Random pourings of the sanguine waterbearer

Once upon a conversation......

2006-07-05T10:35:00.003-07:00

This conversation took place on a Sunday morning, not exactly a sunny day, between the water bearer and her dear old grandmother. Grams (as I usually call her), sweet and cuddly, is otherwise referred to as the “old crab” on the rare occasions when she turns mean. These rare occasions have been on the rise off late, much to my consternation.

Let me give a background to this funny conversation. Yours truly had been successful in fixing up a meeting with a certain serpent after surmounting all kinds of hurdles which include the serpent’s ability to come up with the most inane excuses to avoid contact with the outside world. You see, it is not a child’s play to make a serpent, a sun-eating sea-serpent may I add to leave his lair when all he wants to do is dream of fish curry and mermaids. But that’s beside the point; let’s just get on with the story.

Glad to finally get hold of an otherwise slithery sulking serpent, Saturday evening, thus was nicely spent indulging in a competition of who-cribs-the-most and generally trying hard to outwit each other. I had conveniently forgotten about an 80-year old crab sitting at home waiting to point out my non-committal response towards time. Needless to say, I had crossed the deadline when I reached the manor.

Grams, in her usual style, opens the door with a wide welcoming smile. I think this is encouraging.

Grams: So my dear you are home…..I have made chocolate pudding for you and there is a surprise item in your dinner today!

Me: Wow! You are the best Grams.

Grams: So, what took you so long in this rain? I was so worried that you would be stuck somewhere. You see, it’s not wise to venture out in such a ghastly rainfall (it was merely drizzling according to me). There will be traffic, some moron might not drive properly and his car may skid, you may be crossing the road and oh god I can’t even imagine what could happen and it is so dark outside (phew! Will she stop?!) No lights on the road, what if a stray dog that’s gone mad bites you or if u catch a bad cold in this weather or …….(etc etc..i will spare you the rest).

Me (rolling eyes): Grams! Stop it. I can take care of myself and it is Not a ghastly rainfall. it is just drizzling.

Grams: You still haven’t told me where have u been.

Me: Er. Didn’t Mom tell you I was tied up at work? (I steal a glance at mother and she gives me the most innocent look)

Grams (raises a suspicious eyebrow): Yes yes she did. Where you really tied up at work? Or did you get stuck somewhere in between?

Me (by now I am struggling with my guilty conscience and kicking myself for having lied to her. I decide to take a shot at telling the truth): Ah…er…actually I left office quite early to meet an old friend, you know to catch up with each other’s lives.

Grams: Oh!

At this point mother jumps in as my saviour like she always does and reminds Grams about dinner.

Grams: Ok. Well you can fill me in the details in the morning. Come dear have your dinner and go to bed.

Needless to say, I thank all the possible gods I can remember and dig in into the pudding and the surprise dinner item (btw that surprise was the yummiest fruit-n-cream salad you can have this side of the world, a Grams special)

On Sunday morning I hoped that granny’s forgetfulness will get the better of her and she wouldn’t remember anything about my sojourn the evening before. Well, I couldn’t be more wrong.

Grams (while continuing with her morning chore of garland-making): so tell me about yesterday’s meeting. Who is this friend?

Me (groggy with sleep and cursing mother to have woken me up so early on a Sunday): Eh? What meeting?

Grams: Wake up sweetie, here, have your coffee and tell me all about it.

Me (sipping the perfect filter coffee again a Grams special which cleared my head): Oh that! Yeah I met Jormund Elver. He is a Midgard fella, nice chap, though occasionally a pain in the neck.

Grams: You met a BOY?!! So late in the evening? Alone?

By now I realised my folly and was fully awake. Damn I should have broken it more gently.

Me (grinning like a cat that has swallowed a ton of fish): Grams! This is not 1860!...its not a big deal meeting a guy on a Saturday evening and alone too. Besides, he is a dear friend and quite trustworthy (I frowned a little on that adjective I had bestowed upon Elver)

Grams( in an alarming tone) : Why are you frowning? Is something wrong? Don't you remember what happened last evening .....

Me: What are talking Grams? Of course I remember. I was just thinking about some unfinished work in office.

Grams (visibly relieved) : Oh! Tell me how long have you two known each other? Midgard? Is he of our caste?

Me (quite exasperated): Oh my sweet grandmama, we met a year ago when we both were struggling to bell the cat.

Grams: Cat? Which cat? You don’t have a cat? Or is there one in this house without my knowledge…how dare you bring a cat into this house…oh god now I will have sprinkle holly water all over…..dear god forgive……(I will spare you again with the rest of the tirade)

Me: Grams! Get a grip on yourself. CAT is Common Admission Test ok! Lot of guys give this test to get into the best institutions.

Grams (heaving a sigh of relief and murmuring a short 3-para prayer to the lord): Don’t use such scary acronyms with me. And you haven’t told me anything about this Jorjune Emeren !

Me (struggling to stifle a laugh): The name is Jormund Elver! He got himself into Norman Midgard, a very well-known institution.

Then I went on to give a short snapshot of the serpent’s life and his whereabouts. Grams didn't look very pleased.

Grams: Sounds like one confused fellow. Confused boys are bad company. And he cribs too, you said. He will be a bad influence on your sunny side darling. No No, I won’t allow that. Besides, water bearers are not supposed to mingle with wonky boys and certainly not serpents.

Me: If anybody is an influence here, it’s my sunshine demeanour on him, trust me and what’s the harm in meeting a non-descript serpent once in a while?

Grams: Don’t you have any girls as friends? Why don’t you meet Rachel? She is a nice girl and from our own caste. Both of you share so much in common.

Me: Huh! Rachel? Has she called me for the past 6 months? She has started to behave like a big shot now. And what are you talking about, caste and silly things? Elver is also my Friend! And I get along much better with boys than girls.

Grams: Why are you defending him so much? Is something going on? Are you two dating?

I choked on my coffee and a fit of cough took over me. Grams, forgot all about her questions and garlands and fussed over me for a while.Let me pause here and explain to you how my grandmother’s mind works. When she asks a question which is disturbing to either of us, she doesn’t wait for the answer. She assumes the worst response and launches into a mourning on her lack of protectiveness toward her dearest grand-daughter.

Grams ( after making sure I am alright): Oh no! Now you are dating …then this would go further….what will I say to our family? What will I say to the soul of my son?... (ok full stop)

At this point, I was flabbergasted. I wanted to pull that garland of marigold from her hands, search for a fellow called God and wring his neck for making me put up with an old crab! Couldn’t he just have pre-programmed her to change according to the change in centuries?!For now I decided to change my strategy. Well you got to help yourself Aqua. I turn into a coy grand-daughter from the devil-may-care water bearer.

Me (prying her fingers off the garland which was a mess by now): Come on grams, for goodness sakes, I am not dating anyone. I have met him, like just 3 times. Look, he is a friend, we met, we spoke and we shared our experiences. That’s it and as for dating and all that silly things, you know me. I have no interest in them whatsoever.

Her nerves showed a little sign of relaxation. Good, my strategy is working.

Grams: Dearest, this is not your fault. The age you are in is quite tricky. You should take care, focus on your work…..don’t go to parties and dates like this…….it is not safe for a girl like you…..you should have taken other friends along….they would have been good protection (yawn!...).....

Me: I am not sixteen, I am a whole 24 years old, quite sane and a mature adult to boot! And gradma, what makes you think i need protection from Elver.

I couldn't help bursting into laughter. Grams was a little amused herself too.

Grams: Ok, I trust you…But you should mingle with well-bred girls from our caste. Look at Betty!....She comes home dot on time…does all the chores…And has only girls as friends. You should be that way….not hobnobbing with serpents. (There we go again!)

Me: Now now don’t you compare me with that oh-so-perfect Betty. I hate it.

Grams: But she is perfect. And there is no harm in learning from your cousins. She knows how to cook…..

Me (rather defiantly): So do I!

Grams: Yes yes …but she knows how to make welcome designs at the doorstep of her home…she knows how to knit….she even knows how to make lovely garlands……her husband whoever it would be, will be a blessed man.

Oh yes blessed indeed, wearing marigold garlands...geez!

Me: Look…I am Me and Betty is Betty. We are like chalk and cheese ok. And I don’t Need to get trained for marital bliss thank you very much!!

Grams (giggling at my discomfort): Ok, you are both very different. But that doesn’t give you leeway to do what you want. So no going out and meeting people, at least not in this rain. And one more thing....don't indulge in any office-related bonding also.Me: Grams! (i shrieked)Grams: Well it's only for your benefit i am warning you dearest.

Me: Fine.

With that one word I called it quits to the conversation leaving a rather smug and sinfully pleased old crab gingerly threading another marigold garland.

The SanguineTag to spread some sunshine..

2006-06-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

This one was long long long overdue…..Ever since I got tagged by the serpent I have been trying to put my sunshine tips for a better world…but then since I was feeling rather blue (what? You thought the water bearer is always smiling and chirpy…come on man I am human!)…..I put into practice my famous principle in life…Procrastination!......Now I am totally disgusted with myself and since my short story is going nowhere….. I better get going with this tag…one of the few tags I actually enjoyed doing…

So here goes….10 things to make this world a better place….and also brighten up your life :D

Smile: This has to be the Numero Uno factor. And no, this has got nothing to do with the yahoo smileys….A genuine smile on a face. That little curve can change a lot of things…least of all brighten up your day… doesn’t hurt to smile..does it?

Flowers: The best thing that has happened to mankind is flowers…..just gift a flower to someone and see the expression on their face……its worth more than a million dollars…..it need not be only roses….any flower that smells sweet. roses, lilies. Anything. So, who is giving me flowers tomorrow? ;)

Rain: the feeling of getting drenched in the first shower (no not the bathroom one) is something that cannot be explained. You got to try it out….well I did…An even better option would be sitting near the window watching the rain splash outside with a hot cup of filter coffee and some yummy fries!....it’s the rainy season in Mumbai .And boy…I am loving it!!!!

Hugs: I don’t think this one needs any explanation…. Just make sure that it sends out the right signals ~wink~

Books: They are indeed our best friends. Apart from the knowledge, the ideas and the rest of it, just pick up a book for the sheer enjoyment of reading.

Music: …I can’t imagine a world without it…..for some moron who can….go take a walk to Mars!!!

Friends: It can’t be me if I don’t mention this can it?.......however weird, queer or at time a pain in the….er…whatever……..there is nothing better to do than to meet up with friends……and the eternal waterbearer says “MEET MEET”…please don’t meet in chatrooms!!.....well.. lemme think…When was the last time I met mine?!!!!

The ocean: the water bearer recommends at least 15 minutes of staring at the sea……the sound of the waves and the magnitude of the water has miraculous healing powers… no idea how….but it works for me

Cooking: Yeah! This one is actually a bit surprising for me too. But try it….eating one’s fruit of labour…literally…. it is the best feeling....and the trick is to make other relish it too…..for folks who are a disaster in the kitchen…don’t worry you will get the hang of it…till then you can be at the other side…

Cartoons and animation movies: Had a hard day?...Tom & Jerry might add a little smile on your face…….Popeye may make you laugh…..or else just curl up and watch beauty and the beast or have some fun at Madagascar……and yes there is a moral at the end of every movie :D

So that’s that. Writing ten things leaves millions unwritten. If you think everything is a miracle…the world is any day a lovely place

Whom do I tag?

Bugs...the bunny cannot and will not be left out of this sunny endeavour.

Puneet......would love to hear from this 'different guitarist' ;)

Archster....well well...she sure is spreading sunshine all over...time to put down some fine points of them.

I shall be back soon. Till then keep smiling and spread the sunshine :)

Silent waters...

2006-05-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

The ways of the water bearer and those of the world are disjoint. In normal times the world flows with the water. But then many a times the same world puts rocks that the water has to bypass. They won’t budge. Well something similar is the status quo of my life right now. There are rocks of official work in my way. I will have to make way for them before I get to my destination of a blog post.

If I had my way, wouldn’t I be posting something new everyday on this blog? But……oh yes the ifs and the buts of life. They show up when you least expect them. Such is life.

As I see, the serpent has had his revenge and has tagged me. And there is a short story to be completed soon. If only I could get done with the numerology of corporate finance!!

Well the wait would be worth the while. When the water bearer is silent for a long time, it would be broken with a bang. As they say “still waters run deep”

My life for rent…..

2006-04-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

As you can see I haven’t been able to put together anything coherent that might pass off as a decent post. So for the benefit of those parched eyes that scan this blog every now and then, here is something. This is the only song that I have played for probably the highest number of times. And perchance the only song that explains me and my life to a T!
Too melancholy for a "sanguine" water bearer you might say, but this is the other side of the coin!

I especially love the lines
“While my heart is a shield and I won't let it down

While I am so afraid to fail

so I won't even try

Well how can I say I'm alive”
AND
“Well I deserve nothing more than I get

Cos nothing I have is truly mine”

Enjoy Dido’s song-“Life for rent”

I haven't really ever found a place that I call home
I never stick around quite long enough to make it
I apologize that once again I'm not in love
But it's not as if I mind
that your heart ain't exactly breaking

It's just a thought, only a thought

But if my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
Cos nothing I have is truly mine

I've always thought
that I would love to live by the sea
To travel the world alone
and live my life more simply
I have no idea what's happened to that dream
Cos there's really nothing left here to stop me

It's just a thought, only a thought

But if my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
Cos nothing I have is truly mine

While my heart is a shield and I won't let it down
While I am so afraid to fail so I won't even try
Well how can I say I'm alive

If my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
Cos nothing I have is truly mine……

The water bearer speaketh

2006-03-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

After a very long time I am back with my posts. 2005 ended with a tag-post and let me begin 2006 with a tag-post again. This one was due for long. Puneet decided that I need to desperately update my blog and maybe sensed that I was running out of ideas or just plain disinterested in updating. So he goes ahead and tags me.Though usually tags are fun...i believe this time it was a pain...Well this time it’s about soul mates and the water bearer for the first time is at a lose for words. I don't have the faintest idea of what to expect out of my perfect soul mate. So bear with me because this one would probably have the maximum number of hasty generalisations, faulty parallelisms and a cartload of clichés.

So here is the mother of all clichés, my version of the perfect soul mate. I will try to be the ‘innovative waterbearer’……..Yawn!

1. Wit and humour: yes yes anyone who doesn’t have wise cracks up his sleeve or doesn’t understand my humour–too bad. You can’t probably put up with this eccentric water bearer for long…….heck I can’t put up with such a bore. The trick is to outwit me!

2. A literature buff: and no this does not stop at Shakespeare….someone who can’t resist books…whether its Paolini or Paranjpe…..Shashi Tharoor or Ayn Rand…..Kipling or Kiran Nagarkar…. someone who can fund my ambition of having a library :wink:

3. Live and let live: possessiveness is strict no-no with this wandering waterbearer. Even the remotest sign of possession will send me bolting at the opposite direction. Someone who gives me enough space is welcome. And space, in my case doesn’t get measured in sq. meters always.

4. Talk to me: a good conversationist…..someone who can talk endlessly on anything…..someone who can keep up with the sudden changes of topics that I initiate……a leap from philosophy to politics, a jump from astrology to business and a skip from music to photography.

5. Infinite Trust: yes not just trust but infinite…this should have been number one.....the person has to trust me and has to have faith in my actions….whether its some silly pranks he indulged in…or even the darkest of the secrets he has……I know it takes a long time…probably even a lifetime to acquire anyone’s trust…..but then TRUST me and you will be richly rewarded!

6. Take me as I am: and I will change for you!...sounds a bit confusing right? Well, the water bearer is dynamic and wouldn’t mind changing something about her….but then he shouldn’t be there in my life for Only changing me…..you can change the shape of the water…but not its flow!

7. Stand up for me: well not exactly me but I think life is a waste when you don’t have anything to stand up to…..even it is against popular opinion. Spineless diplomats…..please stay away.

8. Sharp mind: how can I forget this…..intelligence…..the one thing that turns me on. I don’t care if he is an IIT-IIM or some such deadly combo as they say if he can’t understand basic things in life….heard about something called common sense?

Well there. I am done. Oh! Btw, qualities like respect, beauty, understanding of the greatest order and such trivial things have been taken for granted. Perhaps if I had my way of putting 800 points, I might have mentioned everything.

Whom do I tag? The usual suspects
Jormund Elver: it’s high time I see something on your blog
Archster: always a pleasure to read from M’lady
Bugs: The perfect follow-up from his previous post

Tagged down by the punster!

2005-11-27T11:20:00.001-08:00

A vague memory of a little ugly duckling comes to my mind. This kid always ended up being ignored by the tagging groups. Then she used to go ahead and tag herself and run around pretending to be important. Not much has changed for that kid even now after 23 years though the eternal punster of bloggersville thought of tagging her this time.
Since random thoughts are my intellectual specialisation and being a self-obsessed water bearer, this wasn’t hard for me. So here it is…..things you would like to know about your resident water bearer…and she wouldn’t mind telling you.

1. Nothing can stir the soul the way music does…..I like instrumental renditions more than songs….anything from Zubin Mehta’s orchestra to Zakir Hussain’s tabla, from E.Gayatri’s classical veena to Mozart’s symphony. However “gin soaked boy” from divine comedy is my all time favourite.

2. I am over sensitive. I get hurt by the silliest and the littlest of the little things although I would never show it on my face. But since I have a tendency to forgive easily, you can get away with over sight.

3. I feel that I have stopped living and started to just exist.

4. I am a worrier not about me but about others. I worry about other people too much especially about those whom I care for. I would worry myself to death over every little problem they face.

5. I am on a weight gaining binge. I don’t think I have stuffed myself like this before. Damn! Not even a kilo more yet

6. I am an A-class quitter. Joined singing classes-quit within 3 weeks, joined violin classes-quit within 2 weeks, gave up the idea of learning new languages ….this would require a separate post and I might do that when I am in one of my self-flagellation moods.

7. I am grossly incapable of expressing my feelings. And this comes from the ability to feel much stronger than others can.

8. I love cheese, paneer, chocolates and salads. And the best part is I can have them by the loads and still be the slender lass: grin:

9. I hate jewellery, especially those heavy antique ones which make you look like u are one of those Egyptian mummies come alive again!

10. I hate to shop. Nothing in this world is as boring as shopping. Exception: books and cds…I loose myself in these.

11. I believe you can be alone. But never be lonely.

12. I can’t talk sports and cars….so the male section of cosmozens are out of my conversation radar. I can’t talk about lip sticks, nail paints (yikes!!), dudes –next-door so the females go out too……who’s left?!

13. I think I am the only person with whom people are willing to share their sorrow but not their happiness.

14. I get ignored most of the time. Really.

15. I love Mumbai. Period

16. I believe people are good unless proven otherwise

17. I have a deep seated fear that I might disappear from the face of the earth and people may not even realise my absence.

18. I like guys with a humorous outlook towards life, guys who can discuss the economy and literature with equal ease and who can discuss ideas not people .Anything with bulging biceps and peanut brains is a strict no –no.

19. I love birds….even the crow who comes everyday to our window for his share of breakfast…3 white pigeons used to visit us daily and I used to feed them grains from my hand….long time back…guess those birds have flown to some other territory…..I envy the freedom they enjoy.

20. I believe “You are lucky if you get what you desire but you are blessed if you get what u deserve” I would rather be blessed than be lucky.

whom do i tag?

The mallu, (coz i really would like to know about him) Archster (a little more leeway to blow her trumpet ;)

pssst..(i am resisting the temptation to re-tag someone with great difficulty:evil laugh:)

Masked out!

2005-11-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

My inability to dish out decent stuff has long been established...so i bring yet another crappy work...........if it makes sense...great......if you find sparrows circling your head after you read this....too bad..welcome to the water bearer's muddle minded world.

Remember the day when your dear pal comes to you with watery eyes and a forlorn face and says “it’s not working out” and you play the perfect friend in need with hugs and sympathies? “It will sweety” is all you say thinking that your silly friend doesn’t know how to approach. And what follows is advice of the first order. “Maybe he means this or maybe her hint was for that” and so on. Your despondent friend feels you are the best person in the world…..You are The Wise Soul around. Are you really?!
The truth is there is a mask at work. The real you is busy licking wounds. But you have to maintain the self sufficient, smug I-know-it-all image. All façade….All the hypocrisies………… That bright fake smile covers the distress that’s flowing in your veins. The soothing words betray the ruffled feelings that play havoc in your heart. The hugs deftly wrap the emptiness of your soul out of touch.
Sounds silly doesn’t it? But trust your water bearer……this is what happens………..everyone among us wears a mask…..The whys and the hows and whats are difficult to define. But such questions never get answered anyway. The masks rule the world and maybe we might lose ourselves to them. When we all are so lost in playing the perfect masked man or woman, we might never know that the real us has long vanished into oblivion. Dangerous isn’t it? These masks………
Do I wear one? Of course yes.
The mask never falls off.

The justice in my life....

2005-10-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

My modus operandi…..wrote a weepy story, posted it….deleted…again re posting it…..why? Because some noble soul wants the water bearer to pour her heart out. So I have made it more bearable by changing certain parts…those who had read it earlier would know the difference and those who didn’t ….well Thank god!.....

It was a bright sunny morning. Justice V was sitting as usual in his favourite place, the study table. Made of beautiful mahogany wood, it was a gift from his father on his 18th birthday. A sentimental object since it was one of the last he received from his father. The old man died when Justice V was 20. He himself was a father now of a girl. He called her his little princess and he would tell her almost every day how much he misses his father. He would go on to say "I would never leave you little one. Not till the end." The little one would then giggle and place a kiss on his cheek .

Being a Sunday morning, the perfectionist (as he is affectionately known among his friends) was reading the newspaper leisurely. He had it spread out on the table. This table was designed in the most economical manner, the way Justice V liked. A wide rectangular surface to accommodate files, books, newspapers and his morning cup of coffee, the table had 2 drawers and ample room to stretch your legs below and relax. He dismissed modern day tables with their claustrophobic space and ridiculous shapes that served no purpose at all. “A study table should be simple and should remind you of knowledge, not distract you with needless ostentations” said he to his daughter who nodded her head vigorously although she had no idea what her father was speaking about.

Justice V‘s persona was most like his table-economic and elegant. A short, plump man typically like the Indian bureaucrats, he had eyes that could observe and absorb just about anything like the 2 drawers of the table. His office colleges admired him for his vast knowledge just like the table’s rectangular surface. He was a smooth talker like the mahogany edges and gave absolute freedom to everyone akin to the leg space the table provided. All of five feet he was still a formidable figure. As he himself puts it " The distance between your forehead and the feet doesn't matter. what matters is the distance between your ears!"

He was a stickler for fairness and perfection. Under no circumstances would he allow the scales to tip onto one side. At most times he would play the devil's advocate and give you the most ideal solution. Trust him with any problem and you just have to forget that there was one.

As he sat sipping his cuppa, Justice V smiled from behind the paper. There it was, the announcement. The State was going to raise the basic salary of its employees very soon. Now I could buy that much awaited television. He made a mental calculation of how much he would save every month from his pocket so as to fund his dream of watching Doordarshan. Still lost in his mathematics he absently put the paper aside and something bright caught his eyes. A rectangular report card lay with a pen across it. He instinctively looked across the room. There she stood, squirming, clutching the rims of the door tightly.

“Okay. So the little angel has brought in the stars again!” Justice V grinned. “Let me see” He browsed through the card and his eyes glowed with admiration. “Come here little one” The little girl took a cautious step. Oh god! I have lost 3 marks in mathematics. Daddy is going to be mad at me. If only I had studied a little harder. “My little angel, you are the best thing that’s happened to me” her daddy beamed. “But I stood second not first pa” she morosely mumbled. “Look at your marks little thing. I am sure next time you are going to be the top student. For now, its party time” Saying this he lifted her onto his lap. The little girl visibly brightened and pinched her father’s cheeks in delight, which produced a guffaw. What followed was a series of tickling and punching and the duo were having a hilarious time.

Just then the doorbell rang in the form of an unpleasant interruption. In came a stout lady with a high upturned nose that was forever wrinkled in distaste. ”oh! So father daughter again up to their silly games is it?” she retorted with a smirk. Justice V looked at his sister and shook his head in resignation. She was really the “agonising aunt” for his daughter. Always nitpicking at something or the other Aunt Lolita took extreme pleasure in making people know how shabby was the housekeeping and how lofty were the ideas of her sister-in-law. This was generally followed by a long speech about her near to perfect home and family.“Lolita! It’s been quite sometime since you dropped in this side of the planet. And where is your family?” He raised a sarcastic brow at this.

“Oh you know how difficult it is to come to your place and Ji (Aunt Lolita's way to respect her husband...never say the name ) is very busy these days” She felt a tug at her sleeve and she turned angrily only to see our little princess looking at her with wide eyes. “Why didn’t you bring Betty along aunty? I have been waiting to play with her” she asked.

“Well, she is studying for her last paper darling and you know how difficult it is for her since our school is so stringent and it’s quite well known with a reputation. It’s not like the one you go to where just about anyone sums up as an intelligent student”

Justice V angrily stepped in” Ok Lolita! Reserve your nastiness to adults. My daughter is far more intelligent and sharp than you think her to be. Finish the business for which you came here and be gone.”

A malicious smile crept across her face. “My- O- My! Dear brother. I was just telling the truth. She can’t possibly study anywhere else in her ‘condition’. She gets these great grades because she has all the time to just study. She can’t do any other activities.”

Justice V felt a strong urge to wring the neck of this boorish bickering nitwit. But he controlled his anger which in itself was a significant thing since he was infamous for his temper. Thankfully an interruption saved his day from turning sour. “Lolita?! How are you my dear child?” a squeaky voice asked from the rear door of the room.

“Mother dear! It’s so good to see you” Aunt Lolita turned on her fake sob. “You have got some extra wrinkles. Mother, you should take care of yourself. Doesn’t your daughter-in-law care anything else but her own issues ? Oh how foolish of me. How can she possibly take care of you when she hates you so much? My poor mother.”

“You are the only one who understands me Lolita. How can I possibly trust any one else in my matters? By the way I want you to take me to the temple in the evening and also to the doctor. You will, wont you?”

"Er….. Mother actually Ji has asked me to come home early. He is quite busy you know and I have a lot of work too. I promise to take you to the temple but some other time. Take care.” Saying this Aunt Lolita made a bolt to the door as if she is fleeing from potential trouble.

In the mean while our little princess has retreated to the far corner of the room and sat there in dejection. Yet again her aunt had ridiculed her. And latter she hadn’t even noticed her. I am sure Betty will get the best of the grades thought the little one. She is so good in everything. And look at me.......And so on she continued in her self-pity expedition. Justice V noticed that his daughter was looking all sad and depressed. He immediately went across and took her in his arms. “What’s the matter little one?”

“Pa. why am I like this the way I am?”

“You are the nicest girl in the whole universe. And look at your grades. They are the best. Don’t bother Lolita. She is just plain jealous because her daughter is a total nitwit just like her.”

The little girl giggled. She then solemnly replied “Pa, Betty is very good in her studies. And Aunt Lolita is right. She does much more things than I do. She dances, she sings, she......plays. I just read and write.” The little one hung her head in shame.

Justice V felt a lump raise in his throat. He replied gruffly “Sweetheart, dance, sports and things like that will not matter later in life. The only thing that matters is knowledge and I am sure you will have plenty of it.”
The little princess knew her father was just placating her yet again. She knew the things she couldn’t do and maybe will not be able to do at all. She just accepted this truth and decided to do the best she could with her limitations. “You are the best pa in the world”

Justice V laughed and secretly sighed in relief. Yet again he had managed to make his daughter happy. Not for long he realised ruefully. He hugged his daughter in a protective embrace and took her to the balcony.
My hands flipped through the album There he was. Justice V with his daughter in the balcony. Justice V grinning at something. Justice V reading the newspaper. Justice V, fiercely protective of his daughter…….
A smile crept up my face. Justice V with his quotable quotes………Then I touched the edges of the pink coloured report card. Inside I knew I would find Justice V‘s graceful signature. “Aqua! Can you just bring me the files?” I jerked. “In a moment” I shouted and ran.

Justice V was sitting on the cot with his legs stretched out in front. “Pa? Did u take the pills?” I asked cautiously. Even with his sunken cheeks he was a formidable figure. Though he has lost a lot of health over the years, still his mind is as sharp as before or perhaps even more.

“Yes Yes! Don’t you treat me like a child now. Here give me the files and go off now.”
I saw the syrup bottle and knew that he had missed that one. I grabbed a spoon and poured the syrup and handed it to him. He stared.
“Pa? “
“What?”
“Please….you need this”
“God! Not that vile syrup again. My throat burns when I swallow it.”
“Pa do you mind this VILE stuff or do you want yourself to be poked with needles?”
That did the trick. Any mention of needles would send Justice V up the wall.
“Er….ugh! Fine ….”
He made a queer face and took the syrup and gulped it. I almost laughed when I saw him stick his tongue out in disgust. “Ok now let me see where have you spent my hard earned money this weekend…………………….
I groaned. The next hour would be spent in justifying my bills. Sigh, it was so easy being a little girl at the balcony with him.

The man in the glass

2005-09-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing poem I came across, strangely when I needed it the most. It says the most profound of philosophies without any of the clichéd phrases we come across in self-worth books. Whatever we do with our lives, but at the end of it all we are accountable to our conscience. If yours is pricking you maybe its time to befriend that guy staring back at you from the mirror

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Who judgement upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he’s with you clear upto the end
And you’ve passed your most dangerous difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of yours
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you have cheated the man in the glass.

The careless calamity

2005-09-04T04:09:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time a little water bearer accidentally dropped her jug of water and it caused a deluge in the city. Little did she know that her small bits of caution would have altered the surge of death which followed her clumsy act. Little did she realize that her carelessness would cost many lives. And so did all the others of her cosmos. As they continued to plunder the magnificent city till just the bare shreds of its ornamental grandiose remained. They killed the mangroves by slow poisoning, plundered the trees for their mansions and looted the lakes for their obnoxious desires of cleanliness. And no they didn’t stop here. The lakes are pushed back and encroached upon and the tonnes of garbage is being dumped in….yes almost all the water bodies. Thus fell the great city of Bombay to the scathing and murderous hands of mankind and nature took all the blame, eventually. It came to be known as the terrible Tuesday, the doomsday which shook every untouched contour of the city.

Were the rain gods responsible for it? Was the thunder the wrath of Zeus? Or was nature again into one of her sadistic plays that tosses mankind to the wrong side of the world. We all know the answer. It wasn’t either of these. It was our own doing our own plundering that led to this apocalypse. We may argue that it’s been a long time and a lot has already been spoken about the flood. I say that is where we went wrong. We talked and talked of the flood, not what caused it or what could be done about it. I don’t think we were able to forget those days and even if we were, the following collapses of several buildings in the city made us look back again.

There is a lot to be done but before all that administrational endeavours what we need to do is examine our own conscience if it is still lurking inside us. The undying spirit of Bombay? That’s just the illusion created by the media. Bombay bleeds……always. Whether it’s the riots ,bomb blasts, floods or house collapses…..the city just meekly bows down to the commands of the situation. After the mayhem it prides itself in forgetting the past and moving on. But does it learn from the past?......This is still to be answered.

The most unawaited come back!

2005-08-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

Phew!....this blog has been in comatose for several weeks now and no it was not only the rains but also the new situations in which I have been thrown into. Since water bearers have to enroll into a mass communication course since they are supposed to become the gurus of communication, I ended up doing the same. And since then life has never been the same. So here I am at last doing the thing I love to do……..posting.

From being a perpetual somnambulist to an unwilling workaholic, the journey has not been a cake walk. Whatever I had in mind when I decided to spend half of my days of this year in the labyrinthine corridors of St. Xavier’s. And I am still roaming there like the lost memory of an overindulgent student (whatever it means!).

July 26th was a turning point in my life which I consider anyway as a rather miniscule existence. Well I don’t have that wherewithal to write that kind of trauma which people have gone through that week. And if my dear readers would still want to have an account you can visit my fellow bloggers.
But yes, I wanted to capture those days and all I could come out with is this. As usual I consider this as the most pathetically written poetry…… still it might just pull some heart strings.

Life is just a puddle of water................

Its gloomy, its dark. Its morbid to core
Sunshine refuses to give solace to the soul
It pours and pours till death gains laughter
Oh! Life is just a puddle of water.

What should I see, I wonder aloud,
The dirt, filth or the carcasses afloat?
Or should pain, I embrace and falter
After all life is just a puddle of water.

What more should I see, I wonder again,
The screaming kids, the women’s bawls?
Or should sorrow I hug and flatter
Since life is just a puddle of water

“It killed my son” I hear a wail
Punish them, someone barks
I stare at tress uprooted, crushed flowers
Yes, life is a puddle of water

Faces perplexed, eyes filled with mist
Life walks like a somnambulist
Should answers to question still matter
Sigh, life is just a puddle of water.

Time saunters past, we pick out pieces
Rebuild, reunite and go forward with life
Till death makes his next visit later
But life is still the puddle of water!

Reserve my Equality!-Part2

2005-06-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

The first bit of scribbling from me on Lady Equality and the looming reservation has left a lot of unanswered questions behind. So as I had promised to attend to some of them at least, I am back to my rather wobbly writing. I had set out to write a mature article attending to all the doubts that have been eating our heads but all I could manage was this stupid story which apparently asks more questions. My apologies for all those who are looking for a moral at the end.............there is none.The story will continue. So I leave the part of finding answers to the readers.

All my attempts to gain an audience with Helios were useless. I wasn't successful even in fixing a date with any of my other fellow burden bearers of the cosmic administration since all of them were either too immersed in dealing with their unruly protégés or just plain wary of another meeting. So left with no option I had to use my already depleting grey cells to find the ever-eluding answers of equality.
While I was mulling over the possible measures, my communicator gave a shriek. Piscia?I wondered aloud. Then it struck me that I was supposed to accompany her to the temple for a very important ritual of soul cleansing. So I jabbed a button and made plans for the next day.
As decided we i.e. Piscia (Pi as I lovingly call her), the red headed mermaid and me met at the Dragon Ally station from where we would venture further. As we hurried to the platform we managed to reach just in time to get into the nearest wagon. Pi was all set to catch that train anyhow. After all this was the last wagon that could take us to our destination in time.
Pi (adding enough emotion in her voice to instill guilt in Lucifer himself!): Common, hop in will you. We are already late to temple. In another hour the sages will start pouring in and we need to be there before they make their presence.
I gave her a sheepish look and followed. Something ahead made me retreat my steps. The wagon was full of men in assorted sizes and shapes. "Hey this is the men's wagon. We need to get ahead to the ladies one", I said. At this the red light ahead turned a pale orange. Pi was already on tenterhooks. I could see she was in no mood to entertain my sensibilities of propriety." Oh just hop in. What if it is the men's wagon?" The green light came on brightly. Pi after setting her eyes on the green light shoved me inside the wagon in spite of my vehement protests.
About twenty pairs of eyes stared at us, more so on Pi. One cannot tell her as breathtakingly beautiful but nevertheless she made heads turn. I on the contrary would just pass as a plain Jane. My much sanguine mood became instantly sourly due to the fact that I just compromised one of my many ideals or principles so to say. Pi as usual was blissfully unaware of my gloomy state.
In the mean while she had been looking for a comfortable seat for both of us.Just then a rather sweet looking gentleman got up and offered her a seat. She smiled decisively and batted her eyelashes enough to make that man go beet red .Then she went on and made herself comfortable on the seat while I took the space next to her. The long journey continued. We did some small talk which eventually shifted to graver topics just like it always does.
Me: You know, we shouldn't have entered this wagon. It's for men.
Pi: Oh common, don't start off with your ideals of equality. There is absolutely none of it anywhere in the world.
Me (exasperated): When a man enters an area exclusively meant for women, why is there such a clamor on it when we constantly invade their territory. Don't you think that when we have an exclusive wagon meant for us, why do we use theirs?
Pi: Huh! Just two of them for ladies and the rest seven go to them. If you want equality don’t you think there should be equal number of wagons? Men have never given a thought to equality.
Me (uneasy): Er….yes….But then we also have an entire train for us .
On seeing the look on Pi’s face I hastily added. ”Yes there should be equal number of wagons for both of the sexes. However you can’t generalize things that the whole of men folk are chauvinistic or harass women.”
Pi (indignantly): Really? Tell this to the woman in Bihar's rather backward village or to the lone woman in Rajasthan or even to the girls in an obscure area still living in darkness
Me: Don't you see your own error in judgment. They are suffering not because of lack of reservation but because of the attitude of just a set of men or even women.
Pi: True enough but how do we change the attitude of the people. By awareness? By giving advice/explanation? Would they ever listen to us at all? You know the answers dontcha? So you see reservation is the solution here. The Laajvanti of some obscure village can win only on the basis of reservation
Me: Okay agreed to a point. But this take on reservation is flawed. The Laajvanti you are talking about does not even know that there exists a reservation and even if she does, she is not courageous enough to make use to it, which in turn renders the whole reserving policy worthless.
Pi (interrupting rather harshly): So what? At least it would benefit those who fight against the system. Imagine without reservation what would the fate of the trials be of those courageous women who fought the age-old male dominated rules!
On this I felt a little of my resolve against reservation slipping away. I fell into deep reverie thinking about the two different arguments in this case. My case in point was valid enough, but Pi wasn't talking non-sense either. There was the element of truth in what she said about the courageous few who needed the backing of the reservation system. But I still wasn't convinced that it would help in any way. Yes the struggle for dignity will be a wee bit longer and harsher but the law might just act as a spoilt catalyst.
The sceneries beyond the window of the compartment kept changing from overflowing stations to empty torn down structures strewn about in random. My mind raced with the speed of the train. A stray peace of conversation hit my ears, vaguely at first then clearer.

...to be continued

Reserve my Equality!-Part1

2005-05-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hello to all my fellow cosmozens.To your much dismay I am back to pour in my servings. So those of you who have long burried my blog into oblivion, kindly open your eyes and look around.And to my other friends who threatened me with dire consequences in case of my perennial absence, with due appologies here's my minuscule contribution.

“Reserved for Ladies/handicapped/old persons”. This is a very commonly spotted line in buses throughout India. Ayn Rand would have probably snorted at it. I stared at it dubiously and cringed internally. It was one of those times when I have questioned the purpose of democracy while standing on one foot and my hands holding the bar for dear life. The friendly old BEST bus comes to a screeching halt and everyone scrambles for support. A lady (a very young one) pushes in with all her might and comes right beside that sign. She glares at the man sitting and proceeds into a verbal tirade rebuking him about his position. ”Bhaisaab, can’t u see its ladies seat?” The poor man was old enough to qualify for the third category. But the lady didn’t quite see the logic. Now the old man had the choice to give a reprimand, show the lady the full meaning in the process being labelled as insensitive brute by feminists or step aside like a “gentleman” and bear the rough ride of the bus. I wished with all my heart that he would choose the first option, damn the feminists. But much to my dismay it didn’t happen. While fellow passengers and I looked on in mute silence, the old man meekly took to his feet. The lady gingerly placed herself on the seat visibly gloating over her success. The journey continued. How do feminists derive a delightful pleasure in gross inequality in the garb of equality is what beats me. Couldn’t they see that the era of chivalry has long vanished along with coy ladies?

This was one of the numerous occasions where I am subject to witness the dicey and muddled principle of democracy called equality. More specifically- gender equality. What is this gender equality? Is it the right to choose your boyfriend just as your brother chooses his fiance’ (which anyway keeps changing!) or is it the passport to go into unexplored so called male dominated areas? Is it the right to the much awaited promotion which always slips through the slender hands of a woman to the rough and tough hands of a man or is it getting the parliamentary seat against a veteran and “trusted” male member? Is it the right to wear the kind of clothes which show more than they cover or it the right to come at unearthly hours without the least concern for security?

The main point is “Equality is not a principle it’s an attitude”. And the equality which we have in the Indian Diaspora is mere hogwash which looks good and fashionable on slogans during a march or as a dialogue in Bollywood flicks. Reality is far from it.

While Lady Equality is the main protagonist, how can we turn a blind eye on the hero with negative shades- the reservation. Reservations and equality are fundamental opposites. Yet one has been used to gain the other. Reserve seats for women so that they get equal opportunity. Well I scoff at these fancies. Isn’t reserving seats mean privilege to women? And giving privilege is defying equality. When women say that they are capable of doing all the work that a normal man can do, why do they need reservation? Why these double standards? At one end women say that they can run the world much better than men and at the other they cry foul when an innocent male member occupies a position which is rightfully his.

Feminists would be suitably riled if I so much as pass a sentence against the women’s reservation bill. But look at it closely. It hasn’t really made any difference. In fact it is more a farce than anything else. If they reserve even in the corporate sector, that would be the ultimate joke on the women folk. In such cases even if a lady comes in only on the basis of merit she will not be given the respect or the appreciation she deserves. Cut to a slightly different situation. In case of a coveted promotion in a corporate setting, if the raise goes to the woman, the comment is”Oh she got it using her charm”. And if it’s the man who gets it it is said” He deserved it”. If the situation is already so pathetic do we need the dirty tag of reservation on us?

The dark and gloomy label of reserved category is not so easy to shed off. Do we really need reservation? I say a big no. Aint reservation and equality fundamental opposites? Signs like the one mentioned in the BEST buses are a feminist’s delight and my disappointment.

Vasundhara Raje doesn’t need the reservation bill nor does Sonia Gandhi.They know very well how to handle and create political mileage. Kiran Bedi or for that matter Mrs. Bovankar doesn’t need a women’s reservation to be in the police force.They might have come through the reserve category but by default not by choice. Lalita Gupte or Indira Nooyi don’t need reservation to climb up the corporate ladder. And the common women folk like us don’t need seats reserved for us in any of the public transport or anywhere else for that matter. What we need is change of attitude- of men and more so of women, not to mention ripping off of the stereotyped social labels.

There are still a lot of questions unanswered in this long drawn debate.Maybe I will find out some answers when i meet my cosmic titans (Helios, Ares,Leo,The Bull,Archer and the group).Till then I am back to my nourishment chores.

Tribute to the bunny

2005-04-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

salute the hero!

Today is 24th April by the Gregorian calendar. A normal summer day with the usual chirping of birds, the steaming coffee on the table, the screaming idiot box meant for morning entertainment to the folks of my place and me trying to keep my eyes open.
However something is different about today. Yes, it is the birthday of one of my dearest fellow cosmozen “bugs” the thinking bunny whom I had met a few weeks back. I had laden him with my satire in my earlier ventures on this page. So for some changes I am going to dedicate a poem to this roly-poly bunny and I hope he likes it

Long long ago in Looney town,
In a garden burrow behind the fences brown
Lived a couple so sweet and nice
Growing carrots and spice.

Once on a rainy and gloomy night
With the lightning shining very bright
There came a wail from behind the doors
Mrs. Bunny while doing her chores,
Swooned and fell down with a thud
Mr. bunny dropped the shovel in the mud

And came bounding in with shock
To find his wife grinning in mock
“I say dearest pray what was the fun?”
Oh darling we are going to have a son!

And so after nine months on the 24th April
There comes a roly-poly lad to fiddle
With big bunny teeth in the middle
And brown eyes that pose a riddle.

Thus came Bugs so endearing to us
His springy feet and light hearted fuss
His courage to say” what’s up doc?!
To the enemies, who come as a flock.

He thinks so fast but he aint so tall,
Loves his carrots and wants them all
Hates Daffy with a 100 percent
And loves to hang around with the serpent!

He tried so hard to join gang of Mickey
But that mouse was so finicky
So he kept his nose high and left
For greener pastures and redder carrots.
Of late he is dating princess Una
She’s the carrot of his eye and wanna
Be on his side all his life and time
And Bugs is thrilled to the prime

So he turns 24 on this 24!
And has come a long way ashore
Still has a journey through many lands
And still more carrots to go in his hands.

So here’s wishing our hero on this day,
A very very Happy birthday
Let your garden flourish and carrots stay
Fluffy and fat as long as they may.

Encounter with fellow cosmozens-concluding part.

2005-04-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

My creator has bestowed me with a strong eye-sight. But today for the first time I questioned his prudence in relation to this gift. Also I started to question his reasons behind granting me a fertile brain always lush with imagination. All I had imagined, after reading the musings of this bunny on his virtual notebook and having a rather short tête-à-tête on the communicator, is that he would be a scrawny bunny with a brooding look on his face. And I had been sinfully wrong.
The figure that walked towards us was anything but a bunny. A stout Earthy bull fitted the description much better. Although thank my cosmic destiny (blueprinted by the titans), the bull didn’t seem to charge but trot towards us in a lazy way. I strained all my facial muscles to hide the contorted mixture of exasperation and shock that was writ large on it.
Bugs: Hi where were u two?...i was waiting for you inside! (And then both JE & bugs indulge into a long tirade in greek!...(huh! hello I am still standing!!)
JE: let’s go in.
ME: yes (thanking my creator for this miniscule opportunity to speak.).
So we barge in and wonder where to make ourselves comfortable. I was expecting it to be quite empty with just a lone soul lurking around in one of the chairs but as it had been the trend that day, I was grossly wrong again. The places seemed like it had just been ravaged by all the juveniles that locality could probably house at their cooing best. Amongst the maze of chairs and tables strewn about, we found our cozy centre. There was no music of which the café de destresser is famous for. All of a sudden the two heads other than me make an about turn and bore their eyes into the screen which is so strategically placed so as to have the maximum idiots watching it. Comments followed pertaining to what was displayed. Time was ticking and I was still struggling with the initially shocks as well as to grab some attention. I still hadn’t received any compliments for my dress and any further possibilities seemed bleak. Already my patience had lost its battle with the serpent and the new entrant was making it even worse.
Bugs (eyeing me suspiciously): will u remind me to take my hell-met? (which he had placed behind him on a stand. Before that he cradling it like a baby)
Me: of course (grinning though it was not required…I have a knack of making a fool of myself without the slightest realization of my actions)
He went on to tell me the perils or driving without one on and JE also pitched in with some more knowledge. Then he switched over to his pal rather abruptly.
Bugs: You know what happened when …..blah blah….
JE: Really?....blah blah (I thought you to be an expert archer but hell your are an exuberant fake too!)
Then this led to a conversation about the variety of womenfolk and a copious dose of visual description followed by personal experiences .By conversation I meant me as a mute spectator since I was quite a moron regarding any knowledge about the salient features of yin and yang. For the next hour it looked like a tennis match being played, with bugs and JE playing the game and my eyes looking like the ball flouncing over here and there to keep score.
When I almost began to give up on any possible chance of using my uvula the bull…oops, bunny asked me to choose the most desired item that would titillate my taste buds from the menu list that had emerged from nowhere. Seizing this prospect with both hands I put forth the chivalrous task of choosing one for me to him. Internally my soul was recoiling from the likelihood of him lacking in gentleman ship. But no, to my absolute exhilaration he went on to do just that. Also he left the final choice for the lady since he had by now realized that I was a free spirit. I looked at JE with that see-he-is-much-smarter-than-you look but it failed to register in his sensory unit.
JE (mockingly): you know we should help her to expand her horizontal limits as her mother desires. (Ok! So this serpent knows how to take revenge and so sweetly too. You tell one more syllable on my figure and I will have you guillotined at the altar of Helios)
Bugs: of course, of course we will do just that. She could have a generous dose of all the creamy stuff on display. (Praying that the bill doesn’t land in his pocket)
I later concluded that any conversation started with food as a topic was detrimental to the health of my ego.
A scrawny looking juvenile appears to take our order and Bugs does the honours. The time between the order and arrival of the fare is filled by ramblings between JE and bugs with me playing the speechless spectator or the ardent listener, whichever sounds music to the ears. This is what happens when you invite two cosmozens who belong to the same school of thought and have spent long hours in the company of each other. Naturally you would be treated as the outsider or the eavesdropper in these cases, had it been the fairer sex but since these two belonged to the opposite, I was merely treated as an interruption. They both looked like comrades in the army, bum chum pals meeting after a long time, with the much expected mutual admiration oozing out. Both sharing the same commonly known cosmozens and these facts created a veil for me through which I could only peer but not register anything clearly.
What followed were different versions of stories of sight seeing, buddy-bonding, professor-bashing in degrees varying between hilarious to horrendous.
By the time the caffeine arrived I had been enlightened about the different interesting encounters in the lives of Bugs and JE.I had also been able to pour in my thoughts though not satisfactorily because the bull belonged to the sect of perennial ramblers and the serpent was not in a helping mood either. So I was reduced to the occasional bottle opener which just pops up the lid now and then but doesn’t contribute anything. At times when I felt that I had to save my dignity by giving some response, I resorted to laughter. I laughed, without understanding what the joke was or what joke was hidden praying feverishly that they don’t notice my rather sophisticated sense of humour. It was little consolation that even JE was giving company to me in this endeavour.
The café‘s overall vocal atmosphere was loosing its initial mellowness and was becoming more and more cacophonous. Sensing that our eardrums cannot take any more torture, Bugs proposed to move out since we had finished with our snack.
The three of us then proceed to quieter and shadier area. JE was not in the best of his health and I wondered whether the tall glass of that devilish liquid had undone him. But it hit me that this murky demeanor was the result of his wallet which had shed several pounds courtesy me and Bugs.
At the turn of a rather pleasant and serene lane stood a tall structure which could well pass off as a renovated castle. We made ourselves at home on one of the sturdy benches that were laid out besides its magnificent gate. JE told me sheepishly that this was his alternate residence where he would sneak in when his parents were not in their rosy moods. The conversation resumed from where it was left and thankfully I was feeling rather buoyant since I got to speak much beyond monosyllables. These pleasant exchanges were interrupted twice by the shivering and shrilling of the communicators which were promptly dealt with.
Helios had shed his wrathful nature and had cast a rather softer shade on the sky and the breeze made our musings delightful. Our talks touched tomorrow and beyond. Well it definitely included the probable mishaps to occur at one’s work the following days, my subjection to my mother’s long lectures on the vitamins A-Z which she had picked up from the latest nutrition book, bugs’ confusion and apprehension on whether he would gain admission in the exclusive syndicate of tomorrow’s damagers.
It was a long time before we had a look at our time pieces .It stared at us and said you better be going to your nests. So we bade out good byes and gave all that apple sauce about how nice an evening it had been though I am sure not one of us realized what it was all about. But then one has to fulfill societal obligations.
On the way back home I made a mental note to indulge in another of these expeditions soon enough. As far as bugs was concerned he surely was thinking of loosing himself in the works of the syndicate soon although in my opinion it was still a big compromise to settle for a rather infamous local syndicate when you can be a part of a much more sophisticated group. But bulls are known for their impatience, so I decided to let it go. As for JE I am pretty sure he can chalk out a path that passes through lush meadows as well as thorny deserts since sea serpents are a tenacious lot. And in my cosmic opinion archers never miss their target. It had been quite eventful at Devils And Demons At Rest, the place where we met.And now let me get back to my work of filling empty cups with my aphrodisiac.

Encounter with fellow cosmozens-part1

2005-04-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

As promised I am dedicating my first post to bugs and jormund elver and our meeting on the auspicious eve of gudi padwa (the Marathi New Year).On hindsight, these two guys are actually responsible for this blog to see the light of the day. So here’s the description of that encounter….

Time: 3.15 p.m.(Helios at his scorching best)
CIRCA 2005
The sun had halted his chariot and was wielding his fiery might on mother earth.
At such times one would well imagine the sanguine water bearer to pour out the aphrodisiac (water) from her ever filled jug and quench the thirst of the inhabitants of the earth as it is in her nature. But surprisingly here I was armed with just a tiny bottle to meet two of them. As I stepped down on the platform, which well qualified for a ridiculous strip of land built by a confused army general, I thought for the umpteenth time that why in heaven’s name had I decided to arrange a meeting with a non descript sea serpent and a bunny who claims to think. Sigh, my impulsive nature always got the better of me.
So lost was I in these thoughts, I didn’t realize that I had long abandoned the skewed platform and was in fact way ahead of the meeting point. Sigh again, when will I refrain from being enmeshed in my own world which was always so perfect and learn to accept imperfect mortals. I walked back to the place which was to be the culmination point of flowing conversation with flowing caffeine. The name of the joint resembled a rather ubiquitous caffeine outlet supposedly used by the human kind less for refreshments and more to indulge in other sensory pleasures. Failing to recognize anyone closely resembling a serpent or a bunny, I pulled out my communicator (my favourite device since I am the reigning communications queen!) and tried to make contact. All of a sudden there emerges a shadow . Aaah! So the serpent makes his appearance or is it the bunny? With a wide grin pasted on my face and my mind racing with questions I turned around and was stupefied to find a being that didn’t resemble a serpent one bit.A bunny wouldnt have come close to the tall figure i was gawking at. Hell he could very well qualify for an expert archer. Except for his rather unusual glasses which looked like being borrowed from Arabia! I made a mental note to later advice the serpent(yes it was JE) to leave his current occupation of sea scrutiny and engage in the much rewarding archership.
ME: Hi, where is the bunny?! (All I wanted to ask was “am I looking great today in this red dress……this is a new one you know! But propriety made my speech come to a screeching halt)
JE: he must be on his way….let me call him (pulls out his communicator…a flashy piece of the latest gizmo world)
ME: ya (by now I am too disappointed to speak because firstly that slithery slimy serpent didn’t give me the compliment I was so sure of getting and secondly his gizmo looked like a sleek modern art while mine would pass as an aesthetic eyesore.)
A sudden scream made me jump; only it was JE showering expletives on the communicator.
JE (in greek): what the hell are u doing in your burrow? We were supposed to meet at caffeine de destresser’…….yeah she is here (with that irritating smug expression on his face!)…ok.
He finally closes the call with a copious dose of directions to come to the place.
ME (rather graciously): is he coming? (Thinking he better be or I will have him cut off from the cosmic circle)
JE: he will be here in an hour. I hope the traffic is not too hard on him.
Since there was a whole hour to go and nothing to do and the café de destresser was becoming rather stressful, JE suggested that we stroll around and do some sight seeing. I was by now loosing all the sanguinity of my demeanor and was becoming more and more impatient. The sun was already heating up my delicate dossier and I was afraid that sooner or later Helios would burn me down. History is witness that Helios has never been caring when he visits my house (the 11th in the zodiac locality). And to make this uneasy situation more discomforting, I realized that I was walking around with a nitwit who doesn’t understand it’s impolite to make a lady walk long distances. Sigh, gone are the days of chivalry. Men of today seem to rather enjoy the privileges once exclusively meant for the women folk.
As I was thinking about the possible solutions for my friend the Virgin (Virgo, she had just broken up her rather short fling with her man. My sympathies rested with the man because Virgin never spares anyone with her criticisms. And he was just the mushy crab who wanted to cuddle up with someone), some vague sound hit my eardrums. I snapped out of my delirium.
ME: eh?
JE: you seem to be more of the silent type (huh, am I stuck with non-committal female specie?)
ME: u can say that. My written skills are more enhanced than the verbal ones. (Can’t u see I am struggling to start a topic with a dud like you!)
A few ramblings on the weather followed. Damn and damnation this conversation was going no where! JE seemed to realize that I was seething, not with anger but due to Helios’s treatment and so he guided me to more shady lanes. The shade seemed to relax me and then we got talking. Our conversation varied from college experiences to family rules occasionally punctuated with jokes.After our circular perambulation we headed back to café de destresser. Just then JE’s communicator gave a jolt like a malaria patient shivering in agony. It was the bunny informing that he had arrived at last. We spotted him a little ahead and my eyes widened with awe and shock.