It was in August 2017 (eight months back) when I last went to Pune. Something or the other kept on happening and I kept postponing my plans. So much so that my parents were here for almost 6 six months and I could not take them there. My Fufaji has not been happy because of all this. He is a social man who loves to sit with people on a drink and talk about things. When I go there I mostly play a listener and that works perfectly for him. An ex-army man, the biggest fear in his life is of becoming old, he just does not want to fall into that trap. He will keep on asking how I remain fit and why I haven't got belly-fat yet. Sporadic running and yoga keep him going. Not that he is not fit or he is old, at 55 (a wild guess) he is pretty active. Its been a while since I sat with him.
This is the last week of Ridhima's Summer Holiday and she was willing to go to Pune. So much so that without a plan we had to leave on Saturday 26th May. We ended up catching a cab that whiled away a lot of time finding passengers and getting CNG and Petrol (both at different refilling stations) for the journey. We also had a narrow escape on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway when due to the summer heat one of the tires gave away. Luckily the driver didn't lose control and managed to pull the vehicle out of the road albeit on the wrong side.
We left Mumbai around 10.30 am and it was only 4.30 pm when we reached Pune. Yes, we stopped at Pune station and had our lunch. It was really really good food, the Dal and Masala Papad was incredible. Pune wasn't any kinder and it was hot out there. The only saving grace was lesser humidity levels.
The row house in Pune has more space and kids need exactly that. You need ground and some fresh air to create a world of your own where the tiny toys and the dear dolls start speaking your language. You are not affected by the ways of the world. Ridhima almost stops watching Youtube and TV once she gets into such an environment. Nothing beats if there are kids of her age are around. She has a couple of friends in Pune as well and she was almost at home there.
I sat with Ridhima in the afternoon on Sunday when her mother was taking her siesta. I asked her if she would be fine if I return next week and we all go back to Mumbai together. She agreed and was happy to spend a week in Pune with just one rider - I needed to bring a lot of chocolates. I was sorted. I left at around 6pm on Sunday and reached Mumbai by 10.30 pm. Had a shower and went to bed to be ready for Monday.
The row house in Pune has more space and kids need exactly that. You need ground and some fresh air to create a world of your own where the tiny toys and the dear dolls start speaking your language. You are not affected by the ways of the world. Ridhima almost stops watching Youtube and TV once she gets into such an environment. Nothing beats if there are kids of her age are around. She has a couple of friends in Pune as well and she was almost at home there.
I sat with Ridhima in the afternoon on Sunday when her mother was taking her siesta. I asked her if she would be fine if I return next week and we all go back to Mumbai together. She agreed and was happy to spend a week in Pune with just one rider - I needed to bring a lot of chocolates. I was sorted. I left at around 6pm on Sunday and reached Mumbai by 10.30 pm. Had a shower and went to bed to be ready for Monday.
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