Weave a Tale

Of Mirabilis Jalapa and Calendar Gods

2011-06-04T04:12:00.000-07:00

I was reading a small write-up by a colleague on the Mirabilis jalapa and it set me on a long trip backwards in time.

I simply love this flower, and for simple reasons. I say this with nostalgia.

My granny's tiny patch of garden in our native village was a riot of colours painted by the Mirabilis jalapa or 'anthi mantharai' flowers as they call them in Tamil. 'Anthi' is dusk in Tamil and naturally, the flowers bloomed only at dusk.

The stalks of the flowers were long and my granny would interweave the stalks to make several colourful flower bunches. No, they weren't supposed to be worn on your hair. So, my uncle would help me adorn the calendar gods with the magenta and yellow bunches.

I would crush the flowers to dye my nails a shocking magenta. Sometimes, I would rub them on a teeny-weeny area of the perfectly whitewashed garden wall and watch it go pink with childish glee. The flowers, leaves and seeds were essential food items in my choppu vilaiyaattu (சொப்பு விளையாட்டு). If only I had known then that the flowers were edible!

Calendar gods are an inseparable element of Indian households. One never bought calendars; you received it as a gift for your unswerving loyalty to the local naadar kadai or your area Bata shoe shop. There should be one picture of each god in the Hindu pantheon. It is mandatory that each god is depicted in hues ranging from mittai pink to parrot green to turmeric yellow. Even when the house is whitewashed, the walls will not shed the calendar gods. They might go missing from action for a few hours, but they will soon return to their spots and continue to bless the inmates with good health and longevity and protect them from imminent disaster.

That the calendar gods reside only on the walls of the living room and not the puja room does not mean that they will not be included in the family rituals. Whenever a puja is done, the camphor arathi will be done both to the gods in the puja room and the calendar gods. In some households, the calendar gods will be framed and deified in the puja room.

Reviving My Weblog

2011-06-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

Whoever read my writings had a word of advice for me: “Continue writing, you have a good flow and great style!”

That should have inspired to write a great novel. But, I am too lazy to even to pick up that piece of advice and just let it flow around my ears. On one of those rarest days when I am exceedingly motivated, I would start writing at full throttle, but in a few days, the steam would fizzle out and I would return to my usual vegetative state. What a pity!

At times, when I'm reading a novel or poem, I would be all inspired to write one on my own. My heart would flutter and soar high into the sky and spread its wings to hover over the world of creative writing. But, once I put down the book I would be too lazy to get into action.

My friends are tired of my inactiveness. A few of them are established writers who have carved out a place for themselves in the literary world. They would even volunteer to review and edit my work for free. Any ass would have jumped at these wonderful opportunities. But, I’m not an ass and I let them pass. (Sorry about the PJ.)

Once, a colleague gave me a brainwave of an idea. "Start writing a letter a day to yourself about something interesting. Then you can put it together to make a novel," he suggested. He even took the pains of pinging every now and then and asking me how the book was progressing. What progress? When I had not even begun!!!

But today, some unknown stimulus seems to have kicked me into action. And lo! I have begun writing. I like the way my fingers flurry about the keyboard, typing out meaningful words that string together to form meaningful sentences.

Most of the times, when I am reading something that touches my heart, it could even be an ad line, I feel that all these awesome writings are already scattered out there beyond the horizon, floating in space and it requires a writer to develop a vibe and connect with these writings and let them seep through their veins and emerge out of their fingertips for the rest of the world to read.

During my stint as a creative writer with a children's magazine, my writing skill shaped up pretty well. I upgraded it and honed it by writing constantly. Basically, I tried out every form of writing: novels, short stories, poems, rhymes, riddles, trivia and what not. I used to be excited when I saw my name in print. I would proudly show it off to my parents and relatives and friends. I would read and reread and simply feel exhilarated.

Over the years, I moved into a different career where there was no need or scope for creative writing. Around the same time, weblogs were the in-thing. Every single person that I knew who thought he or she was capable of stringing a decent sentence together started a blog and began publishing their writings. It was the age of the amateur writer. It was the golden era of free desktop publishing or push-button publishing. The writer in every lurker of the World Wide Web felt the compelling need to be unleashed and read by the denizens of the Internet.

Anybody could try out their hand at any form of writing without getting rejected. How can I, a writer who can do some honest and decent writing be left out from the world of push-button publishing? I followed the trend and started my own blog and began writing articles. The worst problem was finding out a suitable to topic to write about. I was generally embarrassed to write about intimate and personal things and my perspectives on both mundane and sophisticated issues. Though I am vociferous about my perspectives or proclivities in person, I am wary of putting them on the Internet where they will be recorded for posterity and could be retrieved and turned against me by any Amar, Akbar or Anthony. Generally, I was trying to be cautious and ended up being paranoid.

So, I would come up with a topic, then judge that it was too controversial to be discussed in a social medium and simply shelve it. This happened several times over, and I ended up having no topics to write about. And, my opportunity to do a bit of writing flew out of the rickety window of my cramped and dilapidated bedroom.

Friday Fill-Ins #6

2008-08-22T05:25:00.000-07:00

1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was barbecued vegetables, cottage cheese, parathas, dal makhani, pasta choc cake and butterscotch pastry. (We went for a team lunch at office :-) )

2. Performing social obligations is something I intensely dislike.

3. The full moon is cool and glorious and reminds me of those wonderful nights of star gazing.

4. Appadiya (Is that so!) is one of my favorite local expressions.

5. Sometimes it's best to turn deaf and dumb and avoid arguments.

6. Subramanyapuram is the best movie I've seen so far this year!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to travelling safe with my family, tomorrow my plans include visiting my brother-in-law for offering our condolences and Sunday, I want to do the return trip back home and have a restful sleep!

Friday Fill-Ins #5

2008-08-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

1. You know you're old when the neighbourhood children call you "Aunty!"

2. My heart is divided between a job that satiates my creative yearnings and a job that meets my financial commitments.

3.Quiet and peace to do my work is what I need RIGHT NOW! (My kids are talking nineteen to the dozen right now.)

4. I have felt the pang of being helpless, I have known the depths of love, assurance and support from loved ones.

5. Gah, won't these people ever stop hiking land prices and house rents.

6. Do whatever you like best as soon as you can!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finish my writing assignment, tomorrow my plans include attending the community women's meet and Sunday, I want to picnic with my family and relatives!

Haiku

2008-08-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Have been wanting to try my hand at Haiku for a long time. Don't know whether this fulfills the rules and grammar of Haiku...!

Crowds throng canteen
No lunch for caterer
He’s all smiles

Raindrops on leaves
Dripping pearl strings
Thirsty earth

Juicy guavas
Squirrels race
A snarled pole reaches first

Green henna leaves
Black mortar
Reddened hands

Silken thread
Gossamer fabric
Eight legs clambering down

I’d Rather Hate

2008-07-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

Heated words
Spray forth pent up anger
Smouldering lava from a live volcano

Anger over…
What?
Whom?
The action or the person?

Prickly words
Like spiky barbed thorn wires that fence arid lands
Blazing coals
That singes and scorches tender skins
Piercing and burning up the compassionate heart

What I get in return is all love and affection
No hatred, no abhorrence, no disgust
I wince at this ever-flowing abundance of love
That covers the dry thorns with tender foliage and smiling blossoms
That drenches and puts out the burning coals

I cringe and cower
Ashamed of myself
Restless and mortified
Only to return more vengeful

I pray that I may continue to hate
Blazing and raging all over again
Hate the living presence…
Rather than only love the departed soul.

(In memory of my deceased mother...)

Meme of Five

2008-06-26T00:37:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Ananya had tagged me to this meme...

“The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.”

1) What were you doing 5 years ago?
Five years ago, exactly on this date, my daughter C was barely 3 weeks old. I was coming to terms with handling a 5 year old and the 3 week old baby, running a household, and taking care of my C-sectioned tummy single-handedly. Phew! I'm glad it's all over now and just a memory of the past.

2) What are 5 things on your to-do list for today?
To complete the storyboards for my current lesson (at office), not to feel lazy and manage to go the gym, buy veggies and fruits, read a few pages in that Paulo Coelho (introduced by Ananya & Me) book lying untouched for almost a week, and find out a good hotel to stay at Hyderabad on my oncoming trip.

3) What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Choclate chip biscuits, mixture (traditional Indian fried snack), sweets made of milk, murukku (traditional Indian fried snack) and chips (potato and raw banana).

4) What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
Buy a house by the river or sea, buy a car, invest a sizable money for future needs, spend on charity and buy lovely dresses for the entire family.

5) What are five jobs you’ve had?
Teacher, storyteller, businesswoman, content writer & translator, and voice over artiste. I'm currently an Instructional Designer.

I'm tagging Nomad's wife, Bangaloremom, and Michelle so that they would enjoy doing this meme as much as I did.

Too lazy to weave a tale...

2008-06-13T05:19:00.000-07:00

The lazy bum that I am and the fact that I need the heavens to come down to earth to motivate me to write anything worthwhile, I created this blogspot to hone my writing skills. As days, weeks and months have passed by since then, all I’ve done is surf from blog to blog and admire the writing skills of fellow bloggers. Of course, there is nothing wrong in that. But it in no way has helped me improve my writing skills. The heavens haven’t come down to earth yet, naa…?
I should admit that the blogosphere abounds with mommy blogs, wannabe mommy blogs, yuppie blogs, gen next blogs, gen y blogs, girls-with-bruised-ego blogs, living-in-couple blogs, cookery blogs, blogs that double up as letters to friends and families…the list is endless.
What surprised me was, except for a couple of blogs, most blogs were well written and organized. Some blogs looked highly professional in appearance and content. Moreover, the blog writers had a big network of friends and relatives reading the blogs and pitching in with their comments. The topics ranged from caesarean section experiences, baby blues, and birthday celebrations to career counselling, philosophy, and professional book reviews.
I’m very religious about visiting some of these blogs almost everyday and read the latest entries. Reading them would leave me determined to post an entry on some interesting topic or intriguing issue in my own blog. But, in a couple of seconds, I would be jumping over to the next blog and blissfully forget all about my resolve.
Now, don’t you think I’m a no-gooder. I’ve thousands of ingenious ideas and inspired thoughts spinning inside my head and vying for my attention to let them see the light of day. The problem is can’t decide which one to choose. They all seem to be as promising and interesting as the other. And here I am, making a blog out of this mundane topic.

Friday Fill-Ins #4

2008-06-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

Click here to create your Friday Fill-In for this week.

1. Shaping up is high up on my bucket list.
2. My favorite quote is This too, shall pass; it's from The Bible.
3. Basia inspired me to start blogging.
4. Strawberries are best eaten fresh.
5. I don't remember who was in the last dream I remember having.
6. The most enjoyable time to go for a walk is in the early hours, before dawn.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to spend time with my family, tomorrow my plans include shopping and Sunday, I want to go to the beach!

Friday Fill-Ins #3

2008-06-06T04:03:00.000-07:00

Click on this link for creating your own Friday Fill-Ins.

1. Idle hands are searching cookies and snacks in the pantry.

2. I love dreaming in the shower.

3. My favorite time of the day is when I can browse the internet and visit my favourite blogs.

4. The last tea I drank was brewed by my spouse with ginger.

5. I like to eat juicy watermelons and sweet mangoes in the Summer.

6. My mother always said that it is important to save, waste not, and stand up for your self-respect and dignity.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to collecting my dress from my tailor, tomorrow my plans include cooking a nice meal for my family and relaxing, and Sunday, I want to celebrate my daughter's birthday with gusto!

Thursday Thirteen # 2

2008-06-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

I like doing memes, but can't keep up to it due to time constraints. I'm taking the cue from one of Ananya's posts for this weeks T13.

Thirteen Things you'll find in my handbag

1. Cash purse

2. Mobilephone

3. Address/Telephone Book (Yes, I still carry them around...)

4. Moisturizing lotion and chap stick

5. Tissues and handtowel

6. Pens

7. Talismans

8. ATM card, PAN card, my photograph (I've my kids's and spouse's snaps on my mobilephone)

9. Tiny jotting pad

10. Comb

11. Amrutanjan pain balm

12. Spare hair clips and safety pins

13. Sanitary napkin (for those emergencies ;-0)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Chain Memes

2008-05-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Ananya tagged me to this meme a couple of weeks back. I was caught up with my exams and didn't even log into my PC these days. I find memes an interesting way to learn about oneself. We take so many of our favourites and dislikes for granted. They are so much a part of ourself, and memes help us rediscover them.

Last Movie you Saw in a Theater:
Arai Enn 305-il Kadavul - ATamil movie similar to 'Bruce Almighty'

What Book or Books Are You Reading?
'Managment Techniques'- My MBA Text Book : ( 'George's Marvellous Medicine' by Roald Dahl

Favorite Board Game: Scrabble, Business

Favorite Smells: Smell of babies, sandalwood, jasmine, lily of the valley, lavender....

Favorite Sound: Children's heartful laughter, rain pitter-pattering on the ground, violin, the cuckoo's song.....the list is endless.

Worst Feeling In The World: Death of a loved one. Betrayal by close friends and relatives.

Favorite Fast Food Place: Subway, Shree Mithai

Finish This Statement. “If I Had A Lot Of Money I’d…”
Lead a cosy life and spare some of the money for the under privileged too.

Do You Sleep With a Stuffed Animal? No...its place is in the toy closet.

Storms-Cool Or Scary: Cool. In fact, I enjoy the scary feeling. It's all the more better if there is a power cut, but, if that happens, I should be with company.

Favorite drink: Fruit punch and chocolate milkshake.

Finish This Statement, “If I Had The Time I Would …..”
Read all my favorite books and spend more time with my family and close friends.

If You Could Dye Your Hair Any Color, What Would Be Your Choice? Aquamarine blue

Future Child’s Name: I've had two and that's it.

Do You Drive Fast? No.

One Nice Thing About The Person Who Sent This To You:
Ananya sent this to me. She is a warm person and touches people's heart with her genuine displays of affection and love. She goes that extra mile to give us the much-needed strokes. A multi-talented person, she's good at multi-tasking too. We got close to each other in a short span of time. We enjoyed chatting together and sharing stories.

What’s Under Your Bed? Spare bedcovers and linens. Clothing that needs to be pressed.

Would You Like To Be Born As Yourself Again? Yes, so I can make some better decisions.

Morning Person Or Night Owl? A bit of both. But sometimes, I feel all geared up at 5 pm, when it's actually time to leave... :(

Over Easy Or Sunny Side Up? Sunny side up, please.

Favorite Place To Relax: On the bed in my bedroom or even simply curling up on the floor with a fluffy pillow.

Favorite Pie: Blueberry pie.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate with chocolate chips and chocolate syrup.

Of all the people you tagged this to, who’s most likely to respond first?

I'm tagging Bangaloremom, Butterfly, MondaythroughSunday, and Amethystd. I am expecting Bangaloremom to respond first.

Reading is pleasure

2008-05-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

Is there anything more gratifying for a bibliophile mom than to watch her kids grow up with books? I introduced M to books at the tender age of one month. Lying down on the cot with her, I would flip through magazines with colorful pictures. Her eyes would flit like bumble bees to catch the fleeting colors in the book as I thumbed the pages.

As eager, excited, and over-ambitious as a mother can get with her first-born, I bought M her first set of picture books when she was just 3 months old. And she was barely 14 months when I got her the entire set of Tamil poems for children by Azha.Valliappa.
By the time M learnt to sit without support, I was acting out the poems for her, along with the regular English nursery rhymes.

Soon, I started reading out stories for her, not just during bedtime, but whenever either of us felt so. I read out the story using a different voice for each character. Then, I’ll explain things to her in my voice. M would look on, mesmerized by my ‘performance’.

When M was nearly two-and-a-half years old, I took her to Landmark, the famous bookstore. I can never forget the day. She toddled up to a rack, picked up a picture book, plunked onto the floor and started 'reading' the book. I looked at her with swelling pride and admiration, which only a book-lover mother can experience.

From picture books, M moved on to Tinkle, a staple among her friends. She picked up issue after issue from our neighbourhood library and soon exhausted them all. I decided it was high time to initiate her to proper books.

The first book I picked up for M was by Roald Dahl. I had read a couple of his books before and was enamored by his humour. So, I trusted that M would enjoy it, too. M didn’t just like the stories. She fell in love with Roald Dahl’s style of writing. Today, nearly after 7 or 8 months, she has read almost all his titles.

Whenever she enjoyed reading a particular passage, she would share it with me. Several times, she would beg me to read a particular book that she had enjoyed very much. Sometimes, I have to turn down her suggestion for want of time. Disappointed, M would pull a long face and retreat to her favourite couch. I would feel terrible for spoiling her mood. But M’s a sweet kid and understands that life is all about Amma being busy, even when M is blissfully free. And I do know that a time will come when M will get busy, and I’ll be free with all the time in the world in my hands.

That’s the perpetual irony of a working mom’s life, right?

Will blog about C's book-reading habits in another post.

Organic Theory of Relationships

2008-05-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

Do you believe that relationships are organic? Like you, me, the buzzing bees, and the plants in your garden. I believe that relationships are like organisms: they originate, grow, evolve, flourish, and die out. I even formed a theory and christened it the Organic Theory of Relationships.
Hmmm…yes…you guessed right. There is a story behind this.
My cousin V and me were the greatest of friends ever since our adolescence through our later teens and into the early twenties. Even after my marriage in my early twenties, we continued to nurture our friendship, much to my spouse’s chagrin. But my spouse didn’t know then that we literally grew up together in our most impressive and youthful years. I had almost moved into V’s house during my college days and spent a good part of my life with my aunt and V.
In a few years time, V’s brother got married. With the arrival of a new member in the family who didn’t like me much, the scales of favour tipped against me. The relationship equations were altered. Though it was a crushing blow to my self-respect and ego, I endured it with a smiling face for the sake of the relationship that I held with V and my aunt. Added to this, around the same time, another close relative carried tales about me to V. Too bad that V believed that and became judgmental. However, since I really valued the relationship I had an open discussion with my aunt and things changed for the better.
Once again, the scales swayed and tilted when V married. My aunt, V and his family alienated themselves from my family again, for trivial reasons. Since I considered them my closest relatives, I was hurt very much.
But this time around, I didn’t want to approach them. I didn’t want to discuss the reasons with them and resolve the problem. I knew that I hadn’t done anything wrong. I also felt that they should not believe other people’s words if they ever valued my relationship. Nature would take its own course. I have a strong conviction that people will realize and repent for their mistakes at some point of time. All the same, I decided I would not be bothered even if that didn’t happen.
Ever since this estrangement from one of my bosom relationships, I started believing that relationships are organic. That is when I formulated the organic theory and let the relationship die – which is the natural course for every single living or non-living thing on this earth. Do you believe so?

Friday Feast #1

2008-05-09T03:25:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be? Nandita Das

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone? 5. It's impersonal and monotonous.

Salad
Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to). Donated to a local orphanage and temple.

Main Course
What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month? Rice & Chappathi (unleavened Indian bread)

Dessert
Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year? Yes, early this year my kids fell sick.

Friday Fill-Ins #2

2008-05-09T01:03:00.000-07:00

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday Fill In #71

1. The tomato sauce I had at Barbeque-Nation had an extra secret ingredient; it was tasty.
2. The morning sun's rays shone through my window.
3. Right now, I need some work; it's tiring to sit around jobless.
4. My tailor, my kid's tailor, and the grocery store is where I went Thursday night; it was three chores on the To Do list done.
5. Why does people's words and ways hurt so much?
6. All I can think of is that I'll be able to find a nice gift for my friend V for her birthday.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to go shopping, tomorrow my plans include studying for my exams and Sunday, I want to take my kids to Subway to try out subs and salads.

Thursday Thirteen #1

2008-05-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things about being gross in the meaning of being indecent or ill-mannered.It's bad manners........

1. When you twist words to suit your needs!

2. When your words hurt others.

3. When you don't speak out for others and for yourself.

4. When you don't flush a public toilet.

5. When you don't acknowledge your child's right to self-resepct.

6. When you use other people for your gains.

7. When you talk behind a person's back.

8. When you dont' follow the traffic rules.

9. When you try to jump the line when lots of people are already waiting in an impatient queue.

10. When you don't offer a seat to a lady carrying a baby.

11. When you can't speak politely to your subordinates.

12. When you don't respect a co-worker.

13. When you don't respect other people's personal lives.

2008-05-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

Ananya's spot: My Friday Fill in #10#links

I liked reading these memes....hope you enjoy it!

Friday Fill-Ins #1

2008-05-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

It's nowhere near Friday. All the same, I wanted to try my hand at doing memes....and hence, this post...

1. Two of my favorite ingredients in a drink are milk and mango!

2. Human nature often amazes me.

3. You can keep doing that forever, the dog is loyal to you.

4. Fresh vegetable pieces, sev, puri, chat masala and tangy chutney, mix it all together and voila! You have crunchy munchy bhelpuri!

5. If I had a yard with a garden, I would love to grow jasmines and guavas.

6. Breakfast is best au naturel.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having a good night's rest, tomorrow my plans include getting a herbal facial and study for my exams, and Sunday, I want to go to the temple!

Solitude is Bliss

2008-04-16T04:29:00.000-07:00

Every day, when I come home from office and throw the front door open, my kids are all over me and clamour for my attention. Each one has a tale to tell and a complaint to make. Unopened letters, books, lunch boxes, soiled uniforms and socks lay scattered all over the living room. Resting for a while with a good book in hand is an unimaginable luxury. Picking up the phone and making a call to a close friend without any interruptions is a distant possibility. Trying to check mails on my computer and being overthrown by a kid who wants to play online games is routine. Dozing off to sleep without having to escort the little ones to the toilet every five minutes before they sleep is unthinkable.
Guess what! I've been doing these undoable stuffs for the past three days. Jolly me! My kids and spouse are away from home on a vacation for the past three days. Honestly, I didn't miss them for a single moment. I'm in fact happy to lead my own life. Not caring to cook or pick up after things, and coming home for a quite night's rest is indeed refreshing. In the past 10 years, I've constantly been caring for one kid or the other, without a day's break, and I find this a welcome change. It gives me my own space and time. More than that, I hope this short respite will create a stronger and healthier bonding between me and my kids.

Dress Distress

2007-12-19T01:26:00.000-08:00

Whenever we plan to go out, my nine-year-old has a tough time deciding what she wants to wear. Boy....isn't she quite fussy! She rummages through her closet searching for a particular outfit. When she is not able to find it, all hell breaks lose. She frets and fumes and sniggers and sobs. And she wouldn't change her mind and pick up another outfit. And, when she chooses not to wear something, she wouldn't wear it even if you managed to stand on your head. If, on rare occasions, I do succeed in making her wear a particular dress that she doesn't prefer to wear, she would retort in a very unusual manner. She step's out with dishevelled hair, wear earrings or hair bands that look absurd with her outfit, or put up some such weird act.
During such times, I totally ignore her tantrums and carry on as if nothing is amiss. My silence irks her more than my parental lectures, I had learnt over the years. She would shake her head in front of my eyes or dangle her earrings this way and that way until I 'noticed' that she was not dressed up properly.
Things were even worse when she was a toddler. This happened when she was just an year and a half old. Every day, after bath, she would amble to the cupboard and choose her dress for the day. No one could cajole her into wearing some other dress. I still remember the time when she would insist on wearing a straight cut frock and tights every time we took her out. I couldn't understand her fascination for this combo outfit until now. My little girl had wanted to dress like Mummy. Seeing me wear salwars, she had wanted to wear one, too. She hadn't started talking then, so she couldn't ask us to buy her a dress like the one Mummy wears. But that didn't stop her from wearing one. She simply decided that she would wear her straight cut frock and tight pants together, and hey presto, she was clad in salwar, too. Kids do have interesting and intriguing ways of doing what they want, don't they?

A thought about food...

2007-11-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

Eating out is the in-thing these days. We invariably celebrate all happy family occasions by partying at a good restaurant. The more affordable ones go to high-end eateries and other posh dining houses. Things seems to have changed only in the recent years. Until some 10 years ago, people celebrated auspicious and joyous occasions with their kith and kin at home, eating homemade dinners. When a son or daughter wanted to treat his / her friends to some tasty spread, they invited them home without the slightest hesitation. And mothers, even working mothers, prepared gourmet dishes and served the youngsters with love and affection. Treating friends at outside eateries was virtually unheard of.

When treats were given within the confines of the treater's home, would anybody even think of having their everyday lunch at restaurants? Every school student, college goer and office goer ate humble lunches out of the tiffin boxes that their mothers or sisters or wives or daughters had packed for them. Lemon rice, tomato rice, coconut rice, tamarind rice and curd rice were some of the popular menu that you would find in a tiffin box. Occasionally, idlis, dosas or pooris cooked for breakfast also might find their way to a 'lunch box'.

The lunch boxes themselves came in various sizes, shapes, colors and were made of different materials. The carrier tiffin box, that was two, three or four-tiered, were used to pack a more elaborate meal for grandfathers, fathers and uncles. Rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal and curd were packed in different containers. Some people swore that this helped retain the taste and flavour of the cooked dish.
I still remember that my friend's mother would pack her sambar or kuzmabhu rice everyday. Now comes the interesting part. She would then bury a boiled egg in that rice. We used to tease my friend for that. And, how she would blush.
Nowadays, everybody eats subsidized lunch at office. College students eat in canteens. I guess that only school students carry lunch boxes to school. It is a sight to watch them carry colourful baskets loaded with water bottles of all sizes, shapes and colors, lunch and snacks boxes. Even this number dwindles when they reach the higher secondary.

Thoughts Unleashed

2007-11-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

Hmm...At last...I've created a blog for myself. Have been wanting to pen my thoughts for a long time now. Never got to do it, somehow. As they say, things fall in place only at the destined hour. Not a second earlier, not a second later.
For a long time, have been an avid reader of my colleagues's blogs. Seems to be a nice way to publish your writing, without spending a penny.
Anyway, these are just for starters...Can expect more to come in the near future.