Until the next time

Have taken scores of pictures during the four months we spent with Nikhil and Siddarth; but the picture that stays in my mind wasn't taken with a cemera. It's an image embedded in my mind, of Siddarth held in the arms of his daddy at San Francsco airport. Waving out to us, from behind the security cordon Siddarth burst into a nursery number, 'Goodbye now...'.

It was, indeed time for 'goodbye'; and the clock said it was time for us to leave. Unlike at an earlier send-off when Siddarth wouldn't let us go, he was cool this time, and even smiling, as we proceeded for the security check, disappearing from his view. It was not until the subsequent morning, said thier parents, the kids learnt that thatha-patti were not to be found anywhere in the house; and were gone, for a while.

The last few days we spent together were fun-filled, with a touch of sadness at prospects of parting. Here, some pctures that remind us of that time.Nikhil, helping grandma with the packing.

And his parents, presumably, discussing the logistics of having to fit in four adults with two car-seated kids, plus four outsized travel-cases, in their SUV; for our drive to the airport.

A haircut is bearable, can even be fun, if he could have it done at the wheels of a Porche

Companionable Siddarth.

Maybe not quite so companionable, at times. Tiff here was, perhaps, over who would take the driver's seat.

At an outing in San Francisco, where they have a weekly farmers' market on the sea-front.

Nikhil, holding on to the living room couch.

Siddarth puts in his thumb where some others put their foot in, at times. I keep telling him, if he keeps doing it, the thumb would melt into Siddarth's mouth, like a choc-bar. Siddarth remains unconvinced; and he is willing to take chances with his thumb.
He is not so willing, though, take off his favourite GAP shirt, if only briefly, for a bath.

Nikhil at the book-shelf upstairs. Lord save the books.

Elder brother Siddarth poses no such threat to books. He likes them; and has mom/dad read out for him a book or two he picks up from play-room, before going to sleep.

Hanging out at the door, for someone to take him out into the backyard.

At Santana Row on a Saturday, determined to make the most of the afternoon. Never mind the sleep time. He can/does snooze in the car on way home
Ready for home-cooked uppu-thupu-anna, in the ambiance of a Mexican dhaba at Santana Row.

Strikes a pose, at Little Italy segment of Santana Row.

Mischief in his eyes.
and innocent laughter, as he watches the milling crowd from the sidewalk in front of an ice-cream shop .

The face I miss in Mysore.