Aftermath of cooking

We had a family get-together over the weekend after so long. We generally spend less time on food so we opt for home delivery and more on having a gala time together. Although, this time mom had different plans. She wanted to cook for all of us and trust me she is a great cook.

We had a feast.

 Menu for the day:

• Murungakka sambar
• Lemon rasam
• Aviyal
• Potato
• Semiya payasam
• Sweet payar
• Fruit pachadi
• Vendakka thayir pachadi
• Manga oorga
• Appalam
• Thamarakazhangu vathal

If you are someone who has not had 'Ela Saapadu’ in ages , you would curse me for merely
mentioning these tasty dishes. Generally we go for pizzas, pastas, naans and sabjis. Though this was one hectic cooking process,it was worth it.

I cannot even match my mom’s cooking. I do not know the ABC’s of cooking ,but I am good with washing dishes. Mom mocks that I have a great job as backup. I love washing vessels. My friends who are bachelors and extremely good with cooking often warn me saying 'Once you know to cook you will never ever find washing vessels as fun'. I use it in my favor and bribe mom with washing vessels.

I got to work soon after everyone was done eating. I cleared the surroundings, set my territory and with music turned on started my chore of the day. Ten minutes into it , not exaggerating, somehow the vessels kept on piling and all I could relate to was the 'Akshaya Pathra’.

Through this 'back aching, hand sogging , mentally getting ready for the next meal' chore I had a refreshing happy memory flash by - Prema Amma.

Her name is Rajeshwari . We fondly call her Prema Amma (Prema, her child). I grew up in a
joint family and she was more than a servant maid to all of us; she was like a second mom to
me, my sister and my cousins.

How she managed to wash vessels day in and out in a household where food was prepared for nearly twelve of us, I wonder.

A big salute to people like her.

This was such a happy realization for me.

Why the fuss? Take a bus!

With the sun shining bright and burning us alive, I end up booking a cab instead of taking a bus minutes away from home. To my wonder, I do miss that.

People crib a lot to take a bus and go to work. My relatives with a very concerned look question me, 'Is it not tiring?’ Don't you get vexed?’ ' Aren't buses suffocating’. I give them a big NO and their faces reflect their shock.

From my childhood my mother always made me take buses. When it was something of an emergency we used to take autos . I have seen the woman wait for hours to get a bus even today, though in the meantime I would bug her to buy me some food. May be that impacted on me and I gained enough patience to wait or even travel in an extremely crowded bus.

The wind blowing hard and taking away all the effort you put into setting your hair right; in one Poof! Probably the only thing I hate about taking the window seat, though getting a seat makes your day.

Getting a seat in a bus is what I would call in for a celebration, that too when it is a nice one in particular. Always avoid sitting in-between a bunch of loud group of friends. It can turn out to be a never ending journey. I can totally relate to the feeling of many when I used to travel with my friends during college. Oh! Our never ending laughter can get anyone on their nerves but those were few moments to cherish.

Coming back to finding a seat, never dare to take a seat in front of the conductor. That is the path you dug for yourself to the deaf road - those loud whistles. Somewhere in between would be my best choice where you get to hear nice stories of fellow passengers. Some are depressing , a few spark that moment of realization that you are blessed in life while there are people out there struggling to survive every day.

Striking a conversation with the person sitting beside can do wonders to you as long as you avoid controversial topics like 'Amma or Chinamma’ 'Vijay or Ajith’ 'DMK or ADMK’. Those can get worse I tell you.

For the love of bus journeys :)

Bus journeys are fun let aside the constant fear of being groped by a pervert soul in a crowded bus. With these occurrences getting common day by day your mind does not stop to think of every creepy possible way you can get molested and all the moves you can perform to protect yourself.

One of my favorite moments are when you come across a kid (Ha, obviously not the annoying talkative ones - result of bad parenting) with whom you communicate with crazy facial expressions. That is bliss I tell you. A smile on a baby’s face can make your sweaty journey into a sweet one to remember by.

I might be the only one worrying about the conductor not giving change. My mind fights for all arguments to put forth if he turns out to be the arrogant one. It gets to my head when I find him giving back change to everyone else but me. One reason why my purse is stocked with changes rather than notes.

Like I said earlier, window seats can ruin your day . At times it can make your day even better.

Ask me how?? Those are the best seats to get a hold of when all you want to do is to snore and sleep through long journeys even when the sun burns your face with rage.

One needs to travel in a bus to know what life is outside of your home. I should admit that I have experienced some crappy days in a bus but i believe that is life hitting you hard and letting you know that not every day can be the same and that each journey brings out the best in you.

Flow of thoughts

In our busy schedule we forget to think about life until that one day when we plan to stay at home to stretch out and relax , thoughts come rushing from nowhere. Boom!

There are times when we feel lost; our mind wanders around confused and gets stranded somewhere between past present and the future that we have been dreaming of. In search for peace we get our heads straight and try to distance ourselves from our own thoughts though they keep coming back to haunt us.

There is just so much to life which takes years for people to realize.

Everything remains unclear until we manage to pull ourselves together ; take a deep breath and fill us with surplus amounts of caffeine accompanied by a soothing song for the soul; console and convince ourselves that our life is on the right track.

Now, that is my kind of a day well spent!