Life is easy kya karein

I am unable to write about harsh realities of life. I cringe to write about all the atrocities on women. I am uncomfortable reading about it. I also feel anything I write will sound preachy or judgemental. Judgements start from the time I wake up. I judge myself if I wake up quick with the alarm clock then I am happy with myself. The day I want to laze in bed, I blame myself for not being punctual or I blame the dinner I attended the previous night and so on. With Tarun Tejpal episode, it is like one more of my idol/ ideal broken. When 'Tehelka' started doing their first explosive expose, I though this was a team of amazing people. I held on to my beliefs though his partner and him parted ways, other corruption issues were coming against them and his political connections. Now the fairy tale gets shattered one final time. I try to remember my years of working and can not think of a single time experiencing any kind of assault verbal or physical. In fact, safety was a norm th...

I did not like the film 'Ek Duje ke Liye' aka 'Made for each other' because the Hero and Heroine die in the end. Same for the first Amir Khan Juhi  film, where they die. But I loved Ram Leela. Ranveer has surrendered to the director and turned out even done better than Sanjay Leela Bhansali's vision of Ram.The background score is so soothing, not melodramatic at all. It is Ghant naad i.e. bells of a temple ringing, in a very daily regular routine Puja way. The cinematography and the sets are 'kamaal' and the riot of colours on the screen are a delight to the naked eye. In spite of changing some words like the town and the community's names, the essence is intact. The dialogue writers have done a fantastic job with the play of words. The authenticity is unbeatable in that typical Gujarati humour and the words used. Ranveer acts and how. Whereas Deepika is so stunning that who will look at her acting. The music is fabulous. Priyanka Chopra s item number ...

Today I had a hair cut at home. This is the first for me. The hair stylist is an old friend who now works on his own. He is not attached to a salon. He is brilliant. I never called him home as for me all the stuff of the parlour, had to be done there. Here people call the 'parlour wali' home for waxing, hair colour, facial etc. I have tried it a few times when my child was an infant. I hated it. The women are nice ladies who come through word of mouth reference. They charge less than the beauty salon rates. But your house is a mess after they leave. There is wax on the floor inspite of them picking up all the wax strips. The bed sheet stinks of a funny parlour smell. In fact, even your own gown appears dirty.  For me, pedicure is about putting my feet up and relaxing. Its not about dipping your feet in your bucket in hot water with a little shampoo from your own bathroom. You provide clean napkins and the towels for the feet and yet it is not the same clean feel which one gets...

Our family Doctor is this sweet old gentleman with a quirky sense of humour. Waiting for him at the clinic is an experience in itself. There is no appointment system. People just come and sit on the benches provided. You observe who all are there and do not let anyone who walks in after you, visit the Doc before you. An old lady walked in wearing a red skirt and a floral top. There was bright  orange neon colour on her toe nails.With complete fondness, She told me that her grandchild who is twenty one had put it for her. Her daughter had accompanied her and wanted to know about my stiff neck. The lady advised me not to waste money on a doctor. I should rest and take hot water fermentation and I shall be fine. She further added that today's phone generation is getting the neck problem and I felt guilty as charged. She mentioned that she lives abroad and does not want to get on to Whatsapp and Facebook with all her people in India. She said she is never going to need all that. Peopl...

The festivities are still on at my house front. We celebrate most festivals which happen between Eastern and Western parts of India. I have added one from North India this year to my list of traditions. Karwa Chauth, done not the 'nirjal'(without drinking water) way but with fluids, was fun. I find all celebrations interesting. I never get tired of attending parties and weddings. And the reason is simple. I am not required to be at any function. My attendance is not mandatory and all events will happen as well without me. Just knowing this is so freeing and so depressing. I see my friends working and running their homes as well. I wonder what is my goal in life. Do I have a purpose in life? Will I die for a cause I believe in? Really, does everyone have a place they want to reach in life? My children want to know what I will become when I am big. I say "Beta , I want to become a Gardener", considering I have no green fingers. Your children make you aware about the ...

Some of my relatives want to know if I do Diwali Puja. When my reply is affirmative, they are shocked. Any guesses why? Gujaratis are business families. They feel only people who have their own business can do Lakshmi Puja. Lakshmi is the Goddess of Wealth in Hindu mythology. The reaction for them is natural as we are 'service class' and then how can we pray to the Goddess.I am ashamed to share this but this is how some Mumbai relatives relate to me. And here we are not talking about caste system or middle/upper class values. I am talking about so called normal loving people in my life. Do they believe the Gods are rigid about who can pray to them? Is it that they feel, people who work for an organisation  cannot earn enough money, hence they have no business of praying to Goddess Laxmi. Am I sounding like a hurt person, who will soon be categorised as "Right Wing" by the secular lot? Why are we so fussy about who prays to whom and why. I know this question was not...