Aiming High : My son

My son was just about two years old , when I realized his sense of perfection and interest in cooking. One evening , when I had cut the brinjals and put them in the frying pan and was coming out to sit in front of TV waiting for the brinjals to fry. This kid, could not speak then, pulled my kurta and dragged me back to kitchen and instructed me to stir the vegetable till it gets done. Well, it was his practice to taste the vegetable from the raw stage, to the semi cooked and fully cooked vegetable . I used to enjoy seeing his expression and was proud of the fact that, unlike other parents I never had to worry about his eating habits. As long as the food was cooked in front of him, he would eat anything. Even now, he is the taster in our house.

When he started going out to play, he wielded the willows and I saw a budding cricketer in him. And a friendly neighbour who was a journalist captured his photo and had it published in Hindustan Times. Yes, now he is 10 years and still cooking and cricket fascinate him. But yes his ambitions do vary.

In the last couple of years till the last world cup (cricket) , when Australia was emerging victorious, my son wanted to join the Australian cricket team and was figuring out ways to go to Australia. But now, he feels he can only save the Indian cricket team from losing , provided he has Yuvraj Singh playing the game along with him.

Last year, one day as I was getting ready for my office, he wakes up and tells me that he has finally decided what he ants to be when he grows up. I was overjoyed, and glad that at such an early age my son has got a direction till I heard him say :”Mama, I want to be a girl when I grow up”. Well, I was speechless and probably thought I have a junior Michael Jackson in front of me.

His recent aim is to fly planes and he had a tough choice between Indian Airforce and the private airlines. He has finally settled for Indian Airforce, when he got to know that they have big canteens which is just like anther super market where he could get things at a discounted price. Probably he wants a game CD at a cheaper price or a beyblade. But I am glad for this decision, because now he watches TV from a distance, lest he might have to wear spectacles and be disqualified from flying and tries to eat nutritious food as a part of body building.

I can just end with this words “ whatever will be will be, the future is not ours to see’ and wish him all the best.

Rainbow : ME

I have taken this tag from Shankari . Eight Qualities about myself . I would like to think that I am as colourful as rainbow .

1. I hate dressing up. In my house, my husband and son spend more time in front of the mirror than I do.
2. Gold : I hate that metal. I find it gaudy. Would prefer silver, stones and artificial jewellery any time.
3. Am lazy to walk and cant stand at one place even for five minutes.
4. I trust everyone, despite my friends and well wishers who warn me against.
5. I find it most difficult to choose the menu in a restaurant or a dress from a shop. Either I end up liking all or none.
6. Just cant vanish my smile . It irritates many and unfortunately my son has inherited that trait from me . All his teachers complaint that he is the only boy smiling when he receives scolding. Hw do I explain the teacher that it was unintentional. :(
7. Can never say ‘No’ to sweets and am a caffeine addit.
8. There are many more colours to myself , but I shall restrict to seven just like rainbow.

Just realised that this can also be taken as few weird characters about me, I recollect that tag was on some time back in few blogs. But now I guess i am just a weirdo :)

Dilemma (Theoretical versus Practical)

It is said that men learn from their failures while the wiser ones learn from others failures.

Considering that all are not born wiser, is it all right for the children to learn the hard way? Would they really understand the extent of fire burns till they really get burnt?

How can we decide what is to be taught theoretical and where to go practical and which lessons should not be taught???

The song that I came to sing........ by Tagore

The song that I came to sing remains
unsung to this day.
I have spent my days in stringing and in
unstringing my instrument.
The time has not come true, the words
have not been rightly set; only there is the
agony of wishing in my heart.
The blossom has not opened; only the
wind is sighing by.
I have not seen his face, nor have I
listened to his voice; only I have heard his
gentle footsteps from the road before my
house.
The livelong day has passed in spreading
his seat on the floor; but the lamp has not
been lit and I cannot ask him into my
house.
I live in the hope of meeting with him;
but the meeting is not yet.
--from Gitanjali



P.S. this poem phrases my mental condition. Had I been Tagore, I would have written the above lines, but Chitra that i am ,you had to read the post below. : ).

Is there a way ?

I am a mere spectator to life passing by and notice the harm being done. I know what is happening is not right and can only forsee gloom and darkness. I know that by being observer , I am equally responsible for tomorrow. Is that what is fate, which curtails my hand from holding out.

I know that I would be told that I can change the destiny by my strong will and determination. Yes , I know I have the will and the desire but cannot see the way? All I can do is say a little prayer to God for a little miracle and guidance.

To forgive and forget

"To err is human , to forgive is divine."

We all accept apologies from our spouse, children, friends and let the bygones be and continue the relation as it existed. But , later on, at a different time and on different occasion, these issues crop up again.

Does it mean that we have not forgiven the person in true sense. I feel to forgive means to forget that instance. Is it really possible or do we have to be 'divine'" to forgive and forget.

Cute Prayer

Time to think ?

I am thinking about : what next
I said : Keep smiling for one never knows what happens tomorrow.
I want to : really practice what I say
I wish : the list is endless.
I regret : that at times, I am not able to control my temper and say nasty things which hurts others
I hear : My son crooning like Himesh Reshamiyya
I am : different from what I wish I was.
I dance : to my husband’s tunes!!!
I sing : horribly
I cry : when I am stressed; when I am hurt ; on watching the emotional scenes in movies ; almost all occasions but khushi ke aasoo nahin aaye !!!
I am not : diplomatic, or hypocrite
I am with my hands: hugging my son, and cooking
I write: my blogs and emails
I confuse : am confused
I need : depends on my mood (it can range from a private chopper to a chocolate)
I tag : Krithika, Inder

Thank you !

I understand it is the norm of blog ethics to reply to every comment which implies that we are acknowledging the visitor and are welcoming him/her. But I am not able to keep up with replying to the comments and also take time to read at your sites.

Hence, I just thought I would mention it at one go that I appreciate all your comments and I look forward to them. Please continue to drop by….

Thanks

Bhagat Singh

Shruti had mentioned that this is the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. I have always felt that our Indian history has been unkind to him . As a school girl, I got to know more about Bhagat Singh through the film Shaheed with Manoj Kumar as the hero than though my history books.

Since the present government is also ignoring the event, she had requested that we must take a pledge to celebrate the anniversery of those people. I am just giving a link to her site "Celebration"(not only this post,her entire blog makes an intresting read).

Intresting !

Priya, had to link this cartoon for that is what most of the bloggers undergo.

Amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing

The word "listen" contains the same letters as the word "silent".

Self Centred : me ?

The other day, when I was alighting from the bus, I saw TV cameras in front of my apartment and few men busy making placards. I was excited thinking atlast they have decided to voice against the power cuts (more than 14 hours in a day) we are facing. I had prepared mentally to speak the right words in front of the camera. I approached one of my neighbours and asked him as to what was happening? He excitedly replied, that they were fighting for justice for Priyadarshini Mattoo. One lady in our apartment happens to be a journalist and very strongly fighting her case.

With the influence she had , she could motivate all the ladies, children and men out of their house to raise slogans with placards in their hands. Why then she does not fight for some minor improvements in our living conditions?

Even I don’t want the accused to go scot free , but I truly believe charity begins at home. With so many pressing agendas , this was certainly not something I would like to fight for, now.

Reading this post, most of you might feel I am self centred .

Well…………….

Road Rage(a)

Driving in Delhi Roads is nightmarish , especially the bluelines, two wheelers. They don’t even leave the footpath for you and every driver is hurling a volley of abuses. I avoid traveling with my husband in his scooter as he also steers his way in between the buses and tries to beat the traffic. I always sit in the fear that while waiting in red light, some passenger from the adjacent bus is going to vomit out .

But, yesterday , when I was pillion riding, I was amused at the sea change. Driving still atrocious but the mood has changed. Thanks to the FM and mp3 player in their mobiles. Every driver has got earplugs on and glued to music. So, while everyone is of the opinion they are humming the song, they are actually singing loud. In a red light, I could hear to my husband singing some song while the man behind me in another bike was singing a different song. Hilarious, it was.

Atleast, the moods have changed, and the tunes. Instead of the monotonous horns, One get to hear the songs, though not everyone is Kishore Kumar , Rafi, or Himesh Reshamiya.

Glad to be back..........

Two days without able to browse blogs was indeed very difficult. Though I had mentioned that I am infected wih blogaria, ., I got to know the severity of it only in the last two days!

Thankfully, the sanity has prevailed! Hey all, now I should be able to read all your posts and ofcourse give my wise cracks!

World Population Day

Yesterday was World Population Day and on February 25, 2006, it touched 6.5 billion!

In College, when I was more idealistic, I had proclaimed that I would rather adopt a child than to give birth and add on to the existing population. But, I got married and an opportunity to experience mother hood.

It is not that I am against adoption, but I wanted to experience the essence of motherhood! i wanted to feel a life within me and so, all my idealism and talk on ever growing population were thrown off the air. And yes, i enjoyed every minute of it!

So, at this stage, I can pledge that I shall try to make the world a better place to live in for the generations to come, by using the natural resources in a conservative manner.

Woh Din kitne Yaad Aate Hain!

When gulli-danda and kanche (marbles) were more popular than cricket ...
When we always had friends to play aais-paais (I Spy),
chhepan-chhepai and pitthoo anytime ...
When we desperately waited for 'yeh jo hai jindagi'
When chitrahaar, vikram-baitaal,
dada daadi ki kahaniyaan were so fulfilling ....
When there was just one tv in every five houses and
When bisleris were not sold in the trains and we were
worrying if papas will get back into the train
in time or not
when they were getting down at stations
to fill up the water bottle ...
When we were going to bed by 9.00pm sharp
except for the 'yeh jo hai jindagi' day ...
When Holis & Diwalis meant mostly
hand-made pakwaans and sweets
and moms seeking our help while preparing them
When Maths teachers were not worried of
our mummys and papas while slapping/beating us ...
When we were exchanging comics and stamps and
chacha-chaudaris and billus were our heroes ...
When we were in nanihaals every summer and loved
flying kites and plucking and eating
unripe mangoes and leechis ...
When one movie every Sunday evening on television
was more than asked for
and 'ek do teen chaar' and 'Rajni' inspired us ...
When 50 paisa meant at least 10 toffees ...
When left over pages of the last years notebooks
were used for rough work or even fair work ...
When 'chelpark' and 'natraaj' were encouraged
against 'reynolds and family' ...
When the first rain meant getting drenched and playing
in water and mud and making 'kaagaj ki kishtis' ...
When there were no phones to tell friends that
we will be at their homes at six in the evening ...
When our parents always had 15 paise blue
colored 'antardesis' and 5 paise machli wale stamps at home
When we remembered tens of jokes and were not finding
'ice-cream and papa' type jokes foolish enough
to stop us from laughing ...
When we were not seeing patakhes on Diwalis and
gulaals on Holis as air and noise polluting
or allergic agents ...

the list can be endless ...

on the serious note I would like to summarise with ...
When we were using our hearts more than our brains,
even for scientifically brainy activities
like 'thinking' and 'deciding' ...
When we were crying and laughing more often,
more openly and more sincerily ...
When we were enjoying our present more
than worrying about our future ...
When being emotional was not synonymous to being weak
When sharing worries and happiness didnt mean
getting vulnerable to the listener ...
When blacks and whites were the favourite
colors instead of greys ...
When journeys also were important and not
just the destinations ....
When life was a passenger's sleeper giving enough time
and opportunity to enjoy the sceneries from its open
and transparent glass windows instead of some
superfast's second ac with its curtained,
closed and dark windows ...

This was sent by my friend a couple of years back!

Silly question that passed through the Generations!

Like some diseases we aquire because of our genetics, there are also some traditions that we follow .

I could never fathom as to why my mother had to keep one leg over the other while filling water. The other day I saw my son was also doing the same!

One question that my mother used to ask just before making rotis is how many rotis would each of us have and used to irrtate all of us and we used to tease her. But, now I do the same , much to the chargin of my husband and my son!

Some habits die hard! I tag all you readers to share similar incidents!

Religious doubt

Shankari’s post created a lot of questions and I am still trying to get the answers.

Of course, the Mohini avtaar of Lord Vishnu and the birth of Ayyappa evoked a lot of curiosity.This site explains why this is exactly not an avatar and there is only one temple dedicated to Mohini at Ryali, a small township 30 kms near the city of Rajahmundry, in Andhra Pradesh.

This site tried to reason out as to why Sabrimala does not entertain female devotees.
One cant conclude that because of his celebate status, he doesnt like to be visited by women (in Sabarimala, it could be because he has made one female devotee (Ganga) wait and so the rest of us female mortals have to wait ), while one finds female devotees thronging all the Ayappa temples and participate with equal fervour in the Mandala poojas!

Figure

They play a very important role in our life. Both monetary reference and physical appearance. The figure, with reference to physical appearance amuses me more.

As a kid is born, we want to know how healthy is the kid. More the weight, more the healthy the baby is. As a child grows, being plump is associated with cuteness. And suddenly all these which were once appreciated becomes a negative point, especially if the concerned person belongs to the female sex. All relatives, parents try to get a quick remedy for slimming the girl, so that their daughter fits into the criteria for the grooms asking for slim beautiful girl. But the same girl, once the baby delivered puts on weight and becomes obese.

In times, of recent past, being fat meant they belong to “ khate peete ghar ke”. I remember my husband used to get offended if some one referred me as “so slim “. I never understood for some days, till I got an explanation from my husband that it meant his family is not taking care of me properly and feeding me! I thought my husband must be crazy to have such ideas, till I realized most of my friend’s husbands also fell in the same league.

Now, being slim is the style statement, the very housewife, who had put on weight, is trying to loose weight by going to the gym, or having a treadmill at home and other dieting courses And I, who was slim, at that time, am putting on weight, and look as if I belong to ghar who lives in "ghee" day in and night out!

Probably because I never could emulate fashion, when slim is the fashion, I am putting on weight and when being fat was considered good I was slim!

A typical Aquarian who makes her own style!