Chapter from my child's childhood: Where is Mahati?

If you haven't already read about the thrilling saga from my life that involved accidentally abandoning Ambi when we were kids, you should. Mostly because it was one of the more exciting things to have happened to me (yes, I did make this about myself) but also because it will give you a little context for what happened a few months ago. 

Read it here. Go on. I will wait.  

Now, fast forward to some two decades later, and here I am - with an nine-year-old child who also takes great pleasure in hiding. Every time I drop her at her grandparents' place, the conversation goes something like this.

My mom, loudly: Where is Mahati?

*silence* (with time, we have learnt to mask our giggles)  

Me, also loudly: Oh no, looks like she isn't here! 

*silence*

My mom: Wow! I wonder where she could be! 

Mahati: *jumps out, unable to contain the excitement from hiding behind the car*   

This happens pretty much whenever we drop her off or pick her up. We're all very good at dramatic wows and oh-nos at this point, as you can imagine. One evening, my husband drove to my parents' house, said hi to my mom, and asked where Mahati was.  

My mom, loudly: Why don't you tell me where she is? 

*silence*

My husband, also loudly: It looks like she isn't here!   

*silence*

My mom: Oh no, maybe you left her at home! 

*silence*

My husband, dropping the act: Wait, she doesn't usually hide this long. Where is she? 

My mom: I thought you were dropping her off now. She wasn't here today. 

As it turns out, I hadn't dropped her at my parents', I'd dropped her off at a friend's house. My husband got the location wrong. But I guess it's nice to learn that fooling grownups is a genetic trait that passes on from uncle to niece. And it's always great to imagine two grown adults having a very dramatic fake conversation for the amusement of a nine-year-old who wasn't even at home.