Since my last 2 posts made most of you shed tears, I thought it’s time to make up for it. What better way to do that than writing Mantam-isms?
When we moved to our house, I assigned a few duties to Mantam. Mannu’s responsibility was to make sure there was an extra tissue roll placed in the toilet in case the hung one gets over midway. She would perform her job so diligently that she would make frequent visits to the toilet to check if the last one she had placed had been hung or not. Tammu had this habit of using more tissues than required for her business. I had told them strictly that they were not supposed to waste tissues as the rolls we had bought were getting over soon.
Cut to the days when A started living with us. Mannu realized that the tissues were getting over too fast One day, when she went about her duty, she counted the number of rolls left and came running to me and said “Mumma, the tissues rolls are getting over very fast and we just have 2 more left. What will we do now? We don’t even have jobs to buy more” I assured that her parents had enough money to buy necessities and she didn’t have to worry. We were just trying to avoid spending for things which we can do without.
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When A lived with us, Mantam and I slept together in our room. Abbas slept with A in the other room. After a few weeks, Mantam started missing Abbas. And Tammu told me one day “Mumma, you have been sleeping with us for so many days. Let Baba sleep with us today. You go and sleep with A uncle” I didn’t know how to tell her why I couldn’t do that 
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When the talks about my visit to Melbourne were going on:
Me: Mantam, do you know Mumma will have to go to Melbourne for an interview.
Mantam: Where is it Mumma?
Me: It is in Australia only but in a different state. So, I will have to stay a night. I will go on Monday and come back on Tuesday.
Mantam: But what will we eat Mumma?
Me: Don’t worry about food. I will cook enough for you all before going. But don’t trouble Baba much okay?
Mantam: You don’t worry about Baba. We will take care of him
Me: By the way, if I get the job in Melbourne we will move from here. You will have to leave your school and your friends here.
Mantam: Oh but where will we live in Melbourne?
Me: If I get a job, then I will go and find a house first. Then Baba will bring you both there.
Mannu: Mumma, when you look for a house in Melbourne can you please find a house which doesn’t have a balcony?
Me (Puzzled): Why bachhe? Don’t you like balcony?
Mannu: If there is no balcony, then Baba will not be able to smoke na?
(Background: Ever since A came, he would go to the balcony to smoke and even Abbas resumed his addiction after having quit for many years. Well, Mantam and I made him promise that he would quit when he gets a job and he has quit it now thankfully)
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PS: I told Mantam that my blog readers have sent hugs, kisses and love to them. They want to thank all of you and have sent tight hugs to each one of you.
Anecdotes of Two-riffic Twins 