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...