Tea with the long lost one...

This post is in response to Preeti Shenoy's Tuesday creative prompts! This two best-seller books' author has come up with her third book, "Tea for two and a piece of cake", which seems as promising as the first two! 

The table is set perfectly, for 'tea for two'. (and the piece of cake is ready too). I am really looking forward to this. There is still a good half an hour left for my guest to arrive as per the text I just got. Jeez. Funny how a simple text by my once-best-friend-in-school-whom-I'm-gonna-meet-now can make my little heart flutter happily. Even if it says I'll have to wait for the next whole 1800 seconds before I finally see her after a gap of nine whole years! I bring my wrist to my face and see the tiny colorful bead strings dangling from a purple thread bracelet; the memory of her I had saved over the years. I hoped she would remember.

Suddenly the door bell rings and I jumped in my chair. I HATE sudden noises. Or any noise for that matter. The only thing that makes me happy to see myself growing up is that I will finally be able to move to a countryside house, probably in Iceland. Totally quiet.

I stand up and straighten my skirt. Dragging myself beyond the living room I reach for the door handle and pull it open, forgetting Mom's strict instructions to first check and then open doors, just in case it's a hairy madman who would kidnap me and hold me for ransom. Which would be such a waste of the new peephole Mom got installed into the door. I peeped out from behind the door anyway and saw....................... nothing. Really, all I saw was the front garden with my tiny Bonsais finally beginning to sprout. 

Ignoring the uneasiness rising in me, I drew back and started closing the door when it was pushed open with immense force and a big human body came flying straight at me, shrieking with a loud "Booooo". My terrified scream got lost in the big human's 'Boooo' and I felt myself being crushed into an amazingly big bear hug. I was lost for words. I felt like an idiot. HOW could I have forgotten her trademark characteristic? She loved tricking me. It was her favorite passtime! 

Kanika continued to crush me with her super hug and only slightly let go when I gasped to her to let me breathe! She pulled away and looked at me with those almond shaped eyes. Brown, totally. It made me remember the day many years ago when we both stood in front of the mirror, eyes an inch away from it, figuring out how our pupils actually dilated and contracted. And discussing the color of our eyes. She wanted to believe hers was black too, just like mine. I had a hard time making her believe she had brown eyes and that it isn't necessary that best friends are always similarly structured! 

I felt my mouth shaping into a wide smile (complete with showing teeth), matching hers. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she looked exactly as I remembered her. The perfect nose, the smooth clear skin. The haircut was different though. I opened my mouth to ask where she had got it done from, when she spoke in a "ehmygawd" way, "You look EXACTLY like you always did!" I couldn't help the smile. We seemed to have a weird ability to think the same thoughts at the same time. How I missed it and how I was enjoying it then! "Because maybe I'm the same person?", I teased. She hit me playfully on the arm and dragged me into the living room, looking all around her, chattering away. 

We stopped when we reached the table. I glanced at her to see her mouth open and an expression of awe on her face. "You prepared a cake for me? All by yourself? That too when you don't enjoy cooking? And this tea looks awesome!" She sat down and grabbed a piece of cake, biting it to the core. "Did you learn baking? I can't believe it, you know. You only ever liked eating! What's up with you?". I dragged my chair near hers and sat down, ready to plunge into my story and eagerly waiting to listen to her own. It was when I realized my full-with-teeth-smile was still in place. It wouldn't go, I was sure; at least till I'm with her. She wasn't just a guest then. It was as if the tea had been prepared especially for two long lost best friends.

Metro Diaries # 3

I can't just help it. I know I pledged not to write on my Metro stories anymore, considering it's becoming a part of my daily conversations as well as my posts, but it's just such a big part of my life, I thought it deserves an honorary place (in the form of a separate post!). It's going to be a story within an article. Heard of it before? Don't even think, you wouldn't have, I just invented it (and if by any chance you have, that plagiarist has superpowers and stole my future thoughts! :P).

                                                         Something typically new!

Right, so I began my day with the usual speed (I swear I could win a marathon, if I ever got around to running in a real one, that is), getting into a Metro and being a victim (again) to shameless staring by middle aged aunties. I hadn't got a newspaper or any magazine with me (damn!) so I passed my time looking out the windows. And Thank God for that; I was so lost in my thoughts that I realized I had to get down when I looked at the signboard!

After classes I had to go for college work to some other part of the city. (We do SUCH hardwork which totally goes unnoticed; I really hate those shirkers who show up confidently when it's time to receive credits.) I usually don't mind travelling for (useless) work, BUT my bestie wasn't feeling well and I wasn't so happy going without her! (Apoorva- get back on your feet in no time! I miss our trips, however useless they might be :P). Anyway, the work was completed and none of the other fellows in the group was going the same way that I was. I wasn't too worried, it's only the Metro, right? I could find my way!

I looked up the map and found that I was on the red line, I had to take a train to one of the central points and find the right green line. Then board the right train and enter another major station that would take me to my own blue line. And to think someone like me was to undertake that journey on her own, someone with whom God got really generous while putting the characteristic of klutziness! Whoa! I boarded the train and found myself glancing at the map at every station while ignoring every other girl/woman/oldie there. I have no clue what gives people the right to shamelessly stare at strangers up and down! I don't even know why I write it here, some people just-don't-get-it!

Anyway, I hopped out on reaching the central station and followed the crowd, keeping both eyes open for signboards, something unusual for me. I was pleasantly surprised to find colored paw shaped marks to guide commuters to the right platform. It took me a while though, to register that I must be looking like a total nutcase to be walking the way some kids do, stepping exactly over the paw marks which are quite wide apart for normal humans! I quickly curtailed my steps and walked 'normally' towards one of the platforms, coming out of my mindless reverie. It was such a confusing place, two platforms going towards where I had to go! Thankfully, Shivani called at that moment (a friend who wore a hoodie that day and we had casually dumped stuff like pen caps and paper boats in it. She called to say she had found out- on reaching home! :P Hey Shivani! Shruti, Sunmeet and Apoorva were in on the joke too!). That's when I somehow actually used my brain and asked her if I was standing at the right place (since she frequents that station). I was guided to another platform, the one opposite to where I was originally standing.

A train rolled in and I was told I could take a 'direct' one instead of getting on this, due to which I would have to change from the very next station. It was so irritating! The train had been standing there, gleaming proudly in contrast to my weary state, for whole 3.5 minutes (I calculated) and didn't move an inch. People kept coming and boarding, as if it's the last train ever. I decided to forget my friend's advice and got on it, pretending to read signs and maps, just in case I would have looked stupid (which I most certainly would have) standing in front of the train with open doors, not getting in. After two more minutes it finally started and I thought it would do better if I somehow got on to the tracks and gave it a push! It was THAT slow! But it was one of the new models and I had something new to notice. It wasn't very interesting though, so I gazed out of the windows and saw a weird collection of city life zooming underneath.

I stepped out at the next station and it seemed as if the whole world had an invitation to where I had to go! Trying to adjust my small self among the rushing horde of super enthusiastic people (wouldn't they ever go a bit slow???) I simply walked with the crowd. Not that I had any choice, either. I would have found myself in a hospital ward with broken bones had I tried to go against them. I followed them all along a huge bridge, then turning to the right platform (I'm already getting better at it!). I saw people crowding around something and I was beginning to think something might be seriously wrong, when I saw they were preparing to board the elevator! I never use elevators. They're for the Old and Physically Challenged, and I'm neither. But nor were those people. I guess they can't read. Anyway, I skipped up the stairs and finally! Finally I got onto my own beloved Blue line, and felt the familiar warmth and safety. (No, I don't actually 'feel' anything for a train. If you're smart enough, you wouldn't even have thought about it). The oh so lovely train (still don't think) sped through the familiar tracks and the lovely stations (OK, that's enough. Control) and I even managed to grab a seat! Though that's a different matter it was only 45.50 seconds that I had placed myself there when an old lady found her way to me. (It's so creepy to think old ladies always find ME among the huge crowd!). I stood waiting and finally, happily de-boarded at my station, dashing through the gates, eager to get home. 

Tiring as it was, the experience certainly had a lot to teach me. For instance, I know sometimes I can NOT follow my friend's directions and still do well ;). And contrary to what I thought, I'm not as much of a threat to normal human population. Apart from stepping on a couple of people's toes and getting smashed into three more people, I didn't really do any damage. Not anything 'serious' at least! I'm planning on getting lost and traveling and exploring two more routes I've never been to. All of you who've read this, if I ever go mysteriously missing, search the Metro routes first! :P

(The Previous Metro Diaries- Diary 1, Dairy 2)

While I waited...

Usually, if I'm being my normal self, I'll always be seen cavorting around, obviously running late for college. I must have had something energizing that day or maybe the Harry Potter spells I've been trying to work on since the seventh grade, finally DID work, because I actually reached the Metro station well on time for a class. My friend wasn't though (what else can be expected? She's my friend! And she doesn't read Harry Potter) and so I had nothing to do but wait.

I stood silently against the railing at the end of the platform (which is dangerous, by the way, unless you know where to step your foot) and gazed around, getting into my "observation" mode. I stole a peek at the scene downwards and liked what I saw, so I continued with my gazing. 

The dark and light greens of the huge tree's leaves swayed in the chilly wind as I pulled my cardigan closer to me; it was cold and I couldn't make out any sign of life in the magnanimous being that stood majestic at the intersection, reaching way up high to where I stood looking down. There was fog and mostly things were in a light haze.

I saw little dashes of colors moving swiftly on the roads, curving in a graceful arc to take a U-turn. The otherwise bold, massive vehicles seemed like cute remote controlled toy cars, just without a remote in my hand and moving around on their own free will. I started, when a white sedan made a sharp cut, turning just inches away from the misplaced old tree bang at the center of the intersection.

I watched as the miniscule, brown, moving dots jostled near the entrance, going up to colored dots, probably asking about their destination. The rickshaw wallas struggled to begin with their day’s earnings, bargaining enough to keep their hunger satiated. I watched with marvel the speed at which they took off, displaying agility at its best, when people like me stumbled all the way and tried to stifle their yawns.

The loud honk of the train emerging onto the platform brought me out of my reverie (Someone please do mankind a favour and ban those honks by Metro trains. What do they expect? Traffic on the tracks?). My (good) friend wasn’t there and I watched with amusement as a mass of women emerged dishevelled onto the platform (I was obviously, standing near the first coupe) while another group did its best to wriggle into the coach. There is absolutely no point in spending minutes (or hours) trying to get your hairdo right, if you’re planning to board such trains!

I glanced towards the heavily clad people, waiting for their trains in different degrees of anxiety (I still don’t know why we get just a leeetle bit anxious during our wait?); some sporting oodles of confidence, some looking smug, as if they belonged to the Haute monde*, some feeling nervous and out-of-place, some choosing to ignore me, while a couple of ladies stared back, challenging me to look away. I did. No point in taking up a useless challenge.

Another train rolled in carrying a similar assortment of people, the same quantum of mindless chaos, leaving a new group of people fiddling with their fancy phones, busy worrying over the marks they scored, the declining profit margin of the companies they work in, the boring stuff, I mean. I stared after the train as it gently trailed out, the empty tracks a witness to some solid friction. Pigeons flew down from the rafters to perch near the tracks, hopping from one to the next in a carefree dance.

The sight of the tracks was suddenly blocked by a pair of legs, feet encased in black ballerinas, too close to me. I looked up to see my friend’s apologetic (she was late!) and inquisitive face. I must be looking aloof, I realized (nothing new in that). Another loud honk made me come out of my sub-conscious state (PLEASE! Ban those horns!) and we joined the mindless group, positioning ourselves in a manner that would get us inside without many injuries!

And that was that. It takes only a few minutes of careful observation, well past the ‘hurry, we’re in a flurry’ lives to witness the scenes of reality, to not just look at things, but to SEE, to experience the carefree moments while they last. I’m going to add just a word to my list of ‘Things I should do in life’, and that is “SEE”. :)

(*Haute monde- French word meaning "the elite")

A New Year, New Living; beyond everyday...

I've done it again! Surprised myself, that is- by coming up with this post- when I had intended to abstain from posting on New Year Resolutions, what with the pointless messages (since who has ever fulfilled their resolutions?) and such a busy schedule that I thought I wouldn't get the time to write anyway. I had thought I'll re-post my last year's piece on New Year Resolutions (I resolve to...), however useless it might be! But then, as I unfolded this Saturday's (Dec 24th) issue of Mint Lounge (which I really enjoy reading. That's a different matter I subscribed to Mint to increase my economic and business related knowledge of which I just read the headlines :P), I was hooked to the cover story! It was on how we can make 2012, or our life for that matter, last longer, by engaging in activities that are fulfilling and that will make memories worth cherishing! That was what the whole paper was about. It spanned 14 whole pages, but I read it anyway, slowly, carefully, to take everything in.

Anyway, the point is, I was SO influenced by the things they said, I couldn't help jotting stuff down in my diary and thought it would be even better if I could arrange it into a blog-post! So here are a few points I think are worth trying. Not in a single year people! That wouldn't even be possible, but in our lifetime. These are really simple things, that can make us grow internally, love infinitely and live fulfillingly (I know that is no word, but it had to rhyme!). And yeah, if you aren't capable of reading really long articles, you better stop now :P

1. Mending cracks with a friend

A friend who was with you in Class 1, or someone you loved but lost contact with, over your busy lives and long time periods? It would be so emotionally fulfilling to see them again, to be able to talk to them about the lovely moments we shared. This is something definitely worth trying. They're all in our Facebook friend list, why not give them a visit too? :) I can think of a few names I would love to see again, let's see how this works out!

2. Cut the fast food

Now THAT's gonna be difficult! In these times of pre-packaged foods, what we consume is mostly inorganic and preserved. But, apart from health reasons, we can enjoy our food better when we've taken out hours and our energies to create something (like spices). Though I'm not fond of cooking, I guess it would be worth a try.

3. Freewheeling!

One of my favorite ideas! It says 'ditch the car, get a bicycle'. You may wonder if I'm mad, preferring a bicycle over a car, but yes! I have always loved bicycles and now I guess, it would be quite cool if I could move around in one. For one, I could save on petrol, my pocket money and the environment and two, I would get some exercise! (Dad, I know you'll be reading this! See the hidden request? ;) )

4. Puzzling!

Having to solve a really big jigsaw puzzle, one that could take you months to complete, having the family to sit and work on it once in a while. That sounds fun! We could preserve the puzzle as a sweet memoir, one that would make us remember the time we spent on putting it together. How about a family photo puzzle? :) There were mentioned a couple of websites that could help create puzzles for us.  

5. Creating your own signature scent!

This is something I'm definitely going to try. The recipe for making your own perfume is so simple! We just need some essential oils, base oil, alcohol ad distilled water, along with some creativity and personal taste! It's all about mixing stuff together, adding more of what you like to get your own scent. That would mean visiting the small lanes of old Delhi to reach apothecaries that stock the ingredients. A really simple recipe, that's going to be fun to try. :)

6. Play with Clay

Clay pots are something we made in Art class in school, maybe just once. The uneven surface, the funny shapes and the clay scent, it was all that we enjoyed at that time. But why not now, too? Wouldn't it give us so much pleasure to be able to have our hands around the clay, watching with marvel the shapes we can create? There's a Delhi Blue Pottery Trust that offers a six month course in pottery, and the course fee isn't even exorbitant! If I'm able to get admitted to a good college and have the valuable resource, time, in my hands, I'm definitely going for it. If not now, some other time for sure. It's been added to my list!

7. Going back to the Pen

I am such a hypocrite! Here I am, typing down these words with so much gusto and talking about how we should not let go of the pen. But still, I will try, since these words from the paper were quite influencing- " The written word, as a creative art, was once about individuality of expression. A writer was defined by the kind of pen he used". These words could also be quite depressing for someone like me, who hasn't written an essay with a pen (apart from exams of course!). Even notes in college are photocopies from different books and the subjects too boring to make your own notes. No wonder I'm the only one who finds my handwriting legible. :/ And to think there was a time when I did nothing apart from writing (with pencils, I mean) and drawing. There was a different kind of satisfaction, one that I'm going to renew now. :) 

(anyone volunteer to be my typist??? I'm obviously not going to write down the same things twice!)

8. Back to your Mother Tongue

We've all been raised up to learn English- the most important of all languages, if we don't want to make a fool of ourselves as and when we grow up (though that's a different matter I've discovered now it really doesn't make much difference. You could excel in any language, just be dedicated to your job, and life). And an even different matter that I have always loved English, making faces when I had to learn Hindi at school. But isn't it true that you're kind of recognized by your own culture and regional language too? I remember getting Punjabi-learning books when I was young (and hadn't seen the real world and had too much enthusiasm), but I wasn't dedicated. It wasn't something I had to excel at to get good marks (Don't blame me for this outlook! Point your fingers to the education system here!), hence I still can't read in Punjabi (here goes my reputation :/). But I think I would like to go back to it, and I think you should, too. :) (not to Punjabi, confused people, but to whatever language is your Mother Tongue- Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Asamese, whatever!)

9. Climb up rocks..

Considering I always get so excited I could cry, at the prospect of adventure sports, this is one point I would want to work on like crazy! Rock climbing! Forget all the health and body, stamina blah blah reasons they give, I just know I would love to do that, and that's it! (Thank you Mint, for giving names of relevant clubs in Delhi). And I loved this line from the paper- "Climbing is a pensive, personal and challenging sport. The ground is our comfort zone, we are safe on it, and so to take just the first step up a wall, even if roped, is to walk past fear". :)

10. Wildlife Photography

I can say nothing on it except that you probably already know I've been crying out in a hoarse voice since the last two years, begging my parents to take me to some wildlife park, but I still haven't been to any and I'm still crying over it. Not that I am not independent, but not old enough to go on my own (wellll, maybe :P). 2012, Please! Let you be the year I FINALLY get to see the mystical forces of nature and wildlife and of course, to photograph them. ;) Away from city life, into a jungle. Really worth a try! (My Mom thinks I'm mad for thinking like this, but I don't think so. I know we have a 'real' and 'practical' life to live, but we can surely give one day to some senseless desire, that is always much more fulfilling).

11. Plant. Bonsai.

Before I read this, the only thing that came into my mind at the mention of the word "Bonsai" was the extraordinarily yummy pickles made from Bonsai-oranges and gifted to us by Mom's friend's Mom! But the idea that I could have one such plant in my own home is quite interesting. It doesn't even require much space and to see something grow at your own hands, and the final result of so much perseverance, the idea is surely  inviting. :) 

                                 

12. Give a gift that lasts...

It's so tough to think of gifts to give to our friends, relatives and other people you want to present gifts (in some cases you actually don't WANT to, then this point can be ignored). One such idea here, I think, is genius! Find out what the person is really interested in (gardening, photography, art!) and gift them a yearly subscription of a magazine related to their field of interest and one that's not easily available on the stands. That way, the person won't only think of the occasion on which you gifted them, but also of you. (The italicized lines are from the paper. I'm not a plagiarist, just so you know). And this is in no way, my indirect manner of giving you ideas of what you can gift me. I'm not that far gone. :P

13. Build a family tree...

This can be quite challenging, what with the enthusiasm in the family to extend the family as far as possible, spreading across the whole planet! But it would be so much fun too, visiting relatives you haven't seen in months (or years!), and maybe even discovering that the weird guy in your chacha's neighborhood is actually your dad's brother's wife's second cousin! A website, genealogy.com could be of help. I want to try this out! That would take a really long time, considering the huge number of cousins of cousins I have, but if I'm successful, I could have my own huge family tree painting in the living room (I get such weird ideas from fiction. Blame Harry Potter and Sirius Black in this case).

14. Visit a museum a month

Even this is something I've been bawling over. But now I think I am capable of going on my own. I still haven't even seen the National Museum in my own city, just because no one bothers to accompany me! Mom, please don't think it's a direct threat (if at all you will read this), but I'll start off on my own if you don't come with me! Museums can be a wonderful source of knowledge and learning. It's so much better to learn history and about landmark events through art.

15. Breathe!

Usually I'm not a yoga type of a person but I sure am concerned about my health and living peacefully. This one talked about how our breaths actually control our life. I don't have much to say except I'm following this from now on. An excerpt from the paper- "In Sept, WHO reported that with rapid industrialization, India is one of the worst affected by air pollution and an epicenter for lung diseases. Our age is one of short, sharp, half-lung breaths. No wonder, we are so angry all the time. Breathing is the metronome to your day. To control breath is to control life itself. To realign life, begin with one, full, deep, clear inhalation. Breathe, now."

There were 50 such points, of which these 15 are ones I'm definitely gonna give a shot! Apart from these, I listed down a few of my own

- Learn Geography: I admit I'm not so good at it, and it's such a shame considering the fact that I would love to move around the world and discover new places.. Work on it, work on it!

- Record : My scrap-file still hasn't been justified, scraps from papers are still lying around pointlessly. About time I file them properly!

- Learn a new language: Something I've been trying to do since the last two years and almost did this year, but backed out at the last minute. 

- Concentrate: Whatever I will do, I will give my full concentration to it, to be able to learn something valuable. Multi-tasking has its side effects, one of which includes lack of concentration. Take things one at a time. :)

Really, there are such wonderful things, waiting to be explored, and here we are, scraping off the stale days all the time. These things will make memories, and will mark the time we did them, thus making and marking our years, and subsequently, our life. :)

Of course, all this isn't possible in a single year, and these aren't even my resolutions, but things I discovered must be undertaken in our life. These are so simple, so easy and really, just so small, but the happiness and fulfillment they have the power to give us, is too overpowering. I will try these out, will you? :)

Wishing everyone a Very Happy New Year and a life full of enjoyment and smiles. :)
Love, Spread Love, Live. :)