The other day Sriram, Sahaana and I were travelling to Kacheguda to a friend's place for dinner. On the way, we had to pick up groceries from a store in Monda Market. The whole journey lasted for close to two hours, including the time we spent navigating through the narrow streets of Secunderabad, picking up the stuff and finally settling the bills. Sahaana, was obviously very irked by the whole experience and that was making the two of us very nervous as well. We feared that by the time we would reach our friend's place, she would have got into her most anti-social moods.
So, to keep her engaged and in a reasonably cheerful way, I started doing something I would have never imagined to. I started singing absolutely bizarre songs involving family members of our friends and relatives. The tune goes like the " I hear thunder'/ "are you sleeping"...and the lyrics are like this....
Karthik Uncle, Karthink Uncle,
Madhavi Aunty, Madhavi Aunty,
Yodhin & Gaurang,
Yodhin & Gauran,
Make a Family, They Make a Family
Another one (this is Sahaan's favourite)
Nithu athai Nithu Athai
Natraj Athimber Natraj Athimber
Samhita & Shivani; Samhita & shivani
Make a Family, They Make a Family
Sahaana just took to this instantly and that definitley was a saving grace for the day. We kept singing this for the rest of our journey and ensured the young lady behaved herself.
Since that night, she insists on singing this every now and then and has also managed to induct the rest of the family members. Now we have the entire family tree woven into this tune...this way, she now remembers all the members of a particular family...ain't that cool?
We have a song for our own family, which goes like this....
Appa Cheeaam (thats how Sahaana addresses Sriram) Appa Cheeaam
Amma Chowmya Amma Chowmya
Tatha Patti Sahaana Tatha Patti Sahaana
Make a Family, They make a family!
Very 'Yaadon Ki Baarat'ish!!
Will need to think of something more creative to accommodate the soon-to-arrive new member into the song. Any ideas??
