Twenty- five Seven

The joys of a lazy holiday

November 28, 2012

Punjab is as far away from Mumbai as is Kanyakumari but living in a secular country means having a holiday for every festival celebrated by every Indian. Thus today being a Central Government holiday on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s birthday, I had a chance to spend some leisure time with Anna Shetty.

These last few days have been fraught with worry as Hubby dear is recovering from a TIA. Unsure of the effects of the attack, we literally had our hearts in our mouths for most of the time and took one day at a time. Anna Shetty had the most gruelling schedule of all – putting in an 8 hour day and more at her regular hospital job, then rushing home to check on recuperating father, neurotic mother, over anxious grandparents and rushing back home to start the cycle all over again the next day. It was quite strenuous for her not to mention the rest of us who had to re-adjust to a new schedule of medication, diet, physiotherapy and of course phone calls from well wishers and the occasional visitor.

Today’s holiday, therefore, was more than welcome, more so when we had nothing to do – no temples to visit, no relatives to meet and no rituals to follow.

We spent the better part of the morning shopping at Breach Candy where it was fun to look at all the materials and mix and match to make a set of clothes. Then we walked across to the Breach Candy Club for a lazy lunch of Steak & Chips followed by two sinful desserts – a chocolate fondant and a blueberry pie.

Hmmm! Thank God for a secular India where everyone’s festival calls for a holiday!
Strange are the ways of God

November 27, 2012

Each moment is truly different and each day brings on new experiences. Take 1 o’clock on Tuesday. Each of the Tuesdays in this month of November have been different – each one unplanned yet strangely , one that fitted perfectly in my very ordinary , normal day.

Tuesday 6th November 1 p.m

Royal Bombay Yacht Club (Photo credit: dashiell)

I am entertaining a business client at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club.This old institution, one of the oldest clubs in India is the perfect spot to entertain a true Brit. Steeped in history of Regattas of yore, walking down corridors that have seen everything and more, the RBYC is one of the last places in Bombay where you can have a taste of Anglo-Indian cuisine. So here we are recapping our business discussions over a glass of chilled beer and some fried fish in the company of the silver trophies and old waiters who serve us in old, style grandeur.

Tuesday 13th November 1 p.m

Anna Shetty and her family have joined us for a family lunch.
As is the custom, this is a very special celebration and my parents have come down too for this occasion. We’ve had a grand time combining the new and the old – evolving a custom of our own – essentially one that signifies celebration in the company of family. So once again with chilled beer, kababs and dips, sharing space with traditional goodies we bless the young couple with good wishes and gifts.

Tuesday 20th November 1 p.m.

TIA is the newest acronym in my lexicon after Hubby Dear called out to me late in the evening after Laxmi Poojan. We immediately rushed him hospital where he was given emergency care. Today we are at the waiting room of the Neurophysician Dr. Gursahani waiting for our appointment scheduled for half an hour later. While Hubby dear is waiting with Anna Shetty and her mother-in-law, I am busy scurrying around in the other part of the hospital collecting all the reports that needed to be collected before showing them to the doctor.

Tuesday 27th November 1 p.m

I have just made plans of having coffee with a friend at the Crosswords below when I get a call from my neighbour. She is running short of a lady for the pooja so I jump out of my jeans and into a sari. Whip out a string of pearls and I’m out running. I go down and help with embroidering some stitches on a sheet that will be used during the ceremony. Each stitch is made with a silent prayer to invoke His Blessings on the bridal couple. I then participate in a Ganesh Pooja , part of a wedding ceremony alien to me. But when I hear the familiar words in the mystic language of our ancestors, I feel a calm descend upon me and feel His Grace palpable yet once more.
Memories of a mother in waiting

November 24, 2012

How fleeting are those memories we capture on a film
Polaroid or celluloid
in monochrome or black and white
In sepia or in photo tint

Eyes touched up or blazing red
The blinding flash going off in my head.

It’s strange how a simple photograph
can bring back memories
consigned into the past,
in the deepest recesses of the mind,
left undisturbed till now.

Last week while indulging in that pre-Diwali cleaning mania, a photo slipped out from an album and reminded me of another time.

A summer day so long ago
My blue dress fluttering in the wind
Your tiny hand that pulled me so
along
the walled periphery.

Those memories come back to me
Your little rosebud mouthed “O”
Your fine brown curls playing round your face
Your big wide eyes
Absorbing all there was to see.

Your determined stance in dungarees
Cheeks blushing pink you stood your stand
As I told you to leave my hand.

But you dragged me on determinedly
To show me the doggie on the other side.

That photograph of both my girls
one inside
And one outside
Brings back memories that
still evoke that longing
to envelop them
in warm and tight embrace;
And recall that never forgotton
Smell of Johnson’s baby talc
Of petal soft skin,
Of soft brown curls
and Baby bottoms smooth as a pizza dough.

Seeing that photograph
brings back memories of
eyes crinkled up in glee
with gurgled laughter
dimpled cheeks and heavy jowls
Fatty feet
and baby kicks of the little one still within
Straining to get out and join the world.

That was an almost perfect day
When life was young and simple still.
To see each day with your fresh eyes,
And give a hundred answers for your incessant “Whys”
I see myself those years ago and remember
A life of near perfection.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda