sree

Saturday morning...No office for Shanmugham Appuppa, no college for Manu, no online class for Kittunni...Radhamma's Saturday torture was unfolding in the kitchen.  From Radhamma's dosa making experience, one's dosa appetite depends on whether the day is a weekend or a weekday. It was Shanmugham Appuppa's 3rd and Manu's 4th dosa running. And no light at the end of the tunnel.  As if two big tummies were not enough, Kittunni had decided today that a change in the breakfast venue was in order. This served 2 purposes. The minor one - successfully avoid Manjulla's Saturday special Pongal, The major one, in Kittunni's own words -  " Freedom from the two irritating things who call themselves my parents who has nothing better than to do other than making sure I eat my own food with my own hands. No consideration that this child is just 5 years of age whose soft hands can go rough with continuous self usage ".   To celebrate his freedom Kittunni had ordered...

" Kittuuuu come fast else I will not take you to the play ground."  Mohan was not in a good mood. He had lot of office work pending but Kittunni would hear none of it.  "Acha I was a good boy in class today", Kittunni had declared the second his online class got over. "I logged in on time, I kept my mouth shut until I was asked to open it, I even didn't do shake-it-baby-shake-it with my butt to Sulochana Teacher today. Do you know how difficult that was? Promise is a promise mister. Now take me to the playground." Mohan knew Kittunni was right. Somehow Kittunni had put on his best performance in class today. No complaints at the end of class. It was indeed a miracle. So he had no choice other than to keep his end of the promise. "Acha one doubt" . Kittunni asked, as he put on his chappal to get ready. "If you get sunlight, you get big muscles no?" "Why do you ask Kittu?" , Mohan enquired.  "Simply. To build up my G...

A lazy afternoon, a heavy lunch and a peaceful siesta - Manu had it all planned and set.  And then came the shout  "Manu Anna....Manu Anna" "And there goes my plan out of the window" , Manu groaned Within seconds our hero makes his grand entry. "Manu Anna, how was your lunch?" , Kittunni asked, opening the door and walking in, rubbing his belly lovingly. Manu sensed Kittunni's mood. Kittunni seems to have had a very sumptuous meal and wanted to brag about it to him. "Ok I guess", Manu replied with a mock sad face, giving Kittunni the perfect platform to launch his punch dialogue. "Just Ok? That's it? Mine was too good Manu Anna. Oh my God, you know what? I ate 2 fishes!!! 2 fishes Manu Anna! Can you believe that?" , Kittunni's excitement was uncontrollable. "Oh gosh, 2 fishes you say? Were you were so hungry Kittu?" , Manu egged him on. "I was hungry so I ate the first fish. But then the first fish I ate was...

 As usual the sun did its job as was its wont - it rose in the east at 6 am, the hen did its job - it shouted its throat out at 6 am for which it was duly punished and ended up as Afghani Murgh Kebab in someone's stomach by 1 pm and finally even the clock did it's job - the shorter needle came to rest at 6 and the longer needle at 12. But Kittunni continued his heavenly bliss in bed. Neither the push of the bulldozer sized muscles of Mohan nor the scissors cut kick from Manjulla could bring Kittunni back to reality. Finally the ice cold water did the trick. " Go get ready you lazy bones, the class will start in one hour. Get ready fast ", Manjulla shouted. Today was a special class. It was going to be the first class test since online classes started due to Corona. Manjulla wanted everything to be perfect.  Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught Mohan crawling back to the bed, silently. " Where do you think you are going? ", she asked in a menacing  voice...