Enna Kodumai Saravanan idhu

Time:10.00am
I realise that there's less than a pint of milk in the fridge.
I wrap myself with the hooded coat, scarf, gloves, boots what not. Plus wrap the child with all mentioned, and force him onto the pushchair.

Time:10.20am
All set to go.

Time:10.30am.
Back from the shop with the milk can. Found panju sleeping, so quickly gave it a thought. Because I'd like to spend more time out, than getting ready to go out whenever possible, I decided to shop for a ball for the child, something I wanted to do, ever since he started walking. How simple does that sound? So I first went into the local supermarket. They turned me down and suggested toysrus (exclusive toy shop). At toys r us, they only had basket ball or football, which even I found it hard to lift. I showed my child and told them I'm buying for him. With a big grin she said "I know what you're looking for" and went in and brought a huge packet full of blue and green, pink and orange balls. "I'll have the orange one please", I said. "No darling, they come in packs of 100.. we don't sell them in singles!". I don't need 100s of them cluttering my house. Thankuverymuch. So I went straight into this corner Chinese shop, and bought this one monster of a ball. Hope its not too small for a 15 month old;)

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Belatedly watched and read

Maybe because it has been snowing unusually for about two weeks dissuading me from venturing out, I was able to catch up with 3 idiots, Paa and London Dreams in the DVD. Enjoyed 3 idiots. Though it was heart breaking to see Maddy get less droolable these days. I even wondered why aging stars had to do the roles. Anyway I've got to read FPS to understand the controvery surrounding the movie better. About the much talked about delivery scene, I felt the scene was a bit forced (though it was certainly not as bad as the infamous Salaam Namaste scene).

And what was the idea behind Paa? If it was to showcase ABs acting prowess, I didn't appreciate much of it. To me it was a story, done to death. It would have touched a chord, if a child suffering from progeria was roped in.

I liked London Dreams the most (save the ending). I have always liked Salman and Ajay. Only, I disliked Asin and her wasted role in the movie.

Now finally, Palace of Illusions. (I really feel like the only person on Planet Earth to have read this book so late). I liked the book. And I was expecting to be awestruck but I was really not. I was transported to a different world with the way the book started, up until the stage when Bheeshma comes to take Panchaali and the Pandavas after their marriage. After that, to me, it was just the story which was told, and not much from Draupadi's pov. Maybe I was just greedy for more of a woman's perceptions. But the magic in the writing just seem to wear off.(atleast till the Great War started).

I am now very curious to know if the episode on Karna and Draupadi's love for each other is just a figment of the author's imagination or was it real. I found the mysterious love very fascinating.

I am now hooked onto Anita Desai's books. (Though something tells me its going to be a year before I finish the books. Having a toddler at home, helps you in citing him/her as the reason, for you slowing down. That you may have born with lazy bones all over would be conveniently pushed to the background ;)).

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What crossed my mind

Just like every other peron, on the last day of 2009, I was contemplating on the happenings in my life, when few childhood reminiscences brought a smile on my face..
...I used to dread the thought of someone asking me what my New Year resolution was. (Why was it was an unwritten rule that everyone ought to have a resolution?)

...I thought saying "same to you" was unfriendly when someone wishes you "Happy New Yr". Wish you the same was slightly better, but I was happier with "Happ New Yr". And being the wicked guy that my brother was, he used to chase me throughout the day with "same to you".

...Dec 31st is a close friend's B'day. So few of us, friends, used to gang up in the terrace of her house, and have a blast. (If nothing, we just used to talk the whole evening. Girls can never run out of topics to chat).

...I used to join granny in giving long lectures about how people throng temples on Jan 1st, while there's only less than half the crowd during Pongal/Varuda pirappu.

...On New Year's eve, I used to strictly tell dad not to rebuke me even if I forget to switch off the motor when the tank overflows, and to mom not to take it out on me if she missed the ladies spl bus, and had to board the already packed to capacity bus. This, as I felt if I bear the brunt of someone's anger, on the 1st day of the year, I would face with similar situations every other day. The senti idiot that I was!

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Why the husbd. will think twice before coming home late

Good news : We've zeroed in on a house, so will be shifting soon.
Bad news : Husbd is busy.
(btw, husbd is being busy, everytime there's something significant going on-got to check if this is sheer escapism he he)

There was loads to pack. Loads to dispose. I didn't know where to start. Can't wait for the husbd till weekend to do the honours, as we've got to shift Saturday morning. There were lots to do, I just couldn't figure where to start. So, I decided to take it easy. (take it easy=putting my feet up and relaxing on the sofa and let the mind do a bit of impertinent and unnecessary wandering like how Tamil actress Nadhiya could never age etc.,).

After what seemed like a nanosecond, I found myself staring at my husbd. I coudln't immediately gauge his expression. As an involuntary reaction, I looked at the clock.
So what I thought was a nanosecond was a good one hour. I had slept like a log of wood. Husbd had knocked the door (maybe he should have banged it instead). No answer. He's rang my mobile. No answer. He's gone down the lift to buzz the security phone. No answer. I usually lock the door from the inside, so he's never tried opening the door with the same key that we use to lock from outside. A neighbour suggested using the same key, and it has worked.

I had put the mobile in silence mode, while patting the baby to sleep, but I had no explanations for missing the phone beeps and door knocks. Maybe I had plugged into the ipod?

God, please save me.

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Confusional Consequences!

So its house hunting time, yet again. And this time, Husbd has carefully said, "its your choice"! Well, I didn't feel flattered, as that was just a tactful way of saying that he's too busy to take the strain of house hunting.

I got my details and requirements registered with every other letting agency that I came across. This way, I wouldn't be missing out on any suitable property, I thought. I didn't spare the few websites where you get email alerts on rental properties as well. So I was happy that I've taken the first step in a very organised fashion. O N L Y , I didn't make a list of whom I've contacted. That wouldn't have mattered much.. B U T, I realised that the requirements which I've given to some have been inconsistent and contradictory.. that also would have been sorted out, U N T I L, this guy called up my husbd's mobile and asked him if we'd like to view a one bed apmt for £900.. husbd has said that's beyond our budget for a one bed apmt, and the guy has said your wife said its fine as long as its near the shops and tube station. Would I have said that? Well, I may have!

What was more interesting was this conversation over the phone:
Me: Hi there! I have an appointment to view properties this Saturday at 10 in the morning. D'ya think I could come in today instead?
Agt:I'm sorry, but we haven't booked any appmts on Saturday. Whom did you speak to earlier?
Me:I didn't get her name.
Agt: Was it Dan?
Me:Sorry, I didn't get her name at all.
Agt:Wait. You said its a she?
Me:yeah, it was a lady that I spoke to.
Agt:Guess you've called the wrong company. We've never hired women at all in this company.
I could only be thankful that I didn't indeed go in person. Spared the strain of picking my jaw from the floor.
I racked my brains. I already had to keep the 12 noon appmt on Saturday with another company as well. Although I had not taken her name, I remember jotting down the address. So I sought dear mr. google's help yet again. A N D, I stared at what I saw on the screen for a sec and laughed out loud. As it appeared it was the same company which I was to make it at noon time. I had double booked! I'm just over worked you see ;)
BTW, this is what happens when you T H I N K you're clicking, whereas all the while you've been video-ing :D

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Just about this and that

How exciting would it be to get back in touch with an old friend?

This Saturday,I received a call around noon time. It was the excited voice of my mother : "do you remember that friend of yours? Her dad..." and then I lost the connection. Sitting thousands of miles away from home, only triggered all negative thoughts on what my mother was about to say. She called again within few seconds and thankfully put a fullstop to my wild speculations. Apparently my friend's dad had visited my house to get my contact info, as I had lost touch with the girl. This girl was a close buddy from school days, got married quite early, shifted places a dozen times eventually losing contacts with me. She had very sweetly sent her dad to my place to know how I've been. Numbers were exchanged, calls were made and we sank into sweet memories. I felt cared for, and happy.

x----------x----------x

How exasperating this could be?

Couple of hours later, I signed into the few social networking sites that I am a silent member of. While browsing through the ever interesting friend suggestions, I happened to see couple of names that I had already added months ago. Some have ceased being friends with me probably, as I've been deleted from their lists, and the poor software, innoccently prompts them as suggestions! Seriously, things couldn't get more kiddish. I felt bad; for maybe around 5.5 seconds.. (Thank you Almighty for the busy life that you've given me). Not responding or acknowledging is EVEN more kiddish. I'd rather someone add another as a friend, only if they want to know and want to continue to know them. But hey, that's just my 2 cents.

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Updates

3 months seemed like quite a long period, but it just flew away! I was all panicky about the first air travel, ear pain and some such discomforts for the little one, but he surprised me by sleeping through the journey. (That he screamed his lungs out throughout the check-in procedure is a diff.story). We traveled Kingfisher airlines (via Bangalore) and the journey (food esply!) was excellent.

There were our parents, siblings & their children waiting to receive us. The kid screamed (and scared) everyone. Thankfully in a couple of days the child understood that home is a place where people other than amma and appa would also reside, friends and relatives come and go.

As husbd. was just on a week's vacation, we had the essential Temple trips planned well ahead. We had Kumbakonam and Tiruvallur in mind. As the Kumbakonam train trip, accomodation, car to take us to the temple etc. were arranged by my ever dependable brother, I was mighty sure that things would happen without any hitch. And yes, the trip could not have been more convenient. Before the Tiruvallur trip (for the child's tonsure) many wanted to click a pic with the boy with all the lovely hair. And they did. The day's trip to Tiruvallur went on fine, and all my imaginations about how the baby would look sans hair came to an end.

After the hectic week, husband left, and it looked like I had all the time in the world. But on retrospection, there are atleast a dozen things which I wanted to do but couldn't. The weeks following saw my best buddies visiting home, relatives coming in to see the little one... The pandemonium caused by the stupid swine flu, and the minor illnesses of one after another at home, saw me cancelling half of my plans.

One thing which I was looking forward to, was meeting Smita. Situation was such that, I couldn't come out of home. She immediately obliged when I asked if she could make it to my house. One would not expect this much of understanding and trust towards someone whom one has never met. Wish I had made the meeting more memorable.

We then geared up for the kid's first b'day which was nearing. I went shopping while my mother was taking care (happily so) of the child. I made the mistake of going saree shopping with father -in-law. Men are such bad company in this area. Seriously. One should not just nod his head when someone asks if this saree would look good on so and so.

Husband landed a day before the Ayushhomam, just like any other relative;)
On the day of the Ayushhomam... There was nothing much for me to do before starting to the hall. Just to get the child and myself ready and leave. Sounds simple, huh? Not so simple when getting ready means wearing the traditional 9 yards saree. Few things are more tricky, I tell ya!! I knew I would need help and confirmed with the aunt who promised to come early for this, if she is sure about the madisar procedure. I was flabbergasted when she forgot what's next half way through. Another aunt came to my rescue and somehow they wrapped me in the madisar and I was all ready.

Just as expected the little one was all irritated with the smoke from the homam, the chattering crowd and the uncomfortable sherwani that I SO lovingly bought for him. During the Kaathu kuthal (ear piercing), before the little one could start wailing, my brother (on whose lap the kid was supposed to sit thru the ceremony) was tightly shutting his eyelids, fighting back tears. I was a bundle of nerves, asking him to open his eyes, he's got to hold the baby afterall!

Overall the function went on well. My maternal aunt, who kept us on tenterhooks few days before the function by falling seriously ill and getting hospitalised, turned up and made my day. Seriously, sometimes people make me feel really weak by being so affectionate. She could have chosen not to come. But there she was.

Oh yes! how could I forget the video coverage! We didn't book any professional for photographs and video, assuming the cousins would take care of things. The phhotographs were taken all right, but the video resembled a thriller movie. The video in charge Mr.Smart had forgotten to switch off the camcorder even when he was not focussing, and so the floor of the hall, the legs of the chairs, the steps, footwear of all present, not a thing on the floor was missed. It was fun watching it, though.

On the day of our departure from India, at the airport, there were the same set of our people waiting to see us off. The first week after reaching here was the toughest. Weather outside was gloomy, I was finding it odd all by myself again, the kid was clearly missing his grandparents' company. But thankfully, now its all back to routine. This longish essay was just to say that I am back! I could have easliy done with just the 3 words, no?

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