HAPPY AND PROUD GRANDMOTHER!

As I get older I look forward to seeing my grandchildren blossom and grow and I am truly blessed that mine have not only grown but all excelled in various fields which have not only been a revelation but a matter of pride and joy. You don’t have to win a Nobel Prize or be the first person to walk on the moon… just developing your own unique character, overcoming your fears that may hold you back or even just becoming a nice person with empathy for people around you. That is all I ever dreamt about and I have been fortunate to see this wonderful sight. 

Now being the true Indian who is everyone’s ’Aunty’ … even someone you have met for the first time… “My” grandchildren include not only my direct grandchildren but my sisters’ also so don’t get confused!!

First of all is Shivani who is my eldest sister, Hemu’s granddaughter. She was born very prematurely and went from one NICU to another and was absolutely tiny and frail and I still vividly remember bringing her home for the first time. She was still connected to a portable oxygen cylinder and I honestly wondered how Kavita, her mother would manage. However… look at her now. She has finished University, completed her teachers training course and is a teacher at a grammar school teaching English to children some of who are taller than her! She always wanted to teach and even when her mother gently tried to steer her towards business and finance which is what she herself excelled in, Shivani was steadfast in her decision and has achieved her dream. So proud of her!!!

Then we move onto my elder sister Suman’s grandson Anush. What a joy it has been to see him flourish. He always had a passion for horses and riding right from a young age and whilst everyone thought it was a fleeting hobby he persevered and has won a gold and bronze medal in the Asian Games held in China and then also boasts of being India’s first Equestrian Olympian at the Olympic Games held in Paris in 2025. What a great achievement at the young age of 25. I remember Rashi and I, couldn’t make it to China but were watching his Asian Games ride live whilst in a boutique in Kolkata. All the staff were crowded behind us with all eyes peeled to my small phone screen. Now none of us had even the rudimentary knowledge of dressage but you could tell from the commentator how his ride was going and when he finished the smile on his face said it all. He had won and Rashi and I both had tears streaming down our faces… tears of absolute joy. What a proud moment for us and for India. 

Then we move on to Siya… my firstborn. She is our delicate darling and everyone, and that means not just us adults but even all her friends, love to mother her and take care of her. She must hear the words “Siya Eat” in her sleep , not that it does much good but this girl can survive on love and fresh air for days on end. Whenever she tells me “ Maa I want to eat this or that” I get it made immediately or Swiggy it straight away before this very seldom desire disappears. She is 17 years old but can easily pass as 14 and probably wears clothes for a 12 year old!!! And I can’t believe that she is going to go to University this year!! All my mother hen instincts go up and if I had a choice I would just keep her here but I know that’s not possible nor fair to her so I will just have to let her go and win over the hearts of whoever is lucky to befriend her in the next stage in her life. She will most likely be going to London to study Fine Arts and Siya, I am warning you but I will be making lots of visits to London on some pretext or the other!!!

Vivaan is such a sweet and caring boy that everyone just falls in love with him. He wrote his first book last year called “The Last Prediction” and it was a pleasure to read it. I didn’t even realise he was so fond of reading or writing and when he gave me his book to proofread I was astounded by how good it was. In fact it kept me so engrossed I read it from cover to cover in one go. I just couldn’t put it down. On top of this he was selected from his school to give a Ted X talk and his topic was “The Power of the Delete Button”. The authority he spoke with, the confidence and his actual presentation blew me away. I couldn’t believe this was our little shy Vivu!! His talk was way beyond his years and I was filled with pride. 

Now we move on to our budding squash champion- Alia. She has more grit and determination than I have ever seen in an eleven year old girl. She started squash at an early age playing with her father Saurav and she has improved by leaps and bounds and can now beat him quite easily. Her day starts with an exercise workout with her gym trainer at 6am followed by school. From school she goes straight to the squash court for an intense practice session with her coach Sandeep which lasts anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. After this she has various tuitions and homework and then can she collapse into bed only for a repeat performance the next day! However, hard work does prevail. She has been the National Champion Under 11 twice, won The Malaysian Junior last year, came runners up in The Scottish Open and participated in the British Open last year and the  icing on the cake was when she became Asia Under 11 No 1 player last year. She has a goal which she is very clear about and is working her way to it… No 1 player in the world. Dream big my sweetheart Alia and may all your dreams come true. 

I must mention Ayaan who was a real “Dennis the Menace” when he was small and always getting into some trouble or the other. If he showered in my room he would somehow pull the knob out of the socket. If you found a broken show piece you could be sure that Ayaan was somewhere nearby!! As he’s grown older he has not just gained height but become so loving and caring and quite often just rings up to say “Hi” and ask if I want to go out for lunch. Other times he will come and give me a big hug just because he wanted to. He also reads all my blogs and always writes an appreciative comment to me. Whilst he was lovely when he was little he is now adorable and is going to leave a trail of broken hearts wherever he goes. 

Then of course there is Ishaan. He is my nephew Ajit and Smriti’s son. He is our book worm and likes nothing better than curling up in a corner reading his books. In fact his mother often has to bribe him to stop reading and to go out and play. I am ashamed to say that I can’t answer half of the questions his inquisitive mind comes up with and so I quietly sneak away! He is another one who loves to give me a hug and I always tell him he is the world’s best hugger!!! 

Avni and Aanya are my niece Priti’s two daughters and they are now at the age that I love sitting with them and chatting and laughing. They give fashion advice and tell me what is trending now. They love roasting their mother and are probably the only people who can! Avni finishes University next year and living away from home has really matured her and she has now gained confidence in everything she does. Aanya has a “don’t mess with me” attitude and is sure to do well wherever she goes. 

My two littlest ones.. Aryaveer and Avaanya at 5 and 3 respectively are still at that precious age where you just want to kiss them and pinch their cheeks. However both definitely have minds of their own. Ari loves to cook and also has a really inquisitive mind regarding anything electronic. Can you imagine… the item on the top of his list to Father Christmas was a metal detector. He now spends hours searching for treasures in the garden. I see him growing up to be a Michelin star chef or an engineer. As for our Avaanya… she is a true fashionista. Everything has to match from top to toe and Aradhana can’t wait till she goes to school where they have a school uniform… at least that will be one less battle in the morning. One day she was with me in my dressing room as I was getting ready and she was not impressed because all I did was apply some kaajal which was not upto her standard. How could I go out without blusher and lipstick!!! Watch out Aradhana… you’ve got a high maintenance daughter here!!!

So these are a small peak at my adorable Grandchildren. I love them all to bits and can’t wait to see them grow and thrive and prosper. My only message to them is to follow your hearts, dream big, stay true to yourselves and always keep trying. You will encounter obstacles but if you dig deep you will find solutions to all your problems. And always remember that your loving Grandmother will always have your back and I will be your loudest cheering squad wherever I am. Love you all to bits my darlings. 💕💕💕