Meet this young man - my son!

I know this will make you cringe and wince if & when you read it - for someone who has a sentimental streak, you can't stand reading 'corny, mushy' write ups! However, whilst booking our tickets to India, I thought of how long it has been since you visited, and that its likely to be much longer too. My folks don't know the new you - oh I tell them about how laid back you are etc, but they don't know this young man that you've turned out to be. So, I'm introducing him to my near and dear ones!

You've turned out to be quite a surprise - oh, I didn't worry about the integrity and deceny aspects, after all you come from good stock on both sides! But there is a gentleness, a streak of kindness, bordering on tenderness - that surprises me. You're quite understanding too - have always had that knack of figuring people even from quite a young age. But most surprising of all has been your willingness to be house trained!  We did have many 'Mr Bean' moments with eggs (oh, and I'm the clumsy one?!), and how can I forget that wonderful raita you made - a big piece of cucumber cut into 4 large lumps, floating in a pool of unbeaten yoghurt...the memory gives me nightmares even today! But then, I have so many other memories too - how you woke up at 8am when clothes had to be hung out (and not once did I hear you grumble about that - infact, you would brush your teeth, and emerge with a great big smile, ready to give your crabby mum a good morning hug!), these were hung out in a specific manner, following all codes laid out in the unwritten book of 'Iyer's rules'! And take them off in the evening , folding them haphazardly (all except appa's - which were left in a neat pile on his bed!). How you learnt to chop vegetables - even onions - so finely, all pieces a similar size (I know, I'm silly that way!). How you would iron my clothes (and some of yours), and fold them crisply, leaving them on my bed with some silly note attached. How you would sweep the kitchen floor (the manner depended very much on whether or not you were supervised!), washed vessels, dripping water all over the sink and even some of the floor (please don't ever attempt any crime, you will have evidence left all over the world pointing to you!)...laying the table & clearing up for and after dinner was your chore, shall we say one that was accomplished in an interesting manner?! Or how you peeled potatoes, humming annoyingly, 'peeling...peelin...peel...', that tune haunts me whenever I look at an alu today! Oh, and watering my pots/plants for me, though you didn't see much of a point in it! Helping unload the groceries (shhh, shall not mention where you put the bottle of fresh milk!!). Oh, we got into several arguments, some quite heated. But you always apologised if it was your fault, and accepted the apology I grunted out quite graciously. You've, in short , become quite a man, my son.

Ladies and gentlemen - I give you this lovely young man, my son....