Mundane Musings

Stealthily at first and then brazenly, His warm presence unavoidable as palpable as the translucent beads of moisture that dot my cupid's bow. Many moments are unwelcome Like when hot sticky sweat Coaxed out of my flaccid body trickles down at a fervent pace Over mounds of flesh that is a testament of fatty repasts of cooler times. Every action and reaction is an effort tinged with a lethargy that is synonymous to his genial counterpart. Oh how I miss winter. Summer is here and my body feels it first The sweat and the grime and the heat are a fixture Brows furrow, eyes crinkle, parched is No wore a word in the dictionary Clothes come off, with nary a sensual suggestion, Any hints at intimacy vehemently shrugged off One's own body seeming a burden to bear It doesn't get more grounded or real than this. Blinking at the harsh eye crinkling rays I look down at the verdant tapestry of my tiny garden Nodding and swaying to the summer breeze Lea...

That’s it. The spare time on my hands of the past few months has gone completely. With training starting in full swing after a brief lull, whatever little posting I was doing seems to be in danger of getting done at all. Even without work picking up, the past few months have sped away like hard earned money in a mall. Have you ever felt like you were working away at a mad pace, like the proverbial rat in a wheel, with nothing to show at the end of the day? Yes? I feel for you. Days are speeding past, weekends flash by and the year is already four months old. What have I done? What in the world do I have to show for all the days past? Let me see. A few useless pictures and postings on FB or vetti Whatsapp chats aside, I have  had updated this blog pretty decently. There have been the usual round of weddings and get togethers to hobnob with near and dear one though that does take some energy you know. It is not all that easy to smile and act nice under a heavy silk saree with...

Few Moments and A Lifetime How does it feel to know someone for a few years But that feels like a lifetime Or feels like generations rolled into one; sometimes even births As if chasing one another through various births, only to catch up in this time and world. 13 years of knowing you and you surprise me still. I’m not one for particulars, can’t remember words, deeds or actions much Wouldn’t know the change in the contours of your face or the shape of your muscles From one day to another, quite unlike you. That doesn’t trouble me on any given day But sometimes I wish I could pick up images and memories Manually checking and remembering the time When you made me realize the purpose of my life. A life’s worth of experiences and lessons you have taught me A lifetime of knowing you may not adequate In showcasing your many wonderful facets Which to this day doesn’t fail to surprise me. It hasn’t all been roses and sunshine, you know ...

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book is a nice, racy read. Since it is a young adult book and I am not the intended audience being in my late 30s, my rating shouldn't matter much. But having read John Green's and J K Rowling's books I felt the book lacked a bit in its story telling. The Thief is book #1 of The Queen's Thief series and Gen, The Thief doesn't quite inspire confidence when the story begins in the gallows of the King of Sounnis. We are shown his idiocy and weakness and are left wondering how he would redeem his title or his reputation. Once they embark on a quest for an unnamed object, the story starts off and it is engaging and page-turning. His many skills and keen mind that is such a requisite for being a good thief are brought forth as they make way to a place that only one of the team members, the magus of the King of Sounnis. Up until page 100 odd in this 280 odd pages book, all that we come to read is the de...

A very happy Women's Day folks! Marriage and parenthood made me truly understand the importance of celebrating my womanhood; I  was proud to be a woman and all that it represented. It gratified me to see strong, empowered women paving the way to make this day count and to make our gender count. Most often Women's Day celebrates an empowered, successful woman and that can sometimes detract from everything else a non-successful, ordinary woman represents. Mostly the focus is on the two extremes - celebrating a successful, strong woman or empowering an embittered/abused/poverty-stricken woman, whereas there are millions of women who simply keep the wheels of the house moving smoothly and are taken for granted because it doesn't count for anything. The ordinary extraordinary hands that bind the family together. Pic: The Oz Safari I'm happy that Hindi movies have slowly begun to portray such women and their stories in a realistic, mature manner. In fact, 2017 had to...

You wouldn't believe how old this post really is. I started writing this in a completely different frame of mind from now. It was when Ana kutti had started her Montessori school and in addition to a whole host of things she learned, she was unwell most of the time. That was a very challenging time. Fast forward a year almost, post her 'jumping' performance in her school annual day, and I had to rethink why I started writing this post in the first place. Enrolling her in this school at the tender age of two had its own problems, biggest her health (or lack of), but the positives have been amazing too. Below are a few highlights of her school life, including the ones that had me up many nights, messaging other girl friends who have crossed this phase and checking discussion groups for some ... Health Of course I can't lay the blame on the school per se, especially when so much effort was taken to keep the school spic and span, but it was one worrisome factor. I p...

A courier guy who glanced past me into my house wanted to know if her body had been brought back. Without even asking who "her" was I replied with that slight clenching of my stomach muscles that she would be probably brought back in the afternoon (which because of sudden findings has now got delayed further more). Beautiful Sridevi.     Pic courtesy: Santabanta I have been strangely affected by Sridevi's untimely death. Since hearing about it yesterday there has been a sick feeling in my stomach. There have been very few deaths of celebrities that has disturbed me this way. When S had informed me about it early Sunday morning, I just didn't accept it. He had received a forward and I discouraged him from doing so himself without verifying the source. The news of course was all over the internet and on TV we soon learnt. Questions were buzzing about in my head. How could she die in her early 50s? How could she go when this talented actor with such an expres...