The Mystery Of Missing Items in the Kitchen

After Anika’s room, the Kitchen is my next favorite place in the house. Like most wives and mothers, a large portion of my time is spent in the kitchen cooking scrumptious meals for my husband and myself , and for making Anika’s favorite dishes. However, off late my foray into the kitchen has been for locating missing items from around the house.

Recently when Anika and I were reading of her books sitting I noticed something peeking from under the sofa. For a wild minute my worst fears surfaced and I held my breath thinking could that be something alive and wriggly. With bated breath I bent down to see what it could be. My little girl, bold and unafraid as she is, bent down with me too.

A closer inspection dispelled my fears about it being a cockroach or some other wriggle creature; instead I my spatula which had gone mysteriously missing a few days ago. When I asked Anika about the spatula, this is what happened between us:

Me: Anika !!!!!!! Who brought this here ????

Anika: Hehehehehehehe( giving me all naughty smiles)

Me: Stop laughing and tell me

Anika: Ani Ani (She meant by saying Anika brought that)

Me: Why did you bring??? Is this a toy to play????

Anika: Papa Papa!!!!!!! Uhhhhhuuuuuuu (starts crying)

Again, do I shout at her or scold her? Nopes!!! 

The minute I saw tears rolling down her little cheeks, I quickly changed my tone and told her politely not to do this again. Kitchen utensils are not for playing. She just sweetly replies ”Okay.” How much of what I had told her did she understand is anyone’s guess!

Just after few seconds, those crocodile tears just vanished and I was left wondering if I had been taken for a ride again by this little minx. 

When I’m working in the kitchen, I always try to finish up my work fast so that I can spend quality time with my little girl. However, Anika’s latest game of hiding my kitchen items makes it next to impossible! 

These are things missing in a daily basis:

Colanders

Garlic crusher

Tongs

Spatulas

Spoons

Tea Kettle

I knew my cooking would take longer than usual because of the missing items from the kitchen.  But I was adamant to find them regardless of where she might have hidden them. I checked everywhere under the sofas, the couch, behind the dressing area, underneath the bed. But all of my efforts went in vain.

Finally, when I thought I rather give up and declare, “They are lost,” I found Anika slowly bending down under the Divan and then peeping through. And that ‘s when I knew where could find my missing items. I ran quickly to the divan and when i bend down to see what’s in there…well......

I could see my colanders, garlic crusher, tongs, spatulas, spoons , forks and what not… I thought it looked like a mini home decor shop. To keep Anika distracted, I have her one of my dupatta’s while I quickly cleared up all the stuff and hid them in different places in the kitchen.

Feeling happy that my kitchen was back to normal and feeling extra extra generous,  picked up Anika and smothered her with kisses till she is begging to be let down. 

It was tea time anyway, so I went to my kitchen and get the tea brewing when I realize, my tea strainer is missing...  

And it starts all over again!!!!