The new clinging vine

Mamma, thanks to sudden influx of lots of new assignments, has been typing her fingers off morning to afternoon every single day, with only tea and lunch breaks. Even so, the backlog seems to be piled up higher than the pile of dino dung Laura Dern bravely stuck her hand into in Jurassic Park 1. Therefore mom was desperate to grab more hours at her work computer than the regular. Seeing as Daadi has been conveniently home these past couple of days, mamma decided that the brat could be deposited post school in the care of his grandmother and she could make a dash back to the office, which is thankfully five minutes away from school and home as the crow flies.

The first day mamma decided to do this, the brat hyperventilated, he broke into copious tears and loud sobs. He fell to the ground clutching mamma's feet in Hindi film style begging me to stay while mamma tried hard to wriggle her ankles out of his possession and nearly twisted said ankles in the process. Finally mamma gave up and stayed home, (mamma isa softie like that), at which point, like a seasoned professional artiste, the tears miraculously dried up like the water supply in Mumbai suburbs and he pulled out all his action figures, spread out his army on my bedspread and got into war gaming mode.

And ignored mamma's presence as was his norm till he needed nourishment or help with a stubborn button when nature called. Loudly.

The next day, mamma attempted the same thing. The brat threw the same rolling on the floor tantrums as the previous day. mamma was wiser. She freed her legs and set out back to the office. Within two minutes of entering the premises she got a call, "When yure coming back?"

Mamma sternly told him to occupy himself with toys or studies.

After another 15 minutes she got a second call which was more to the point. "Mamma, I is feeling very boreding. What I'll do?"

"Take your books and study," said Mamma, secure in the knowledge that this would never come to pass even if the archangels will be blowing the trumpets from the four corners of the earth. And placed the receiver down.

The infernal instrument buzzed again. The child was on the line again, guilt tripping mamma enough to send her into therapy. "Why you leaved me tuday? I is feeling very sadly."

Mamma told him about how her teachers would shout at her if she didnt finish her homework.

He did not buy the spiel and got down to basics. "So den. Wat u'll get fer me?"