The swelling has gone but the little one seems addicted to the nasal drops.
The recommended dose was a couple of drops three times a day, but she insists on a top-up every couple of hours. Daddy, can you please put the drops in my nose? After a week of convincing how big girls are not scared of nasal drops, Daddy has to now dissuade her from using the nasal drops too often.
Thankfully, the antibiotics were neither administered nor needed. The nasal drops cleared out the blood clots and the pain was gone within a few days.
Eager to make the most of a weekend that didn't involve a birthday party or a visit to the hospital, we paid the Andhra Bhawan another visit on Saturday.
Yes, the same Andhra Bhawan that serves yummy thali and biryani. But this time, on a friend's recommendation, we went upstairs. What's so special about it? You don't have to buy coupons and queue up here.
The friend said it is meant for residents, politicians, government functionaries or other important people. We didn't fit any of these categories, but the manager was maybe fooled by our confidence in walking in while many people waited downstairs.
The food wasn't as exciting as our previous outing to this place. On offer were fried potatoes, curried okra and mashed bottle-gourd, apart from the usual fare of pooris, rice, rasam, sambar, daal and yogurt. But it was fresh and hot and offered a nice break from the usual fare one gets eating out in Delhi.
The plan was to follow this up with a visit to Children's Park (the same drill as last time). But the circle around India Gate was choc-a-bloc with buses ferrying kids on a day out. Winter is almost on its way out and everyone is eager to make the most of the sun while it is bearable. The rides were teeming with kids and there is no way our little one would have got a go.
So, we headed out to my wife's alma mater, Jamia Millia Islamia. It is our friend's alma mater too and he stays just behind the university. He has recently acquired two doves - Martha and Lead - and the little one wanted to play with them.
In the five or so months that we have been in Delhi, we had never passed through Jamia during the day. My wife remarked that the place was looking different. The area has benefited from all the work being carried out for the Commonwealth Games, explained the friend. That Sports Centre will be a practice venue for the athletes and obviously if they come here, the surrounding buildings need to look nice too.
Like the rest of central and south Delhi, Jamia also has a liberal dash of red. The reason? Key historical structures in Delhi are made of red stone and it seems the municipal authorities want to bring all the structures in sync with the red stone structures.
Once we got to the friend's place, I chose to take a quick nap while my little one terrorised the two doves. They hid themselves wherever they could until they were found.
Sunday was spent at Mughal Gardens in the President's House. Developed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, it is spread over 15 acres and includes all kinds of herbs and flowers.
Every year, it is opened to public for a month. As probably the only free public attractions in Delhi, it brings in thousands of people. Bus-loads of school-children and tourists come from Delhi and neighbouring states to visit the garden - especially over the weekend.
I had visited the Mughal Garden many times as a kid, but Delhi has changed dramatically since. There is lot more security and the construction of Delhi Metro means getting to Gate 35 of the President's Estate - which has the main entry to the Mughal Garden - takes a while.
As we were parking the car, we could hear the loudspeakers warning against taking bags, mobile phones, cameras, water bottles and eatables inside. For some reason, there were more men visiting the garden than women. So, my better half and little one were inside within minutes.
I was at the back of long queue which took its time moving as the policeman felt up each visitor at leisure to ensure that no flower was put to risk. Either side of the queue were a lot of discarded pens, tobacco sachets, medicines and toffees. When my turn came, the policeman raised an objection. Your car-key has a remote. It is not allowed inside.
It was time to queue up in a different place. The policemen looked at me with disdain as I held out my car and home keys. After a few minutes of ignoring me and taking stuff from other people, he said: Wait for your turn. I told him that was precisely what I was doing as he entertained those jumping the queue. So, you have to stop people from jumping the queue. Isn't that your responsibility? No, my responsibility is to take stuff and store it.
Before I could say anything more, the other cop said: Why don't you shut up or else Sir won't even take your key. That was enough to make me fall in line.
That said, the Mughal Garden is beautiful. It has many varieties of roses - red, white, orange and pink - dahlias, tulips, marigolds and other colourful flowers. The flowers are in full bloom around this time and a sight to be enjoyed.
However, with hundreds of people - young and old - jostling for the narrow walkway, the tour was over within an hour.
Just outside the Garden, the President's Estate has put up a stall to exhibit its vegetable produce. Sab rang ke laga diya hai (They have coloured before putting it on display), a visitor standing next to me remarked.
Another one remarked to his friend, "Itne saare phool dekhein hain. Inmein se ek ka bhi naam yaad rahega tujhe? (You have seen so many flowers. Will you remember the name if even one?)".
Amidst all this, one person was happy. She was hopping about and trying to balance herself on the edge of the footpath. Careful, I said. You remember what happened last........She was flat on her face before I could complete my sentence.
Thankfully, there were no injuries or bruises this time.
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