The Strawberry Cake.

             

“Cut Me on Your birthday,

Cut Me on Christmas,

I am a Strawberry Cake,

Mast-Mast!

Enjoy!”

            The little girl in the picture is our 3 year old daughter “Chinmayee” a student of nursery.  She is in the ‘B’ section. Her school recently held a Fancy Dress Competition for all the divisions of nursery and kindergarten.

           

            Chinmayee was to dress as a “Strawberry Cake”.

                                   

          The theme for her to become a strawberry cake was assigned a fortnight before the event. The class teacher requested not to rent-out clothing and prepare them at home, it was compulsory to have a slogan or a punch line to compliment the dressing.

            From the very next day, we got to work on how to work it out. How to create a cake from styrofoam? But, in the end, we applied all that we knew about creativity to make it happen.

            We did have a tough time cutting the Styrofoam, aligning and sticking them, sticking strawberry colored Styrofoam film on it, sticking candles, decorating it to really make it appear like a cake. Thank God! it was done, finally. It took us four days to complete the project. We patted each other, but the event was yet to happen.

            It was eighth of this month at 9 a.m., we two with Chinmayee dressed as a “Strawberry Cake” were in the auditorium at her school for the event. She was as normal as ever, while we had butterflies in our empty bellies. :-)

            The first of all the children to make their appearance on the stage was the ‘A’ division.  It was around 10 to 12 tiny tots, some dressed as noodles, maize, a dairy-milk chocolate, a milk-shake delivered awesome slogans and punch lines, some were shy to speak, some were too loud, and some cried on seeing their mom’s watching them perform.  Once this section was complete, it was the turn of ‘B’ section.

            After a couple of kids playing their part, it was Chinmayee’s turn to make it big. Here I wish to mention the miracle of God and positive will-power. Chinmayee had been sick with fever for almost 4 days before the event, but just for that event, I don’t know how, but she gathered the strength to launch herself on the stage. She confidently walked over to the microphone, delivered her punch line with awesome energy and self-belief.  The crowd present in-there gave a round of applause; we were awe-struck, happy to listen that and joined with big smiles on our face.

            The competition was over, we returned home, I had my much needed breakfast and left for work.

            We both were happy on Chinmayee’s involvement and the commitment she had toward the event. We were glad to see she being least feared executing her role on the stage.

            After almost two weeks, although, we weren’t that curious to know the results of the competition, compared to her taking part in the event, but somehow we thought we should at least know where she stands. So, my wife decided to visit the school just to know the outcome of the event and collect Chinmayee in return.  

            And Lo!, on reaching the school, my wife was so happy to read on the notice board that her daughter had stood “First” in her division in the competition.

            Chinmayee received hugs, kisses, words of appreciation, and encouragement to do well in whatever she did, from her Mom and Dad.

            I sincerely appreciate all the efforts of - Anshumati, my wife, for authoring the punch line (“Mast” – is a word in Hindi language and it means – Nice.) and one hundred percent dedication to make Chinmayee’s participation a success; right from buying the material, cutting, sticking, decorating, all the while looking after Chinmayee at home. Since, I couldn’t help much, I ensured being there with them.

  

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