“How are you managing with so many girls around?” asked my friend in all sincerity. I almost laughed out loud and felt a bit defensive at the implication. He could hardly be blamed though, three years in Mechanical engineering had turned me into a thorough tomboy a la Kajol in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I disliked hanging out with girly girls, refused to put sunscreen on my severely tanned face, and behaved in ways a good girl wasn’t supposed to. Not surprisingly, my Marwari mother was worried about how I’d get married or adjust to a household that possibly wouldn’t be as progressive as ours. Things worked out well on that front with A, but Angel’s stepping into our lives brought about an unexpected transformation in me. I became the same girly girl and what’s more, started enjoying girl dates with her. This was an experience I never had.

Just about a decade old, Angel has more maturity than 16yo A Jr. She’s responsible, caring and always remembers small things about people. She’s a stickler for order too and her wardrobe and personal stuff are often better arranged than mine. I fondly call her our inventory control manager and consult her before making our monthly grocery list. She’s always on her toes and there’s never a dull moment when she’s around. The guys gently bully her into doing their delegated work so to give the little big girl a break I often take her on special girl dates. Our best time together ever!

Mumbai exploration time!

Mumbai is huge and discovering it in its entirety can take a lifetime. While A knows this maximum city closely and better than us, he doesn’t share our fondness for exploring it. There are plenty of beaches, iconic places like Siddhivinayak Temple and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, must-visit restaurants, khau gallis, shopping destinations, and lots more. Angel’s summer vacations last year inspired us to check out the well-known Elephanta caves and it was one of our best mother-daughter dates.

The long commute in the summer heat and the steep walk to the caves don’t comprise the best girl dates. Yet, we enjoyed the hour-long boat ride while observing the almost completed and now-famous Atal Setu. She was a tad disappointed to see the caves in dire conditions but was convinced that Mumbai’s extreme weather could be attributed to it. Took some pictures with the monkeys there too. We wrapped our day with a visit to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay (CSMVS Museum) and indulged in some shopping on our way back to CSMT station. She walked almost 15k steps with me that day and didn’t flinch once. Truly proud of my girl!

Early morning and evening walks!

Feeling blessed to have at least one child who likes early mornings, I love taking Angel for our Sunday group runs. Another friend’s 8yo son too joins us which makes her feel included. It’s been a while since I stepped out due to rain, but enjoying sunrises with her is one of my favourite things. She isn’t athletic but is game to give me company, which is precious. She became friends with everyone during one of our treks and was lauded for joining in. Oh, how she smiled!

She often joins me for evening walks and keeps track of my pace and distance (Yes, along with smartwatches and apps). These wouldn’t possibly be the ideal girl dates but hey, why not? Girls aren’t all about decking up pretty and strutting in high heels, right? Plus, with a 10yo, one deserves some slack especially when I don’t mind it.

Movies, our time, and more!

Angel is truly a lady-in-the-making in that her patience increases multifold whenever we’re window shopping. She’s also my best fashion critic and doesn’t mince words when asked for her take. Thanks to my lifestyle blogger and influencer work, she knows the right brands and has her preferences set. Picking up lip shades and perfumes with her is a joy and I often let her choose for me. I don’t encourage taking her to movies a lot, but when we do I let her decide. We watched Hanuman last and she loved it!

We’re both selfie lovers (which girl isn’t?) and have too many together. The cutest thing, we got a massage together in Thailand. She was a bit hesitant at first but the lady was sweet and made her comfortable. She enjoyed the experience after that. My work includes attending events and although she joined me a few times before she politely asks me to exclude her now. I liked those girl dates but can never insist her to do something she doesn’t want to. As parents if we don’t respect their privacy and choices, who else will, right?

Whenever I tell her, “With the two boys in the house I would be so lonely without you!” she blushes sweetly. It’s been almost nine years since Mom left and I know how important it is to have a warm and gentle hand to hold whenever you’re feeling low. Angel’s presence fills a void in my life that she can never understand. She pampers me as much as I pamper her, maybe even more. It’s my job, not hers. Yet, the way she says, “Please eat properly after workouts.” or “You take too much tension, Mamma!” makes me cry happy tears. What did I ever do to deserve her?

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024

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