The Seasons of Life

The Clouds and The Storm
Rage for a while

Six months , A year -Indefinite
You cling to the white columns of your sanity
And hope they don't crumble..


The sun shines through the clouds
Ang you feel the ghost of a smile
Hovering on your lips

Little do you know
About the scorching heat
That would sap the hope and make you yearn for showers again..


The whoosh of the snow storm brings in the chill and the emptiness
You hug yourself ,bite your cracked lips and hold back the tears..and trudge on

Stomp,Stomp..

The flowers bloom then ..one at a time

They grow in your heart and the fragrance envelopes you ..
The stars on earth warm your heart..
You smile and greet the new season and not forget the past..

An Ode to the Dosa Maker

S...

You wield the metal spoon with a finesse that eludes me
The concentric circles on the pan
Settle down in their rightful place under the sun..
Your movements are measured and efficient
The dosa's golden heart seems to gleam
And the kitchen seems brighter
I blink ..The spell is broken..
And at the right moment
You flip them and drop them into the gaping plates..
The perfect Sunday Brunch





You..
Wait patiently and wield your aura
I run out of steam ..The curses and my raging are consumed by your constancy
The myriad emotions in the kaleidoscope of my confused mind
Settle down and form the brilliant glass flower
Whose radiance drive the bleak thoughts away
The smile on your face grows
The Rainbow's gold glows in my heart
I take your hand and the love courses through my soul
Contentment and peace
In our Almost perfect Lives

The Apple of Her Eyes

Subbu jumped over a puddle on the mud track and hummed a little tune to herself..Soon-...She promised herself
Her mouth watered when she thought of the fish...The last time she ate fish curry was when her eldest sister had come home. The feast was more for her brother-in-law's benefit than Akka's (Akka-elder sister). Everyone knew that Akka detested fish and all things from the sea..This ensured her a high listing in her husband's bad books...

Amma had tried to appease Sundram -Akka's husband -that day ..After all what woman worth her salt would not please her husband with dainty dishes cooked to perfection for the discerning palate...

Subbu remembered her mother's eagerness to please her son-in-law and snorted ..Did not Akka come back with a broken rib the very next week-courtesy -overcooked fish curry that offended the same discerning palate..

Anyway-Subbu shook her head to rid herself of unpleasant thoughts..Nothing would come in between her and pleasure of eating a well cooked meal today..Each day she sat with her mother in the market to sell the home grown tomatoes and greens .. Sweating and listening to her mother's litany of the past had saddened her..but by now she had perfected an expression of sympathy on her face while her mind wandered....She smiled a secret smile in anticipation of the treat ahead..

The smile ended before it began ..She peeked at the street corners and heaved a big sigh when she did not see Amma's friends around.There would be hell to pay if they remarked about her smiling on the roads..Amma would launch into one of her lectures on how unmarried girls should behave ..

Akka's husband's fathers' second cousin had come with a peace offering .. Akka had moaned from the interiors of the hut while Amma entertained the cousin with banana and wails about Akka's cooking..Subbu had looked longingly at the peace offering..It wasn't everyday that prime catch was available in the house..
Akka came out and looked at the peace offering -sighed and wound her unkempt hair.She left home after lunch with jasmine in her hair and Amma's new sari. Amma lighted special incense sticks ..

Subbu was furious-Amma had promised her the new sari for Pongal and everybody had conveniently forgotten.She went out to sulk . Amma had called out to her " Subbu -Would you like some fish curry for the night ".. Subbu stopped cursing all of them and a happy light came to her eyes..

Amma had then ordered her to get some bottle gourd from her friends Koki's house.
Koki's house was three miles away from theirs..

Subbu was coming back home from the errand....It had been a long walk-The evening sun scorched her feet ....Subbu didn't mind ..
The thought of the dish kept her going..As she entered her street she could smell Amma's fish curry...

She heard his voice before she saw him..Anna (elder brother) disappeared from home often-He worked with a cinema unit..When he came back home he told funny stories about fat heroes and young heroines...Amma boasted about it to everyone on the street ..Subbu had noticed that they all looked at Amma with pity when she spoke with pride..
Anna always came back home unannounced, ate , took money from home and disappeared.
Ate-Subbu stepped out of her reverie and looked at the pot-Amma was dishing out the last portions onto Annas plate with a pleased expression ..
Anna noticed her first -"Subbu Come Come" and ginned ..Amma glanced at her and turned her adoring gaze to her son..."Child" Amma admonished -"Greet your Anna"..


Subbu swallowed the hot burning tears ,plastered a smile and said -"Vaa(Come) Anna"

Jesus Christ Superstar

We are getting ready for the big event...
Being the "cluckety-cluck" Mom I am ..
I had been giving him a big lecture on Good Friday..

I told him that Jesus died on the cross for us ....and how painful it must have been for him..
He listened to all this ..and was very sober for a couple of minutes...
And it was back to jumping on the well-worn sofa..

We said our prayers and went to bed..
He wanted to know about the Cross....
And I told him that it was a kind of tree and Jesus was hung from it..

He looked happy for a minute and assured me ..
"Dont worry Mom-Spiderman would swing from the tree and definitely rescue him.."

Wish I had thot of that !


Here's to a contemplative Good Friday and a happy Easter



--
( )
A

Our personal Tsunami

A trivial portion of Chotu's non-stop chatter for the day :(and a better part of the nite)

You can visit us any time of the day ..
We guarantee non-stop entertainment
Non stop switching of all the cartoon channels

Mom on the sofa-yes on top of it..
The floor is littered with toys and playmates -the plastic kind Of course-What did you think..
And the roaches racing for the piece of roti I thoughtfully left for them on the sofa...
That was y'day....
Maybe I will repeat the kind act during lunch today..and hopefully see more of them

Wow listen to that Screaming ..
Guess Mom saw the roach....or the roach saw Mom..
Whatever...


Is that my WATER GUNnnnnnnnnn..
Wet the bed -Not literally of course..
What do you think-That happened last night ..
I am older now ..
How about the folded clothes..Hmm gotta plan the target..

When can I go down to play?
Is it evening yet ?
What time of the day is it ?
Is there anything to eat?
Can I cut your hair ?

Amma's (as in Mommy) take on the situation :

It is that time of the year when it lands..in each home where a tiny tot resides...

This year ..
It is the first for me ...
I was not prepared..

This is on the bed

This is below the bed..




It is 12.00 in the nite and I am still cleaning..

Sleepy and Sighin
I have no "take" on anything !!!!

This I have to say tho- and I really mean it
I can't wait for him to wake up ..
And ask all those questions...

()
A

Where are the leaders

 

Puppies, Kittens and a vasectomy for the street dog..

Are they more important than a man's limbs, his dignity, and his faith?

It does appear so..

Freedom of speech seems to mean more than tolerance and letting people live their lives...

Where are the leaders?

The tear drop island faces its own demons...

It is time to shed your crocodile tears for the plight of a ignored race

And wave all the colored flags...

Fighting for visibility....

The madness continues

The Afflicted claiming more victims….

And more monsters emerge from their lairs..

Sucking you into their world of chaos and hate…

Where are the leaders?

Friends turns foes..

Foes turn friends..

Silver tongued orators with regard only for their coffers..

Educated manipulators..

Entertainers who hold the vote bank with their painted face..

Where are the leaders?

I despair and 

I am Pandora again..

And hold tight to that last gift ..

Hope for a better world peace and tolerance ..for us, our children and theirs ..

( )

A

The Long Road Home

Heated Arguments

Unshed tears

Wilful demonstrations…..

I recollect my teenage years with angst and amusement

”You don’t understand” had been  my constant refrain

The mea culpa’s after extraordinary adventures..

Stillness and Silence after harming myself and family

Acceptance in my mother’s heart..

Forgiveness in my father’s wisdom…

The encouragement after innumerable failures-real and imagined

Strength after a breakdown…the affliction of of our country’s school finals

All this and more………..

Then there was success –again real and imagined..

Days when I knew  the world better

Days when the world served me bitter lemons

A place of my own-a home of my own

The happy years as an individual

Finding love on the way…..

My journey with my parents..It is still on

The road was long ..It took me time …but  I have reached home ….

()

A

To Amma and Appa on my 33rd birthday…   

For all that I am today … Love you both