Last time we came to Phuket we brought our daughters with us and we thought then only that our next trip would be with our grandchildren. Unfortunately Siya is living her life at university so was out of the picture just now and Alia is busy training for her Nationals so she couldn’t join us. Our two youngest Aryaveer and Avaanya are only 6 and 4 years old so will have to wait till they grow up a bit before I can venture out with them on our own. So that left us with Ayaan and Vivaan who happily accepted our plans and actually seemed quite excited to be joining us so we were good to go!!!
As is our usual practice Vinay and I like to spend 7 nights at one resort and this time we decided to return to the Intercontinental at Kamala Beach which we thought would be fun and lively for the boys. People may say we are predictable but we have our travel plans down like clockwork. Reach the airport way too early, carry our thepla rolls for the flight and once we get our room we have the fine art of unpacking down to the T. We both open our suitcases, figure out which shelves each of us are taking, 25% for him and the rest for me. The high shelves are his and the low ones mine. I hang up all my dresses and we even arrange our toiletries beautifully by the basins. We love to arrange everything around the room so that it feels like a home away from home!! Friends who have travelled with me know my slight case of OCD ( yes Moni… slight though I know you beg to differ!!!). Like when you come back from shopping isn’t it just natural to open your bags, cut the labels off, fold the clothes and put them in your suitcase? And doesn’t everyone always throw the teabag in the bin after making a cup of tea and not leave a dripping bag on the counter?? Well… that’s me and like it or lump it… I’m not changing. As is the fact that I hate putting dirty clothes in my bag… that’s what laundry service is for… use it!!!
I was happy to understand that Vivaan has inherited my genes and he also did all the above. Ayaan of course just lived out of his suitcase. Till the last day before we left for our holiday Rashi kept on asking us if we could manage the boys but I was quite confident that if nothing else, I have taught all my children and grandchildren how to behave. I have always loved them to bits, maybe spoilt them but I have always been a bit strict where timings and manners are concerned. My timings theory nearly went out of the window one day as both boys didn’t appear till noon and I was starting to get a bit worried especially as they had made all sorts of plans of going go karting and stuff. They casually ambled down at past noon and got a good shouting from me which they later admitted to their parents was fully warranted. I of course felt so guilty I packed them off with extra money to go and eat at their favourite restaurant Din Tae Fung after their go karting. Vinay and I are quite happy to just sit by the beach and pool and while away the day reading and playing our board games.
Children… well… growing boys I guess are so funny. They don’t feel hungry for as long as they sleep but as soon as they wake up they are ravenous and will eat anything and everything. Rashi and Neha had asked for some particular type of Thai chilli crisps which we kept buying but the boys would keep eating!!! On the last day we threatened them within an inch of their lives that they don’t touch the last packets and to buy extra for their own snacking. On the day of our departure we were petrified they would keep sleeping and told them they must wake up and be ready to leave the hotel at 9 am…. We kept a 30 minute margin but they were bang on time!!
I don’t know about them but we had a blast. It was so nice spending so much time alone with them and I really appreciated their caring nature… always helping carry the bags and just waiting for Vinay when he lagged behind a bit. There was plenty of joking and laughter and Ayaan is a total duplicate of Saurav especially the way he used to rest his arms round my shoulders when we walked. Vivaan is so gentle with us even though he always kept his phone on silent for some reason. They never complained when we used to go to bed by 10.30pm which must have been an unearthly hour for them but they made good use of the bath tub as one or the other was always lying in it… apparently Ayaan used to do his mock SAT tests lying in the bath tub!! In contrast to them our bathtub never got used… in fact we used to curse it as it blocked up so much room in the bathroom!!! They were supposed to study everyday but I doubt that happened as they always seemed to fall asleep as soon as they entered their room. This trip Vinay must have got inspired by the boys as he also ventured in to the pool and the sea. His swimming shorts have travelled to Phuket five times previously and never got wet but this time he also enjoyed relaxing in the pool and the sea. Being with the youngsters brings back the youth in you and we all used to laugh at their funny jokes and antics.
So we are now on the flight home with our hearts full of lovely memories and smiles on our faces. Thank you my two delightful grandchildren for making our trip so memorable. Love you both 💕💕💕
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