Silly Love Songs

You think that Pappa would've had enough of silly love songs.

But he looks around and he sees it isn't so

Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs

What's wrong with that

He'd like to know

'cause here he goes again

One of the countless things that my beautiful daughter has taught me is how beautiful, universal, and malleable the emotion of love is. Before she was born, love to me was the 'boy meet girl, girl meets boy, they fall in love' type of love. I've loved before; the extreme, passionate, loyal, blind, forever, heart breaking kind. And even before that, I've always been in love with 'the one' in my mind since I was a little kid. That should explain my humongous vocabulary of love songs; my way of talking to 'the one'.

After becoming a father, I've realised that I can sing most of the love songs to Aarvi and they'd be just as applicable but would elicit a completely different emotion. It would still be the highest form of love, but in a completely different one. In a way she has now become 'the one', but in a different way.

Take 'Masha Allah' from Saanwariya. My most favourite love song ever. I could sing this song to both Nidhi and Aarvi with absolute fealty to both and mean completely two different things. Take 'Nothing's gonna change my love for you', same thing or 'Tum Mile' from Tum Mile or 'Your Song' by Elton John. And the list keeps going on and on. Pick one at random and there is more than a good chance that it will work.

If you don't get what I'm trying to say, its fine. The limitations are mine. Someday, somehow, you will know, and you will realize what a sweet little, life changing, perception altering eureka it is. 

Dad, singer

One of the most enjoyable things I do as a father is sing to Aarvi.

Of course it is part of my strategy to turn her into an enchanting, over achieving, genius, polyglot. I've so f***ing turned into the stereotypical over competitive Indian parent.

It all started with me playing the flute to her while she was still in hospital room. Then I played 'I hope you dance' on my computer. It was the Status Message Aunt's first gift to her.

But the paranoid over protective Missus was quite sure that both of these were going to blow up her tender ear drums. So, like the Indian government, she banned both my flute and youtube videos (I did warn you in the 1st post itself that hyperboles are fair game).

And so I took to clandestinely singing to my new born daughter.

But shit got real about a couple of weeks ago when I sung 'Ho gaya hai phir pyaar tumse' from 'Tanu weds Manu 2'.

I was just into the first line when she flashed the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen. My first reaction was to dismiss it as gas or a fluke or something else. But as I continued, she smiled again. It was as if she was responding to the notes of the raag Bhoopali (and a couple of more that made the song). As a musician and as a father, my joy knew no bounds.

But I was still sceptical. So after I returned to Mumbai, I started sending a song a day that Missus could play to her. It seems Aarvi is a connoisseur of live music and does not enjoy recorded music.

So this time when I went on my weekly trip, I sang to her again. I started singing 'Preet' from Khoobsurat. Again similar notes as the earlier song. And by the time I was into the first line, there it was! That trillion dollar smile!

That just opened the flood gates. Pappa just couldn't stop after that. He sang 'Colours of the wind', 'Radha hi baawree', 'Chaandaniya', and many other songs. And believe you me, the smiles kept coming. It was a 95% hit ratio.

I may be completely nuts here, but I believe that she understands music (even though she's not yet two months old) and responds to it, and more importantly it makes her happy.

And there is nothing more that Dad could want. I would keep singing for the rest of my life to keep that smile on her face.

P.S: One of the songs that the stereotypical over competitive Indian parent in me prescribed for her was 'Ann Marie Calhoun vs. Samvel Yervinyan'. Go listen to it if you haven't. The 3 minute violin duet / duel is the best thing that you will hear today. 

Beckett Speak

'I liked Dad better with his beard. Right now he looks as if he's just a couple of years older to me. I didn't recognize him when he came this time.'

'Dad is so predictable. He bought me a stuffed toy. Guess what it was! Hobbes! So cliche!'

'I hate vaccines. F***ing couldn't lift my right leg for two full days! But more than that you never know how many times those damn things are going to prick you. The old bald guy keeps coming back with those sharp needles.'

'Both Mom and Dad are both pussies! I stopped crying before them after they gave me the vaccines! Also had to pretend to be in deep sleep for two hours so that they could take a trip to the mall and buy some stuff.'

'I can't get my timing right. Have tried hard to poop in Dad's hands thrice. But could only manage to fart. Managed to pee on him today when he was prepping me up or a bath. Some consolation!'

'I like the songs that Dad plays for me when he's here. He's got good taste.'

'Mom's Boobs > everything else. A girl's gotta do what she's gotta do. #StayingAlive.'

The Starer

Her stare can mesmerise anyone.

Eyes that look at one with such intent, with so many questions, patient yet restless, piercing yet unwavering.

The questions are different for different faces, she knows whom to ask what. 

And in her sharp, agile gaze she also hides her secrets.