COLOUR ME

Deep in my heart
Passion in my blood
Desire to conquer
Colour me Red!


Nature spurts life
I too turn a new leaf
In the season of spring
Colour me Green!


At times I am depressed
I dive deep within myself
Searching is the clue
Colour me Blue!


Friends are the sunshine
Like soft notes from a Cello
I bask in their love
Colour me Yellow!


I blush under his gaze
His love, a warm embrace
He turned my life in a wink
Colour me Pink!


Life can be overwhelming
That's why I look upto to HIM
In prayer I find light
Colour me White!


The overcast sky
Makes me come alive
To rains, never say nay
Colour me Gray!


I came from this Earth 
And so I endure
In grief I drown
Colour me Brown!


Quiet prone to anger
Here I don't have a knack
Logic turns its back
Colour me Black!


Life is a painted canvas
Happiness its frame
Intelligence is meeting a challenge
Colour me Orange!

PARADOX

Heavenly showers quench the thirst
Of many a soul and this Earth
I welcome rains with open arms
It entices me with sensuous charm


I sit on the rocks by the sea
Water meeting Water is all I see
Two bodies merging to be one
Rapidly disappearing in the horizon


The rain drop kisses the Earth
She sizzles under this touch
Hasn't She been waiting for seasons
This alone is enough to reason


Soaked to the bone in this shower
Drenched with love of the lover
Down the body, water cascades
Tingling feelings of intense desire


Rains, supposed to quench thirst
Yet, makes you more thirsty
Waiting to embrace your Beloved
Thoughts that cloud, make you heady


The cool water kindles a spark
Gusts of wind ignites that fire
Lightening and Thunder add to the duel
Who said water couldn't fuel???

JUST.........

At last, I willed myself to get my ass off the chair (my favourite place at home) and go out. It is one of those days when sheer routine of the day overwhelms me and sometimes freaks me too. Today is one or it was (as the day is almost over) of those days.

Yesterday, with the lady trainers being absent from the gym, the male trainers had a field day training us. At the end of it, I felt as if my biceps had swollen. Added to that, got tired jogging 4 kms + in the evening.

Felt bone tired in the morning. Skipped all the routines and just let myself go. If it wasn’t for the ‘paapi peth’……eat to live; would have skipped eating too. Channel surfed on the TV. Saw the obit of Mr. M.F.Hussain, where every B-wood biggie claimed to be his close friend who had talked to him just a few days back!!!!! Finally, settled on a kannada movie, happy to have the TV and the remote all by myself J Then I slept and slept.

Late afternoon brought rains………bliss! I snuggled deeper inside the blanket. Later, pulled myself away from the bed after promising myself to do this more often. (I actually do it most of the daysJ) Hot tea by the window, watching the rain works its magic on my psyche, a nice way to spend the evening. Nishu was down getting drenched in the rain, rolling in the muddy puddle that had formed in the lawn. He was covered in mud and grass when he came back…wish I could do thatL

If I hadn’t got out of the home I would have laid an egg for sure…had been sitting in one place for hours…..reading blogs on various blog sites. It was still drizzling when I went out. Being near the sea shore, the wind here is awesome especially during rains. Umbrellas are just useless. Went to the library….felt at loss as to which book to select. Finally, got two of them, fictions.

With hubby being away, there is nothing much to cook for the 3 of us. Dinner is a simple fare. Talking of hubby who is on a paid holiday in London…..all he is doing is hibernating in his hotel room without much work to do. If I were in his place, I would have hired a bike or a car or just hopped on a bus and explore the countryside. There is always so much to see if you want to see. Double, no multiple *sigh*’s here.”If wishes were horses……”

Tomorrow??? I haven’t seen it yet! Good night for nowJ

TEACHING VALUES

This blog is courtesy Nita, my friend, who visited us with her family a fortnight back. While we were talking  she asked me- “How do we teach values to our kids?” Today’s kids have many more advantages in life than what we had, more opportunities and they are much smarter than us when we were their age….all said and done, they lack values. This blog is not an answer to her question, because as a mother of two teenage kids, I too find it difficult sometimes to enforce some rules or to teach them some basic values.

When we were kids, our parents rarely indulged us. We could count the number on new dresses we got per year, why just dresses, it applies for everything else too. I did not have many toys, whatever was bought had to be shared between me and my brother. I had a favourite cute plastic doll which I loved. I did not have to share it. When I was in high school, my neighbor, a girl much younger to me had come to play with me. She took that doll with her and I did not have the courage to ask it back.” Anyway, you are too old to play with the doll” was all amma said.  Today, children have roomful of toys and yet they want more and we parents buy them more. My son always complains that we do not buy him a Wi, PS3 or an XBOX. We have to keep telling him that – “It is OK not to have everything. Look at the kids who do not have any thing and feel blessed for what you have."

 I cursed for having an elder brother who was just a year ahead academically and I had to do with ‘hand-me-downs’. I never bought new text books till I was in college. Thank god for making me a girl else, I would have to share the uniforms too!! We were taught to do our own stuff- ironing clothes, polishing our shoes, doing any other school work. The kids today do this stuff too, only when there is no absolute option. I felt like a Princess when I got my first pocket money in college. Moderation was a way of life.

 Prostrating before our elders, or touching their feet was so ingrained in us. We did not have to be told to do that every time some elderly people visited us. Today, when we ask our kids to do the same, they glare at us.

While talking to or addressing people who are socio-economically below the ladder than us, the kid’s use the ‘singular’, in spite of being repeated told not to do so. They feel offended if they are corrected in front of others.

 This is a tough one! Teaching today’s kids the value of money. The other day I gave my son a hug when he came home by bus from his cricket coaching class. With the rising fuel prices and our personal car drivers doing the disappearing acts every now and then, kids need to learn the dependability of a public transport…they are safe and reliable.

Gratitude is expressed only when something is received. Buy them the thing they want, and the “I love you’s “ and “Thank you’s” increase tenfold.  Otherwise, we have to remind them to say thanks. If I thank a rickshaw driver, my children ask me- “why did you thank him?” Well, for one, he brought me home safely, didn’t he?” Appreciating people doesn’t cost a penny.

Upbringing is a combination of everything…good values, good manners, good conduct, education, etiquette…these are the basic which we parents can offer our kids as their foundation. In the end everyone will turn out fine, but they can be better too.

P.S: Your feedback, suggestions and opinions are welcome.

MY IGNORANCE

This was during my last year’s visit to Agra and Mathura. It was quiet late in the evening when we reached Mathura after the Agra visit. There was an Englishman who was travelling with us and he had got chatty with my kids and so he stuck with us during the entire Mathura visit as we all were translating to him in English what the guide was telling us in Hindi.

First, we visited the place where Lord Krishna was supposed to have been born, yes, the very jail. (I am saying ‘supposed to’ because the place looked quiet modern, with ASI having restored it over the years.) Being the holiday season, the crowd was huge and as we pushed through (it was claustrophobic), this Englishman showed us a symbol on the wall and asked its meaning.  I went closer to have a look at the symbol, which was a “swastika” and I was stumped!!! Am familiar with the symbol, but its meaning?? Boy! Was I embarrassed and ashamed?

It is humanly not possible for a person to know everything but, this……we Hindus grow up with these symbols, i.e., the OM, SHRI, and SWASTIK. As toddlers we are first taught to write these symbols in the “Akasharabhaysa” ceremony that initiates us to the world of formal education. As kids, we are taught to use these symbols before writing anything in our books, as they are auspicious. These symbols can be seen on invitation cards and the Priest makes a swastika in vermilion before starting a religious ceremony, pooja or a ritual. These symbols are such an integral part of our customs and rituals and I did not know the meaning of this.

The old is giving way for the new and we are all evolving and changing in terms of beliefs and faiths. Our customs are evolving too….we are discarding what we no longer believe or need. But, we are not able to impart cultural and religious values to our kids as our parents did to us. I do feel that the basic knowledge of these should be imparted to our future generations as a part of our legacy as they are still relevant and play a pivotal role in our lives

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: - (for people like me who don’t know the meaning of swastika)

The word swastika came from the Sanskrit word svastika, meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck. It is composed of su- meaning "good, well" and asti "to be" svasti thus means "well-being." The suffix -ka either forms a diminutive or intensifies the verbal meaning, and svastika might thus be translated literally as "that which is associated with well-being," corresponding to "lucky charm" or "thing that is auspicious.( source- Wikipedia).

TO EACH HIS OWN

Recently, when in Bangalore, I was making chappatis for dinner when my dad came into the kitchen to see how I made them. He wanted to learn to make chappatis and I was like teaching him probably for the 10^th time??? Actually he has no aptitude for cooking. Whenever I go home I see some burnt vessels. All he can manage is to make strongest coffee and cook rice and potatoes in the pressure cooker. And, so, I asked him, why this interest again? So he says….”Swamiji has told me that if I have to do some spiritual sadana, then I have to cook myself…you know satvik food.”  “Pappa, you know you can’t, and why go to all the trouble when you are getting your meals from the mess.”(Cannot phantom why they call it a ‘mess’, because of the messy state in which the food is prepared?) Dad- “ Swamiji  is of the opinion that even though the ‘mess’ is run by the Brahmins, they are doing it for commercial purpose and the cooks may not be Brahmins….you can’t be sure. So, it is better if I cook for myself.” I was mildly amused and bemused to. “Pappa, you are discriminating between human beings, where is the sadana there….how does it matter to you who cooks or not, how will it affect your sadana?” I asked. You don’t understand was all he said. Didn’t I? Well, I didn’t want to.

What we wear, what we eat; our social standing (if any), our caste or nationality; how does all this influence our quest for spirituality? God never laid out any rules, it was man who did.

Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of their being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop an individual's inner life; such practices are alleged to lead to an experience of connectedness with a larger reality, yielding a more comprehensive self; with other individuals or the human community; with nature or the cosmos; or with the divine realm. For some, spirituality is experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life. (Source: Wikipedia)

My friend in Bangalore doesn’t have a place of worship or photos or idols of any deity in her house though she is a Brahmin. But, that doesn’t mean she is an atheist. Her parents are orthodox and in-laws even more; they haven’t forced her to follow any customs nor has she allowed them to force her. To believe in God, one doesn’t have to do ‘pooja’ everyday, recite shlokas or Vedas or follow any rituals for that matter. It is the belief and it is personal. And, she is fine the way she is. People respect her for what she is.

As I am currently a Mumbaite, let me use an example from this city. The heir to the Birla Empire, a fashion icon, a Page 3 regular, Socialite, fitness freak- Yash Birla is a very spiritual person. He is a celebrity and partying is what he likes. Yet, he is into meditation and spiritualism big time. In spite of his busy schedule he does find time for his sadana…so, do we have a yardstick to measure peoples spiritual quotient?

With all due respect to the Swamiji who is (mis)guiding my dad, I would like to ask him, if attaining spiritual bliss was only his goal then he wouldn’t be adorning the ‘peeta’ which is used as a front to serve humanity. (Well, not the Nityananda way!) If that was the case then he would have been doing his sadana in some forest or somewhere in mountains. I am sure the Swamiji and my dad will admonish me for saying this.

 Anyway, coming back to my dad and making rotis…I told him that cooking was also a sadana, the more you practice, the more perfect you become. So, keep practicing.

AFTER THOUGHT: Siddharta ate meat even after he attained ‘nirvana’, didn’t he become the BUDDHA?

RADHA MAUSI

She is petite, bow legged yet strong. An illiterate, blind in one eye with a heart of gold. She is my masseur.

We women are plagued by our own hormones from the time of puberty. Skin pigmentation, bulging waist, unwanted facial hair, cellulites to name a few. The adage ‘Beauty is skin deep” wasn’t made just like that. If not, then the beauty and cosmetic industry would not have been thriving in our country. We have specialists in every field conceivable – under eye pouch specialist, laugh line specialist, T-zone specialists!! I want to relate an incident that happened some years back. I was in a beauty parlor in Bangalore. This lady walked in…she was a labourer. She said she wanted to do something for her eyebrows as everyone does. And the beautician said that it would cost her 20 bucks, which the lady promptly gave it to her. Halfway through the procedure, the lady fainted! After tiding through the initial shock, she was revived. Asked if she had eaten anything, she said she had saved the money to get her eyebrows done! Yeah, beauty is such a big business.

Not everyone can afford to go to the Spas, Salons or beauty Parlors. When I migrated to Mumbai, I found out that the ‘massagewali bais’ were available dime-a-dozen. No wonder Mumbai is glamour personified. I had tried massages in various Ayurvedic centers in resorts and clubs but they have always left a bitter taste. So, I hired a personal masseur. And Radha mausi came into my life quite unexpectedly this January when an acquaintance mentioned about her to me.

I became a fan of her massaging skill from the start. She is a mid-wife too and her knowledge about woman’s body can put a gynecologist to shame. She can identity which muscle or which nerve is giving me trouble. When she is working on the troubled nerve, I have to literally bite into the pillow from yelling out loud. Yet, there is no residual pain afterwards. What she actually does is like a lymphatic draining, which detoxifies the body. She is solely responsible for eradicating my cellulites….that means a lot to a woman. I was so elated that I went out and bought a couple of shorts to wear. She is very practical too. She says-“We used to eat good food and drink clean water in our villages…that’s why we are still healthy. But, when you are getting everything which is adulterated, how can you people be healthy?” There are a few home remedies she uses for getting rid of ‘vaath’, which are ingenious. She sometimes uses some English words while speaking which amuses me….how certain English words have replaced our native dialect!

Once, I met her at the local market and she couldn’t recognize me. Next, when we met she said,-“Didi, I was not able to recognize you.” I said, - “Lady, I was dressed!” She laughed till she had tears in her eyes and said,-“No Didi, aapko nazar lagegi.” Today, she has grown from being just a masseur to my well wisher, my beautician, my dietician, sometimes my physician, a cook (She taught me to make bajra rotis, the gamti style) and a motherly figure. Everyone calls her ‘mausi’, but I call her ‘maa ji’….a truly awe inspiring woman.

THE SHOW THAT WASN'T.........

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” – Paulo Coelho – The Alchemist.

For a long time now I have wanted to participate in the game show, KBC. I never missed answering the questions correctly that were asked on TV. No matter how many questions I answered, I never got the ‘call’. There are always far too many people contesting and it is a matter of chance and luck. Well, Friends, a word of caution or advice; when you want something from the Universe, BE SPECIFIC, because the Universe has a strange sense of humour…..it mocks you.

Yesterday morning I received a call from my friend, Mangala, that there is going to be a shoot of some sort and the Kannada Cine Star, Ramesh Aravind was coming for that. I had no clue as to what it was until I reached the studio. It was the ‘mock shoot’ of the kannada version of KBC- “YAARU ELLI (here) KOTIYADHIPATI?” – hosted by Ramesh himself.

We filled out a form, giving basic information about ourselves so that it will be easy for the ‘host’ to interact with us during the show. This was a practice session for Mr. Ramesh, we were the dummies! Even the lone camera was focused on him.

I was the second contestant. The first to go was Ms.Bhavani. She went up to the 13^th question, faltered and won Rs.3, 20,000/-. Only that there was no real money. Is number 13 really an unlucky one? I was about to find out. I too went up to the 13^th question without much effort. Then the question-

“According to Kalidasa, who was the director of dance-drama, Urvashi?” The options were-

A) Saraswathi

B) Narada

C) Bharata

D) Nataraja.

My common sense told me that it has to Nataraja, as he is the God of ‘Dance’. I was really hoping that Lord Nataraj will take me to the next level, and he did take me to the next level….but not in the direction I hoped. I fell three levels…to Rs.3, 20,000/-. Well, as I did not have anything to lose or gain, it did not matter. I took a chance. My common sense defied logic!

Mr. Siddharta Basu, the Creative Head of KBC, was also present. I asked him – “Is this the short cut to the actual game show?” He said, “Well mam, the phone lines will be opening shortly, you can try your luck.” Yes, boss! There are no short cuts in life.

Well, going back to fate and destiny, I never intended to meet either Mr. Ramesh or Mr. Siddharta Basu. I believe it is these unexpected encounters and moments that enrich and make our life special. Bless Mangala…She was the catalyst.

THE TAJ SOJOURN-PART II

I talked to one of the Crew member and my hubby’s friend who was from the UK.  He was asking me, - “Enjoying your stay here?” I said – “It has been Ok.” “This hotel is just Ok, you know. What do you say?” ,he asked me. “Yeah, I expected more”, was my reply. Here was this guy, who has travelled around most parts of the world and stayed in various luxury hotels and still feels that The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is just OK! Here, I am, ‘zero’ experience in travelling around the world or staying at 5 star hotels and yet I felt the same! So, one should not have necessarily had the same experiences to feel something. I am not wrong. Cool.

So, how did I land up at the Taj again, when my first experience was not very impressive? Well, my hubby made me an offer too good to pass. Before you all get any ideas about what it might have been….let me assure you, it wasn’t anything naughty. But, a guided tour of the hotel including the ‘Heritage’ part of it, organized by the hotel management itself, an offer too good to refuse. So, we packed our bags for an overnight stay and arrived at the hotel.

The tour started from near the swimming pool, which originally was the entrance of the hotel when it was built between the years 1900 and 1903 AD. Most of this information (which I knew from my previous visit) is available on the TV in each of the rooms- the documentary about the Taj is being continuously played in one of the channels.

Next, we walked through the ‘old’ reception area and the lobby that was. There is this “Grand Staircase” from where all the dignitaries staying at the Taj have walked down- customary-again. The ‘Palace Lounge’ is in the ground floor and so are the restaurants serving Indian, Chinese and the Japanese cuisines. Grand. The first elevator of Bombay, to have been imported from Germany is still in use in this hotel.

The first level consists of The Banquet Hall and other conference rooms. We could not see the Banquet Hall as a Big Fat Indian Wedding was underway there. We couldn’t see the ‘Sea' Lounge (sea view) as it was taken over by the guests attending the wedding. We couldn’t see the other conference rooms and halls as all of them were booked for various meetings and conferences. All we were shown was a couple of long corridors and the ‘Grand Staircase”! Come on, give me a break! Is this a tour??? I fell for this hook, line and sinker!

We were back in the new lobby, renovated after 26/11. The guide showed us an art work done on the tile of the floor- Pietra dura, an ancient Mughal art where real Pearls and precious stones are embedded. And they have only four of these in the four corners of the sitting area of the lobby! The tour ended near a memorial built for those dignitaries and the staff died during the attack on 26/11. This foreigner who was with us for the tour asked the guide as to how many of the staff had died in the attacks? She was like- “Maybe around 30 to 35.” She was not sure. I am glad it was over.

The ground floor of the hotel has many shops of International brands- Louis Vitton, Mont Blanc, Dior. My point is – Why would people from abroad come here to buy the brands which is already available in their country and probably at prices lower than these? I haven’t seen many Indians buying anything there either.

                                                       THE GRAND STAIRCASE

                                                            THE CENTRAL DOME

 M.F. HUSSAIN'S PAINTING BEHIND THE RECEPTION DESK

Jasmine, the Production Manager of the IMG Media is an Australian and I met her a fortnight back during my first visit, and she was laden with shopping bags. She had shopped off the streets of Colaba. We met again this time. I asked her if she would join us for breakfast. No, she said, she was off to shopping. “Aren’t you done yet?” I asked. “I will never have enough of this shopping experience”, she replied. Hotel management guys, take a hint.

Post dinner, we walked around the streets of Colaba. I can now well understand why South Bombaites are proud of living here. Mornings are full of people, traffic and mayhem here. Evenings the quite opposite. Minimal traffic, few people, wide roads with wider footpaths, cool sea breeze paved with old Victorian buildings. A befitting end to the day. Next day we bid adieu to the Taj, more disappointed than before.

HOME BOUND!

Welcome showers! Rains have become synonymous with my arrival in Bengaluru (Wish I could weave the same magic in Mumbai!) No one misses an opportunity to mention this when I talk to them. Does it mean that I and the rains are not welcome? Kidding! I am more than welcome.....I am home.

"Bugle Rock"....the historic botanical garden and landmark, which is the identity of "Basavanagudi"; is beckoning me. Post rains, the garden would be lush and breathing life and colour! Felt like jogging there. Most of my childhood was spent among the rocks and trees of Bugle Rock. Our adventures consisted of treks climbing atop the watch tower, and also on the huge rocks...the rocks seemed huge because we were tiny. There was this particular steep rock from which we used to slide down till our bottoms hurt or sometimes till it was badly bruised! There used to be hundreds of multi-coloured and patterned butterflies which we used to catch, we would spend hours together there. Sadly, there are almost no butterflies there today. I remember, once while jumping from one rock to another, I sprained my ankle. My brother and friends had to half lift me and half drag me back home.... those carefree days!

But, the morning in question, the chill, the warmth and coziness of my bed was more tempting than the jog around the gardens of Bugle Rock. Well, I am on a holiday, aren't I? So, I can bend some rules I have made for myself.

Here, in Bangalore, I don't have a picturesque window in my living room nor the company of my winged friends to start of my day and to enjoy my ME moment. Armed with my cuppa, I stand on the threshold of the main door and just watch. I can hear the "Venkateshwara suprabatham" being played somewhere. The neighbor Aunty is performing the morning 'Tulasi' pooja; again there is another Aunty who is cleaning the front yard of her house and putting rangoli there. Somewhere else, I can hear the bells ringing indicating the morning pooja is concluding, the vegetable vendors, the flower sellers..........familiarity, customs and roots! HOME!

Next day onwards, I did muster up enough strength to leave behind the comfy of my bed to see the beauty of the nature. The mist filled mornings, the spacious, wide and deserted streets. Sunrays filtering through the trees....the smell of wet grass, the smell of wet earth...gives me goose bumps. Even with all the developmental work that’s happening with the roads, traffic woes…etc., I never seem to grow out of this place. Maybe because I don’t stay here.

Recently, I read an article of Shobha De’s where she had mentioned the lecherous attitude of men in Delhi. I bet she has not encountered the men in Namma Bengaluru, who are no less lecherous than their Delhi counterparts! Well, the less said the better.

The only thing I hate here is the attitude of the rickshaw drivers. One will be lucky enough to get a ride if the destination coincides with the direction in which they are travelling. If it’s raining, it means fleecing time for them. Always trying to make money the easy way.

Next is the time I wait for- a time to bond with friends! Meeting them has become a ritual to my visits. I don’t need to go to a spa to rejuvenate, all I need is time out with my buddies and I am rejuvenated! Met some, then talked to some…..had a whale of a time.

Ten days is too short a time to spend at home.....and the heart weighs a ton when you have to say goodbye to your loved ones.

"It is not the goodbye that hurts, but the flashback that follows." The memories will linger with me for some more time.