My Sonny.

My handsome son...i just love this photo.

Strange Acquaintance

Last week was wonderful. Why ?? I had been to my native again. As usual my place was looking beautiful. The hills green, the rivers rushing, the streams flowing with clean water, the dew drops falling when I walk to my uncle's house. It was like being swinging in natures arms. What made my trip different is that I drove for 200Km in and around town. Earlier I was hesitating to drive, scared of the sharp curves at the base of the hill, and finding another bus exactly opposite the curve is much scarier. But, this time i have overcome the fear. Well, now that my father had the confidence in my driving he would allow me to take the car along with my aunties who are fond of shopping.

One day, I took my auntie's to a Jewellery shop. They wanted to purchase gift to my baby niece. I am not fond of Jewels. I am different when compared to many ladies. That is a different story. Let me tell you who I came across in the shop, it's a lady... I don't know how she looks, approximately how old she would be..nothing. I could listen to her voice because she spoke to me. Wondering how can this happen?? Its a lady in 'Black Parda'. In Kerala, jewellery shops are like vegetable shops for Muslim community people especially during this holy month. I found many ladies in fashionable Parda moving in and out of the shop. I was tempted to wear it, the material stays around them so fine, as though its specially meant to wear by that individual. My son who had accompanied was found of a kid around 5 months old in the shop I was in. He wanted to touch the babies hand. I noticed that this baby was with 'the' lady' in parda. I could only see her eyes which stared in between the rectangular open area above her nose. We went near the baby and my son started to touch the baby. I was hesitant in the beginning as I have not aquatint with any Muslim lady in my native place. She was fine with my son touching. Later she began to speak. We exchanged the kids names and it was a normal chit chat. We were then interrupted by another lady who had accompanied her, she indicated her that the shopping was over and they had to leave. I kept some distance. When the time came to leave, i saw the eyes telling me bye, I understood that because she was nodding her head and I could see the smile in her eyes.

I wonder how will I recognize her next time if she is in front of me. It's an advantage for her as she can choose to speak to me or not as she is hidden behind the 'Parda'.

At Chancery Pavillion

Well here I am having a great opportunity to have dinner with the Vice President of the company. I was excited as I was chosen one among the other 30 members in the whole lot of 1300 employees to be part of the dinner. The venue was the Chancery Pavillion. Reached on time. We are the first ones to be present. It's become a trend that every activity planned on time should be delayed. Its become a part of the Indianism, but I am totally unlike this. I value time and I expect others to do the same. But somehow cannot expect this from the VP right ? He should be an example for the others. But he was a wrong example. Planned to start at 7.00, started only at 8.30. During this time i got time to wonder around this grand 3 star hotel. I could take wonderful pics.

Ones the VIP was present introduction started as usual and until 10.00pm my chance never came up. I had to leave as I was obliged to. I was wondering how I would drive in the empty roads for 15 Kms. I did not have the dinner. I reached home at 11.00 to see my lovely son waiting for me. He is very composed and I took a day to get him back to normal.

We go hunting for something and do not get what we expect but there is always home which will make you forget the bad part of life.

Trip to Guruvayoor

Guruvayoor is the holy city in Kerala, India. It's the place where many devotee's of Lord Krishna come with their humble prayers. We reached there on 8th Aug 2009 and checked in to a nice hotel. The temple is open from Morning 3.30am - 12.00 pm and opens again in the evening at 4.30pm goes on until 12.00am. We decided to visit the temple in the evening and set to explore the city. We went to Mammiyoor Shiva Temple. Unfortunately I was not able to enter the temple because I was not in the attire as per temple instructions . Ladies needs to wear Saree and Men need to wear "Mundu" only, showing their bare cheast. Only my parents could enter and they were very excited after the 'darshan'. Lesson to be learnt when visiting temples in Kerala is that ladies have to wear Saree's else sometime it will turn out to be bad luck



Then we went to "Ana Thavalam" the Elephant Location. Its a first time that I witnessed 58 elephants at one time. I was not allowed to take the camera. So, the sad sight remains with me. The reason I call it sad is because I had to pass by these 'worlds largest animal' who had huge iron chains tied to one leg at the front and one leg at the back. They are in no position to even turn from the position that they were standing. I felt each elephant was telling me to help him , to remove the horrible chains. It was only pain that I found in their eyes. I really would not want to go to that place again. Keralites are known to be elephant lover's but the way this wild animal is tamed is very cruel.



Finally at 4.30pm we stood in the queue to get the sight of the Lord. It took 2 hrs for us to reach the door of the deity and pay are respects. I felt touched by the view.

Changing Culture

Note: The note below is not intended to offend anyone. Its just thoughts which I have scribbled.
Today I had to attend an Marriage engagement. It is not a normal one. What's different? Girl is a Keralite, Boy is a Kannadiga. The normal one for us would be couple's who are part of the same community. Before I go ahead, let me tell you the formality followed in the marriage ceremony
For Engagement
Keralite: No Girl or Boy present during the 'discussion', only relatives (only men) and neighbourhood members..
Kannadiga : Both are present, could be told that its like a mini marriage. Garland is exchanged, only the knot tieing does not happen
For Marriage:
Keralite: Its a maximum 10 min task. All done, have lunch and boy takes the girl to his house. Its his complete responsibility to look after her.
Kannandiga : It's a 3 day trail..Situation from epic's dram's are considered and the men are supposed to enact them. Gifts are supposed to be displayed in front of the purohit and that's how the girl's financial capability are measured. The boy is showered with all the gifts from A-Z from the girls side so that he should be able to take care of the girl. ( Good for him:)). Demands are made ( but its not named as dowry). After the last lunch on the 3rd day, girl is supposed to take the boy to her house, stay for 2 days and then the boy takes her to his home.

Got to know that, in this occasion both the girl's and the boy's house members are not very keen in getting them married. But, what to do? It's the generation NEXT, its their world and they have option to change the routine practice and bring change in the deep rooted culture which was practiced from ages. May be its time for change. We in the intermediate generation need to decide on which to opt. Be a part of the new generation or the old. What happens if we are part of the old ? We will be left behind for sure. What happens if we are part of the new, we will loose the strong culture that we grew up with. I am in a dilemma.
To conclude, let me tell you what happened on this occasion. The boys system of engagement was followed, the girls parents were forced to do the rituals which they had never practiced in their life. The girl had changed her caste to be part of the boys community. That's a great sacrifice. As we say 'Marriage is a compromise", but here the girl before getting married had to low down to the boy's demands, and she has to give up her self esteem ( which is acceptable to her). At least everyone pretended to be happy, and all the other (except the bride and groom to be) wondering how will the marriage happen. I could see the happiest people in that occasion was the Girl and the Boy who in spite of all odds had managed to get the engagement done.

Team Lunch

Today was kind of day-off for me even though I had to come to office. Had to be part of a team lunch. I just want to wonder over the question what is the kind of atmosphere should a get together be like. Keeping in mind that the company is paying for us, does it oblige us to speak only of company stuff and its values or speak something personal and laugh about things that is happening outside the so called office campus.

I am just waiting to relish the prawn's that is be roasted in a barbecue on our table and i find a question put "Any concerns?? How is work??" What a stupid question is that? I had to swallow my prawn without even tasting it..Taking about rating's!! Its just ridiculous. Should one validate ones work performance on this wonderful desk filled with marvelous things to eat. The the mood that I had maintained to have lunch is all gone.

Missed to say Bye Bye

My routine is to pack my son's box and water bottle and wait until the his van arrives in front of the house. I carry him to the van and ensure that he is comfortably sitting and I bid him bye and a flying kiss , to which he is very prompt in responding. He insists that he is acknowledged when he gives his flying kiss and should get one in return. His hands will be stuck to his lips until he looses my view from the van that he is travelling.

Today, I feel uneasy, why?? I did not leave him to the van..I was caught up in some work and his grandfather had to leave him to the van. I was not there to take his flawless flying kiss, the innocent kiss which does not anticipate anything in return.

Here I am at the office thinking about it, yes I could convince myself by telling that I will meet him in the evening, but I am not, cause life is so unpredictable that one does not know what happens the next minute. 6 more hours to meet him.

PS: Family is the best thing that one can have, be it happiness, sadness they are there to standby. Nothing can replace them. I have gone homesick today....God help me :)