Ham do bhai Aadi and Shiv

Pranaam, Namskaar, Charan Sparsh to all our elders in the clan.

Oh! We should introduce ourselves first. I am Aadi and next to me is my identical twin Shiv. He looks belligerent but can’t hurt even a fly.

November 9 was an earthshaking historic day in the lives of Momma and Papa. This was the day when Shiv and I entered their lives within 60 seconds of each other. Shiv, whom the doctors here had decided to call TWIN 1, was expected to arrive before me – TWIN 2. But in the last lap I pipped him to the post and won by a whisker.

Momma Papa had not made public our itinerary for some time. They broke the news to our Dadi, Bua, Nani and Nanu simultaneously. The news caused widespread happiness. As it should have. Momma and Papa had earlier announced publicly that they would not make any addition to the clan. What made them change their minds is anybody’s guess. Momma says that Nanu’s expression on hearing the press release is indelibly engraved on her mind. We believe her. Though still unborn, we could feel the tremors of Moma’s mirth on seeing the shock and awe on Nanu’s face. It seems his jaw dropped; mouth opened like a cavern and closed only after the import of the news sank in. He came up with a gasp and croaked, “Really?” Assured that it was not a hoax, his next question was, “Was it an accident?” On being assured again that it was not, he clapped his hands with joy and hit the ceiling. Momma actually saw him do it, him being on video.

Nani and Nanu wanted to be with Momma and Papa to personally welcome us but, we being in a foreign land 10,000 kilometers from home and travel not allowed because of a terrorist called COVID 19. So Nanu did the next best thing. He got the local clansmen together on November 9 and raised a toast to mark Shiv’s and my arrival.

I confess that I blocked Shiv’s way with my bum to come first. Sneaky? Yes. But Shiv doesn’t mind. What does a win or loss matter between brothers anyway?

Momma and Papa had their hands – to say nothing of their minds – full, what with no help available and the two of us to look after. We did not do anything to ease their misery. Luckily, Nani and Nanu were able to come in the fifth week of our arrival and Momma and Papa were able to get some sleep and avoid going insane. For the first few weeks of our arrival, we had only three activities. Drink milk at least six times a day, soil our nappies even more often and sleep for about sixteen hours every day. Momma and Papa were happy to be able to rest at night. Little did they know. Soon we were keeping them awake at night what with our not sleeping and crying to be cuddled. But oh, how we have grown since then! More responsible, we should say. We learn new things every day. Already, we sleep better at night, do not need feeding so often, getting potty-trained etc. After all, we are not newborns anymore. We are now three months old infants.

It is getting to be long treatise and, before I forget, let me request on my behalf and Shiv’s too, our clan’s elders to bless us on our THREE-MONTHLY BIRTHDAY today. We expect to celebrate our first yearly birthday and seek your blessings personally later this year on November 9. Meanwhile, entertain yourselves with some of our pics below.

Allowing Nani and Nanu to have some fun with us.

Why shouldn’t Mamma and Papa have fun time too?

Deep in discussion with Nanu and then, not getting my way, angry.

PS: This is Shiv. Trust Aadi to hogg the limelight. Not that I mind. Technically, being TWIN 1, I am elder of the two. Let him be happy for now. I will write my own piece when the time comes. Mera time aayega. And I will have the last laugh.