It has been a long time, since I last posted an article on my page, had been very caught up with this and that, in short was plain lazy to post one.
Christmas is knocking at our door and it is with excitement that we see the little ones all dressed up as Santa and his helpers, the most popular being Rudolph, we even have a song dedicated to him.
The radio channels are all agog with the carols and very soon Christmas will be upon us.Christmas parties have started, and the nip in the air completes the feeling..
The smell of guava cheese is all around us, so too the traditional kul kuls and neuris.
It is this time of the year where Love and Peace takes precedence in our lives, where we look forward to meeting our faraway family and friends,"Bye when will we meet," and the reply
"See you home for Christmas"
That makes it so special for one, the midnight mass, the warmth of the handshakes and "Drop by for a christmas visit."
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year

Today November 14th, is Childrens Day, and it is celebrated all over India with gusto, the "little adults"are pampered with goodies and many schools have cultural programmes .
The day being our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlals birthday and his immense love for the innocent ones, they win over us with their innocent eyes and angelic smiles just the way God wanted them to be .
Dont we all have a child deep inside of us, I do, everytime I see a swing in a park or anywhere I love to swing and shriek as the swings go higher and higher,
I remember, a while ago, at this picnic spot there were only so many swings and a triple amount of children, my disappointment was evident I waited and waited and at last got my "turn" on the swing had a time of my life for the next five minutes.
We must never ever loose that childishness that is so important to balance our life
Look deeply into a childs eyes and you will see how pure and Godlike the child is no malice and just beautiful.
Let us try and emulate the innocence of the little child and keep nothing within ourselves that will corrupt our minds and bodies...HAPPY CHILDRENS DAY TO THE CHILD IN YOU !!!

Sounds Of Silence...

I had boarded the church gate local and it seemed to be semi-full, my eyes were searching for an empty seat, and was glad I found one, to rest my tired limbs, taking my seat, I rested my bag and was quite pleased to see a group of children seated returning from school. But let me quickly add, they were not the "Usual" group of naughty, noisy children, they were all deaf-mutes and just watching them have a lovely time, just by way of their sign language. Fingers were producing THE sounds fast and furious and this left me a totally different person.
They seemed to be conversing with absolute ease, and so quickly, making us lay people feel small and I realized that we who were present there were ....... at least most of us, "normal" humans, and still we were grouchy, stoic faced and barely giving each other a glance, leave alone a smile, realising this I quickly turned to my co passenger and smiled, she quickly clung to her bag and checked her mobile if it was still in her pocket .
Sitting there I realized that we human beings have to ability to make the best of whatever we have if we will it, we require a strong Will and a spiritual Will to do so.
But does it require a bogey full of Happy Deaf mutes for us to come to our senses ? why cant we just smile at one another ? when we have and been blessed with a lovely voice and a sense of hearing.
A couple of days later I happened to see two Teenaged boys with their back packs animatedly talking and realised that they were deaf mutes too !!! one more opportunity to Thank HIM for the voice and sounds that he has bestowed on me. These boys were "Talking" and as they were ahead of me in the queue I was trying to follow their conversation,
Apparently it was a love-story and this particular "talkative" boy was exchanging a few views and every few paragraphs he was placing his hand on his heart (Like we do in a pledge) and had a sweet smile around him, he was showing him the ring on his finger (Thats what gave me the impression) the other boy was chiding him and the talkative boy seemed to like this bit of ribbing it was their turn on the counter and like I have mentioned in my above paragraph, it left me with a happy, warm feeling knowing that these kids too have their world of fun and all of them listen to the Sounds of Silence

My mind flashed back to a couple of years, as I saw the elderly couple, grandparents to the lovely naughty kids that they so lovingly tended to.
They looked liked a pair of twins, both boys and adorable, every evening accompanied by their grandparents they come to the playground here bat, ball and a spring in their step. The grandparents always running behind them trying their best to keep up with the Little Rascals.
Flash..Flash..Flash... I am reminded of the years, when I was a working lady we needed help ..a whole lot of maids came and went off faster than they came none of them had a genuine liking for kids just an artifical one all set up to seem like they did.Our parents were there ever willing to help out any time of the day or night. We would take the kids and leave them in their care, secure in the knowledge that they would be looked after, very well . Their schedules always revolved around the kids vacations and it used to rattle us that during the days when our parents, needed to relax and have THEIR TIME, here we were literally piling our problems on them. Not once did they whimper or groan, instead whenever the kids were kept back at our home, they would call to say they miss them and that the day is soooo long..without the little darlings. going to work was so much easier, with not a worry about the kids .
I have read, an article where it is said that Grandparents are toys in kids hands and I do believe that. My kids would be spoilt rotten, every wish was granted and every dish that they wanted was made, Coming home to us after my job finished was a military camp for them, they would cry to go to Mama & Papa(Thats what they call them).. it took a little over a year to get them to change and it is with gratitude that I write this article gratitude to all parents who give selflessly, and make it seem like it is their duty to look after our kids...GOD BLESS THEM.

Diwali is seven days away and the effects of the global meltdown can be seen and felt in every place. The shopping frenzy has not yet begun here, if at all,walking on the main Dadar TT road one can sense the feeling of cut paypackets, no bonuses etc, as everyone is only window shopping.

The shopkeepers and the vendors are doing their best to pitch their sales and literally grab you if you as much as just look in their direction. One can see the look of sadness in their eyes when they do not get a sale.

Earlier Diwali would begun with a gusto; people shopping at least a couple of weeks ahead of time and the sweetmeat shops would be doing brisk business. They still are doing business as we Indians are a SWEET LOT , and they will never go out of style for us .

The night skies would be illuminated with the sound and light of the firecrackers...not so...maybe we need to think and turn these hard times that have come to positive happenings .

Give more time to the spiritual aspect of our lives, give more time to our loved ones and more importantly admire the beautiful stars in the night skies . There are no charges for all of this and will bring so much of peace and happiness ...instead of fretting ...Lets all make the best of our time with our loved ones, maybe come together to make the famous "Besan Ladoos" and the chaklis not forgetting my fav Til Ladoos. So people, have a wonderful and safe Diwali!

The bhais are the lifeline here.. and it is so wonderful to see all of them always there for us. I on behalf of so many dependants on our wonderful life line, can write a few words of thanks..
Inspite of having so many troubles in their lives and most of their troubles are their husbands who are alcoholics,But,they are always smiling and doing their jobs in each house one after the other in an seemingly easy routine, zombielike no doubt but they do it...
I have a wonderful maid, all of 20 years "Work experience" with me, and by now she knows every cranny and nook in the house, she is well versed with the timings of each member of the house, and if the kids are late, she even asks "WHY" or if she sees one of them home, she will ask" Early?" she washes their lunch boxes and knows what one likes and dislikes...
My story all began one day when the previous maid decided to get married and went off she did try to arrange someone else in her place but our timings clashed and hence that was not to be, one day after some networking by my mum, who has a wonderful way with people she walked into our home for an "Interview" with her husband in tow.. shy, reserved and unassuming.. well dressed ,and it was an instant liking for me, you could say my desperation was taking over me and I could have danced all night for her consenting to my terms and conditions... back to 20 years, here she is a grandmother thrice over and extremely happy with the way her life has shaped up for her.. she too has an alcoholic husband and time and again I unburden my conscience on her and tell her not to give her money away, sweet smiles in order she says "What can I do he is my husband,"her son is a commerce graduate working as an accountant and three daughters of which two are married off, the third is studying to be a graduate and she is very happy that her kids will not take up after her, end of the day I am pleased too that I can see her life so beautifully shaped, I always have maintained that it is her kind, good and hardworking ways that her children are blessed .. I have seen this in my lifetime many a times and it is true..
What you sow, so shall you reap.

Rose Day was celebrated all over Mumbai yesterday September 22-2009, and I went with a group of sixteen people to visit the terminally ill cancer patients at Shanti Avedana - Bandra,
This has been my fourth visit in so many years, and the experience is just like it was the first time...
We had taken a group of school boys, so that they would learn to appreciate life and how each given day is a bonus.. The boys were quite a hit with some of the patients, and I could see a few of them looking in the distance,perhaps "Flashbacking"
Coming back to the day, the nuns are so dedicated and committed to the vows they have taken, with help from their assistants and all so pleasant and everhelpful..
I came back with a heavy heart but one thing was common with all the patients and their near and dear ones, -Acceptance, It is so easy to say,"Just accept, whatever comes your way," but do we ever do ? maybe the peaceful look on their faces, their joining in with our group who were singing action songs, party songs and of course spiritual ones, can teach the hardest of hearts-how to live a full life, of caring and serving, and appreciate each day with our loved ones ... the school boys were their jolly selves but somewhere deep inside of them I am sure the seed has been planted - To appreciate life

Rose tinted glasses

"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you."
-Kahlil Gibran

The other day I had taken the bus to get to the market, having finished all my jobs, sat down near a window. A couple of stops later, an elderly woman got onto the bus and was carrying bags, which did not seem too heavy but, considering her frail frame it looked like a load to her , She selected the empty seat next to me and with a wide smile settled herself.
The conductor came along and they seemed to know each other" probably", I thought" she travels this way often"
The woman was a very friendly person and in an instant we were chatting about the rush and the recent happenings, from one thing it moved on to another, and in a flash there she was pouring her life before me, I was a little wary "Was she genuine" and I did my best to dismiss such wild thoughts about an innocent woman..
She told me about her husband, who was home , her child, an adopted boy whom the parents doted on, and "Now" she said, "He detests us both,"
The adopted son was apparently working and doing extremely well for himself and supporting himself and a family of two kids and a wife who was working as well, it was a very sad woman talking,
She even told me," that life is hell for the two of us, the moment he gets home, we scamper into the bedroom and leave him alone with the family,"
The heavy traffic gave us a lot of time to chat and learn a lot from this woman,
She said, "Never ever let things get you down, I take the kids along with their maid to the nearby park and see that they are spruced up by the evening, I would never let His bad behaviour affect my relationship with the children, "
I was nearing my stop and she was going ahead, She told me one important thing,
"Listen, I kind of opened my heart to you, like I known you since ages, maybe God has sent an angel to unburden my heart, I cannot talk to anyone, But there is only one thing, you can learn from this, Try never to depend on your children, learn to live the way you can afford, my husband and me are both pensioners and this is the secret to my happiness, we live life the way we can, that is why you can see me beaming ..God Bless you "
I felt myself choking and looked at her happy face .. waved a goodbye to her and there she was straightening her saree pallav ... getting ready to get off at her stop...

Happiness is what you make of it

If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy

Must tell you about a family that lives on the streets. It is quite a familiar sight here. During the day the pavement is teeming with pedestrians and vendors. Once dusk settles, the pavement becomes home to this couple who have grown old here.

The woman is a complete homemaker trying her best to make ends meet. They are parents to a little boy around five/six years and he is blissfully unaware of the hardships his parents have to go through. The place outside turns into a mobile home, complete with a counter and water bottles. The lady of the "House" cooking and to add to the picture perfect look they have even adopted a little pup who keeps the little boy amused. My mind always races to the age old question: What is it that motivates people who live from hand to mouth? And if I may add she seems content; I see her chatting happily with her husband and the little boy swinging on his dads arms. It is so humbling to know that these people are happy with the little things they have. The boy's hand-me-downs even in terms of his boyish toys, a broken fire engine and an old aeroplane. He loves his little car, the dog runs along faster than the car and the boyrolls with laughter.

Come morning and the whole mobile home is packed and put away, till the evening that is. The lady has gone with her child to school and probably the man on his job. The place outside now belongs to the shop keepers, pedestrians and vendors...till dusk returns...

All creatures great and small !!!!

I am extremely fortunate to be living in a peaceful environment where my window overlooks a beautiful tree laden with golden flowers and a peaceful existence .... of all creatures great and small !!!

the parrot silently plucking the flowers side by side with the noisy crows.... and the tiny Coppersmith
trying hard to rise above the cacophony...

Many a time I have watched the sunrise and it is with eagerness .... waiting for the wonderful creatures to start their day, ..the parrots are Keen eyed and to get a shot of them is extremely difficult as they eye the camera with suspicion...



During the nesting months of the crows, there was activity galore, each crow trying very hard to build his room with a view... in fact I have noticed that they are they only ones who can "View" from their nest, they build it well hidden behind the thick foliage and it is the little ones, with their very hungry caws, that give their nest away.... Watching these wonderful creatures just makes one marvel... of their in built mechanism ... defence, hunger, protection and of course like us humans suspicion ... we too tend to suspect any stranger with a good intention ...

The experience we can gain from these little creatures, who have no avarice, they do not know if tomorrow is their's ...neither do we... we must try and emulate their ways, the way they live simple and their needs equal to their wants....