Aaj Ki Kahani

What happened to your hair ? Well ...I had a haircut! But why? Oh ...I was bored so just chopped it off ! But who would cut such  lengthy, healthy hair? I would...and I did .. didn't like people staring at the long hair with a few grey strands jutting out, while talking to me. Is that the look you are going for !?! Is going under the scissors and getting your hair chopped short like a boy the solution? The parlor lady was aghast at my request. Had to cajole her to cut my hair, can you believe it? I just don't like to go to the beauty salons, these totally made up girls (using up all the beauty products)have opinions about your skin type, the hair texture, the eyebrow shape and what not. I used the salons for services on my face and head alone, else she would have condemned every part  of my body! Yeah I know, I am not the epitome of perfection, I have survived this long with these imperfections. There has been no dearth of admirers either(wink wink)! So keep your opin...

God works wonders in many ways. As the saying goes " marriages are made in heaven"  The instruments in making that happen are varied.  Let me tell u a cute little love story. A young man with dreams in his eyes and hopes in his mind was idling away at home feeling a little bored . Just then he heard the black big telephone, a status symbol of the select few let out a shrill "tring tring" . With studied nonchalance he lifted the receiver and bellowed a " Hello" .The voice on the other side, sounded like music to his ears, lady on the other side asked for a person. Knowing it was a wrong call but not wanting to break the connection with the musical voice, he continued the conversation and jokingly said - the person you ask for does not live here but I do and am willing to offer my services to you, my young lady. The voice sounded perplexed and having realized that she had dialed a wrong number, apologized and was about to cut the line. Our Hero q...

I was bemused when my friend showed her son's certificate of ‘pen licence’ , it was the first I heard the term. She explained that her son’s school, which follows British curriculum, awards each milestone with a certificate and makes it a celebration. Big deal for the kids and parents alike, akin to getting a driving licence or college graduation. This got me thinking about my school days and the first time we were allowed to use pens, strictly fountain pens only and not these ball point or gel pens which you get for a dime a dozen. I vaguely remember that somewhere during the 5th or 6th grade I bought my first pen.  I posted a message in all my WA groups asking if they remembered their transition to pens from pencils.The answers received were similar to the recent legislative assembly results, with no clear mandate. Some said 4th grade others in 6th grade, a friend explained in 4.5 i.e. in the last term of the 4th grade, another one said 8th grade. He i...

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...