High Five

: : Every year on his birthday I interview my son with a similar set of questions to record the changes in his likes and personality traits with growing age. This exercise started out when he turned two and began blabbering many mixed words and stories from his playschool. I wanted to document the funny broken sentences from his imaginative world that came so naturally.As years passed by, his answers started becoming more apt, descriptive and carefully voiced, than innocently spontaneous like before. I realised, he has grown up!  When he approached five and I gave birth to another baby, I consciously untangled him from my constant watchful eye. I think I should let my older one become an independent individual who can find his own inspirations. Now is the time to set him free…free from all documentation. I hope to continue the birthday interviews with my second son when he would turn two.

: : Arhaant’s Interview @ 5 

Now since I know your name well, tell me what’s baby’s name?

Abhiir. My name is Arhaant.

Who are your best friends at school ?

Omar and Amani . Sit Omar, sit Amani , Arhaant is driving the car, bags behind….

Okay Okay. And in girls, who are your friends…

Salwa, Setuki and Simra

I like Simra’s hair style. (shyly)

What do you play at school?

Crash Bang Ball

Oh what’s that like?

You throw the ball on each others face.

Really! Do you play any other nice games?

Umm …Duck Duck Goose.

If you are a goose you should run and catch. If you are a duck you should sit.

Okay. Nice. Now tell me what all do you like about school.

I like to go by bus only one time. And I like to play outside with my friends.

What do you do on Friday – Saturday?

Two holidays! I want a hundred holidays. We should sleep for long time and then wear outside clothes and go somewhere…

What do you like to play with Amma?

Cut cars from the book and make a collage. When I was in Miss Hollie’s class I cannot cut straight. Now I can!

What do you like to play with Baba?

Boxing, football, fighting…tickling…

What do you like to play with the baby?

Baby can’t even speak! He doesn’t have teeth! Tongue-out boy! I don’t like to play …I like to kiss him…hundred times…million times.

Whats your favourite colour?

Green. Like Ben Ten. Actually….ummm …yes… green.

Which is your favourite movie?

That one…with the two girls….they look the same…

Parent Trap?

Oh Yes…hahaha. How that lizard goes in that bad girl’s mouth! Hahaha.

You don’t like Krrish any more!

That was when I was a baby!Ages ages ago... But I like Dhoom boy.

What do you like to eat?

Chicken biryani. Sooo delicious. No no actually … curd rice.That’s my most favourite in the whole wide world.

Really! Now can you tell me a story…or sing a song…

Oh gosh….But I’ll be tired….

Hey come on. Sing that bear hunt song…

We’re going on a bear hunt, we’re gonna catch a big one….

Hey what’s that. Woovy wavy grass. Swooshi squashi mud. We can’t go over it. We can’t go under it. We gotta go through it. Oh Oh. Whats that! Two big furry ears, two bright eyes, one big shiny nose! It’s a bear! ….Amma now I’m tired…

Any Arabic songs?

Ya madarasati…ya madarasati.

What does that mean?

I don’t know.

Tell me about your  favourite cartoons shows…

I like to watch my channel…Ummh…Kids movies and Fort Boyard challenge.

How old are you today?

I am five years old. Baby is zero years old! When I will be six, baby will be one. When I will be seven, baby will be two….when…

Okay. Okay got it. You can play now.

But Amma I want boots for my birthday. If its your birthday, you can wear boots to school. On other days you should wear shoes. And I want eye cars…like cars movie. Okay Amma?

Alright. We will decide that later. Happy Birthday Arhaant!