Aaj Ki Kahani

Doha in Qatar was my newest destination. The country which would be my home until the spouse decides to jump ship. Having resided in the Gulf for a few years, I had no qualms in declaring to admire the Arab culture and trust my ability to survive in the harsh summer,  and am habituated to hearing the adhaan and adhering to the rules during Ramadan. Some of my friends who have lived in the Islamic countries for a long duration even practice the fast during the holy month.  A bonus, the foodie in me was fond of the Levantine cuisine! I looked forward to my journey to Doha. It was almost three months since I came to Chennai while the spouse had taken up his new job in Qatar. My last month of sales and packing madness at Dubai is known to all of you already(you would if you DID read my blog). Now with my flight booked, I have been relentlessly and sleeplessly packing unpacking and repacking my luggage for the past few weeks. My mom, who initially helped me in this endeavor has ab...

I too had a dream, an ambition in my growing up years...to be a Teacher ....an English teacher. We all love our English teacher more than the other subject teachers, ain't it?! Although some of us might be strong in numbers or the world of experiments or analysing our past -most of us would be decent enough (or so we thought and hardly studied for it during the exams) in the languages, especially the Language given to us by the British monarchy . My favourite game in my growing up years was the "teacher game". In a make believe sari and a stick in hand, I zealously recited rhymes and stories to my collection of dolls and my dad. I had colourful chalkpieces to write on the wooden doors of my Air force quarters. My dad was the best student in my class. He put up with all of my idiosyncrasies all through, always! I would beat him, give spelling tests and homework ! English teacher is someone who is well dressed and speaks politely and never punishes (mostly) all ...

Yet again time to pack the bags and move into a new home, a new country. It's been like this for the last ten years. Just when I start feeling totally at home and complacent, the husband decides to uproot the family to a new place. Not that I am complaining, in fact I welcome the adventure and break in monotony. (He can read my mind ahha). Love the prospect of searching for a new house (with an awesome view), getting the right locality, setting up the home, finding new friends and exploring the city. The only hassle, packing the necessary items and coming to a decision to chuck away things.. to let go - for the need of decluttering! Yes I have been introduced to Marie Kondo and her work by a dear friend. So this urge to declutter is rampant in me. Days have passed and I haven't had time to get back to this write up ..I am reeling under the feeling of euphoria, tiredness and confusion. I am surrounded by lots and lots of my stuff, my otherwise clinical house looking l...

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...

I was flying again. This time with mom and my aunt both recently widowed. My aunt on her maiden foreign trip and my mom on her second trip to Dubai, this time without dad. She was in a tensed mood 2 days before the flight and was weeping and delaying even when the cab came to pick us up. We reached the airport well before time, finished the formalities and waited at the gate. We were busy talking to ourselves that I didn't observe much of what was happening around me. At the boarding announcement, we got into our flight. The business class was empty and we were just 2 rows after the business class. I was sandwiched between my aunt in the window seat and my mom in the aisle. We switched off the mobiles and were ready for the air hostess to begin her routine. But absolutely no trace of her or the pilots announcement. Just then a young girl of 20 years sprung up from the seat behind and rushed to the front. Mom and I commented that she might be asking for changing her seat from ...