Category: Life
-
Idyll in my mind
I draw the blinds at the window that looks out onto the grassy oval in front of my home. The picture is idyllic. The sun is out, there seems to be a mild breeze. Sounds of laughter and birdsong filter in through the cold glass of the window. The alarm on my phone goes off…
-
Teaching Love
“Kiss!” I demand pointing to my cheek. Laddu jabs my cheek with her index finger and repeats after me. “Kiss” she says her eyes twinkling, shaking her head as she runs away. I scoop her in my arms, twirl and rain kisses on her face. She refuses to succumb to my exhortation. I let her…
-
Up and Down, Around and Around – The Carousel of Life
Laddu clings to my knees, screaming with a vehemence that takes me by surprise. The sauté pan with the hot oil waits for the seasoning. The freshly cooked rice cools on the adjacent stove, the pearly grains emitting wispy spirals. The lunch boxes are open on the other side of the counter. I pick Laddu…
-
Scripted lives
I stand on the wooden steps that lead away from the kitchen into the garage, holding out pretty backpacks with swirls of color. A heart blinks on one and a butterfly on another. The twins turn their backs to me so I can help them with their bags. I stand as they leave, their rain coats…
-
The Connectedness of Us
Often I catch myself looking out the window and pondering on the connectedness of us. I think of trains when I do this. I think of us as journeying together toward destinations unknown. We see, we talk, we connect. We share. We hold hands. We let go. I get off or you do. We board…
-
Names, Naming
It is Sunday night. Picking up after the kids this evening, I noticed Ammu’s school bag open. A folder lay half outside. I picked it up and smiled as I saw the project that they had worked on before start of school inside it. It had to do with a licence plate of sorts with…
-
Pockets of happiness
Happiness or sorrow – whatever befalls you, walk on, untouched, unattached. – Buddha
-
Journey. Not a destination.
In the semi darkness as I rocked laddu to sleep, my mind played back a phone conversation from earlier in the day. “Do you plan to go back to work?” asked a friend. “Probably. Just not sure when” I answered then. The conversation shifted to other things but I kept revisiting my answer that just…