Sickness Blue

Its been four months since i arrived in this City. And its my second fever in as much months. I think Cities make me burning hot. :P

Honestly, the cities have a way of attaching itself on you. Make you so crazy about it, even with all its imperfections. It grows on you slowly, and one day you realize that you don't want to go back, even though you hate the place and the people here.

Its like a sexy mistress, seductive; you know its not good, you know more times than not it is not so fond of you, you know you will have much more peace and understanding from the good old hometown where everyone knows you. But you cant leave. You live for its better moments, even though it is far and fewer in between. Its like a really bad addiction.

I know i am not the first to feel this tug o' war. I like living here, but there are moments when i miss my smalltown life like mad.

Especially when i am sick. And lonely. Fever is not some deathbed scene for me. But it makes me want my home and family with an intensity that is quite fierce.

Things i miss from Home- especially when i am down with fever.

• Amma- Whenever i am sick, she gets on like an overprotective orangutan mom. She checks on often, and sometimes scolds me for being a careless baby to get the disease, which makes me crazy. I miss the scolding. Even though in the past few days she has called like fifty times, i miss her random checks and poor-baby pats and hugs.
• Mom's chukku kaapi- Chukku is ginger and kaapi is, of course, coffee. Its a dreadful spicy drink, after drinking which you will run and mouth some sugar to cool your tongue. Mom feeds us that hourly while ill. We think she is being rather sadistic. But it makes the fever go away in like, a day. Here also i make something that tastes like that. How ever i try, its not as awful and it not as effective either. Sigh.
• My Bed- Which rather hard, with a me-shaped dent right in the middle, but its the place where i get maximum rest and sleep.
• My room- The one thing i hate and love in my city room is the pouring sunlight. Some days it makes my days brighter. But the fever photo-phobia makes my eyes crave my room with a huge mango tree right near the windows which makes it virtually dark at noon.
• My dog, who knows when i am sick and in companionship comes and lies down on my feel. Which is rather painful, but i like it anyway.
• Dad who runs after me with a paracetamol, which is something i abhor. His belief in modern medicines in something i didn't inherit from him.

Taking care of yourself is something you need to learn sooner or later. But it doesn't mean that you stop wishing someone would do it for you at your most vulnerable.

PS: The one thing i love most about the city is also the family. Them and their over-intrusive, overprotective, overbearing ways are a few hundred kilometers away. Aw, shucks.

Plane Issues

My mom in no way is an illiterate village folk. She is well educated, worked as a teacher for over 30 years and is well read and up to date on current events. But there are times when she appears a bit naive and inexperienced in worldly things. Like on this fine afternoon when we(Me, Mom and aQQui) were on different stages of reading paper and siesta-ing after lunch.

Mom: So, do Aeroplanes have bathrooms in them?

Me: No mom, they don't.

Mom: Really? I don't believe it. Don't they aQQui?

aQQui: No mom, think how it is even possible. Trains open to tracks na? How can they do that with a plane?

Mom: But... that is really terrible!

Me: Yeah. You know why they ask people to check in 4 hours ago on internationals na? They make them stop drinking or eating then.

Mom: Really?

Me: Uh uh. And they advice people to 'go' before entering the plane too.

Mom: Wow.

aQQui: If the planes have stops on the way, we can go then.

Mom: So why they talk about food on planes on TV?

Me: That... they only give that right before you have to get out. So that there wont be any 'incidents'!

aQQui: Yeah! They are trying to invent something to stop these. But as of now, nothing has happened.

*By this time we both, but me mostly had started snickering*

Mom: You two are such nasty kids for tricking your mother! I don't even know why i bothered asking you. *huffs and walks away*

aQQui: So, when do you think we went overboard?

Me: Around the food serving?

aQQui: Probably.

Heat and Ice

Seriously! What the eFF is with the sun? One more day with blazing sun and no electricity, i swear i am jumping into some local waterbody after writing a suicide note to sue the Sun to the next galaxy!

And Iced tea is divine! I was always the cold coffee girl and you just cant make it at home, never mind the gazillion calories! But iced tea! Refreshing, cool and surprisingly less chance of gaining you pound-a-cup.

Nestle has this NesTea, which the brother bought on a whim. It caught on until we started getting caught with a glassful every two hours. Not so economic, dear.
So i am trying to make the right iced tea at home. I tried half tea half water thing, full tea with different amount of tea powder and lemon extract... Nothing works as good as the NesTea! That tastes like CocaCola but tastier, and mine tastes like, well, Tea. With Ice. Damnit!

So, any tips? Best recipe? I am going to conquer this monster while the summer lasts. And after that i can go back to my hot black coffee, which is great.

Ah, June and Monsoon can't come faster, can it?

Vishu Kaineettam!

Ah, Vishu.

You know all about it if you were reading this for an year or so. But if not, its a Farming related mallu festival which begins with a delightful view in morning to begin the season ominously, followed by getting(or giving) some pocket money to youngsters, and then a fab lunch and some tv time which can be replaced by an afternoon nap.

As usual I make the Kani, which looked awesome. (Go me!)

(Click on it to view in a bigger size.)

Then there was the Kaineettam, aka pocket money. Mom and dad gave me and i gave bro. So it was a marginal profit for me where as brother totally aced it. :(

Then came the sadya or the awesome feast. Mom made the dishes, i made the Kheer, which turned out better than usual. Since usual is good, better means, oh yeah!. ;) Lunch spent withOUT talking politics, thank you lord.

Then came the afternoon nap. You know how the dog has been sort of not-so chummy with me? I went and laid a mat in a side room and lied down with a book to read. After a while Rocky came, after his feast, and he sort of lied down next to my feet for the cool floor and the cool temperature inside. I didn't see this and when i turned, my leg hit him and he got up and went outside. Did i mentioned that he hates crackers? Well, neighbors burst something and he came back and after a while i too slept. With Rocky at my foot.

However nice it was, now my brother have an embarrassing picture of me and the dog, sleeping on the same side. :-/ Which i will never post anywhere. :|

Then came evening and the IPL. Yes, i watch IPL, but mainly the Knight Riders matches and from this season, the Kochi Tuskers matches. And last day there were one each. The first one, Knight Riders won comfortably. Then came the tuskers match. They haven't won anything till now and the opponents were Mumbai Indians, the mighty. They posed a mighty score, with a Sachin century, and what we did?? We won!! YAYYYY!!!! Totally my day. \m/

Feels like this year will be massive. Lets wait and see, shall we?

Have an awesome year ahead, you! Yes, you. Don't you know how amazing you make me feel by reading this blog? :)

Rickety Rocky

As you know, Rocky is my very handsome, rather temperamental, much loved German shepherd dog who is 4 years now. As our longest lasting dog, he is totally ingrained to our life. We don't leave him alone, even cancelling trips and visits.

The dog obviously love my mom. She is the one who gets him the food, so no surprises there.

He loves my brother like something crazy. He only sees him when he comes from hostel. And they have some sorority-brother thing going on. The dog is all over him when he is home. Rocky, who lives in the dog-house and rarely enter the house when he is out, is sneaking in when ever aQQui is home. Yeah, the dog loves him pretty fierce.

The dog almost hates dad. Well, dad is not the most dog-friendly person in the world. He don't do caress and massages. His general show of affections will leave you painful.

Then there is ME. Usually i come after Mom and Bro and waaaay above Dad. I guess i am not that fascinating. I get him snacks and chocolates when i go out. I sneak him biscuits and everything, so he likes me fine.

Or used to. Now i think he hates me.

It all started with the Summer. Its hot and sweaty and he scratches. And thus injures himself. Then this slowly grow and before it gets really out of control, someone has to find it and apply some medicine. The medicine is generally a flea repellent plus antiseptic. As you guessed, it burns when you apply it.

And in case of Rock, i do it. Me being in health care makes everyone think that i am the personal doc of the Dog.

Whenever dog gets any health issues its me who end up feeding him pills the size of USBs and apply whatever that needs applying. Do you still wonder why he hated me now?To the dog, i am synonymous with pain, burning, awfully shoveled tabs into his mouth, cheating him by covering the same tabs in stuff like jam....

This time the wound is fierce and he hates me as much. To a point he avoids me, runs in the opposite direction and generally not approaching me for petting. And he barks. At me. And looks really angry.

Well, i thought it was for the betterment of the dog and i would take one for the team. I know somewhere inside his brain he still got feelings for me. (GSDs are the 3rd most intelligent dog in the world.) But however much i am fine, it hurts so bad when he barks at me and avoids me. I never thought my dog's feelings would matter much, but it does.

You know what will hurt more? One of these days he is going to plan a surprise attack on me with improved guerrilla tricks and modern technology. And i would talk about it of i survive the ordeal.

Till then, Adios!

Keep yourself in the good grades of your dog.

He loves you, but he can overpower you in a flash.

Politricks

The summer is damn hot. But you know what is hotter? Politics. The elections are upon us, and as the child of two local political parents, life is hell. Some snippets off it:

*****

Mom: Molu, make some lemonade.

Me:Yes ma. *scrawling*

Mom: Molu, some tea. 2 suger-less.

Me:*scrawling* Yes amma.

Mom: Can we get some lunch order in short notice?

Me:*scrawling* I was working at a Tea-shop, i will be making as much tea and lemonades, and they will be paying me to do so.

Mom: *scrawling*

*****

Mom is really into baseless slander, as they do in politics.

Mom: The opposition candidate is a Prof at a college. He can get a decent income by just working. He is doing politics only because he get more from it.

Me: Ma, you are a retired govt employee. With handsome pension. If you work in politics, does it mean that you get some cash from there?

Mom: *ANGRY* You don't know anything! For all i know, you will go and vote for him.

Me: *hiding*

*****

Mom: *after a day of running around and getting home at dusk* Where is the soap in the bathroom?

Me:In the bathroom outside. Dad took it.

Mom: Get it for me na?

Me: Now? Am watching cricket!

Mom: Am so tired, i cant walk that much.

Me: *getting up* its only 10 steps!

Mom: *after bath* *on call* Yes Jaya, we need to arrange that room by tonight.

Mom:Un huh. I know. I am coming too. Lets get some help and arrange all the chairs.

Me: :O You cant go to bathroom outside! and you are going to arrange chairs? *scrawling*

*****

Dad: I joined politics for your Mom.

Mom: ...'s destruction.

Dad:I am leaving the party.

Mom: I dont think i will be that lucky.

Dad: I dont think i am coming to the meeting tonight.

Mom: That is because i am getting a seat in stage and you are sitting in audience.

Dad:I am not jealous!

Me and Bro: Yes, you are!

*****

Bro: Ma, rocky likes your candidate.

Mom: Gr8! How so?

Bro: Your election symbol is the palm na? He did pasted his own on that poster of the candidate.

Mom: :-/

*****

It had been crazy mayhem. With mom and dad being too busy and house getting cluttered with Request sheets and posters and a lot of men i wish i would never have to see again.

But in their old age(mom and dad are 60) i think its the feeling of being wanted and the thrill of doing something is what keeps them so energetic and happy. And as long as they are happy, i am happy too.

Though i am still not decided on whom to vote.

Don't tell mom!

When Life Deals You a Lemon, You Need to Know What It Means

The kitchen tap was left open and the sink overflowed. Mom was looking at it despairingly.

Me, the Sunshine girl, took over the matter.

Me: Amma, dont worry. Lets take this chance and clean the floor, its already soaked. Haven't you heard the expression "If life deals you lemons make lemonade"??

Mom: No.

Me: Well, life gives you a lemon, you can make a sourface or a sweet lemonade. Its how you look at it.

Mom: Ah. So what if I don't like lemonade?

Me: Its a proverb!!

Mom: Ooh! OK.

After five minutes.

Mom: Diabetic people really don't like lemonade, you know?

Me: MAA!!!

Khandaani Baatein

You know, i never write much about the family. So i thought I'll remedy that today.

More than that, mom went over to my uncle's to see her mom, so i am missing her so so much. All the times when we are together, we are cross with each other. She doesn't like my laid back attitude, my state of singledom and you name it, she hates it. Sometimes i wonder if she ever loved me. But then there are times like this, where i miss her and wish that she was here, if only to scold me. And since she is gone, house work falls on the shoulders of moi, which is terrible. :P

******

I hate our mixer grinder. I am almost sure that it has a thing for me. Bad thing.

One of the first tips of kitchen the mixer taught me was never to grind anything hot. It was a very painful lesson.

The thing is, when ever i go to grind coconut, which is often if you are a keralite, the second i turn the key, the coconut start flying all over the place. I personally have no problem with flying coconut grind, but i hate cleaning.

******

In our house, there is two decks of cards. We play often, mostly rummy and recently poker too. I made the chips with some cardboard paper and Aqqui(the bro) hates them. He says it doesn't have much panache. Hmmph.

Our dad is a master player. However inebriated he is, i am almost sure that he knows whats in all our hands.

Mom plays for fun. She never leaves a game, even though her hand is hopeless.

I am an exceptional shuffler, which amazes most people. Even though i am well versed at cards, they hate me. Or why would they conspire to form unimaginative pairings en-route to me?

Then there is Aqqui. The black sheep. For long my parents were afraid to teach him this, for the fear of corrupting him. Then when they became sure that he is as boring as a sack of potatoes, they taught him. His famous rummy comments range from "I have a hand full of royals, with no relation between them," to "J is for Jackie? i thought that was Joker."

But he has exceptional luck and he remains the only one to have a hand-rummy on the house, which he proceeded to present while downing the 13th card. Get it?

But we all owe him serious cash. Which he is never going to get.

******

The dog is gay, i think. One day, someone brought a bitch in heat to do the nasty and Rocky almost killed her. He started barking like he saw the ghost and after an attempted attack, the owner took her to some other guy in need.

I think we should try bringing home a man-dog. What you think?

******

Mom makes this gorgeous mango pickles.

Great huh?

Too bad, none of us like mango pickles.

My friends, my brother's friends, neighbors... everyone go gaga over it and we are like 'meh' and this pisses her off.

And the next year, she makes more pickles.

******

My uncle is craaazy.

Seriously.

There are cases of mental illness in dad's family, which mom points out every time they argue. But uncle is mom's brother, and a very prominent doctor too. And i think dad should point to him some time. The guy has some serious issues behaviorally.

He once said my brother needed a better dressing. My brother. Who wont wear gold if it was not branded. :-/

He once smacked me on the shoulder at a wedding. Hard.

I smacked him right back.

It was painful!

May be i shouldn't criticize him much. What say?

******

My Grandma is weird. And almost 90.

Mom recently teased her, saying 'may be you should marry'.

Grandma said, 'Yeah, i can talk to and listen to someone."

She cant hear if a bomb went off near her ear.

******

If you read it so far, i applaud you.

I know it has been a boring post.

But i miss mom and the whole managing home thing is driving me crazy.

I am never getting married. Ever.

Need to sleep now if i want to wake up and finish work at a decent hour.

FML!

Onions that make you Cry

We welcomed the decade with a Biriyani. By we, i mean my brother, as my knowledge about cooking can not fill a 2x2 sheet.

But i do help him in cleaning the onions, washing the rice etc.

Thus i was almost finished with cleaning the mountain(it seemed!) of onions when mom walked in.

Mom: You finished?

Me: Yes.

Mom: Leaving them there? Out?

Me: Yes, why?

Mom: Put that under a hood or something.

Me: Why, mommy, why?

Mom: You want thieves in the house? The load of Onion is worth a robbery.

Me: Ha ha. :|

Seriously, with the price of onion, i wondered how much price hiked the Biriyani in hotels are these days, or how much they will be scrimping on onions. When i thought more about it, native kerala cuisine does not use onions. Of course they do now, even in sambar, but its an adaption, a familiarity. With the invasion of north indian cooking and the fast food, onion has become one of the essentials in Malayali kitchen as well. We have no one to blame for being this dependent on the vegetable.

To make a Chicken Biriyani:

Chicken- 150 rs

Onion- 80 rs

Rice- 80 rs

Other knickknacks- 100 rs

The pleasure of eating the Chicken Biriyani at home when your parents criticize you on your weight gain through the whole meal : PRICELESS!

Smoking a Cigar

I have this zest to try out new (and possibly not good) things in life. Smoking was something i was postponing for a long time. I had to do it one of these days. Not because i was stressing, not because of peer pressure. Its a thing. I had to try it.

Steps to take while smoking a cigar.

· Get a cigar first

a. Don't go to shops you know.

b. Don't nick from people who keep count.

· Find a lonely but comfortable place.

· Don't forget to carry a lighter.

· Don't take the first drag too deep.

· You might cough. Relax.

· Don't do fancy stuff at first.

· After doing it, dispose evidence, go back to your life, and don't tell anyone.

Well. This was the general plan. I suck at plans.

The first step was the easiest.

Dad smokes and its easy to nick from him. I was running around in morning chores when i saw an abandoned cigar and decided that its time i smoked one.

So i took it, grabbed a matchbox, ( where is the sophisticated lighter when i need o

ne!) and took off to my parents' room. Open doors. Well, i was lazy to climb to my room. I just came down. And my parents know i am crazy.

I sat down in peace, lighted it. Took a shallow drag.

How Did it Went:

·Its not so awesome. Its not an instant high(like pot, which i have not tried, yet ;) ), its not tasty like wine( which i love), its not comforting as food. Actually i don't know why people smoke. I will get to it later.

·Watching smoke coming out of your nose is cool. I saw it in mirror, and promptly started laughing like a hyena. Doubted for a sec if it was indeed pot.

·It burns you somewhere in pharynx. Intense and not in a good way. Made me think of smoke inhalations. Well, i was inhaling willingly, cant complain.

·I did not cough. If its my very unshakable lungs or careful maneuvering, i don't know. I like to think its the former.

·I was thinking, i am so going to blog about this, and then was not paying much attention to the butt in my hand, except occasional drags. so it stopped burring around the last 1/3rd. I didn't bothered to light it a second time.

I am probably going to sound like a very prude person or a very unadventurous one, but i think i am never going to smoke again. Its not because of the health risks. I am obese, if i had any thoughts on health, i won't be.

Its just, I didn't get why people smoke. Like i said, no high, no pleasure, no comfort! Just burning in nose and the smell of smoke. I guess its them boring people who just do it for the sake of doing something gets stuck with it as a habit. I am too lazy for habits.

So i classify it as a waste endeavour and is going to move on with poise.

The Laters:

After i disposed the butt, i waltzed into kitchen and announced, " Well, i didn't think i was going to do that!"

Mom: What?

Me: I am not telling.

Mom: *Skeptical look*

Me: phew *blowing at mom's face*

Mom: You smoked???!!!

Me: Yeah, i tried.

Mom: Krishna!( thats not my name, its the god's name, clearly in vain) What is with you kid??

Me: I just smoked, i am not going to again, because its awful! Isn't that great news? Blah blah blah( this constitutes of all the things in said earlier)...

Mom: *Staring*

Later later:

Me: Dad, it burns behind nose when smoking! WHy you even do that!!

Dad: Well, for beginners it might. Not for me anymore!

Me: Hmmm.

Dad: You smoked?

Me: Yeah. Its awful.

Dad: Ok.

Note to my future kids:

If you are reading this, i want to tell you a few things.

1. Notice that i didn't smoked till i was almost 28. I will give you one year lax. If i caught you with a cig before 27, i am going to be really angry.

2. I did it once, so if i caught you twice, you have an entire different thing coming. I dont care if you are a biker chick or a scientific reasercher on the advantages of smoking.

3. You can not use this as a leverage against me. Well, not more than once.

So what's next?

Wouldn't you like to know. :P

Liar Liar!

I admit i am a bad liar. I tend to stare, stumble and get stuck between speeches. Except when its about food. I can be pretty convincing when i lie about food.

Mom: Sree, who ate the jilebi in fridge?

Me: Gave it to rocky.

Mom: The spicy biscuit?

Me: Gave to rocky!

Mom: The bread?

Me: Rocky!

Mom: Molu, Rocky don't eat bread.

Me: Yeah, that's why he sniffed it and left it there. So i threw it away. Away!

Not bad, eh?

[Glossary: Molu- Pet name for daughter]

Moment of truth

Every one knows moment of truth, or Sach ka saamna, and first and foremost, this is one show i DON'T watch. But i do see the trailers in Star world (or my Alma mater, as dad says) and i wonder why people who has things to hide go on live TV to blurt those out (i have doubts about the whole series.).

So, i was thinking, if i went, i would be going almost to the end, as there are only a few secrets in my life, which are, to be frank, embarrassments only.

Then i thought of this question:

Have to ever wanted to murder your parents in slow and excruciating detail, so that you will be out of their annoying presence in your life?

Busted.

The Cat

I don't want to come out as an animal hater when i say i hate cats. But i guess wanting wring the neck of one and to throw one by its tails does not make me much nice too. (I swear i am better with dogs. Or anything that flies or walks on four legs. I hate fish. They are for eating.) I don't know where i get these cat hurting urges. Mom says its from the time one scratched me when i was 8. (Guess its dead now and i am not. Ha, you cat-bitch!)

So far this had been a non issue. I have known and liked people who in fact(to the horror!) owned cats. I made fun of them, insulted them and always told the cat is not cute. (No wonder some never keep in touch.) But, my closest ones are also not big fans of the four legged selfish masterminds who wants to take over the world. Especially in my family. While me and my bro do like the big ones, (tigers are not cats, damnit!) we always voted for dogs to be adopted and not cats. Thus we had Rocky, our GSD, not a monster named chucky or leo.( Damn i love the name Leo. Next dog. Period.)

I should have known that this domestic bliss would have a short life.

During the world cup, it happened.

Imagine the ugliest, unhealthiest cat you can image. Thats what happened.

At first when it trotted around the kitchen, we all thought it will die in 3 days maximum. Mom took pity on the monster and gave it a fair share of Rocky's milk. I was horrified to find it comfortably drinking milk near the firewood out back. Along with me, dad too registered his opposition to this new animal.

I should never have forgotten that the one thing me and mom share is our sovereign contempt for anything other family members think or want. Thus mom, also the queen bee and sole ruler of our home decided to keep the monster kitty. And named it SAKUMI. For the world cup mascot. Jeezus freaking Christ!

All these time, i thought either it will die, or we will chase it out of home. Or Rocky will do the job. We were shocked to find that his smelling is pretty lame for one of the-most-used-dog-breed-in-police. He knows mom is harboring hostage, he sniffs for it and never ever went close to its hiding. Shameless doggie! Now there goes my plans of him joining CIA! Hmmph

And once it had established rapport with mom, (mom calls, it purrs. How disgusting!) it turned on me. I knew it would. One day i discovered that my room smelled of urine. And later of poop. I found cat shit in two different places and one on a cloth, which i dont own now. Of the whole house and backyard and all, the monster had to shit in my room. My room!

Consider this as a statutory warning. Cats are evil. They select their opponents, the plan the attack in minute detail and they carry that out with precision. They are watching us. I even doubt this cat is a reincarnation of you-know-which-cat. To my everlasting dread, its getting healthy now. And fearless as it roams the hall and sits on the window sill.

Any way, i am forced to lock my door and windows now.

I am safe.

Until the Cat forges the key.

Mamma's Squiggly Bundle of Joy.

One day, i was chatting with her in kitchen when she was fussing with lunch and i was playing lazy.

Me: Mom, you have known me a lot of time na? Saw me in all my looks, all my moods, all my make overs.

Mom: Yeah. Every ugly look included.

Me: So, which one do you remember the most? Think hard and answer.

Mom: *Thinking* Hmm, The best one i remember is the time i just gave birth to you and they showed you to me right after. Squiggly and small and dirty :)

Me: Aww!

I can script this dialogue. But honestly, i didn't. Even though we two fight more than anyone else in the world, we also share moments to true love.

Happy Mothers Day Amma. Have a long life. Be with me always. Seriously, a life without you scares the crap out of me. And i wont swear again. :P

Happy Vishu!!

First of all, happy vishu and happy new year to all Indians to whom it applies! Have an awesome year ahead. :)

So, Vishu. Childhood vishu was all about sleeping till early morning, waking up by mom with her hand closing my eyes.. then opening my eyes to the Vishu Kani, the splendor of classically arranged riches. Then praying, followed by some crackers and sleep some more. Later, pocket money by mom and dad, also known as a Vishu Kaineettam. Then the splendid lunch. Altogether, one awesome day.

Four years ago, after my college term started, i started feeling like a lady and decided i can do a better job in arranging the kani than mom(DO NOT TELL HER!) and i pestered her into letting me do the job, and when i say since then my family has been seeing better kani, i am not bragging :D

So this year too, around 11, after everyones dinner, i started out doing and completed it in 45 mins(Yes its a lot of work) unlike the last years 2 hours. Hmm i am improving. :) And like every year, i slept, mom woke me, took me down stairs, i didn't tripped or opened eyes in between, which i do every year and later lie about, and had an awesome view and slept promptly later. Mom had made all dished and left the Kheer for me to make, which i didn't messed up.. We didn't do any crackers, as our neighbors have a 3 month old kid. But we were shocked when we heard crackers and went out to see them bursting crackers. *facepalm*.

So all in all, yet another nice Vishu.. may this be a nice indication of the year i am about to have. Amen.

So the treat for you! see.. see.. i didn't bragged et all..

And another view...

So once again, Happy vishu, have all the riches this year, and do forgive the writer's block-ed self of mine.
Adios Amigos!

A Class Act

When i was 12 and in my boarding school, one day the District Collector came for an annual day. He talked about his visit to the school he studied in and how proud he was when he stood before his old teachers and the new kids. I was enchanted by that. I then and there vowed to myself that one day i will go to teach in my school. And it will be awesome.

Years passed and i entered medicine after the school. Now, in my college, i understood coming back to teach is not at all novel. I have seen some of my teachers working at college and still being treated as students by those who taught them. They are laden with works cant protest for the respect and all that. And through out the years i found out that i have no aptitude for teaching. In fact i hated being in front of people who might snicker behind my back and make up names for me. Scary indeed. So i gave my dream a rest happily and went on with my cool-dudette-in-town attitude.

So, one of these days while at work, dad called me and said i have to attend a meeting in my school on saturday(7 march). I said ok, as this was my primary school before the boarding and very near my home. Then when i got home, he told me the kids are doing a camp and they need a doctor to give a class on Health and Hygiene. And he accepted on my behalf.

To be honest, i shook to my knees. I? Taking a class? I can barely stand on a stage with no one in audience. [ Confession: On a stage before a crowd is my most hated place in the entire universe. I am good at making fun of people on stage from audience though. :P]

So, i prepared a little note( to talk to 12 year olds :|) and i went there with mom. For moral support. Now, mom was a teacher in near by school and she is well known there. The problem is, this makes me well known too. And all my neighborhood kids study there. If i screw up, people are going to talk about it for ages.

So, after introduction of being an alumni, i took the stage. They were 60 kids. I said Hi. Then i just did it. I chucked my serious class plans and notes and asked them to tell me what they know on each topic. I tried to make it as interactive as possible and even cracked few jokes.

INSIGHTS INTO THE NEW AGE KIDS:

• They are wicked smart. They know everything. They know stuff even you dont know. And even if they dont know, they dont hesitate to guess.
• They are outspoken. I dont remember seeing one shy kid. They all raise hands together and if i say anyone, they all say it.
• The attention span of them are something to be desired. Its approximately 1 min 25 seconds. Then they revert and chat with someone or look out of the window. And if you arw not used to this, you feel like pulling your hair out.
• They know how to create noise pollution. And i respect my teachers for carrying on irrespective of all the rackets we made. I could barely concentrate.
• They watch TV. A lot. And relate everything to ads. For example, i was asking about washing hands often and one boy shouted 'DETTOL HAND WASH!' :|
• There are still all those "types". The one who sleeps after 15 mins. The note taker. The staring-into-board one. The one who asks pointless questions. The group of girls to giggles.

All together it was really fun for me. It was like talking to a group of kids like their elder sister and joking. Then i asked them if they had any questions. It was a scary moment. They can ask any million questions they know and i have no clue about. My perfect bubble can break any second. Then, after few question (which were rather easy. phew!) the coordinator came and rescued me. Which was followed by some hearty words of praises by him and a loud thaaannkyyyoouuuu... by the kids. How embarrassing :D. Then all my teachers came to me and reintroduced themselves. Some consulted me for ailments. And after tea i said bye and came home.

After coming home it dawned on me that it was one of my dreams i lived back there. I was proud and i was awesome. Exactly as i wanted to be. Life can really give you things you want and never expect.

So, dear life, now lets see all the other things i wished up on. And make it this awesome. :)

Birthday, again. :-/

So it was yesterday.

The dreaded day. My Birthday.

Someone wise once said-

"Every birthday after college is a sad reminder of getting older, unless you get drunk and wake up next to a beautiful/handsome stranger."

Hmm. After loads of wishes from everyone, a cake, a mommy's kiss, a very nice song(haappy buddddday tooo youuu...") and some photos, i am 27.

Frikkin 27.

How can anyone celebrate 27? Its practically 30.

I cant even think about 30.

On the verge of apoplexy, i want to thank Rudra, for everything that he is, Pallavi, for that overseas call that was awesome, Di and Sony, chetan and adi, and My family, for the cake (It was so delicious, i almost forgot that i am getting old!).

So, wishing for smiles and happiness and friendships and love... and something extra.

Pic: Birthday in yahoo. Small favors. The Picaso inspiring pic is by Rudra.

Remembering Grandpa

Grandma is visiting. (This is mom's side. Dad's side has remarkably short life span and they say all my genes are from him. Now you know why i don't make long term plans.) So, coming to grandma, mom-grandma relationship is really filmy and its a long story. In short, they don't like each other. Mom was the daddy's girl in her family of 5 kids. So grandpa(Appoopan, as i used to call him) was quite chummy with her and when ever mom tells her childhood days, all the happy tales feature him.

Llater when mom married and had me, Grandpa came to live with us. As it was tough on mom to go to work and to juggle me, a miniature jumbo. And till i was around 2 and half, he lived with us and then he left this world.
I have no recollections of him, though everyone starts talking about him as soon as they see me. I used to be confused why it is so. I mean yes, he was my grandpa. But he has numerous other grand kids before me. So why me?
Then one day i said a curse word related to grandparents. It was quite innocent. Everyone says those so much so that its not so curse-y anymore. Mom looked at me in shock and sadness. And reproached me beyond my comprehension. Then she told me about him.

That, since the day he saw me, i was never seen anywhere except in his arms. That he used carry me around, where ever he went. That he used to play games with me. That he used to call me baby seal, as i was always rolling around in the bed.

He was a witty old man, carefree funny and jolly type. He used to play cards well and everyone teases me how i shuffle the cards like him(i am an expert shuffler), he used to fish and was rather good at it too. These were what little people tells me. He didn't brought national changes, but he loved me.
Dad, who always criticizes everything from mom's side, only speaks fondly of him, even saying that those days living with him were some of the best in his life. They even bought a dog, chief, and i don't remember him too.

Then grandpa had to go back, and soon he fell ill. When mom went to see him, (he couldn't speak then) he gestured with his left arm to ask her where i was, as i was quite a fixture on that arm for more than two years. Days later he died and i don't remember that too.

Today while we (dad mom and me) were sitting in kitchen veranda and talking about grandma's visit, mom sadly said how happy she would have been if it was him and not grandma(yeah, that sums it up) and dad also grew sad thinking of him and again said how fond he was of me and they both thought how he would have liked my brother aQQui, who looks like him. And there i was, the cherished granddaughter, the one whom he loved more than the rest and the one who knew nothing about him.

I have never missed another person more in my life.

Merry Christmas!!

It was FANTABULATIC this year :D (see i discovered a new word for it!)

And all credit goes to aQQui. He was getting restless without much fab food at hotels, so he got out of his tush, cooked an awesome meal which had Fish vattichathu, Beef varutharachathu, and Chicken aQQui style.(We could not kill more animals :|) The first two would sound awesome to you if you were raised in mallu land or tasted usual mallu food.

And I made an awesome cake! As i promised! Yeah, i left the baking tray in oven in mom and aQQui's charge and went to work, but their taste in baking is kinda mediocre and they waited 30 minutes more for the cake to gain the colour of usual plum cake which was totally unnecessary and turned a bit dry, but still awesome :D ! Speaking of plum cakes, you know, in Kerala plum cake does not have plums at all. Its just dry fruits soaked in rum(Yeah baby!). This made a lot of confusion when i was searching for a recipe online. And finally i got really pissed off and did a collaboration work :P And no complaints so far!

And today, i had work(Damn it, hospitals do work on holidays x-( ) so mom packed me lunch and all, but around noon i felt like i am going crazy and on a stoke of brilliance, i left work, returned home, almost ran for a while, then when i got home, the lunch was ready and mom was dialing me to say about it and me and mom announced i am a Christmas miracle :D. i know, crazy :D. So we had a good lunch and i went back to work.

[Me: This is what i call a rich lunch.

Dad: This is what i call a poor me. :P]

Now i am super tired from all these commuting, and super sleepy, but i cant leave you guys without a big wish na? So, Amigos, A Very Merry Christmas to you all, an extra special one for Sony and to Jo, who is celebrating his first Christmas.

So, see you all soon, till then, as Tiny Tim said, God Bless Us Everyone!!

Birthday Babes

Today is the birthday of 2 awesome blossom girls in my life. My one and only best friend Di, and Mom's. (actually Mom's is on Dec 8th, but according to mallu calender birthday falls on 14th. Its complicated.)

So, they both got my gifts prior to the day, both complained a bit, both liked it.. yeah i do love them, even though there are days when i wonder why. :)

So, a BIG SHOUT OUT!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :)