The Terrace..!

The other day, as usual, I went to my Poweryoga class.

I was just reaching when the building welcomed me with colourful lights all over it. It looked beautiful and happy. I smiled back at it and entered looking at the decoration with awe.

It was Christmas! No wonder there was a celebration here. As I stepped on the terrace of the building, I saw it lit up as well. The whole range of beautiful plants were proudly looking at me, showing me the decoration n lights which adorned them.

"Wow," I could not help exclaiming. The celebration mood descended on me and I felt a surge of pleasant enthusiasm. It was a unique experience working out there with the rare cool breeze.

Yes, I believe that houses or constructions have a face of their own and an attitude. Some houses are pretty, some gloomy. Some welcome you, some are repulsive. Some send positive vibes, many are negative and so on.

This building is owned by a Christian family. We have the classes on the terrace. The family members also join in with us for a workout. The family is cultured and likable. They are unostentatiously rich people. The terrace is well maintained with a neat roof, a variety of colourful flower plants, a tiny basin, two large fish tanks and a few caged pigeons. There is a barbeque for the family parties that they host there. It is a great place for an evening workout.

Honestly, its all about the positivity of the place. Ever since I joined this class, I have sensed this positive vibe not only from the family but also from the building and the terrace. This quiet place exudes energy which gets transferred to me during workout. I have been to many gyms before I joined this class, but nowhere have I sensed this kind of warmth and positive energy.

This terrace surely makes my evening delightful and energetic.

FACEBOOK - the new addiction!

God, how I hated being part of a networking site!

"I don't need to get connected to old, older and oldest aquaintances who are not in touch anymore. Those who matter to me are there in my life by other, better means of communication. I don't need a networking site for that" I thought. Many friends of mine sent me invites to become member of facebook. I ruthlessly deleted those. I also deleted my orkut profile because it seemed more of nuisance than value-addition.

Then, I read an article, written by a middleaged writer, on how facebook was just a waste of time connecting with people on a net-site. She felt exactly the same. Her article completely supported my viewpoint on networking sites.

Then a very close friend of mine opened an account for me on facebook, of course, with my permission. He said that I can popularise my blog amongst my friends n fans through facebook.

Very selfishly, I gave him a nod to open my account on facebook.

Initially, I found it boring n also bit confusing. But the slow poison had already started working. I got hundreds of friend requests from known n unknown people.

I uploaded my blogspot link on it. Of course, that was what I was there for. Not for other stupid things...

Then I created photo albums with pictures from my television serial shoots. People commented on those.

I got messages from very old friends saying it was nice to find me on facebook. I shared few comments with them. It was quite nice actually.

Slowly but steadily, the facebook poison penetrated in my veins. I looked forward to opening my account and to seeing who has visited my profile.

For the last few days, I have been surfing facebook regularly. and what I thought stupid was actually entertaining me for at least some time.

So, I now have to rethink whether facebook really is a waste of time or no? Does it really serve any purpose?

I guess, I have found the answer.

Facebook CAN be a waste of time and at the same time, it CAN serve many purposes not just one.

Whether our time is wasted or not, is upto us. Only we can allow ourselves to spend too much time on it without getting anything substantial out of it.

Facebook can be a good distraction from your work and daily routine for a while.

It can really make you feel good and become your friend in the moments of loneliness.

You can casually keep in touch with acquaintances.

It can really be a very useful tool to inform about your activities specially professional ones.

I am sure it helps media people to advertise their new projects or writers to advertise their upcoming books...and so on.

I must say that it is definitely very useful in every way if used with proper discretion.

Today, my mother's old friend called up. She welcomed me on Facebook. She complimented me on my photo albums. I felt really proud that an old lady is techno-savvy and actually is a part of a networking site. I mentioned it to her and her reply was," How would I pass my time, otherwise? My daughters are married and away. I can't go out as I can't walk even short distances..."

Well, I dare not call facebook a poison when it is actually somebody's medicine on loneliness and the only connection to the world.

Finally, we must accept and keep up with the new technology advancements and the newer ways of communication of the younger generations, right?

Yes, I am a Facebook addict now. What about you?

A good hair day!!

Well, today was that rare occasion when I experienced a good hair day!

You may wonder, "So? What's the big deal?"

It is a big deal for me because I face this recurrent problem of my hair looking bad almost everytime I wash them.

Sometimes they look too dry because probably more shampoo was used, sometimes somewhat oily because the oil did not get washed off completely, and other times, lacklustre because the conditioner did not get properly washed off.

Having heard my habitual complaint of a bad hair day, a close friend of mine once wondered, how can I not figure out the right amount of shampoo and conditioner which would make them look perfect, even after so many years of washing them regularly? She was actually right. But still, the problem exists.

The moral of the story : I am always unhappy about my hair.

Now coming back to the point. My hair looked good today. They felt really soft and the texture healthy. They played with each other, sang songs, looked proudly silky. They came across as a bunch of happily cleaned hair.

How did this miracle take place? Well, If I knew that, I wouldn't be writing this post.

It just happened. and I got the confirmation of my feeling just as I went out to give a few clothes to get ironed from across my apartment. There I met my neighbour, about my age, who complimented me on my haircut. "Did u get your hair cut today or something? They are looking very nice". Wow, I felt proud. I walked to the Istriwala (the person who irons clothes!) tossing the most beautiful hair in the world.

I then remembered that I did not use my expensive L'Oreal shampoo today. My mother told me in the morning that some of the shampoo which she diluted by adding water is left usused in a bowl in the bathroom. She requested me to use it and finish it else the bowl will remain there as it is till she washed her hair next.

My mother is not someone who would waste money on branded shampoos. Obviously, she is not interested in her hair and their moods at all. So she uses any shampoo that is available at home. These days she is using an unknown brand of shampoo which came free with some other product at the supermarket.

I gave it a thought. Should I use that unbranded shampoo or not?

I did not have to go anywhere today so might as well make her happy and finish her leftover shampoo. I decided. And of course, I was going to use my L'Oreal conditioner over it. So no problem.

And when I least expected my hair to look shiney n bouncy, they did.

So was it that unknown brand of shampoo or was it just the perfect amount of shampoo and conditioner by fluke?

I really can't tell until I get the same result next time!

Till then, I can enjoy my GOOD hair day!

The Sins Of My Father!

At 16, while he was talking to his father on telephone, the phone call got traced and the Columbian police gunned down his father. Juan fled out of the country along with his mother Victoria, sister Manuela and his childhood sweetheart, Maria. They travelled many countries right from Peru, Mozambique to South America to take refuge. Their past connection with his father haunted them everywhere and they were denied entry in most of the countries. After the hardships they faced due to their sirname, finally, by entering a witness protection programme, they settled down in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Juan legally changed his name to Sabastien Marroquin, married Maria, and is living a comparatively normal life in Buenos Aires as an architect and Industrial designer. He is now 32.

Does this seem like an interesting hindi feature film story? Well, it’s not!

It’s the real life story of “Juan Pablo Escobar”, the son of the most dreaded drug mafia of Columbia- Pablo Escobar.

In the eighties, Pablo Escobar almost ruled Columbia. He bought cocoa paste from Peru and sold the cocaine in the USA after refining it. Soon his business grew bigger and more dangerous in the form of a notorious cartel – the Medellin cartel. He followed the rule “Plata o plombo” which literally means “Silver or lead” which meant that any politician or judge coming in his way would either be bribed or else killed.

The very promising presidential candidate Luis Galan and the then Minister of Justice Rodrigo Lara lost their lives in the hands of Pablo’s henchmen for standing publicly against his cartel and it’s illegal drug trafficking. The otherwise ruthless Escobar was extremely generous with the common people of Medellin. He donated large sums to build churches, schools and homes. He made a special place for himself in the hearts of the people of Medellin.

When there was increasing pressure from the United States of America for Pablo to be handed over to them under the charges of illegal drug trafficking, the Columbian Government, completely suppressed under Pablo’s threatening reign, found a middle way by asking Escobar to surrender himself to the Police and he was sentenced to 5 years in Jail. Interestingly, Pablo was allowed to build a jail for himself named “The Cathedral”. It had all the amenities and luxuries including a soccer field and a zoo. When he started killing the traitors of his cartel in the Cathedral, the Columbian Government decided to shift him to the normal jail. Pablo then went into hiding.

One day in 1993, while in hiding and untraceable, he was talking to his son, Juan, on telephone and the conversation extended just a few minutes longer. Those extra minutes cost him his life as his call was traced by the Police who gunned him down on a rooftop in Medellin. That was the end of Pablo Escobar, the ruthless, dreadful drug mafia of Columbia.

It was also the beginning of the turbulent life of a pacifist son, Juan Pablo Escobar.

The hardships of drifting from country to country seeking refuge and the torturous fight with the notoriety of the name Escobar, made Juan a positive peace-lover.

“Violence and hatred is inherited in Columbia. But I don’t want to inherit my father’s sins. I am his son. D'on’t be like my father”! This is the audacious message 32 year old Juan, now, Sebastien Marroquin, gives to the Columbian people. He apologises publicly to the victims of his father’s ruthless crime. He personally met the son of Rodrigo Lara, the Minister of Justice and the sons of the presidential candidate Luis Galan whose lives were ended by his father.

“Los pikados de mi padre” (The sins of my father), is the documentary film which communicates this message of expiation and of peace to Columbia.

I read about the release of this film few months back in a daily newspaper and I was extremely curious to know the whole story. It was worth sharing it with you.

“The biggest victim of the drug-trafficking trade, apologizing to the other innumerable victims of his father’s cruelty!

Intriguing, isn't it?

An Unusual Rainy Day...

Can anyone imagine rain in the first week of November in Mumbai? Yes, it's raining ! An unusual day really.

Its been raining since morning today. I went to the bank and then to the market to do usual chores while it drizzled pleasantly. A few guests are invited to dine with us in the evening. So I helped my mother prapare the dinner. Then the rainy, cosy day lulled me into an hourlong nap.

When I woke up, it was dark outside. and it was only 4.30pm. After a few more chores in the kitchen, I settled myself in the window with steamy hot ginger tea.

Having leisurely tea is my energy booster. I start loving life with a cuppa tea in hand and nothing to do.

From the window, I could see a small section of the road, where I could see many colourful umbrellas walking here n there. A kid with a little umbrella walking ahead of his nanny, back home from school..what could be his plan for this unprecedented rainy evening? Would his little mind be thinking about it or would he be guessing what his mother prepared for evening snack? ...A lone drenched crow on the cable wire.... A kid sitting inside the window grill on the fourth floor of the neighbouring apartment, his hands n legs stretched out of the window.....trying to hold raindrops in his little palms....green leaves now shining with rainwater.....the cool, refreshing breeze to soothe your senses while observing those little things around..It was a delightful evening!

I have been reading books on positive thinking and training your mind to live in the present moment. I think this was the blissful evening when I really experienced the calmness of my mind and its earnestness to feel the nature in the present moment and enjoying it fully ....

A New Wonder at Agar Bazar!

Agar Bazar - a nondescript area that lies between two monumental landmarks, the Siddhivinayak Temple and the Portugese Church !

Known for its fish market in the old days, Agar Bazar is surrounded by small vegetable vendors and grocery shopowners. The area is abuzz with road side dosa makers, chat wala, flower vendors, cobblers, a chaiwala et al. There are vegetable n fruit vendors sitting in a row along the footpath. A Mahadu, a bhaiyya, a chheda, a kalu and many others...there is one special "Sakhu" who gives little more quantity of veggies in the same price, so obviously, she is the favourite of all housewives including my mother. At any point of time, Sakhu is surrounded by ladies with bags full of vegetables.

and now, a twist in the tale - The Sahakari Bhandar!

"Hey....have you been to the new shopping mall in Agar Bazar?" , "Wow, it's so huge and nice ya", "We never had such a thing in our area, right from Worli to Mahim, there was no such mall for us", "Its so convinient now, shopping for grocery is so easy"......the list of such exclamations would go on and on.... What with such a huge mall called "Sahakari Bhandar" opening up in the centre of Agar Bazar! Right under the nose of our regular bunch of vegetable vendors!

The new mall has created a wave of excitement among the residents of Agar Bazar and the areas nearby. On the opening day, this place was overflowing with enthusiastic customers bubbling with great joy! and why not?, now they don't have to go to the Big Bazaar in Parel or the Magnet at Mahim to enjoy the pleasure of shopping at a supermarket. It' s there...in their own area now!

Will Sakhu be still surrounded by the ladies who liked her for her generousness? Well, only time will tell!

The Little Angel!

Usually,I don't take a shine to kids easily. I mean, I don't like each and every kid I come across like some of my friends do. Only a few selected ones take my fancy.

My nephew, Aashay who is 3, born and brought up in the US, was a pleasant surprise as far as my fondness for kids goes.

I had seen his photographs on the net and always found him to be a very smart and mischievous kid. "Aashay definitely has a spark," I always told my mother when we looked at his photos on the net photo album.

This October, my cousin, sanjali and nephew Aashay came down to India for sanjali's brother's wedding.

Aashay soon became almost everybody's favourite. He not only spoke Marathi excellently, he even sang marathi nursary rhymes so well (marathi nursary rhymes, nowdays, are rare among Maharashtrian kids born n brought up in India).

Aashay was a sheer delight to be with. A happy child and a non-destructive one. Very inquisitive and intelligent little boy. Always smiling and no show of any tantrums.

We normally observe that kids raised in the US are used to a sort of lonely lifestyle. They don't understand sharing with and caring for others because they normally are the only children to their parents. Being a part of a nuclear family, they find it difficult to adjust to the big crowd of relatives in India. Pleasantly, Aashay was an exception and he loved people. He got really excited when we went to his house to meet sanjali n him. He would instantly get some box out of the fridge and offer us some sweets. Can you imagine this from a 3 year old?

When we all went to my sister's place for dinner, he observed that she was busy entertaining everyone and serving food etc. After the dinner was over, aashay told my sister (that too in marathi)," I think, tu ata zop". (You should sleep now!)

I am really proud of my little nephew who exhibited those rare qualities of being loving and caring to people elder to him, who liked to share things, and who knew his mothertongue so well.

Aashay is surely gifted intrinsically with those qualities of a good human being, but the credit also goes to my cousin sister sanjali and her husband, who made it a point to teach him his mothertongue and taught him to share.

Kudos to the parents who are trying to inculcate humane qualities into this bright sunny child and, loads of blessings and best wishes to our little angel!

A Few Stray Thoughts.....

Yesterday evening, while I was walking to my Power Yoga class just at the end of the lane where I stay, I heard someone saying strongly, "Don't raise your voice". Hearing this, I obviously looked in the direction. I saw the usual cobbler at the corner of my lane in his tiny establishment. But today, something else was happening. Standing there with him, was a lady, properly clad in a sari, neatly tied hair in a bun like style, fair with a red bindi on her forehead. She may have been his wife or sister. He was ordering her to talk in a lower tone. "How can someone insult a woman and that too one's own relative, like this on the road? I wondered.

She just stepped back a little blabbering something to herself. He looked angry.

Their fight seemed over...tentatively! I continued walking to my class.

Doing excercise in the evening is a big stress buster. Specially, the poweryoga session has the power to rejuvanate your body and mind. Its my own experience that I feel extremely energised after my power yoga session.

"Excercise, in any form that suits you, is a must! and it should be a lifelong commitment." (Says Rujuta Diwekar, who is the fitness guide to Kareena Kapoor. Bebo, we all know flaunts her size zero with full confidence these days.)

Today, I went to meet a producer (without proper appointment) regarding pending payment. I reached the office at 12pm and asked the reception guy if Madam was in. He said she wasn't and that he had no idea if she was going to come to office. "Did she come yesterday?" I asked., "Yes, around same time". "Okay, so I can go for an audition nearby and come back to try my luck." I thought to myself and left. When I came back to office, I was happy to know that Madam was in the office.Unfortunately, I had missed her at 12pm because she came in just after I left. Anyway, I had a chance now. I asked the reception to tell her that I had come in to meet her. He called up the upper floor reception, where madam has her cabin, to inquire. "Madam is not in her cabin" came the reply. I waited a few moments and took the lift to go up to accounts department to take my pending payment status which I would show her when I meet her. I got into the lift to go up and as luck would have it, she came down in the adjucent lift and left the office without knowing that I wished to meet her. Missed her again second time in a day! I consoled myself saying may be today wasn't the right day to meet her anyway. So better luck next time.

I was carrying lot of food items for the street urchins who invariably stick their faces to the car window and normally, I look the other way. While at signal, today, I was waiting anxiously for at least one kid to come sothat I can give the snacks. Fervently, I looked in the rear view mirror and the side mirror again and again, but no sign of a single kid. No luck here as well. God knows where they all disappeared today.

Well, just a few stray thoughts for today.......before I begin writing my first ever short story next time!!!

A blanket from grandma!

Taraaji, my mother's aunt, called from Pune. "Aga, did you use the blanket I sent for you?". "Oh, I got it but its not yet too cold here to use it." I told her.

My grandma had sewn a soft mauve coloured blanket for me out of her old cotton saree. It was warm n lovely.

That night I made it a point to use the blanket. In my small make shift room, under fan at its full speed, I slept curled under that warm blanket. It was a peaceful sleep.

They say, babies should be wrapped in soft blankets made out of their grandmother's sarees or such soft material because it transmits grandparent's love and affection to the baby and the toddler sleeps peacefully.

Wow! lucky little bundles! They get love from everyone and always. They are loved when they cry, when they open their eyes, when they smile, when they move, when they babble. They get all the attention and affection no matter what they do.

Now, just have a look at our lives! We, adults, face this breathtakingly competitive world out there. Education, career, job and the insecurity that comes with it.

Every day a new challenge to face! and in a metro city like Mumbai, the commuting too creates challenge and tests our patience.

The care n comfort we got as kids has now almost disappeared. Obviously, there are expectations and hopes that we would grow into successful individuals and lead a smooth life. Of course, we are not kids anymore!

We strive hard and do our best to go ahead in life and make our parents proud of our achivements. and at the end of the day,.....all we need to get a good, peaceful sleep so that we can dream and getup fresh for a long sunny day is....

A Blanket, blessed with love n care, FROM GRANDMA!!!

Nili - The Stranger!

Today morning, I went for an ad. audition ( I go almost everyday :)). Waiting for the audition to start, along with me, was a beautiful lady who I had never seen before at auditions. She was fair, tall with shoulder length streaked hair, wearing a white lakhanavi kurti n jeans, ( well, kurti n jeans was the dress code for the audition!) and little makeup....and her beautiful pink nailpolish! It caught my attention. Very nicely manicured nails and that pale but pleasant pink nailpolish! "This nail colour won't suit everyone", I thought to myself. I was reading a book till then but somehow I continued observing her. She was carrying a white purse, was wearing silver stilettos and again the same pink nail polish on toes!

She asked me if the audition had started. I said "not yet" and took that opportunity to compliment her.

"Your nail polish is suiting you very well", I said.

"Thanks" came the reply.

"Which shade is it?"

" Umm..its from Israel."

"You are from Israel?"

"My dad is Jewish and my mom a Jain".

Oh, so I had met a girl with a unique combination of parents.

"Your name?" " Nili" came the reply.

Just then, I was called in for audition and there ended our conversation.

Nili - isn't it a beautiful name? I wish I had asked her the meaning and if this was a Hebrew name.

I left the place saying Bye to her, but kept wondering how a simple, odd question about the nail colour led to an interesting information about her origin. If I had just asked her name, she would have said "Nili" and I would have still liked it but that would have probably been the end of the conversation.

That day became really special after meeting the pleasant Jewish girl, Nili - who to me till then, was - a complete stranger!!!