NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~Thread 11 - Chapter 16 - UPD 22nd SEP - Page 101

Originally posted by: sashashyam

Not to worry, Lashykanna (and any others who might be similarly puzzled about my title) about checking up on Scylla and Charybdis.

I forgot that general education for your generation probably concentrated on different things from that in our days - mine and Saraswathi Akka's as well. We used to be less focussed on the utilitarian, and used to fool around in our reading with a lot of eclectic things like Greek, Roman and even Norse mythology, besides our own.

The Indian system has become quite self-absorbed... I don't think they teach anything of this sort now.. except probably for a vague story of Hercules and the sort somewhere along the way

I doubt if my Sasha would know what Scylla and Charybdis were, apart from the broad meaning of the phrase I had used for my title, as being between a rock and a hard place.

Between a rock and a hard place... 😛 got it!

This is from Homer's Odyssey, when Ulysses is sailing home to Ithaca after the Trojan war. He has to pass along the coast of western Italy. Scylla was a six headed monster on the side of the Italian coast at the Straits of Messina between Italy and Sicily. Charbydis was a whirlpool on the side of the Sicilian coast. As the straits were narrow, Ulysses could not avoid both. He thus chose to sail closer to Scylla, and lose a few of his sailors to the monster, rather than lose his whole ship in the whirlpool of Charybdis.

Oh😲 thanks for the story! Very interesting...

Let us see what collateral damage Akbar has to absorb to save the girl who has by now become almost the be all and end all of his existence. Hai re yeh mohabbat! Achche khaase insaan ko kya se kya bana deti hai, us se kya kya karwati hai!

True, isn't it?😆

Shyamala Periyamma

Originally posted by: sashashyam

Mitali, my very dear girl,

Now that is very sweet and flattering of you, but the truth is that I am becoming, for one reason or the other, so infrequent a visitor to the IF, including to this thread, that I am only surprised that you have all not forgotten about me altogether!

>>> Impossible to forget a 😎

Aha, I knew that it was the part about the do dilon ki daastaan that would get you hooked. 😉 I never saw a bunch of such confirmed romantics as you all are for the most part, with you at the head of the line. And why not? Yours is the age to be in love with love. There will be time enough to be detached when you get to mine!

No Periyamma... why ever detach from romance...
Btw, how are you feeling today? Better?

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

Babloo: Baby'kka, grandma is having fever and she is sleeping..

Baby: Yes.. poor grandma.. we should not disturb her..

Babloo: 'kka, Lashy'kka says she is having fever because of "nazar"..Who is this Nazar 'kka? Is she a bad guy?

Baby: I don't know kutty..We'll ask grandma when she wakes up..

Babloo: But Jalal uncle will kill that Nazar if we tell him..

Baby: Yes.. But how would he know?

Babloo: 'kka I will write a letter to him..

Baby: Heyy, you are little.. you cant write..

Babloo: Then who will write?..(thinks..)

How sweet! 😆

Baby: Kutty, you tell me what to write.. and I will write the letter..

Baby... has made him her secretary!

Babloo: Okay 'kka..mmm.. Write, My dear Jalal Uncle...

Baby: He is not your Jalal uncle alone.. He is also mine...I'll write "Our dear Jalal uncle..".. and then?

🤣

Babloo: mmm.. "..our grandma is having fever.. We love our grand ma very much.".

Baby:( writes) yes.."Our grandma is having fever from yesterday.. we love her very much.. she tells stories to us.."

Babloo: "Lashy'kka says it is because of Nazar, a bad guy.." 'kka, is it a boy or girl?

Baby: Jalal uncle will know if it is a boy or girl..

Babloo: Okay...write.. "Jalal uncle, you are very brave.."

Baby: Why do you want to say that?..He already knows that he is brave..Jodha Akka also said he is brave..

Baby back to being bossy!

Babloo: But then why did Jodha akka go to war with red powder?

Baby: That is for the story.. Really, uncle is brave.. Ask Sandya aunty..

Babloo: How does Sandya aunty know?

Baby: Because Shyamala aunty says so.. Shyamala aunty knows everything..

😆

Babloo: Then write.. "Jalal uncle, our grandma is having fever..".

Baby: Wait..wait.. shall I write.."104 degrees fever"?

Babloo: Did she measure the fever with the fever meter? How do we know she has 104 degrees fever?.. We should not write lies.. Jalal uncle once said he won't like telling lies..

Baby: When did he say? I didn't remember..

Babloo: Yes... he said.. to Jodha akka when he was taking bath in the bath room..

Baby: Okay ..okay.. I now remember.. so what shall I write?

Babloo: "Jalal uncle, Lashy'kka says that because grandma is good, she has the Nazar and because of that she has the fever.."

🤗

Baby: Jalal uncle doesn't know Lashy'kka.. he has not seen her..

Babloo: But we are not telling lies... If he asks, then we'll 'ntroduce Lashy'kka to him..

☺️ As Bindup said... waiting for this intro... omg!

Baby: Okay.. "... Uncle, Lashy'kka says grandma has fever because of Nazar, and you will kill the Nazar with chilli powder."

Babloo: " So please help us.."

Baby: Look Babloo, we should also ask him to help grandma..

Babloo: Yes.. you write, " My grandma will be happy if you help her..because she likes you very much.. "

I can hear Periyamma blushing!😉

Baby: Yes.. she keeps his Photo album with her always..😆 even while sleeping..

Babloo: Does she keep it under her pillow?

Baby:No.. once I saw her hugging it and sleeping.. Jalal uncle came in his dream..Shagun akka, Bindu akka and Shyamala aunty also know about it..

😲

Babloo: Oh.. our grandma is great..

Baby: Is that all Babloo?

Babloo: You also write, " She hugs your photo album.."

Baby: " .. Uncle, she likes you so much that she keeps your photo album always with her..so kill the Nazar and cure her fever.." Is that 'nuff?

Babloo: Yes..we have to write our names below..

( grandma wakes up and comes.)

G'ma: Goodmorning kiddoos..

Babloo: Grandma, we are writing to Jalal uncle to kill the bad guy Nazar, and you will be fine..

Baby: Grandma.. Lashy akka said you have fever only because of Nazar, and Jalal uncle will kill the nazar with chilli powder..

G'ma: So you are writing a letter to him.. But Jalal uncle can't read.. If he gives it to the white dress grandma to read , she will not read what it is actually there...

🤣

Baby: Then we will send it to Jodha akka..

Babloo: Baby'kka, if we send it to Jodha akka, she will go to kill nazar with chilli powder.. Jalal uncle wont go..Lashy'kka says that only Jalal uncle can kill nazar..

G'ma: Then you write, Jalal Uncle, c/o Jodha akka..😆

🤣🤣

🤣

"...I don't know what is happening..Sandya aunty is bad .She has not got me the photos from grandma...I will ask grandma to give me back those photos..I want to see them.. I want to see if I can sleep and have sweet dreams after seeing his photos..But what is grandma doing with them?"

( She slowly goes to grandma to see what she is doing.. )

" If she has them I will snatch them from her..and run away.. she can't run after me😆"

Wicked one!

( Grandma is in her room sleeping soundly - her post lunch routine-- turning the other side facing the wall..)

" She is sleeping..I will search her room for the photos..Usually she keeps everything in her wardrobe drawers.. let me look there... Oh God! how many things she has kept there! a big purse, a small purse,... a small picture of grandpa, ...a key bunch, wrist watch, goggles, a ring,... a small book, ...a small picture of some god, a bottlefull of some tablets...some coins...but there is no photo album of my Rajat uncle.."

When Baby'kka goes older wonder what she'll store!

(She goes to grandma and wakes her up..My God! ..She is shocked!Grandma is hugging the album like a cushion and sleeping!)

We all are! 😲

( Grandma wakes up suddenly from her sleep..)

G'ma:( sleepily) What darling..what is the matter? Why did you wake me up from my sleep?

😲

Baby S.:Grandma, you have so many cushions in your room... why are you hugging Rajat uncle's album? I was looking for it..

😲

G'ma: Baby, how many times I have told you not to disturb me when I am sleeping, hmm? Why don't you go and play with your dolls.. play with the Rajat doll mummy bought you yesterday...I was having a nice dream about your Jalal uncle..and you have disturbed me..

😲

BabyS.: Jalal uncle!? Did he come in your dream?

G'ma: Yes Baby, both Jalal and Jodha came to our house for lunch. I invited them..

Baby S.: Sorry, grandma, why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have disturbed you!..I want to see him..Can I see him in your dream?..

G'ma: No darling not possible..

Baby S: Why ? He must be there.. he would not have left..I want to see, Jodha akka and Jalal uncle in your dream..mmm..

G'ma.: Hey pappu, try to understand , once they go away from the dream they won't come back...

Baby S: Was uncle angry because I woke you up? because he went without eating..

G'ma:( cursing herself, mumbles) How to convince her...

🤣

Baby S.: What are you saying grandma? Did you show his photos to Jalal uncle?

G'ma: Shhh baby..go and do something.. play with your toys..

Baby: N..oo! I want to see Jalal uncle.. how can he come in only your dreams and not in mine..😭 How can a person come in a dream?😭😭

🤣

G'ma:If you just think about him before you go to bed, he will definitely come in your dream..

Baby: During daytime too?

G'ma: Yes...I was thinking about Jalal when I was looking at his photos, and I went to sleep..

Baby: Then I will also do that...Give me the album..It is mine.. mmm😭

G'ma: No darling...you wouldn't know how to handle it..

BabyS.: Don't worry grandma, Sandya aunty will be with me ..

G'ma: My God! don't call her! then the album will neither be yours nor mine...

ROFLLL 🤣 this is very very true!

(Baby snatches it from grandma's hand and runs...)

Originally posted by: Suganya.S

Good morning everyone 😊

Just now saw the post regarding Ill Health of Many in this thread Hope everyone gets fine soon 😊

Lashy: hope the baby's doing well now We grown ups can bear it to some extent , but for a child it makes us all the more anxious 😕

Originally posted by: harshu27

]

lashy my acc gt recovered after scanning 🤗so now i gt a relief...😆😆

Originally posted by: lashy

I just saw it on FB... 👍🏼

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

Baby and Baloo write to Jalal uncle about grandma's ill health.

(There is a song in the Tamil movie "Guna", featuring Kamal Hassan. He dictates a love letter and his lover writes it in the form of a song..

The song goes like this...

"KNmaNi anbodu kaathalan nan ezhudum Kadithame..."

My darling, Your beloved is writing this letter."

Likewise, Babloo dictates his letter to Jalal uncle and Baby writes it down...)

Babloo: Baby'kka, grandma is having fever and she is sleeping..

Baby: Yes.. poor grandma.. we should not disturb her..

Babloo: 'kka, Lashy'kka says she is having fever because of "nazar"..Who is this Nazar 'kka? Is she a bad guy?

Baby: I don't know kutty..We'll ask grandma when she wakes up..

Babloo: But Jalal uncle will kill that Nazar if we tell him..

Fine hopes! Next thing you know you will have to save your Jalal uncle from the Nazar.😉 The last time he fought and won cleanly in such a situation was against Mohan the tiger, and then your Jodha'kka had to lug him home willy nilly. Of course that was all her own fault, but still..

Baby: Yes.. But how would he know?

Babloo: 'kka I will write a letter to him..

Baby: Heyy, you are little.. you cant write..

Babloo: Then who will write?..(thinks..)

Baby: Kutty, you tell me what to write.. and I will write the letter..

Babloo: Okay 'kka..mmm.. Write, My dear Jalal Uncle...

Baby: He is not your Jalal uncle alone.. He is also mine...I'll write "Our dear Jalal uncle..".. and then?

Exactly, joint ownership, so to speak! Good for you, Baby darling!

Babloo: mmm.. "..our grandma is having fever.. We love our grand ma very much.".

Baby:( writes) yes.."Our grandma is having fever from yesterday.. we love her very much.. she tells stories to us.."

Babloo: "Lashy'kka says it is because of Nazar, a bad guy.." 'kka, is it a boy or girl?

Baby: Jalal uncle will know if it is a boy or girl..

How are you so sure? It might be neither, it might be an animal!

Babloo: Okay...write.. "Jalal uncle, you are very brave.."

Baby: Why do you want to say that?..He already knows that he is brave..Jodha Akka also said he is brave..

Babloo: But then why did Jodha akka go to war with red powder?

Babloo, what is this I see? You are letting your own (masculine) side down in the interests of the truth? There!🤗

Baby: That is for the story.. Really, uncle is brave.. Ask Sandya aunty..

Babloo: How does Sandya aunty know?

Baby: Because Shyamala aunty says so.. Shyamala aunty knows everything..

Now don't misquote me - that is, insist that I said something that I did not say at all - and then flatter me to cover that up, you imps! Yes, your Jalal Uncle was brave, but that was before he fell in love with your Jodha'kka. After then he became like a chocolate left out in the sun, and forgot all about anything but hanging around her and praising her. And when his stepmother and his sister announced that they were coming to fight him, he did not even want to fight against them, but was prepared to surrender. That is not being brave, is it. Baby kuttty and Bablookanna? Be honest now!

Babloo: Then write.. "Jalal uncle, our grandma is having fever..".

Baby: Wait..wait.. shall I write.."104 degrees fever"?

Babloo: Did she measure the fever with the fever meter? How do we know she has 104 degrees fever?.. We should not write lies..
Quite right, Babloo my poppet, stick to the facts of the case. You are clearly going to become a top scientist.
Jalal uncle once said he won't like telling lies..

Baby: When did he say? I didn't remember..

Babloo: Yes... he said.. to Jodha akka when he was taking bath in the bath room..

I don't remember this at all, but then he took so many baths, so let this pass! 😉I hope you do not trouble your Mummy about taking a daily bath, Babloo kanna!

Baby: Okay ..okay.. I now remember.. so what shall I write?

Babloo: "Jalal uncle, Lashy'kka says that because grandma is good, she has the Nazar and because of that she has the fever.."

Baby: Jalal uncle doesn't know Lashy'kka.. he has not seen her..

Babloo: But we are not telling lies... If he asks, then we'll 'ntroduce Lashy'kka to him..

Baby, you are most punctilious, darling - Grandma can explain that! - you will make an excellent diplomat, or a diplomatic hostess if you prefer that, in due course.

Babloo, I see that you want to land Lashy'kka with the credit or discredit for this Nazar theory, but don't worry, I don't think Jalal uncle will be interested in its origins!

Baby: Okay.. "... Uncle, Lashy'kka says grandma has fever because of Nazar, and you will kill the Nazar with chilli powder."

See, this is exactly what I meant. Your Jalal Uncle has become such a lallu that even for fighting this Nazar, he needs the chilli powder from his begums!🤣

Babloo: " So please help us.."

Baby: Look Babloo, we should also ask him to help grandma..

Babloo: Yes.. you write, " My grandma will be happy if you help her..because she likes you very much.. "

Baby: Yes.. she keeps his Photo album with her always..😆 even while sleeping..

Babloo: Does she keep it under her pillow?

Baby:No.. once I saw her hugging it and sleeping.. Jalal uncle came in his dream..Shagun akka, Bindu akka and Shyamala aunty also know about it..

Know about it? I am still to recover from learning about it!😆

(**The above episode is reproduced below for the benefit of the new readers here..)

Babloo: Oh.. our grandma is great..

Baby: Is that all Babloo?

Babloo: You also write, " She hugs your photo album.."

Baby: " .. Uncle, she likes you so much that she keeps your photo album always with her..so kill the Nazar and cure her fever.." Is that 'nuff?

Babloo: Yes..we have to write our names below..

( grandma wakes up and comes.)

G'ma: Goodmorning kiddoos..

Babloo: Grandma, we are writing to Jalal uncle to kill the bad guy Nazar, and you will be fine..

Baby: Grandma.. Lashy akka said you have fever only because of Nazar, and Jalal uncle will kill the nazar with chilli powder..

G'ma: So you are writing a letter to him.. But Jalal uncle can't read.. If he gives it to the white dress grandma to read , she will not read what it is actually there...

Baby: Then we will send it to Jodha akka..

Babloo: Baby'kka, if we send it to Jodha akka, she will go to kill nazar with chilli powder.. Jalal uncle wont go..Lashy'kka says that only Jalal uncle can kill nazar..

G'ma: Then you write, Jalal Uncle, c/o Jodha akka..😆

Baby and Babloo: Yesss...!

Karkuzhali..

**

Baby Sarasa retrieves her Photo album from Grandma.

(Baby Sarasa is very much stressed out today. She feels like crying. She asked Sandya Aunty yesterday to get the photos of Rajat uncle from grandma, and she even tipped her about how to bribe grandma by buying her apple pie and hot potato chips from MacDonalds. But aunty is silent.She had not even seen those photos of Rajat uncle which Sandya aunty said will keep you awake. What is grandma doing with them?...Is she not sleeping from yesterday? What about the sleeping tablets that daddy bought her from shop?...

All these things run in her mind...)

"...I don't know what is happening..Sandya aunty is bad .She has not got me the photos from grandma...I will ask grandma to give me back those photos..I want to see them.. I want to see if I can sleep and have sweet dreams after seeing his photos..But what is grandma doing with them?"

( She slowly goes to grandma to see what she is doing.. )

" If she has them I will snatch them from her..and run away.. she can't run after me😆"

( Grandma is in her room sleeping soundly - her post lunch routine-- turning the other side facing the wall..)

" She is sleeping..I will search her room for the photos..Usually she keeps everything in her wardrobe drawers.. let me look there... Oh God! how many things she has kept there! a big purse, a small purse,... a small picture of grandpa, ...a key bunch, wrist watch, goggles, a ring,... a small book, ...a small picture of some god, a bottlefull of some tablets...some coins...but there is no photo album of my Rajat uncle.."

(She goes to grandma and wakes her up..My God! ..She is shocked!Grandma is hugging the album like a cushion and sleeping!)

( Grandma wakes up suddenly from her sleep..)

G'ma:( sleepily) What darling..what is the matter? Why did you wake me up from my sleep?

( She was just then having a wonderful dream..She had invited Jalal and Jodha for lunch in her dream ,and to her surprise, they had agreed to come..She was very much excited about it and wanted to write an article about this in a Women's magazine ..And they have just started to eat.. Jalal was saying that he has turned totally vegetarian all because of Jodha. looking proudly at her, .and grandma was about to serve them kheer, when Baby woke her up..)

Baby S.:Grandma, you have so many cushions in your room... why are you hugging Rajat uncle's album? I was looking for it..

G'ma: Baby, how many times I have told you not to disturb me when I am sleeping, hmm? Why don't you go and play with your dolls.. play with the Rajat doll mummy bought you yesterday...I was having a nice dream about your Jalal uncle..and you have disturbed me..

BabyS.: Jalal uncle!? Did he come in your dream?

G'ma: Yes Baby, both Jalal and Jodha came to our house for lunch. I invited them..

Baby S.: Sorry, grandma, why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have disturbed you!..I want to see him..Can I see him in your dream?..

G'ma: No darling not possible..

Baby S: Why ? He must be there.. he would not have left..I want to see, Jodha akka and Jalal uncle in your dream..mmm..

G'ma.: Hey pappu, try to understand , once they go away from the dream they won't come back...

Baby S: Was uncle angry because I woke you up? because he went without eating..

G'ma:( cursing herself, mumbles) How to convince her...

Baby S.: What are you saying grandma? Did you show his photos to Jalal uncle?

G'ma: Shhh baby..go and do something.. play with your toys..

Baby: N..oo! I want to see Jalal uncle.. how can he come in only your dreams and not in mine..😭 How can a person come in a dream?😭😭

G'ma:If you just think about him before you go to bed, he will definitely come in your dream..

Baby: During daytime too?

G'ma: Yes...I was thinking about Jalal when I was looking at his photos, and I went to sleep..

Baby: Then I will also do that...Give me the album..It is mine.. mmm😭

G'ma: No darling...you wouldn't know how to handle it..

BabyS.: Don't worry grandma, Sandya aunty will be with me ..

G'ma: My God! don't call her! then the album will neither be yours nor mine...

(Baby snatches it from grandma's hand and runs...)

G'ma: Baby! Baby! stop...

Karkuzhali.

Edited by karkuzhali - 04 March 2016 at 1:34am

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Edited by sashashyam - 9 years ago

Originally posted by: lashy