Aaj Ki Kahani

A common misconception is that people are uptight in the sky in comparison to the rails. An extrovert like me engages in a conversation with fellow beings wherever I am. Circumstances demanded my frequent travel to Chennai, as my dad was ailing, now without him around, and mom alone, the frequency has only increased. As expected I don't recollect my earlier travel companions and the conversation but the one I did last, is still fresh in my memory. A morning flight so to beat the crowd I reached the airport early. After the formalities,had a light breakfast in the lounge and took out a book to read, unfortunately was the last chapter and I was irked at the book's abrupt end. An English translation of MT Vasudevan Nair, hah when will I read in my mother tongue? Translations never come as good as the original. So with nothing worthwhile to do, I came to the gate, amused that people had formed a queue (with so much time to spare) to get onto their flight...

Balloons, the sight of those colorful bouncy ones always brings out a feeling of cheer and good spirits . The image of celebrations pops up on my mind. Just tie up balloons, blue, green, yellow, red ones and feel the spirits lift up. This was not the case when I was a small kid, I used to be frightened to hold a balloon. Wary that it might burst any minute and shock me, I preferred not to be around balloons. So all grown up now, balloons seemingly too frivolous to scare me. When I saw balloons ,tied up on the chairs at a restaurant I couldn't stop myself from grabbing a yellow balloon on my way out, tying it up on my hand I brought it home and then busy with the routine chores, forgot all about the yellow balloon. Next day,as I sat with the newspaper, after the morning breakfast and packing off Sujith to work, I was surprised to notice the yellow balloon suspended in the air touching the roof, near the wall clock. It peered at me, and futilely was hitting the roof, wanting to ...

I enjoy my evening walks, fitness not the concern. The joy of the fresh open air, inhaling the flavours of the desert and a song on my lips, I hop along.My mind keeps fluttering from one topic to another, all irrelevancies. I always worry that my brain will have a short circuit someday, as it flits from one thought to another at lightning speed. To dwell upon a topic or ponder about something for a considerable period without going off the track and derail is so difficult. My writings too, are ramblings of an idle mind.  As I meander around the sprawling landscape of villas most of them identical, with manicured lawns and shrubs and hedges lining the pavements trimmed to scientific precision, I let my thoughts run wild and keep up the stride. Sometimes I chart my walking route from my 17th floor apartment balcony.I decide to go reach a particular school or shop and take a circuitous route along the villas and the town houses. A fancy range of 4 wheelers are parked...

Is the feeling of excitement about the wedding anniversary reserved for the female species? The women folk think months in advance, or at least I do, I  check the calendar as soon as the new calendar for the next year is received, of course these days mobile phones  let you plan years in advance. To see if the wedding anniversary date falls on a convenient day, as in weekend, so that the whole day can be enjoyed being together. Then thinking about the right gift for the hubby....what does he need, a wallet, when did I get him the wallet that he is using now?  Or maybe a perfume, I think he ll be happy with an extra one .Getting him clothes or shoes  might not be right as the fitting changes in different brands. What should I cook for him? His favourite breakfast and lunch . Should I bake a cake or should I order one ? So many decisions to make. Men can't handle or process too much information, so I try to drop hints to Sujith about the special occasion. Wat...

With a childlike sense of wonder ,open mouthed I watched the show, a feeling of deja vu brought memories of childhood with a smile..The Jumbo circus, Rajkamal circus, Gemini circus, The Great Bombay circus, (interestingly all these circus companies originates from Thalasery ,kerala )an annual guaranteed outing. I think it used to be in  summer, but then it's always summer in Chennai. In an open ground near the central station and it was quite a distance from Tambaram where we resided (distances  don't matter in Dubai when you zip at 140 kms/ hr), had to pack a picnic lunch (budget living) and go by electric train, usually accompanied by neighbours families too, more,the merrier it was.  Excited as dad bought me a popsicle and holding his hands I entered the colourful tent .With childish impatience I pestered my parents about when the fun will begin. The circus chief gives a welcome address and then 90 minutes of enthrallment.The animated clowns beating eac...

It's fathers day and the media is spewing forth ideas of gifts for the fathers, articles about the role of a father in the life of their children as opposed to that of a mother. Some new dad is talking about the sense of inadequacy in the changing world. What is expected of a father? I can tell you as a daughter who just lost her father recently - it's something no one else other than your own can perform in as the BEST.  I miss my dad everyday, each moment....a  song , a smell, the way I sit on the chair just like he used to, everything and anything reminds me of him. Daughters are precious to their dads and I, a single child was pampered and protected so much that many of my friends have said they hope they can be a dad like him if they have a daughter. They are all dads of their princesses now trying to emulate my dad. I  can still hear my dad's voice, calling me his tiny girl, his life. I used to laugh at him and say I am so fat and round and you still call me y...

Ramadan is a holy month of Giving. Charity is stressed upon very much in this month and there’s goodness and humanity at the very best. In India I had known only about the fasting that the Muslims adhere to in this month so the holy month of Ramadan in UAE is an experience worth blogging. We all wait for the moon sighting, committees are formed to inform the start of the month of Ramadan and the end of it to celebrate Eid ul fitr. The followers of Islam and the others wait for these announcement . The newspapers issue a pamphlet mentioning the timings for the prayers, Fajr the beginning of the fast and Magreb the sunset prayer time and the Iftar timings when they break their fast,so that everyone is aware of the restrictions that should be followed . There is a tradition called midfa al iftar meaning the firing of iftar cannon informing that the fast can be ended. Until then eating and drinking in public is an activity to be avoided. Also a list with the hou...