Hey You !

Chibu's write up on Sunderban ghosts reminded me of my own experience of  experiencing  the spook.  It was years back, when Chibu was in class 9, during some exam time, when the light in our dining room was switched on at 3a.m.- my eyes opened automatically and I saw someone in white climbing up in Chibu's room .I didn't think that's unusual, 'cos come exam time and Chibu had unearthly hours of waking and sleeping! But after 15 minutes when I got up and decided to switch off the dining room light , I noticed that Chibu was fast asleep in his room! I called him to ask if he was down and his groggy reply was "no"! It was even  stranger that next morning he woke up with high fever and could not write his paper!  I let this incident pass as just a coincidence till one night I while having my dinner I distinctly felt that there was someone standing behind me! It literally gave me goosebumps and I was really scared to turn around to see who or what it wa...

I always think of Winnie, Eyore and Tigger to be what friends should be! Of course in life friendship is never without it's complications- it comes with a price! At times you pay the price and fall out forever!  I have always cherished friendships and friends wherever they are- whether they are in my life or not! For each have helped me grow- have been a part of my life in their own way -have held my hand when I have needed them.So if they have moved out of my life for whatever reason , they still have a place in my heart........

Sometimes you discover the fun-side of a person so late in life!!  It so happened that I knew this friend for almost 30 years - but graduated to friendship about 3-4 years back! We go a long way back to our college days- she was the diligent, serious , studious one and I was the flighty butterfly- studies a pass-time and college a cauldron for my metamorphosis into the lemme -experiment - with- my- life types! Obviously I was at the receiving end of collective disapproval for my life style - and she being one of the toppers stayed away from me ( Though years later she said that she quite envied our colorful life -and she wasn't really the goody two shoes that I thought her to be). Years passed and we met suddenly in front of the Principal's office of the school where I was working. It was a stressful day, I got a mouthful for something- and there I come out of the gas -chamber (!) half alive, and someone  calls out "Ai Puti!!!"  -Oh my god!! Who is she?  S...

-" Ki kore bari jaabo?" - "Taxi !!!!" - "Umph ! chakri nei abar taxi chora!" It's the other way round now! What I used to say to Chibu gets boomeranged on me:(((  Pradip was really concerned today about my lackadiasical attitude- despite his criticism that I am growing fat and wearing a mismatched outfit  and have almost lost my "class" he commented that  I am looking bright and happy!  And why not? I decided to celebrate" life" after Baba's HUTT test, which was scary and a bit worrisome. But this is an attitude I inherited from my father- who believes that there is no tomorrow! The Weekend with my hen gang is always therapeutic- Kaahini was rivetting! The food at CC&FC delectable and the adda rejuvinating! All in all it was  time well spent- some of it went shopping for music ( Thanks to Pradip I have a homework of brushing up my "class " in music with CDs on soft rock and what-not) and browsing for a pai...

Morning  7.20- Alarm rings 7.30a.m- Tea 'n my soul cola via Sanskar 7.50- Instant Porridge ( thank -the- inventors for the instant stuffs) and muesli served for breakfast 8-00 - "Chibu uuuu ..at-ta baje , oooth! College jabii naa?"            Groggy reply -"Five mini"            ( this is repeated till 9 when the reply changes to "Go away , woman") 9.00- Breakfast with Bhaskar ( one of the saner things in my day) 9.00- 10.00- chores/ washing/ cleaning ( how did my house survive before??) 10.00 onwards - computer on /net surfing / corrections etc. etc. ( I have to earn my living still)  10.45- Mammam arrives ( thank god for the little mercies in life) - chit chat arrives with my cup of coffee 11.00- Back to work In between there are more combined efforts to wake up Chibu ( which is a futile  - till I decide to turn ballistic ), phone calls from Poonam and listening to music while working -if I am luc...

International Women's Day coincided with Holi this year. The many shades of life merged with the colors of spring ! I was trying to explain Holi to a Welsh Scrabble mate- The story of  Holika and Radha  and Krishna and the colors of love :) His response was "yummy" ! And that's his usual response to anything enticing and womanly too!  I never was a feminist, but I just cannot fit into the "yummy " mold !  I never got into the man vs woman argument- I love being what I am and love being appreciated!  But I can never understand these "Days"- why celebrate for a day , when you have a lifetime to do so?   Love, womanhood - do they need awareness like diseases do?  Awareness comes from the fact that you are comfortable being  you , without trying too hard  to attract the attention ! You are happy with  the skin that covers you without stretching it to suit the norms! And you are in love with the phenomena that you are without others h...

Holi is not my favorite festival but when I look back I realise I enjoy watching others playing with colors and me being a spectator !  My disenchantment probably comes from the fact that I don't drink ( non alcoholic ones are not drinks), gamble , have no vices whatsoever ( unless you consider FB to be one), so it makes no sense to me to be high on colors and bhang!   The sms going round these days defines Bhaang as Shiva's Regal!!! So what I will enjoy tomorrow is an extended holiday and watch the world being doused with colors of many hues!  May life be as colorful and joyous- enjoy the spirit of spring !

When you spend some time all alone on  a railway platform you realize "facing thousand faces ....how can any one be so  lonely?" It is indeed a strange place where people are single handedly  focused on their goals, running against time - mothers clinging to their children in the crowd , spouses trying to board together, office goers, students, beggars, vendors - jostling , bustling  and competition at it's best over a seat by the window!  - " Dada roomal ta dekhlen na?" - " Hatebajare kon nombor?' Typical lingo the everyday passengers understands and an eavesdropper like me struggles with! Bhaskar used to travel by the local trains for almost for 4years , everyday he had some stories to tell - tales of strife, fleeting moments of happiness in that hurried world. Of fights for no reason and love that blossomed out of season.:))) And he always asked me to be happy with what  I have cos he said the world of the railway station is a great teacher- te...

Syntax, Semantics, Schema...an ESL teacher's dream come true....or is it nightmare ??

What is good life I wonder ? Getting up late , having a leisurely cup of tea, sitting with the crossword and then getting on with the chores at a leisurely pace over another cup of tea. Going to the Supermarket , browsing over the types of Pasta to choose and wondering which ones Chibu can cook ! This is Lotus eating at its best and right now I am loving it ! Chibu laughs at my semi unemployment , Bhaskar's reaction is kind of mixed - he doesn't know how long I shall love this limbo- Pradip keeps telling me to move on cos it's not in me to sit idle! Funny how I am dissecting idleness- when I was actually longing for some free time and me- time!  A week back I was forever on the run! Breakfast-work- visit to Baba- back for dinner- and then the day began all over again!  Of course the future is uncertain, I don't know about my  employ-ability (if there is such a word),I don't know if I am going to travel again- all ifs and buts and what ifs! I want to do somethin...