Quintessential American

Tired of stories in which a trash truck or an alligator plays the protagonist, I decided to introduce the kid to some good old mythology. So, we pick "Krishna & Sudama". I figure he can identify with friendship and so this will make sense.
Okay, here we go...

Me: Krishna & Sudama were two kids in a school. They were the best of friends, did everything together, played, eat, slept together

Kid: Haan and woh school mein itni badi blue train bhi share karte the (because thats the biggest thing you could do for anyone, share your train)

Me: Haan... more blah blah... Then they grew up and left school

Kid: Kyonki woh uncle ban gaye and office jane lage?

Me: Kindof. But Krishna became a big king and blah blah. But Sudama was poor. He didnt have much money to buy any groceries. And his babies would cry when they would get hungry as there was no groceries done.

Kid: Kyon, use office mein paise nahi dete the?

Me: Well, dete the, par bahut kaam paise dete the

Kid: Phir woh dusre office nahi gaya?

Me: Oh well, thats why he went to Krishna. To see if he could get a job at a new office.

Kid: In Krishna's office.

Me: Well... kindof. Anyways, when he was going, his wife said that Krishna likes poha, so I made some poha for him. Take it with you.

Kid: Oh, poha ke liye paise nahi lagte the

Me: Umm... well she had some poha pehlese

Kid: Woh usne babies ko nahi diya?

Me: babies?

Kid: Haan, woh babies ko bhuki lagi thi... unko nahi diya?

Me: Well, she gave half to babies and half to Krishna

Kid: Phir babies rona band hue?

Me: Yes.

Kid: Ok... age bolo

Me: So he walked over to Krishna's palace

Kid: Kyon, why did he walk. Uski car kharab ho gayi thi?

Me: Well, uske paas car nahi thi

Kid: Kyon kahan gayi uske car?

Me: Well, usne car layi nahi shop se. Uske paas paise nahi the, right?

Kid: Yes... to uski car shop ke uncle ke paas thi?

Me: Well, kindof.

Kid: Ooo, yeh to bahut mushkil hua. Ab Sudama kaise jayega haan?

Me: Well, he could walk.

Kid: Haan par kitna walking karega. Car nahi hai to woh office nahi ja sakta, school nahi ja sakta... (long list of places where he can't go).

Me: Par use to sirf Krishna ke house jana tha. Wahan woh walking ja sakta tha. Tumhe story sunani hai?

Kid:(deep in thought)Hmm...

Me: Anyways, he went to Krishna's house where Krishna welcomed him.

Kid: Krishna ke paas car thi?

Me: Yes. Well, Krishna and Sudama had lunch, talked a lot, had fun... blah blah blah... till it was time to go home.

Kid: Par Sudama to Krishna ke office to gaya hi nahi.

Me: Umm... well suno to

Kid: Woh ghar Krishna ke car mein gaya?

Me: No. Walking. Anyways, he reached home and found a big house, his wife and kids in nice clothes and lots of food at home. Krishna had given it all to them.

Kid: And paise?

Me: Krishna gave him paise too

Kid: To phir usne car le li?

Me: Yes, I suppose so.

Kid: Ab woh ghoomi ja sakta hai?

Me: yes

Kid: Par ab use office nahi jana hai?

Me: Well, actually Krishna gave him a job in a good office too... I guess lets wrap up this story.

Kid: Hmm... lets hear the story about three alligators and Arul

Me: Yeah, lets go into that one.

Comments

Sagar Bhanagay said…
Ha ha!! This one's simply hilarious!! And considering that in the earlier article, mommy is deeply musing over the mystical 'Krishna', this one simply adds charm to the mommy-son conversation. Thoroughly enjoyed it :)
September 12, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Dash said…
naye story mein uske alligators ke paas car hain ke nahin? :)
September 13, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Alok said…
It's easy to ‘blame’ America :-). I would say “Like parents, like son” :-)
September 13, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Alok said…
<sarcasm>I like reading your blog, because unlike me, you update your blog regularly!</sarcasm>
September 26, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Ashutosh said…
Mom should have told the kid that,poor suadama had a poor car and he had no money for gas.Thats why he went to Krishna who was owning a gas station to ask for Gas. To American kids story shuld be told American way. Americans dont understands word "poor" and "short supply" or "not available" Indian moms should know how to convince theire American kids.
September 26, 2008 at 5:15 AM
me said…
Kid has been running around all evening yesterday with the slogan... "Sudama Obama"
Why do I let him spend time with Alok?
September 29, 2008 at 1:11 PM
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