A spectacle of sorts

Once upon a time, long long ago, a young girl of ten was mighty excited. She lived in a suburb in Mumbai and was an only child. Her parents had taken her on a local train to Fort area to a large spectacle shop. She loved the train ride and the promise of the superb noodles restaurant and her favourite corn soup. She dismissed the newly launched Maggi noodles which was such a rage among her classmates.

After choosing a specs frame, the girl excitedly displayed her skills with the fork while handling the noodles in the restaurant and when asked by her folks, seemed thrilled at the prospect of wearing specs.

This girl grew up, got married, had girls of her own. By now she was wearing lenses.

One day, her older six year old accompanied her to the lens shop. On a whim, she got her eyes checked as well.
And it turned out that she needed specs.

A good four years before her mom had got them.

The young girl who was now a mother was almost distraught. She went back in time and realised how excited she had been about wearing specs.

She told herself that she was being a bit silly. While her mind said it was alright, her heart was broken. She had wished for the better eye gene from her husband to pass on to the kids.

But the child's excitement made her put on a brave face. But she knew it would get cumbersome, there would surely be unsolicited comments in store.

She tried to prep the kid and then realised it was uncalled for.

For now, the child is revelling in her new and cool accessory.

The Intruder

He came in uninvited. A fat eeky guy. It was not really his fault. He is not wanted anywhere. And he cannot help it if God made him that way.

Call me ungenerous, but I too did not want him at home. Definitely not a healthy presence around Anushka.

He would bring his entire brood with him and they would hardly be coaxed to leave. Not to mention Navy would not help me on this one. It would fall entirely on me to help him find his way out.

Time to call the Hit men.

In case you did not guess, I had a visit from a mammoth cockroach. Anyway my Reeboks finally came in useful since they have not been taking their walk and workout at the gym anymore.

Revelations

A lot of posts/articles have been dedicated to Sathya Saibaba and his Athi Rudra Yagna being conducted for world peace in Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai. Hotel accomodation is near impossible and a client of mine, who flies business class, had to stay in a lodge in Vadapalani! Here is a glimpse at some things I overheard and saw that apalled and amused me:

"He has resolved world issues they say but he has created traffic problems in Tiruvanmiyur."
" I am unable to volunteer for want of time. I really want to" From a person who shudders to volunteer at Annual Day Gatherings because she fears crowds.
" I wonder what his haircare regimen is" from a balding friend.
A foreign couple, dressed like typical back packers mentioned " We have cut our Kerala trip and come here instead"
"They have his feet in all those hoardings. Looks so well pedicured." The other person said- "I do not think saints like him do anything artificial. Must have had massages not pedicure."
" Did you know? He is a paedophile" Thank God I do not know and would like to let it stay that way.

I met a blogger I frequent, in person, for the first time. Once I got back home, Navy asked me " Did you live up to her mental image of you? " I had to say" I do not know" In fact come to think of it, we never discussed that aspect. But I am sure we bloggers who do not share our pic, leave it to the reader's imagination/ visualisation.

It will be nice to know how I am picturised by the rest of you....the good, the bad and the ugly. So do write in. And if any of you would like to know how i visualise you, just ask me!
Of course, this is not open to those who have met/ know me already.

The Other Guru

Saw Guru at the new INOX in Chennai. It is a cut paste of various Mani Ratnam flicks. Nayakan was about an underworld don and Guru is about a Business don. Abhishek ( always my favourite) deserves an award for his histrionics. Wish Ash had that darker bronzed look that she had in Dhoom2- would have looked more credible as a village belle. Mithun was wonderful as the righteous paper owner as was Madhavan as a reporter. Vidya Balan (of Parineeta fame) made a blink and you miss role memorable. Was not sure the end was convincing enough.

Screen L2L kisses make an entry in Mani's films as well and a far better one than Dhoom 2 this. But all said and done, as The Hindu reviewer put it- Mani talks!! We took Anush along and she laughed when we did and clapped with me at ab's ( AB jr's) entry.

Do any of you recall Guru in the TV serial Nukkad. I had crush on him, though I was barely 10 at that time. Where have guys like him gone?

Citi Centre I find is a cool place to hang out with lot of shopping opportunity, a great play areas for little ones and a good food court. INOX is more or less like Sathyam's Studio 5. Wonder what wil happen if the theatres have a ceiling on the ticket prices ( Rs 80 max). Am not sure I am ready for the kind of crowds I will have to view a movie with. Not very egalitarian but I cant help the way I feel. However will welcome a pricing that deters fleecing of consumers but at the same time ensures a fairly decent crowd. Maybe they can carry theatre ratings like the Hotel industry and be allowed to charge a premium for better, cleaner facilities.

As clean goes, there was dog that had been run over on the road yesterday. I was nto sure who would remove it. Saw a couple of ONYX guys ( garbage clearers) and asked them. They said it was not their job. I said "Yes, I understand but could you guide me to the one responsible?" They were clueless. Does one call the municipality or the Blue cross ? Can the contact numbers also be made available to all public. Or do we need to live up to that callous dialogue that older Indian action movies had " Kutthe ki maut maregaa?"

On a happier note, everyone seems to be getting married. I have a lot of gifts to buy. And a lot of sari wearing to do. On the earlier post- since soooooo many of you are waiting with bated breath, ( am I delusional or what)... The girl went stiff. She had broken her back. So much for trying to tone up for the wedding. It would not happen now, she thought. Her parents were very anxious. I will sue these gym guys her mother said in her usual style. A couple of co- rope exercisers gathered around in concern/ sympathy. She started yelling " leave me alone" The instructor woke her up and helped her up. She asked her to touch her toes. "No problem, see?" This happened in my gym last Friday. So it is fact that I still have one more wedding to attend.

Veedu- Dream house

Sapna asked " So how is the new house coming along?" Krishna did not wish to answer. " It will take a while I guess"

After dinner, once the guests had left, Krishna began to sob. Raj tried not to be his usual brusque self. " Don't worry Krish. People are curious. That is all. We have paid for it. It will take shape someday" "But then Raj- it is already been over 3 years now. We are so unlucky when it comes to house buying. Finally we decide to buy a house and this happens. "
" Now don't get all worked up. It is only a matter of time." " When Raj? After I die?" Krishna became dramatic. Raj stopped paying attention and tried to steer conversation away from the subject.

To his dismay, the next few years were filled with prolonged waiting and many more such conversations. The land had been encroached upon. The architect had absconded. A small set of prospective owners nominated themselves into action. They appointed a new architect. Filed a suit against the former one. Collected funds and evacuated the slum dwellers.

And after twelve years from daring to dream of their dream house, Raj and Krishna got possession of their flat. It had cost them a lot of extra money tempered with a sense of defeat. It had also left them with a smaller dimension flat. (Since the encroaching slum dwellers had to be given a bit of the property for their largesse)

What was to be a fairly youthful to middle aged society turned into a retirement home for most. Some had died waiting for the project to happen. Those who had invested considering the schools in the vicinity had children who were working now.

Krishna sighed " So much for waiting for so long." She set her heart on doing up the house and wow, did it look good. She called her friends over to her new home. Sapna said " This is really beautiful ! "

Raj smiled and thought to himself - befitting the younger Krishna who had dreamed of having such a home.

Three Animal Tales

In the same vein as Panchatantra and Jataka.

While we were on a post lunch walk, I tried explaining the idiom " Hand in the lion's mouth" to a colleague at office. And all because of a couple of stone lions we have on display. Just as I said with great elan" of course this does not refer to stone lions" I yelped. There was a chameleon staring out of the crevice in the stone lion's mouth.
MORAL- Never underestimate a lion, even a stone one.

We were entering the office premises ( in Old Mahabs road- OMR) . The security holds the traffic from the opposite direction, as our massive bus takes the right into our office. So the sign board ( akin to a small TT bat) has "stop" and "proceed" on either side. Only thing today he showed the Red "Stop" to the cattle ambling on the road! Seriously, since when did they learn to read traffic signs?
MORAL- If you want cattle to follow traffic signs, ask yourself first, do I?

Finished Weight Loss- the book- with great difficulty. Read it to know why you should have avoided it.
Have begun The Tender Bar- JR Moehringer - fantastic style and I am sure it is going to be a great read.

Lost & Found

I never thought this could happen to some one I know.

Navy's cousin is just an Average Joe. An 18 year old, studying in college, aspires to be a CA and an MBA. Much taller than his height. Very sensible and focussed. His only quirk is he likes to wear junk chains.

He was kidnapped. Near his home, from Bangalore, this Sunday. Yes, his family is well to do but not that high profile. No, he is not into drugs or girls

The police found him yesterday in a hill station. He was in shock and was unaware of what had happened in the interim. He could not state his parents name or his own. The cops found him based on the photo sent out. For them he must have been just another lost & found.

I wonder what the boy went through. Does he even remember? Is it better forgotten? Is it a garb to secure himself? I am not sure how his parents coped those 2 nights. Must have had flash backs of all the good times with the boy, their dreams for him. Their faith must have been so shaken or would it have been reinforced and strengthened- who else can you turn to?

I am sure of one thing though- life will never be the same again for any of them, most of all for the boy.

What lies beneath?

"Let me call Papa out. He should know his priorities"
Outside Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai, two women in their mid thirties, with an arm around each other, sat on the car park wall, facing their back to the visitors. One of them had been crying. A man about their age walked up, turned on his cell and said those words. He looked agitated and concerned.

Had Papa lost his lifetime mamma just then and was so much in grief that he was unwilling to come out of the hospital and do the necessary things

Was Papa in a meeting and not bothered to come and tend to an ailing wife at the hospital

Maybe Papa was divorced and so insensitive that he did not see why he should be around at least for his kids ( the weeping daughter)

Papa could have been such a good husband that he had forgotten he needed to be a good father

Was Papa attending to a close friend and had forgotten that his wife was returning from a long trip abroad and he had to pick her up ( maybe the weeping lady was the friend's daughter)

Maybe Papa's son was worried that Papa may contract some contagious disease if he stayed on in the hospital

Had Papa and Mama been in an accident together and only Mama had been injured, badly?

Maybe Papa's son wanted to book an FIR/ or talk things out with the insurance guys

Was Papa a GP and fighting out with experts who were handling his wife's case

I do hope Papa understood his priorities and everyone is okay.

Naa ready, Neenga ready-aa?

After that weary tale of the tailor , here is a ready (made) smile.

Have you noticed how one of a couple, will always be ready faster than the other? I do not know why, but never have I seen husband and wife get ready equally fast or slow.

In my case I am the quick one. I do not need more than 10 minutes to get ready( inclusive of a bath). Navy needs at least thrice that time.

It is more or less the same with my ILs and the reverse with my Amma and Appa. As for my friends I have, the trend continues.

Imagine at your wedding- if one has to keep waiting for the other to turn up- cannot but wonder if there will be a re run of the Runaway Bride ( groom).

When you do not have a kid, the faster one will be pacing up and down ( convinced that it is exercise) or settle down with a book and finish a chapter or two. Or even catch a few minutes of a match or a serial.

Post kid, your virtue of getting ready early means you have the pleasure of/are saddled with getting the kiddo ready as well. Great if she is awake and ready to go "Ta taaaaa". Not so good if you have a sari on and need to get her dressed up when she is rather sleepy/ cranky and the AC decides it needs a break.

Do you agree?

On the Mumbai trip, saw a couple of interesting shop boards:
One said " TV, A/C, Freeze repair undertaken"
Another said "FUNiture 4 Kids"
" Sandwitch " available
And of course was asked" Baba hai ki baby?" ( For those of you who are unfamiliar, Baba is baby boy and baby is baby girl. )