Let's PLAN-To do something

While commuting to office, I use almost all modes of road transports, Auto rickshaw, Train, Taxi for a one hour journey.  Irrespective of the chaos in the surrounding, that travelling time is my ME time.  During this one hour,  I ponder, introspect, read, watch the many souls in their own moods and during this melee, sometimes have an awakening or two.  Awakening is just a flash of some quotes, some beliefs, some positive people's talks etc.  Long time back, I thought why don't I pen down these awakenings as I had started this blog way back to share my awakenings.  But, the lazy me loves to read blogs and not write one.  But, this Monday morning I have got rid off my laziness and started the week with great optimism.

Today, while commuting I had an awakening that I should not be a burden to this beautiful Universe of mine.  I felt like giving back a lot to my Mother Earth who has protected me throughout, given me enough to breath, drink and eat.  She has made my life easier commuting to office whilst I am making her life miserable traveling in the vehicles which emit obnoxious gases.  This necessary evils are part of the city life which u cannot avoid.  And this awakening, led me to think that I should do my bit to balance my wrong doings as I cannot avoid travelling in these vehicles. 

They say Charity begins at home so why  not implement this proverb.  I do have some flowering pots in my balcony.  So, I thought why not add some more flowering plants and help Mother Universe breathe a bit easier.   I am not a green finger person though I belong to a family of one.  From the time I remember, I always had some  plants  growing in my surroundings but have never bothered to tend to them. Of course, I had the pleasure of seeing those beautiful flowers bloom and adorn my temple or my corner table.  Those flowers added a lot of color to the four walls, it created a calming peace by just being there.  Even if they did not speak their silence created mystic music and many a time calmed my throbbing head.

So now, I have taken a pledge to nurture these plants,  grow more plants and create my own nursery because Mother Earth's well-being is always for the good of mankind.     This action of mine may be a tiny droplet in helping create a much better place than the one in which we live in.  But I know in times to comes, the Universe will create a happier zone for me as I have given her a reason to smile.

Hope while reading this blog, if at least one person feels inspired to do their bit for the betterment of the Universe, I will feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful Earth.

The week after Onam

  

Every year for Onam, my mother religiously packs Inji pulli and Unni appam for my Onam sadya.  Unni appam was delivered 2 days before and it was so delicious that there was hardly any left for the sadya.  I have never made an attempt to make inji pulli before but was tempted to make it this time when i came across the recipe on kothiyavunu.   I tried it and it turned out to be just like the ones i had all these years. Thanks Sangeetha of Kothiyavunu

Like the past one year, this year too we had a potluck Onam sadhya.   A sadhya is complete only if we have guests to enjoy the food.  It is a pleasure to have guests at home on Onam.  We had invited some families for Onam and had a good time.

The next day, I was all set to go to office, after making lunch and breakfast.  We, in office make it a routine affair during Onam to wear set-mundu and have a grand sadya during lunch.  So, draping my brand new set sari i was all set to go when it started raining cats and dogs accompanied with some thunder.  I wanted to yell out to the Rain Gods - Hello, its September, you are supposed to come down like a drizzle, or a occasional spurt.  But they were in  no mood to listen it out this time for they were simbly enjoying my discomfiture and in the end they had a last laugh and my plans were all rained out.  I stayed put at home. Because i just could not carry myself and my load of bags into the rush hour Mumbai local. My friends who had made it to the office were highly disappointed and had to make do with the canteen lunch. All my Onam  delicacies packed in boxes ultimately travelled to my maid's kitchen who had a onam sadya again but, with her friends & neighbours. So, I did bring a smile to many unknown faces this Onam.

Though, Kerala celebrates Onam for a week, for  most of the Malayalees in Mumbai its a grand affair of one day and an annual samajam programme.  Yes, but the inji pulli and the achar, the little participants of the Onam sadya & the new releases on the Malayalm channels are the reminders of festive mood. Waiting for the next festival coz I like the feel in the air, the happiness around and the laughter of family and friends.  Did somebody say Navratri is around the corner....

Woke up to this sms in the morning.

"Lord Buddha was a prince, who left his PALACE in search of PEACE &
we Buddhus (Fools) are searching for a PALACE at the cost of our PEACE."

So very true.

Independence Day

One of those days when every Indian  feels proud to be an Indian.  Tricolors waving  atop buildings, Govt. offices, schools, colleges and even traffic signals. A small child too very passionately waves the tricolor without even knowing the significance of the day. 

Patriotic songs are played on radios.  These songs linger on the lips  throughout the day.  One of my favorites Aye mere watan ke logon.  Zara aankh me bhar lo paani, What a song!!  Whenever I hear this song, my heart goes out to those jawans, away from their homes, doing their duty in harsh climatic conditions.  It brings out so much respect and admiration to our jawans.  

A big salute to all the jawans batting out in the war field so that I can enjoy my independence.  Happy Independence Day!

WANNABE BLOGGER AGAIN

Its been long. Can't call it long. I just did the vanishing act. After entering the blogging world I just disappeared because I was more engrossed in reading than writing. Nothing fascinated me to strike the keyboard. But my thought process was racing faster than time. There were so many topics which I wanted to write on but just could not give it shape of words. I want to give the writer in me a fresh lease of life. So what, if it is in its infancy. I will nurture it and let it grow. Hopefully I will be regular in updating my blog.

I managed it. At last I managed to make one decent Chicken Biryani. All credit goes to Shaheen of Malabar Spices. I still have to learn to create links. I followed the recipe to the T and the result was fantabulous. My kids were not sure if their mother had really created such a wonder. My hubby looked around suspiciously to see if my mother or sister or the good old neighbour had a visit to our house. Thanks Shaheen. My friend is coming over for dinner tonight. Gonna try making chicken biryani again.

Frankly, if you have all the ingredients ready along with the premixes for the biryani. Its not a long or stressful journey. Now that I have mastered chicken biryani. I can tell all the amateurs to go ahead with the receipe. Let me learn to link and I will be back after graduating from Shaheen's Malabar spices. Shaheen tussi great ho!

My little sister.

When I saw her first she was a six month old cute cuddly teddy bear, her big black eyes outlined with kohl and an extension (vaal in malayalam) towards her temples. Her toothless grin made me rush towards her and gather her in my arms. I would look forward to come home after school and dress her up. She was my Barbie doll. I always dressed her up in a very different ways. I loved being with her.

Slowly, she started schooling when I was in my Xth grade. Every recess I used to rush to her class. Though we were not allowed to meet the kindergarden kids her eyes used to search me. A wave and a smile. Happily both of us returned to our routine life.

The bond grew stronger. She grew from a toddler to a chirpy teenager under my watchful eyes. When she came 2nd in the class, I punished her for not coming 1st (How foolish of me!) Trudging along with her for her bharatnatyam classes was never a burden but today I feel I have to push myself to do it for my daughter. During the PTA meeting I used to be the youngest proud parent.

Time flies! Schooling over, College days are here. Everyday I had to hear one thing "Chechi what will I wear? I have nothing to wear" Graduation over, MBA taken. Suddenly she finds love. My heart skips a beat. Has she grown up to lead a life of her own? .

Gone are those school days, college days. My baby has really grown up. Today she is a mother of a 2 yr. old mischievious boy. Phew! when did all of this happen?

Turning back, I wonder what is that people call Blood is thicker than water. We are not related by blood but still the bond is stronger. How is that when she is hurt i feel a pain. Why does my chest swell with pride when she rises up in her career. Why do my eyes grow moist when I see her all happy and content in her own space. God Bless Her!

This sets me thinking. We live in a wonderful world where the creator has given us all the tools to spread love and receive love. Its only we who create this barrier and set rules whom we should love and who should love us. Imagine a world without any of this barriers. The word Hate will not exist. I would love to see my next generation living in such a world which looks highly impossible today.