Bah!

Life is so frustrating sometimes!
Please don't ask what happened.

Who'da thunk!

कभी हमने नहीं सोचा था,
ऐसा दिन भी आएगा

I would never, ever, not even in my wildest dreams, had imagined that I would cook SO well!
So much, that I prefer my cooking to anyone else's cooking. And I mean anyone!
Why is this such a surprise?
Because growing up, I hated anything related to food. Eating as well!
When I was a child, I refused to eat.
As a teenager, the thought of having to learn cooking literally brought tears into my eyes. I used to burn food simply so that I would not be asked to do it again! I thought cooking was for boring people.
When asked to help in the kitchen, I would have a genuine question as to why me? There are so many others! 3 elder sisters, mom, maid, they're all there. Why me?


Even now my family refuses to believe I cook.

But then, miracles do happen :-) I am glad this one did!

कभी हमने नहीं सोचा था
ऐसा दिन भी आएगा
पानी में आग लगेगी
पत्थर भी पिघल जायेगा
देखो...........
हमसे अच्छा कौन है ;-)

Bahut Sundar Hai!

After a long long long time today, I thought of this aunty we kids used to called "बहुत सुन्दर है!"
It has almost been decades since I thought of her, and I want to put down my thoughts about her before her memory fades away again...

I grew up in a small town in Maharashtra where my Dad had a forgings plant. We were one of the affluent families in town. This aunty was married to the tailor uncle who had a contract with our company to stitch uniforms for the workers. They used to live nearby, and aunty would come to visit my mom quite often. I never gave much thought to her then...just someone coming to see mom, and I actually used to get irritated sometimes too, because she used to talk a LOT! But today, don't know why, tailor aunty floated into my mind, and I realized what an awesome woman she was!

She was the daughter of a rich Marwadi family. Uncle was Maharashtrian, a tailor who rented a room in their house. The two fell in love and decided to get married. The rich family rejected the poor tailor, she insisted on marrying him and her family broke off all relations with her. I am not sure which town they were from, but they moved from there and settled in the same town as us. Uncle was a very quiet guy (I think aunty more than made up for that ;-)), strikingly handsome, very polite and nice. They had two sons making up the small family of Shakuntala, Shahuraj, Praful and Praveen.

They had a small home, one room (which doubled up as living room, bedroom, dining room, everything) and a kitchen. At the time we got introduced, the house didn't even have a toilet. I used to visit them quite often. Two main reasons: They subscribed to a children's magazine called "Chandoba". (Marathi version of "Chandamama" in Hindi). I loved to read it, so I used to go there. Sometimes aunty would let me take it home if it was getting too late, other times I would finish it off right there. The other reason was something she used to cook. Can't remember what it was, but everytime I went, she would make it for me.

Whenever she visited us, she used to talk to Mom about this and that, would admire anything new in our house (and there was something new all the time) and keep saying "बहुत सुन्दर है" for just about everything. Us kids would be really amused, thinking why is she admiring things all the time, and that's how she earned her nickname. She was genuine about whatever she said though. She would tell mom about her sister, who was married into another rich Marwadi family, and was the only one who still spoke to her. She only had good things to say about her. She spoke about uncle, how hard he works, and how good he is to her. Only had good things to say about him. She spoke about her kids, again, only good things. Both boys did not do well in studies, but all she said was, I know they try hard. They do their best.

What I didn't realize then, and do now, is her attitude towards life. She gave up a luxurious life to be with her husband who will probably never be able to provide her with what she left behind. Her love and commitment to him was so strong that she never once uttered anything in the vein of "because of him, I had to ....". Her love for her kids was so strong, she completely supported them in any which way she could, instead of comparing them with others who did better than them. Now that kind of love..the kind uncle and aunty shared, I think, is what epics are made of :-)

She knew how to be grateful for what she had, focus on the positive, instead of dwelling on what could have been, or what is missing. She had a lot of self-respect, enough to consider herself equal to my mother, and come visit her, and be friends with her. I must give credit to my mother too here...for not being snobbish like most others in her position were. Tailor aunty would call my mom "aunty" and seek advice on things related to the home and raising kids. Aunty, how should I go about doing this, what about that, what do you think of this, and so on. She never put herself across as a victim. Always upbeat, always positive, always willing to learn.

We moved out of that town and lost touch with her. I moved out of the country, and completely forgot about her. If I was near her, I bet I would go to her for advice like she went to my mom. I want her attitude, her dedication and commitment. I want to be sunshiny like her!

I should ask Mom if she heard anything about her lately. I hope she is doing well.

You are awesome, Aunty, and आप बहुत सुन्दर हो!

PS: They did build a toilet in their house while we were still there. It was a joyous occasion in their house :)

Interesting thought?

“It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil.
If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow men,
the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui.” - Helen Keller

The first thought that I had when I read this...was, so true. Probably, simply because it was said by the great Helen Keller. But as I think about it some more, I do not agree. At all.


The devil does not really need any provocation. He is just evil at the core, and cannot really help it. If he was bored, he would wreak more havoc to get attention instead of leaving the peaceful folks peacefully and happily live their lives. So the good people HAVE to spend time fighting the devil. That their loved ones get neglected in the process, is just sad :(

Am thinking of Gandhi's family, saw the movie "Gandhi, My Father" some time back. I felt really sorry for his son. In trying to save the nation, his father completely neglected him. In all his failed and convoluted attempts at success, all I could see was this all-consuming urge to prove his worth to his father. Not to anyone else, only to his very own father. The bar that was set as a side-effect of the "greatness" of his father was probably too high for this mere mortal. I felt so sorry for him.


And look what this post started with, and where it ended. I need to reign in my thoughts :)

Loving this!

Maybe I will buy it...
 

Wanted!

Home?

Last Friday, I reached Pune, and said I am home.
Today, the Friday after that one, I am leaving for San Francisco, saying I am going home.

Where is home? Where the heart is, right? But where is your home when half your heart is in Pune and the other half in San Francisco?

Not sure why I decided to move to the US...I think because that's what everyone else was doing. To anyone who is considering moving just for the heck of it (like me), don't do it! It is very hard to leave when you see your mom sitting like a frail rag doll, who you can't hug tight to say bye...fearing that her recently sewn together chest might crack open again. And it is very hard to stay when you know your husband is all alone at home, waiting for that 5 minute phone call every day.

So if you don't have to do it, don't split your heart into two like this!

24+ hours with myself

Am on my way to India...for a quick one week visit. Going by myself, so have to spend 24+ hours with myself. Its going good so far!

Had heard a lot about Emirates, how good it is and all. Will say, meh, not too impressed (or maybe I am just spoiled, who knows!) They did send a limo to pick me up (errmmm, yeah, I am spoiled, I traveled business class, so its included), which was nice. But apart from that, it was just like any other airline. Meh..

Oh, and they didn't have ear-plugs in that nice pouch they give away. It seemed to have good stuff (bvlgari and all), but no ear-plugs. What's the point then :( I had a nice flat bed, but I couldn't sleep much. Too noisy :(

Oh, and the food was, at least to me, unpalatable. May be just my mood, who knows!? Been sick for the past..umm..2 weeks. Some strange cold I have gotten, refuses to go!

Oh, one interesting thing though...they allow us to use cell phones while flying. I didn't try it, but they said we could. Wondering what AT&T would charge me for that!
One thing I would like to know...if its free, why is it ok to start drinking at 2 in the afternoon? I went into the business class lounge after check-in, and they were giving out coupons for 2 free alcoholic beverages. EVERYBODY used them. Kind of disgusting, no? 2 pm? Seriously!? I considered giving mine away to whoever I would see first, but then figured why bother.

This is the first time ever I am going to India with such little luggage. One small bag, checked in! I felt so light and free, breezing throught security and everywhere else with just a purse, while others were trying to figure out which arm should carry what.

This is the first time ever in my life that I am traveling anywhere without a book! Any guesses as to what I did instead? Carried my crochet along! Am halfway through yet another scarf! :)

I watched movies, lots of them!

Kartik Calling Kartik first. I had heard mehh...reviews for the movie, but I quite liked it. Farhaan is awesome, and Deepika...is pretty. I wish she could act as well as she looked!

Then was Manzi - 1979 - Amitabh and Mausamil! It started off with the song
Rimjhim gire saawan
Sulag sulag jaaye mann
Bheege aaj is mausam mein
Lagi kaise yeh agan...

Now, I am assuming you have not watching this movie. So guess what the picturization of this song would be like?

Dashing Amitabh, mesmerizing Mausami in a very beautiful locale, doing some form of rain dance.

Right?

WRONG!

It was Amitabh, wearing a kurta-pyjama and black vest on top. Sitting on the floor. Playing a harmonium and singing at an indoor wedding.

Can't imagine that, can you? Well, that's how it was!

The movie was good though, and the song did repeat again, with the two walking along Marine Drive in pouring rain. Loved it!

Then..I tried watching Lovely Bones. Couldn't. I had read the book, but the movie seemed a little weird. So switched to "The Invention Of Lying". That was entertaining for a while, but not too long.

Then...I went to Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani! LOVED it! Loved the goofy dialogues! Especially the last one from Sajid Don...pakad ke rakhna, chhod na nahi, chakkar aa raha hai! Only thing is...it was past 1am, and all the other passengers were sleeping, so I could not laugh out loud (I was anyway freaking them out with my coughing, adding laughing to that would really set them on edge!). So I will watch it again, so I can LOL  :)

Am at Dubai airport now. Didn't eat much on the flight, and am starving now. Got a banana muffin, which also I am hating.

Need to go find some food that I can actually eat...tata