Contrast


It is late in the afternoon. The wind is howling all around our building and rippling through the backwaters. There is an incessant drizzle that adds to the beautiful grey that seems to have washed everything.

With my arms on the window sill and head pressed to the window pane, I stare at the world. I am startled by a loud thud – our clothes stand has been pushed down by the wind. I set it upright, and prop the balcony chairs on either side to prevent it from falling again.

I have many things to do but have zero inclination. I wander around the house. Rain to me means settling down with a hot cup of coffee and a lovely book. As I wonder if I should do that, my eyes are drawn to a small glass box that’s on the kitchen counter. And through the glass, I see the beautiful pink soan papdi that’s inside.

Image Courtesy – Puranmal Sweets

To those of you who don’t know,  soan papdi is a popular Indian dessert that is light and airy, with a flaky texture. This sweet, also sometimes known as the original cotton candy of India, literally melts in the mouth. Soan papdi is available in many flavours – cardamom, orange, plain, rose, pistachio and many others.

We had picked up this box of rose soan papdi last weekend. And, my husband and I have been treating ourselves to tiny pieces of this sweet after dinner each day. 

But I think that the beautiful grey weather warrants some indulging. I make an aromatic cup of black coffee, load some soft, pink soan papdi onto a plate and walk towards the divan in the living room. I sit facing the rain. I love how the beautiful pink soan papdi contrasts with the gorgeous grey backdrop outside. I plop a piece into my mouth. The rose flavour both explodes and melts in my mouth all at once. I then take a big slurp of the bitter coffee. Perfection itself!

What beautiful contrasts indeed! Grey and pink, cold and hot, sweet and bitter, busy and lazy – all packed into these few moments.

The rain continues unabated as I lazily sip the coffee, the soan papdi long since gone.

Sands of time


It is four in the afternoon, when we set off on our drive to the desert. It is a Saturday evening and the roads are quite busy. With some lovely music for company, we finally arrive at the desert camp. There are a few people scattered around the camp’s entrance.

We park our car and alight, allowing our feet to sink into the silky-soft sand. We wobble this way and that, as the sand shifts with every step we take.

We then take the desert camp vehicle to watch the setting sun.  All around us are beautiful sand dunes, that have been skillfully sculpted by the wind –  some sharp, some wavy….as far as the eyes can see.  The driver points out the best location for us to enjoy the sunset.

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

We settle down in the sand and fall into a deep silence, as we soak in the timelessness of the desert. The wind’s rippling has created beautiful patterns in the sand, whilst also filling her ears with tales from faraway lands. The sand stores these beautiful stories in her timeless folds.

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

The sun is slowly heading home, its bright light now becoming tinged with orange; a golden orb suspended in the sky. Right next to where we are seated, I am transfixed by a bird’s tiny footprints – a tiny line that goes on for a bit and then disappears into the sand. There are some small plants merrily dancing in the breeze.

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

There is no sound at all. It is just us, the sand for miles around and the sun high above. We are in bliss, and breathe-in deeply. The real world seems unreal somehow. Chores, cooking, meetings – what are they?

Here, in the desert, time seems to stand still – there is nothing else except the present.

The sun has descended further, and  we see the silhouetted sand dunes against its glow. As the silence deepens, the light suddenly dims; the sun slips out quietly and twilight takes over.

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

We dust off the fine sand, and head back to the camp. After dinner, we lie down on the sand and gaze at the stars that are twinkling at us from the firmament. Peace sneaks into the mind, gently nudging out everyday cares, silly worries and things to do lists. The wind continues to play with the sand.

Soon, it’s time to head back. My husband and I are immersed in our own thoughts – thoughts that are deep and philosophical – the magic of the desert, for sure! We revel in them, for, soon enough, we will be sucked into the mundane.

Musings from a cab


We are in the city, stuck in traffic that is inching along. All around us are vehicles and people going about their day. “Just like any other busy city”, I think to myself.

With nothing else to do, I plaster my nose to the cab’s window and peer out. The sky seems faraway and somehow disconnected from all the chaos below. My eyes spot two trees that are in full bloom – yellow and pink – and this brings a smile to my face. There’s always something to smile about, isn’t there?

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren
Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

Further ahead, in a roadside tea stall, I see two men relishing masala chai –  some respite from an otherwise crazy day, maybe?

As the cab moves forward, my eyes are drawn to a couple of nests on some trees nearby. I wonder – how the birds who live in these nests – decided upon the real estate on those particular trees; trees that are on the highway where vehicles are moving all day and night. I smile, as I ask myself, “Are these literally city birds?” Birds who have decided to bravely take on the noise, lights and pollution of the city! Why, I wonder?

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

Being alone with my thoughts for so long, makes me philosophical – where are all these people and cars and sometimes even the odd cow heading?  Where are the birds from those nests? What does each of their days look like – for some it may be a very important day, for some others it may be just an ordinary day, for yet a few others the day may not go as planned at all. And thus is life, I muse – made up of the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, the heat and the cold, the happy and the sad!

But then, just as this cab is slowly weaving its way through the long road, go on we must on this journey called life, which is itself a synonym for a variety of experiences.

Suitcase Discovery


I had to go on a trip recently and when I was heading home, my check-in baggage did not arrive. I am sure I will be able to pick it up soon, when I hear from the airline.

It is a normal check-in suitcase, not too big and of medium size. My trip was just for three days.

Courtesy – Free image library

But guess what? I have made a startling discovery! Many of the things that I need now, seem to be in that suitcase and not at home. My laptop power cord (which in my brilliance to reduce weight in my handbag) I had put into the suitcase. My precious notebook where I doodle, take notes, plan my day, write down meeting summaries…was also packed into the suitcase. My favourite lipstick, lip balm, perfume….all that too! My favourite fitflops and my most comfy pyjamas….all there!

And to think that I believed it was nothing. Life goes on..but I have been repeatedly asking myself, do I need anything more than what is in that one suitcase to live my normal life? Actually, one can manage with fewer items in everyday life!

My suitcase discovery theory has taught me that I have a few things that I truly cherish, most of which I seemed to have packed.  All the other clothes and the things that were at home, did not make the cut.

There is a lesson here for me – maybe I should give myself the suitcase test periodically. What would I truly carry with me, and then maybe declutter the rest?

This is true of our memories and experiences too, and which ones we would want to take forward with us on this journey called life. What do you think?

Perfection


The birds have barely started stirring in their nests, and I can hear a few caws and a few chirps, as we leave our hotel to go pick up a family member from the airport.

Having barely caught a few winks last night, I amble into the cab and nod on and off – like a bobblehead – on the long drive to the airport. My husband and I reach well ahead of time and decide to grab a cup of coffee.

And believe me, the best ever way to kickstart one’s day is with a perfect cup of strong and frothy South Indian filter coffee!

We stand outside the coffee stall and ask if they serve filter coffee. A cheerful assistant nods a big yes.

Being a filter coffee connoisseur myself, I inform her of how I would like my coffee made.

For those of you who don’t know, the South Indian filter coffee is made from three ingredients – thick coffee decoction, boiling milk and sugar. The proportion in which the three ingredients  are added, how they are added and how the whole mixture is then transferred deftly between two tumblers to build up a frothy layer on top are all critical elements towards creating that perfect cup of aromatic filter coffee.

As I watch the coffee being made, I lazily watch people walking into and out of the airport; some freshly woken up and heading to catch a flight; some others, bleary eyed, who have just gotten off a long flight! The airport looks so busy, and the day has barely begun.

“Here you go, ma’am”, says the cheerful lady, as she places our ‘to-go’ cups on the counter. I hold my cup between my hands and inhale deeply, and take my first tentative sip, hoping that the coffee is good!

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

It is perfection itself – my eyes close, my taste buds explode and I am fully awake. I compliment the lady on the coffee. She smiles her thanks. We walk towards the arrival gate, relishing every sip.

I am ready to take on the day!

Eleven years


I got a notification this morning from WordPress wishing me on 11 years of blogging. Time indeed flies.

As I go about my daily chores, this thought of my 11th Blogiversary keeps playing at the back of mind.

I ask myself what this blog means to me?

I walk down memory lane and thank my parents for making me enjoy both reading and writing. I thank my childhood friends with whom I would visit the local library – with unfailing regularity – to stock up on books and to spend many evenings discussing our favourite characters.  I thank my English teachers who encouraged me to write and who taught me the beauty of the written word. I am grateful to all the great authors out there who have opened up my mind to so many beautiful new worlds.

I thank you all, my dear blogging friends and followers for reading my blogs, liking them, commenting on them and making my writing feel valued. I am so deeply grateful to you all.

I knew from day one of wanting to write a blog that capturing life’s simple moments would be my theme. Today, I ask myself if I have been faithful to the theme? I would say, “Largely, yes.”  Not that life is not complicated!

But I do believe that life is made up mostly of simple and beautiful moments if we would only pause to enjoy them.

I also realize how life has changed over these last ten years. My children have grown up and left home. The Covid pandemic shook us all up and left the world changed in so many ways! I have greyed and need reading glasses now. I have made so many friends on this blogging journey and feel truly blessed!

So, 581 posts and 11 years later, I feel content and grateful to have been able to do this. I look forward to capturing many more such simple moments and sharing them with you all.

Thank you all, once again, for all your love. Stay blessed!

  

A silly memory


I am in a cab – watching people, vehicles, trees and the afternoon sun’s rays falling on buildings. My phone screen suddenly lights up. It is a ‘photo memories alert’ from Google. I quickly scan the photos that Google has specially curated for me.

One of the last pictures in that list makes me smile. It is a picture of a simple collage that I had created – of all the dishes that I had prepared for dinner one evening – when we had some guests over. There is a silly story behind this picture.

Once the date had been fixed for the dinner, I sat down to list out the menu, and worked out the starters, mains and other dishes.

I was busy in the kitchen from late afternoon, boiling, cooking, mashing, frying and seasoning. By seven in the evening, everything was ready. I transferred the food into serving bowls and set the table.

And it was then that it hit me! Every single dish I had made was white in colour.  There was no colourful vegetable, gravy or chutney at all on the table. And our white tablecloth did not help any!!! And this bothered me so much that I felt absolutely sure that the guests would not enjoy the dinner. I worked myself into a fit.

My husband and kids assured me that the guests wouldn’t even notice, and that it did not matter one bit.

Finally, our guests arrived! They thoroughly enjoyed the meal. No one noticed the all-white-coloured dishes. But till I sat down to eat, I was sure nothing tasted good! I could not eat as my anxiety had killed my appetite.

After the guests left, I felt silly for having been so wound up over nothing. As I looked at photos from that night, I created a collage and sent it to my mom and sisters, asking them what was special about the picture?

Copyrighted ©️ niminaren

This picture is from that day. A silly but sweet memory.  Do you have any silly memory? Would love to know!

Mystery of the missing card


Last Monday arrived – crisp and early, evoking a strong sense of purpose in my mind. I was ready to get on with my day. I moved around the house – like a spinning top – putting away things back where they belonged so that I could get started on work.

As I opened the curtains wide and looked down at the street below, my eyes were drawn to something on the window ledge.  It was one card from a playing deck. It was a Jack of Hearts! I smiled. What a thing to have found!

Copyrighted ©️ to niminaren

I moved around the house on auto-pilot; but my mind was curious. How had that Jack of Hearts landed on our window ledge?

This brought back another memory from many years ago, where our home was on the seventh floor of our condo. One morning, when I had gone to water my plants, I discovered that a t-shirt had fallen into our balcony. I took the t-shirt with me and knocked on the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th floor apartments that were directly above our home, asking if the t-shirt belonged to any of them. I drew a blank. I then left a message with the building management asking them to direct anyone – who asked about a missing t-shirt – to me. No one ever claimed the t-shirt and I had to finally give it away when we moved homes.

This Jack of Hearts card was different, I theorised. Had kids been playing with it and had one of them thrown it down? Did it get blown away by the wind? Since it was not possible for it to have slipped from a higher floor, did this Jack of Hearts fly-in from another building? Hmmm..

Then, the next set of questions. What forces of nature or providence had caused it to land precisely on our ledge?  With my Agatha Christie hat on, I worked through various scenarios. I laughed at the absurdity of my analyses.

And just like that this last week has flown by, with me taking a peek at the card each morning and sharpening my inner-detective each day!

But sadly, when I went to take a peek at my Jack of Hearts this morning, he was gone. Gone without a trace. Where did he go? With my freshly-honed detective skills,  I identified the silent culprit. Where had the wind taken the card?

No one will ever know, unless the Jack of Hearts shows up on one of your ledges, in which case please alert me.

I feel mildly disappointed as I head back to work. An unsolved mystery, so many questions and no answers.

Quite similar to real life, I conclude. Unexpected things happen, new people come and go, but sometimes only questions remain..there are no answers!

What lies ahead…


We woke up this morning and could not see a thing outside our windows. A think dense fog has descended. The sun is bravely attempting to cut through but with limited luck.


Looking out through the window or from the balcony – with my cup of strong coffee – is how I begin most days. When I am thus armed with a rejuvenating cup of coffee, I stare into the world with a faraway expression, seeking answers to life’s big questions, or also, on occasion, thinking about the mundanities of everyday life.

Today, as the aroma of coffee teases my nostrils, I stare into the thick whiteness of the fog. No questions come to me, my mind is empty and bereft of thought. I feel closed in.

It reminds me of life sometimes; where we feel locked in by various problems and are unable to see through all our mental clutter to what lies ahead in the future.

But just as this fog will clear in sometime, life has its own way of clearing up things for us. The key is to keep taking the next few steps, and to keep going.

Lightness


It is six in the morning, and the sun, a perfect golden orb is slowly making its ascent. The sun has not started shining yet, and there is the quiet lull that precedes the chaos that will soon follow.

I stand on the balcony with my first cup of coffee and watch the sky and the buildings, and enjoy the gentle morning breeze on my face.

As I take deep gulps of my coffee, I suddenly see a flock of birds flying in a beautiful formation across the morning sky. They look so happy and carefree, their silhouettes in perfect synchronisation.

Image courtesy – http://stockcake.com

As they soar above the tall buildings below, I am sure they feel relieved that they are not tied down like us humans – to buildings, to cars and to the hundred other things that we possess.

I envy them their freedom to roam the skies at will. No passports or visas, no check-in or carry-on baggage.

This got me thinking – today, without our phones, wallets, credit cards and access cards, I am sure we would not be able to make it through even a single day.  We are unable to let go of any of the million things that we seem to need to ‘live’ our lives.

We are inexorably and inextricably bound to our possessions; possessions that continue to weigh us down. Maybe if we let go of the many things that bind us, we can experience the lightness of a bird and soar up in the sky!

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started