God’s own country ?

The euphoria is still on…..India is shining in the true sense. I am talking about the World Cup . The entire nation kept waiting till mid night – nails biting,,,,cursing Mallinga… crying for Sehwag and Sachin. Feeling sorry for Gambhir…. Till finally our men snatched the cup from right under Sri Lanka’s nose…..The hysteria still hasn’t died down. Gifts and appreciation for our team are pouring in from every corner of the country.

While one state is sleeping……

Remember how we forgot to recommend Resul Pookutty for a Padma award ? Pookutty made the country proud by winning Oscar in sound-mixing for the film Slumdog Millionaire

Remember the Sandeep Unnikrishnan fiasco ? Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Ashok Chakra who was killed at the NSG operations at the Taj during 26/11 while trying to rescue two injured colleagues. The whole world watched with horror, as well armed terrorists were shooting down innocent people and our men were trying to put up a brave front. No less than an actual war.

“Do not come up, I will handle them.” were probably the last words which Major Unnikrishnan told his men as he was hit by bullets while engaging the terrorists inside the Taj Hotel and later succumbed to his injuries.

The Kerala government did not send any representative to attend Major Unnikrishnan's funeral. The Chief Minister took his own sweet time ( after much criticicm in the media) and visited Sandeep’s parents and received a well deserved welcome .

The same fate awaited Sri Santh who came home after the World Cup. No announcement of a gift for him ( leave alone other players ) from our government….because our government has other things to worry about.

Our heroes can wait……They better wait. After all they have the privilege of belonging to God’s Own Country , don’t they ?

Some privilege ,indeed !

Whispers......

And then my love whispered to the departing spring "बहारो ,फूल बर्सावो मेरा महबूब आयाहे .....Spring laughed and there on the green lawns lay the golden showers..........

I Got a Learner’s Licence !

My driving license had to be renewed. I did not feel enthused as I considered the hassles involved in the process.

“Go to the RTO office and talk to the inspector there” said my husband, not in a mood to cooperate. So I went to the RTO office. The inspector looked at my existing license and said. “The simple way is to get an NOC from Delhi ( I had a license from Delhi) and then we can renew this one”.

He is asking me to do an impossible task. I blurted out “ You know it is impossible to get an NOC from Delhi. You know how govt. dept works “ As soon as I said this, I bit my tongue. The inspector was not amused . “In that case you apply for a learner’s license, appear for a test and get a new license”. I couldn’t believe my ears. Here have I been driving for the last 30 years in the crowded streets of Delhi and a test now ? Surely there must be some other method ? The inspector shrugged his shoulders . Rules are rules. He cannot do anything about it. He gave me some forms to be filled up and submit along with a medical certificate ( that I am fit to drive a car ) and the required fees.

Frustrated I walked towards the corridor. A man stood there smiling at me. I thought he must be an ‘agent’. May be he could help. After listening to me he said “ What to do,madam.” ,and lowering his tone,he whispered “ This inspector doesn’t take money”.What a time to meet an honest officer !

The next day I submitted the form duly filled, medical certificates and the fees. I was asked to appear for the test on Saturday at 9 am. (This is Thursday, so I have time to brush up my lessons! )

Saturday morning and I was as nervous as a 10^th standard student going for her board exams. “ This is just a formality. There will not be any test for you”, my husband assured me optimistically ( read uncharacteristically )

I reached the office at sharp 9 am.The inspector took me to a room next to his cabin. A number of computer terminals stared at me. So this is serious business, I told myself. “Which language, madam, Malayalm or English ? “ some one asked me. “ Malayalam“, I said. (I still donot know why I said that) He switched on the computer , clicked on some keys and my name and address appeared on the screen. “Sit down ,please. Your test will start now.” He said and left the room.

The first question appeared on the screen . There were 3 options for an answer and I selected one of them. ‘ Click on the green button now’ said the comp. I couldn’t find any green button. On the screen I could see that time was ticking away. I looked around for some help. One woman ( probably a sweeper or peon ) was watching me with an amused look . I asked her “ Where is the green button ? “ She pointed towards the ‘enter’ key. I struck it and lo and behold, there flashed on the screen “ You have got one mark” !

“ Good job !” I patted myself and continued with more confidence. At the end of the 10^th question the comp. announced “ You have successfully completed the test “. I felt jubilant and went to the inspector’s cabin. At last there was a flicker of smile on his face. 5 minutes more….he handed over the LEARNER’S LICENSE to me. As I walked out of his office I felt as if I have won a bumper lottery .

Ps. The inspector called out “ Madam,you have to come for the actual driving test after a month “. Who cares?

A Brush With Nature

Their numbers increased. Colours changed , white, green, pink, yellow ,the list became endless. Slowly and steadily allopathic tablets have gained more and more access to my body without much improvement in my condition. I was feeling thoroughly frustrated and depressed. Then one friend, who works for Gandhiji Naturopathy Hospital

suggested, why not try naturopathy ? Perhaps it was the right moment. I packed up and left for this place in a nearby town .

10 days of disciplined stay and my whole life style changed. No tea,no coffee. On the first day by evening my head was splitting. I was itching to have an aspirin .The doctor laughed but consoled me “ Withdrawal symptoms !Your body is reacting . You will be alright by tomorrow.” He prescribed a wet towel for my forehead ! And I slept like a baby.

The actual treatment started the next day. Various packs, massages ,baths,concoctions and medicines made from herbs, ……

Food was anything but imaginative. Rice/chappati/wheat puttu/,dosa , were served with boiled vegetables, dal,tomato chutney and salads with minimum salt, totally oil-free .No red chilies ,no tamarind . Even to think of sugar or pickles was blasphemy . Occasionally a concession was to given a tiny bit of jaggery.

Initially I found the whole exercise exciting. But the novelty wore off after a couple of days . I grew restless and started looking for that famous light at the end of the tunnel.

But after a week, when the blood test results came I realized the wisdom behind this age old medical practice. My body and mind started cooperating with the treatment. And it started giving better results . The dosages of tablets were reduced .A healthier, happier me came home, rejuvenated and relaxed.

But the real challenge has just started. Away from the watchful eyes of the doctors it is easy to get succumbed to temptations. Remember, it is a life- long vigil. But let me not think about it now. As Cardinal Newman said :

“ I do not ask to see the distant scene, one step is enough for me .”

Meeting With Amma

The first gift of the New Year…a hug from Amma ! Before I knew what was happening I was standing in front of Amma. I was engulfed in a warm embrace and I heard her whispering in my ears “molootty, molootty “. It is nothing short of a miracle, this meeting .

A chance ‘encounter ‘with G, an old class mate and friend of my son, on FB. Knowing his closeness to Amma, my hesitant request if he could arrange a meeting with Her. His willingness to help. A few clicks of the mouse ,an SMS and everything was arranged. And in that hot afternoon I found myself face to face with the ‘Hugging Saint”. I was in a daze as I walked out of the hall. I hugged myself wanting to have that moment forever etched in my memory. Skeptics are free to chuckle and cynics can sneer. All I want now is to bask in this euphoria….

Welcome 2011 !

Nature's Promise..!

The clock is ticking ..the year is winding up. I wake up this morning to see this tiny nest hanging on the mango tree in our garden. What a glorious promise of nature ! If winter comes can spring be far behind ? Waiting for glad tidings in 2011....

Empty Nest, Once Again

It is exactly one month since I bid her good bye.."I will miss you, mom" I whispered in her ears as I bent down to kiss on her cold forehead for the last time.a tiny smile dancing on her lips even in the grip of death..She looked almost regal draped in a gold and red brocade shawl. Her skin fairer than usual...the shadow of death all over her body.Some one held me trying to console ..the usual words.. She was old and sick... it is good that she didn't suffer more. Yeah, that is true. But when you lose a dear one you don't want to be logical, for grief knows no logic .
I walked back to the room, looked at her bed on which she lay the previous night struggling for breath . Little did I knew that it was going to be her last struggle. Little did I knew that death was at the door waiting for me to fall asleep...perhaps he felt that had I been awake I may not let him take her away so easily....But ultimately he won which is the only reality of life.

As minutes roll into hours and hours into days.....the reality sinks in more and more deeply .The grief is still raw ...Sleepless nights flooded with memories...good, bad , indifferent. Our innumerable arguments, the song I composed about her....she was never tired of listening to it. The tiff we had over a pair of gold earrings.Hugging those memories as my only solace I lay awake in my bed and ask myself like Macbeth

Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart?

As if on queue comes a message in my email this morning :

"Never get hurt when god takes something off your hands,
it's sure that he is leaving u empty handed to receive something better."

A message from up above ? Perhaps.

Hasn't the Lord assured Na me bhakta pranashati ?