Aaj Ki Kahani

It's election time in India and it so happened that I was in Chennai. If I was elsewhere I doubt if I would have taken pains to come to Chennai to cast my vote. With election fever gripping the country and media spewing an over enthusiastic dosage of whitewashing and dirt throwing and propagation of false fake news, it was very difficult to judge and decide on the right person and party to handover the nation to, for the next tenure. I was getting clouded by mom's political leanings. Where ever people meet, political discussions and arguments only were heard. People trying to force their views on each other. They succeeded in discombobulating me. My brain was more addled! Anyways the election day dawned in Chennai, a humid sultry one. My mom was surprised to see me awake and ready before 7 am. I spent some time talking to the Gods in the puja... sincerely asked God to help us elect a good leader to lead our country. Hadn't received a slip informing our vo...

I prefer taking a circuitous route from Tambaram to Annanagar.. EMU till Nungambakkam climb up the 90 steps huffing and puffing and pray at the small temple at the end of the road, (never have I seen the temple open!) Then amble down to the bookstall selling duplicates. I invariably spend a good 30 mins browsing and buying. Then a share auto to Annanagar, rubbing shoulders and thighs with strangers inhaling the sweat and perfume! Today I decided to forgo all these pleasures and took the bus from the MEPZ bus stop to Annanagar. I asked a few people waiting for the bus "Annanagar bus?" After confirming I waited craning my neck to read the bus numbers, wiping my spectacles clean. People were running to catch their buses all in a hurry to reach office probably. Buses to all other destinations came and went, some unheard of places too. A lady came to me and asked about a bus and if it had gone, I told her 3 buses to her destination passed by in the last 15 mins. She st...

Well I am here on the sofa again... that favourite place in my home. Revelling in indolence, I am found, with 3 cushions supporting my spine, (2 big and 1 small), one for the neck and another one for the hand, the other side has the armrest. Its a recliner, so all the more comfortable with my stubby legs stretched. I love these cushions and the husband flings them on to the floor if it's on his side of the sofa. He does borrow one at times for his neck though and I grudgingly part with one, rearranging the cushions and muttering under my breath. Now where was I?! Hah on the sofa ensconced in my cocoon.....with the Gulf news in my hand and Illayaraja on the stereo crooning melodies from the 80's and 90's. I think I have ADHD, I drop the paper pick up my phone and start typing! Music is an integral part of my (our) life! I listen to songs almost most of my waking time. I have the radio on tuned onto a Malayalam station when I am making coffee and breakfast. The husba...