Slices of my daily life

While on the topic of scary-funny animal incidents, let me share this one too. This dates back to when I was 8 and my brother 4. We had gone to Nagpur to visit my father’s parents. They lived on the first floor of a bungalow. There was a terrace attached to their drawing room. One morning, my father and grandfather had gone out and my grandmother and my mother were busy in the kitchen cooking lunch. My brother and I were left to our devices. We were rummaging through grandfather’s wooden cupboard taking advantage of his absence. Suddenly I saw a very old matchbox. I read the year written on it. It was nearly 30 years old. I opened it and to my pleasant surprise, I saw that it was full of matchsticks. I was very curious to see if they were still working. I wanted to light at least one. So I told my brother. He too got very excited. Then, somehow, and thankfully, I got the feeling that my mother wouldn’t be too pleased if she caught me lighting matches, especially inside the house. ...

Remember I’d mentioned ‘another chase’ when I wrote about the cow incident ? Well, here are the gory details of another chase of a whole new magnitude altogether… This was when in the holidays after the 12th standard (grade) exams…i.e. we are all of 17 years old. Five of us girls decided to go on a jungle trip organised by an organisation. In all 40 of us, including our 2 guides, took a 7 day jungle trip to the beautiful jungles of Mudumalai in TamilNadu in South India. When our bus reached the reception area of the forest department reserve there, it was around 4 p.m. While the guides were completing the formalities, they told us to walk to the dormitory which was about 1 km away. They would come with the bus and our entire luggage later. The road was straight and there was no chance that we would get lost. So enthusiastically, off we went. As it often happens in large groups, sub-groups got formed. We (my 4 friends and I) were the last group to set off. The road was about 10 fe...

I just read this report about “ Bangladesh sand to keep Maldives afloat ”. If humans cared more for the world they lived in, this problem could have been avoided. In fact, even if they now become aware and alert…it could still be avoided from worsening. I feel a little relief, though, knowing that there could be a viable solution to this problem, which would be a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and Maldives. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad.  

It isn’t easy to explain to somebody how I still find my life alright although I don’t follow mass mentality. It is easy for me to live with my views and act based on them, but it is a huge problem for many people since they tend to discount me as they think I’m weird / rebellious / mad / … :) I’m not weird. Naturally, I wouldn’t think I am, since I don’t find my own views weird. I am not rebellious. I don’t hold these views to ‘show’ somebody, to antagonise somebody or as a reaction to some incident / philosophy. I am not mad. My views work for me and therein lies the proof. I am what I am. And I am OK with it. It works both ways…sometimes I think they are weird :) But I don’t force them to subscribe to my views and I expect not to be forced to follow theirs. Also, it is not that I have taken non-conformism to a new level or something like that. There are certain important areas of life (ok, actually, quite a few) where my views are divergent from the majority. I get my sense of a...

I am presently learning a new skill. It is something huge since it is deadline oriented…and the deadline is very close. I don’t have the luxury to learn at my pace, gradually progress and then get comfortable. I have never done it before. I have always felt that I am not particularly suited for it. I have admired people who are good at it…my father, my brother, a person in my workplace… But the funny part is…I like it. I mean, I am enjoying learning a new skill. It is challenging me. Also, the new and improved* me thinks that she may be alright for this skill. *N ew and improved me …in an earlier post I had mentioned about being on the verge of overcoming a crisis situation. Of the many changes that this crisis, and the fight to overcome it, has brought about is that I am very less fearful of leaving my comfort zone now. Learning was never a problem with me but leaving my comfort zone, was. In fact change itself was a problem and you will find me expressing that here and here . ...

The other day I had gone to a footwear store of a big, very old, footwear brand in India. I bought two pairs. As I stood there removing my wallet, the shopkeeper billed the purchase and the bill came to be Rs. 798/- While the bill was being printed, the shopkeeper said, “800”. I had made a mental calculation and knew that it was 798. So I haven’t even asked him. I removed Rs. 800/- from my purse and handed it to him. He handed me my bag of chappals and the bill. I put the bill back in my wallet, assuming that he would return the balance Rs. 2/-. To my surprise, he didn’t ! For a brief moment I hesitated, I contemplated what to do…I felt a little shy to ask for the balance Rs. 2/-…it’s such a small amount… by letting it go I will not turn poor and he will not turn rich…but the next moment I felt, ‘It is my hard earned money, however little the amount is. And, most importantly, it is a matter of principle.’ Then I looked up as soon as I put the bill in my wallet, sweetly looked at him...

…traditional Maharashtrian* wedding food…there is such comfort in familiarity :) …to curl up under three blankets and sleep late on winter mornings …to be alone in the house and enjoy the silence …it when people gift me plants …looking at old photographs And finally… I love…it that I am writing each and every day without fail…even on the days when I can’t think of what to write about…like today :) *(For the non-Indians: In India, the division of states is language based. Maharashtra is one state and the people are called Maharashtrians who speak Marathi.)