Reflection

There is no love like the one you create for yourself, a world so complete for you, full of beauty and romance which only you understand, so exclusive that even the idea of another spoils the fine nuances and fabric of its nature….It’s wrong to seek it elsewhere but from deep within you; but to seek a perfect reflection is the lifetime quest of lesser mortals. The journey is the joy of life.

No, I don’t do the hoop.

I realise, I don’t do the hoop.

May be cos of old age or laziness or stubbornness or plain old thathonnitharam or whatever.

I don’t care, I don’t bother

Anything with an if as prefix as in

If you don’t do this… is a big NO NO

Those are not my ifs.

That’s practical blackmailing, threat or bribe to an adult. May be, to make life easier, you can practise that on kids. But, I am a long way past.

So, No, I don’t do the hoop.

Glimpses of a one day tour

There is this train 22622 Kanyakumari Rameswaram Express which goes on a Sunday and returns on Monday. Few of us had been waiting for a Monday holiday since March to make it happen. And there comes Eid – Monday holiday. It was planned by A and discussed by B and materialised by C. So what!! Sea is all that matters.

The color of it is unbelievable, the feel of the constant, steady wind, sound of rustling leaves, crashing waves, great expanse of flat land extending from horizon to horizon, the fresh fried fish, the wonder of a huge floating stone in a well, different wells with fresh water in the middle of the sea, the stories and wonders linked with Ramayana, the temple of a thousand stone pillars, the multitude of Siva lingams,  desolate farewell to loved ones, the whiteness of sand, the roller coaster four wheel drive over marshy land and water, the shells, the ruins, the rail bridge, the story, the cyclone, calm beaches, violent beaches, the newly built road connecting past and future – glimpses of the one day tour worth repeating…

Achan

Achan
The word with all its profound meanings and feelings ...The most important person in your life, forever. It was always to please you that we did things in a certain way, your approval was/ is so important, your disapprovals always hurt. Your attitudes, views and ways of life have helped mould ours. Being your pet has been our blessing. Your love and care has enveloped the whole family like a protective blanket.
Now, the person-very individualistic, funny in his own most inimitable way, entertaining, engaging, radical, sensitive...His jokes are like family heirlooms.
There is a saying by Sreenarayana Guru, a radical reformist of Kerala, "oru jathi, oru matham, oru daivam manushyanu" meaning "one caste, one religion, one god for man" i.e there is no difference between men based on caste, creed etc. This by Achan is "oru jaathi, oru matham, oru daivam, oru manushyanu" meaning "one caste, one religion, one god for one man". He is most definitely a cynic.
By his own admission, he said goodbye to temples and rituals when he was in school itself. He strongly believes  in being good by default; without the baggage of religious beliefs and dictums.
True, he didn't always know which class his kids were currently studying or what exactly were our official names and data of birth etc. Amma being a teacher, he didn't really need to -)). Once, Amma having exam duty, asked Achan to drop sister to school. Her admission to the convent was hard-won by Amma. Achan took her to the bus-stop; couldn't get any bus and simply took her to the local, Malayalam medium government school and enrolled her there!!!  Yeah,  I know, unbelievable.
In school, being weak in Maths, he had the imagination/audacity to go and meet chacko mash (Maths' teacher-Mr.Chacko) at his village privately with presents like tobacco.
He did not get good marks in Maths in 'sixth' (probably class-X) but got good marks in English. So wanted to join for English in intermediate (Probably Class-XI). But 'forces that be' decided that Math is going to keep him tight and was forced to take Maths and first group. On getting targetted, he went and met the sir privately begged not to humiliate by asking questions in class. So that was the end of his studies.

In school days, for throwing stone during student agitation, he was chargesheeted with few others and had to go to court at Ranni many days for case and hearing etc. The attraction there was a bhagavan/bhagavathi hotel with good food. He had few teachers who where his booze buddies, too.
After many adventures like 'kappalandi kachodam and manaloottu' [peanut business, sand mining] etc, he joined police. The training was tough. Was punished for in-subordination, on being kicked while doing punishment parade, he jumped up and slapped the commandant and absconded from police. Then he joined KSRTC and kind of got settled. During those years, he was either going for duty - so sleeping or coming from duty - so sleeping.
But the imagination never stopped. Mini magic slate, firewood business,  contractor at vidura, real estate, leela enterprises, cement business, car/bike sales etc are a few of the variety entertainment programmes that we enjoyed. Amma still has to be vigilant -))
Let's celebrate happy father's day

Bondage of freedom

Was taken by surprise, being handed the reins... The freedom to roam anywhere that fancy takes you... Only, the fancy turned out very limited; limited in knowledge, experience, exposure, equipment, imagination, daring, expectation.
Bondage of freedom.

What are my thoughts?
Yes, intangible connection exists, irrespective of the tangible and in addition to the tangible. That validates my being, that answers the unquestioned.
Perception like magic, the frames etched in mind, the bus driver's interlude, the stillness of mind...
Breathe, I have to tell myself...

Ra Ra Ras...

Has a magnificent way with words...
Has a magical way with lines...
Has a magnetic way with women... 

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