tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60899560614835012862024-03-07T09:05:24.370+05:30of this and thatdipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.comBlogger600125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-29514932537981082712024-02-20T12:42:00.001+05:302024-02-20T12:42:46.086+05:30A Legacy Lives On<p> Today is the sixth anniversary of the day I last met Ankit Chadha, a brilliant young <i>dastango, </i>a teller of tales <i>par excellence. </i></p><p>I wrote about him here: https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-bliss-of-not-knowing_1.html</p><p>Life is indeed strange and magical: I had first seen Ankit perform Khusrau ke Rang, and this Sunday afternoon the spouse and I were watching a show called Jo Dooba So Paar, also about Amir Khusrau and his <i>pir, </i>Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.</p><p>A brief glimpse of Khusrau ke Rang :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zza8bQPmmGE</p><p>A glimpse of Jo Dooba: https://www.facebook.com/NCPAMumbai/videos/689694585715308/</p><p>My heart was completely won over when, right at the very beginning, Ajitesh Gupta dedicated the show to the memory of Ankit Chadha, and described how he had been inspired to learn <i>Dastangoi </i>from Ankit's YouTube videos. He had never met Ankit, but was deeply influenced by his work.</p><p>The performance by Ajitesh Gupta, Mohit Aggarwal and their troupe, was truly scintillating. It was very original, very different from Khusrau ke Rang, and yet one could feel the spirit and the dedication and the impeccable research that was the hallmark of all of Ankit's creations. Besides frequent laughter at the gentle humour in the play, I was also moved to tears by its poignancy.</p><p> Amir Khusrau and his beloved<i> pir</i> Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya are immortalized in Khusrau's poetry, a living legacy that is still read and sung and performed centuries later. </p><p>I am glad to say that Ankit Chadha's legacy also lives on.</p><p>(His last creation, Praarthana, is now available:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=322377446322999</p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-58920387739600661202023-09-20T00:22:00.002+05:302023-09-20T05:26:12.863+05:30Latest Domestic Ordinance, or Why the Spouse Will No longer Wear Lounge Pants Outside Our Home<p>I can't remember now whether the children gave my husband two pairs of lounge pants on his birthday a couple of years ago, or on Raksha Bandhan. ( Everybody gets presents on Raksha Bandhan: it is something that my kids have decreed).Provenance apart, the spouse was delighted with this addition to his wardrobe. </p><p>(Over the last decade or so, the spouse, who used to be reed thin once upon a time, has developed a paunch, and therefore wears suspenders with his trousers).</p><p>The lounge pants were smart, one black, one khaki. Elasticated at the waist, with the additional reassurance of a tie-cord. Pockets, too, at the back and front. (Unfortunately the said front pockets became the cause of much stress).</p><p>He had also acquired some comfortable soft cotton bush shirts. Casual wear was now his thing. Bush shirts and lounge pants were his favourite outfit, both for entertaining at home, and being entertained, outside.</p><p>His mobile phone is a device with which I have a strange relationship. Frankly, I am jealous of it. If he's not talking on it to friends or colleagues, or replying to WhatsApp messages on his various groups, he will either be doing Sudoku or jigsaw puzzles, and then expressing surprise when the battery runs out mid-conversation. It remains an irritant. And yet, I get stressed at the thought of it getting lost, of the painfulness and expense and inconvenience of replacing it. </p><p>A couple of months ago we had a lovely dinner at our niece's home, with both of us ensconced for much of the evening upon her brand new two-seater recliner. It was only when we got up to leave that the man realised that his phone was missing. The recliner was the likely culprit, but no luck. I called his phone, it was ringing but we couldn't hear it. Perhaps we had left it in the car. A futile search of the car made me wonder if we had actually left it at home. We got home, but no phone in either sight or hearing. The spouse was convinced that he might have dropped it while getting out of the car: I was sure that I would have heard it if it had. Much stress all around. We kept calling the phone intermittently, hoping against hope that someone would find it and answer it. Our niece's husband finally heard a faint ring or felt a vibration in the recliner, and managed to extricate the phone from its innards, and kindly dropped it off at our place later that night. (We stay very close to their place, fortunately).</p><p>A couple of weeks later we went to watch a brilliant play at the India International Centre. The spouse decided to visit the gents' room soon before the performance started, and came back, phone in hand, just before the play began.Halfway through, though, he whispered that he couldn't find his phone.. In a live performance, there's no way you can get up and look. As soon as the play was over, he looked under the seat, but couldn't find it. Oh no. Luckily it was wedged between the seat and the armrest.</p><p>This Sunday, we had lunch at my daughter's place. We had to head back home soon after, because my cousin and his family were coming over for tea. The spouse had time for a short nap before our guests were due to arrive, and I wanted to do a little preparation in the kitchen. But once again, the familiar plaint of the missing mobile phone. Perhaps he had left it at our daughter's place, but no, it was ringing but no one answered. I offered to go down and check the car, with my phone in hand, but I couldn't find it. I called up my daughter, but she said it was most definitely not in her house either. I searched the car again, thinking that I could feel a vibration, but I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I was hot and frazzled, so went back home. I was sure that he had dropped it getting out of the car at our daughter's place, and someone must have stolen it. Would we have to lodge an FIR? The spouse decided to take a look himself, and took my phone for another round of the car. A few minutes later he comes up with both phones in his hand. It was apparently stuck between the front seat and the structure between both seats. I am quite sure that it re-materialized in the presence of its lord and master.</p><p>Henceforth, lounge pants don't go out of our lounge. Enough is enough.</p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-82340114684445940622023-09-01T20:36:00.004+05:302023-09-01T23:05:39.736+05:30The Case of the Disappearing Printouts<p> My life seems to be conspiring to get me to blog more regularly. </p><p>About a week ago I had, very meticulously, taken printouts of some travel documents for the spouse. Before getting into my narration, let me share some details of the physical spaces we occupy in our apartment. The spouse uses the room closest to the front door as his study, what I call his man-cave. It is an interesting space, with a study table and office chair, two client chairs, a beautiful cabinet hand painted and decoupaged by our younger daughter, a wrought iron and glass trolley (which our TV used to occupy until we moved here), a book case, a small cabinet topped by a wooden temple, a big golf bag, a small golf bag, a Casio keyboard on a stand. There are two built-in wardrobes, one of which is occupied by my bed cover and cushion cover collection, The other one has books in double rows, files, assorted documents. There is an attached bathroom. My helper 'cleans' the room insofar as it can be swept, mopped and dusted, if she can find clear space to dust. The spouse, his laptop, and his phone are often found there.</p><p>My desk, desktop, and printer occupy a corner of our bedroom. We also have a sideboard like structure with three large central drawers flanked by small cabinets on either side. Household documents are mostly in my domain. I try to be organised, but not always with great success.</p><p>And so, back to my story. The spouse wanted to check the time on his ticket, to book transport at the other end. I had my hands full, literally, carting ironed bed-covers to the study, so told him to look in the top drawer of the bedroom sideboard. He couldn't find the folder. I looked. I couldn't find the folder either. We also had to go out for various jobs, and I am absolutely useless when flustered. Anyway, I wasted several precious minutes looking in various unlikely places, creating more chaos, and gave up. He checked the ticket on his laptop and made his booking. I thought that I would come home and take fresh printouts. We went out, did our various jobs, and came home, wondering intermittently where that folder had disappeared to. If it had managed to reach the study by some mysterious means, it was permanently out of my purview. In my head, the study is a document eating black hole. Looking for important papers is, for me, the stuff of nightmares.</p><p>Anyway, post lunch, post nap, post an annoying phone call from our bank, I pulled out a file from the top drawer to enter the details of the person who would hopefully sort out our pending issue with the bank. And there, exactly where it should be, was the folder with the travel printouts. It hadn't dematerialized after all: it was in disguise. I had used an old plastic folder on which was printed Dental Record. In the fluster of the morning rush, neither of us had seen the Vistara logo clearly through the plastic. Phew. </p><p>The spouse promptly issued me a clear plastic folder from his study!</p><p><br /></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-90223726931552993942023-08-28T20:23:00.002+05:302023-08-28T20:24:54.620+05:30A Farewell to Aam(s)<p>On the eve of my (much neglected) blog's sixteenth birthday, I share with you, gentle readers, some mango musings.</p><p>The spouse and I usually share one mango as dessert, after lunch, during the season. Our mango season lasts from April, with the advent of Alphonso and Kesar varieties, continuing with, as the summer progresses, Safeda, Dussehri, Langda and Chousa, well into August. (This year we didn't get any Banganapalli mango, for reasons unknown). For the last few weeks now, we are only getting Chausa, giant fruit weighing about half a kilo each, so our dessert is truly fruitful!</p><p>For various reasons, our fruit and vegetables have, over the last few months, been sourced exclusively from the colony shop, the door of which is often manned by a large tabby. This cat seems to be the shop's lucky mascot, the <i>de facto</i> owner, fed large helpings of<i> paneer</i> three times a day. The shop has a very clever marketing strategy: no prices are marked on any of the goods. You have to ask the salesperson manning the counter. If something seems atrociously expensive, as tomatoes have been recently, you either don't buy that item, or buy less of it, or just buy what you want/need, and to hell with the price. I know that I have budgeted enough and more in my younger days. Mostly I don't bother, just pile up the purchases in my basket and take it to the billing counter. It's only when I get the bill and see the total that realization dawns! It is mildly shocking on most days, because no fruit or vegetable is cheap, and very shocking on days when prices have taken a quantum leap since the last purchase, as happened with the mangoes. </p><p>"This is it," I declared to the spouse."These are the last two mangoes of this season. They are now just too expensive." </p><p>And so we very mindfully ate our last two mangoes of the season, yesterday and today, a little sadly, yet hopeful of more deliciousness next year.</p><p>I thought of Life itself as a mango season, how we enthusiastically and carelessly and exuberantly live in our youth, with its joys, sorrows, passions all stretching out into the distant, unknown future. We don't even consciously think that this season of Life will end, unless we are sadly reminded of its finitude. Only in later years do the reminders of mortality seem more pressing. We try to savour each one of our precious joys, thankful for their sweetness. Life is good, but Life is finite. Let's see how long this season lasts!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://5.imimg.com/data5/ANDROID/Default/2021/5/FH/RT/HI/56366231/1622214463608-jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="620" height="800" src="https://5.imimg.com/data5/ANDROID/Default/2021/5/FH/RT/HI/56366231/1622214463608-jpg.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-65724294099875396852023-02-16T20:39:00.007+05:302023-02-16T20:54:16.480+05:30Prerna Jain's new offering<p> I have had the privilege of knowing Prerna Jain for a while now, and it is truly a privilege. Besides her great personal warmth and hospitality, she is a woman of many talents: an ace photographer, a very creative gardener, an artist, and an avid bird watcher. Confined to her daughter's home in England during the first lock down, Prerna explored a new medium, the short story. And hence this beautiful collection, Kahaaniyaan: Kuchch Aam, Kuchch Khaas. </p><p>Although Hindi is my mother tongue, I am a lazy Hindi reader. However, this slim collection of seventeen short stories had me hooked. Each story is different, and yet deals with situations and characters that are familiar to the middle-class Indian woman. Domestic violence( Mainey Ussey Koot Diya), male double-speak and chauvinism (Kammkaaji Patni) , the sometimes extremely tenuous basis for a marriage proposal (Parkati), sexual molestation(Thhanda Sparsh and Thhappad), friendship and respect across social divides (Dahi Badey), changing gender roles across generations ( Aur Saancha Toot Gaya), gender discrimination within families (Meri Almaari), female bonding (Apni Apni Baari), communal tension (Imli), emotional blackmail (I Am Sorry) and so much more. Prerna paints scenes with her words, and the conversations between characters are natural and familiar. A wide gamut of relationships is depicted with sensitivity and skill. Her protagonists do not accept injustice, even if they do not fit the usual feisty feminist mould. Many of the male characters are sensitive and supportive, which is a reflection of social change across the past few decades. There are, of course, characters who are cruelly deceitful (Raaz). An eminently readable book depicting our contemporary social realities and the concomitant change in interpersonal relationships. Non-Hindi readers will be glad to know that an English translation will be available soon. Kudos to Books etc. for publishing this gem. (www.booksetcstore.com)</p><p>Looking forward to more of your writing, Prerna.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgleYEVjlKPfwz-kNMmRodFVcRsuoiJdmGWdAZujK_m1Lg8duWh0GXXVFi1rJNIXGUoyM-bq-93AgEbGYZVO0XdXeSQqjqp2sM1fqNIVhBpYhl_dPS05kRJ0QGDOFUAAldvu45hOR52u1RzYI1ZUHcppvfG-vKCoheqiZcTiwLkKI9OLgvrd-GEieL60A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="509" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgleYEVjlKPfwz-kNMmRodFVcRsuoiJdmGWdAZujK_m1Lg8duWh0GXXVFi1rJNIXGUoyM-bq-93AgEbGYZVO0XdXeSQqjqp2sM1fqNIVhBpYhl_dPS05kRJ0QGDOFUAAldvu45hOR52u1RzYI1ZUHcppvfG-vKCoheqiZcTiwLkKI9OLgvrd-GEieL60A=w335-h335" width="335" /></a></div><p></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-81228286965941126592023-01-09T16:22:00.003+05:302023-01-09T16:22:25.340+05:30Mathangi's writing challenge, December 2022<p> Last December's writing challenge</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">minutes of breathing in and breathing out: Everything that comes to mind.</span></p><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi xjkvuk6 x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_10x" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Breathe In, Breathe Out</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>want him to keep breathing. My favourite uncle, my late father’s first cousin, is in hospital for the past few days, with breathing issues. He’s over ninety. Only God knows how many breaths he has left, or any of us has left, for that matter. But I want him to keep breathing, to be there for me to visit and talk to, to share books with, to have his appreciation for my attempts at poetry and prose. Erudite, affectionate, compassionate, one of the most loving people I have ever had the good fortune to know. My pre-emptive grief is totally self-centred, I know, but that is what it is. Please get well, Uncle.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Daddy couldn’t get a bed in the hospital, and so we made sure he could breathe at home, with a nebulizer and oxygen cylinder. (He had had full time attendants for some months now, ever since my mother had fractured her hip). My mother had had a stroke, and was back home from the hospital with a tube through her nostril, immobile, silent, but holding tight with her good right hand, her eyes trying to follow me when I left the room. In her final few days, though, her stertorous, rasping breath was distressing to hear. I wasn’t at home, though, when she breathed her last: I was in the car, on a potholed lane not far from home, coming home after meeting a dear friend, when my sister called and told me that she was no more. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Daddy, in his final days, used to drink buttermilk and orange juice from small, single serve cartons, un-chilled, with a straw. His attendant was reluctant to leave his side, but I insisted that she go and have her dinner. Daddy asked for juice, and then for buttermilk, which I gave him. The woman came back to her post. I was changing for the night when she knocked at my bedroom door, in tears, telling me that he had left us. I still wonder, more than twelve years later, if he had needed that final sustenance for his last few breaths, or for the transition to another world, or was he merely completing his quota of earthly nutrition?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When my older son and his family came to stay in Delhi for most of 2018, one of the first things they had to do was purchase several air purifiers, given the horrific levels of air pollution that year. One was permanently kept at our house, for when our older granddaughter stayed over. Last winter, on the younger son’s insistence, I got the air purifier serviced and had the filter replaced. After two nights of use, it indicated that the filter needed cleaning. I tried washing it, but it didn’t work. I gave up. Winter is here again, and our son is trying his best to get his recalcitrant parents to get the air purifier serviced and use it. Will inertia win, or will common sense prevail?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">5th December 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi xjkvuk6 x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_vk" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">500 word piece telling us the news of the world in the tone of a favorite author.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/onepageonebreath?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWWD1JteJGanDOlcPwkAo2HRlUZR8JWeShQYLNIfPPbJnWvKfd9ofYXgwaQhMGfv2LJeaPtPOgSoQpVRkKhiOgeadd7jbYSR9Kc74mscMADjxMoepwI0LyGB2k6DAbdXam6taF0JJtme8F8b4JnZlB2&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#onepageonebreath</a></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>News of the World- 6th December, 2022</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The news of the world today remains a farrago of disasters, demises, disappointments, with a smattering of honorificabilitudinitatibus.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Let me commence with the exemplary achievement of an intrepid six year old boy of Indian origin, Om Madan Garg. He became the youngest Singaporean to reach Everest Base Camp, after trekking for 65 km, over a period of ten days, accompanied by his progenitors.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">According to the Secret Service in Washington, Chinese hackers have successfully appropriated millions of dollars of Covid relief funds. In the meantime, China has further eased its extremely stringent anti-virus controls, in the wake of increasing public protests, subsequent to a conflagration in late November, in which at least ten people shed their mortal coil.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Oxford Dictionary chose, through an online poll, ‘goblin mode’ as word of the year. It is defined as ‘a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations’. This term was first seen on Twitter in 2009, and gained popularity in 2022 as people around the globe emerged uncertainly from pandemic lockdowns.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Russia has renewed its air strikes against Ukraine, plunging parts of the country into freezing darkness. Kyiv claims that its air defences have limited the damage. The G7 countries have capped the price of Russian seaborne crude oil in order to punish Russia for the invasion of and continuing conflict with Ukraine.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Snollygosters are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid, which marks the beginning of the end of the secular India that we once knew. More sensitive souls are resorting to lalochezia to express their emotions, although they are fully aware of it not making an iota of difference to anybody at all. One wag on social media claims that the ‘disputed structure’ committed suicide, much in the same way that ‘No One Killed Jessica’, as no one was ever found guilty of the demolition, despite vast quanta of evidence of the destruction.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Our erstwhile colonizers are celebrating their victory over our neighbouring country, the one that many of our populace love to hate, in the first test match of the series, that was played in Rawalpindi. Ben Stokes and his men beat their opponents by 74 runs on the fifth day of a high scoring series opener. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The sporting world lost an iconic coach with the demise of the 91 year old Nick Bollettieri. He had coached many legends in the world of tennis, including Venus and Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, and Maria Sharapova. He was known for his acerbic manner and no-nonsense training methods.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Exit polls indicate that the ruling party is making a clean sweep in the Gujarat assembly polls, while they may be in a close contest with the Congress party in the Himachal Pradesh elections. Let’s see if there are any revelations when the actual outcome is revealed. Perhaps a great deal of perspicacity is not mandatory for an accurate prediction.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_s5" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 3</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A 500 word travelogue of any place/ space of choice that MUST employ all five senses. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/onepageonebreath?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZU3Xi3DdorQDtRstnCnqsFK7WJmcejWaQN5H7_4jlXt2PrCpNX3t3E_jFK-pBjNGmOkzjseiPJ80ffSmbTMiZhfFOsjhy_9d9cPvmDLWmcknDdCQkixbUP8pCnavPcOnDr1P8C95fsz2J_exQnB5lQZbFvtRRBqHgCFy82yGFiP0A&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#onepageonebreath</a></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Om Swasthiastu</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Bali <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>had been on my spouse's Bucket list for several years. This lazy traveller let him plan our weeklong itinerary, merely overhearing the words Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud and Nusa Dua, as he spoke to the travel agent.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">On this trip, we discovered that Vietjet had a special class of air travel: sardine class. Never again, we swore to ourselves. We rushed to catch the connecting flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Denpasar. The view from the plane, as we approached Bali, was magical: a coastline of green and brown, with a deep grey sea. The Denpasar arrival hall was exquisite, with statues that seemed to be carved out of ice, and beautiful pillars which looked like woven cane. We obtained our visas, and then discovered that our luggage was arriving three hours later, on the next flight, and so we bought chocolates and Pringles and bottled water from duty-free, our first nourishment in Bali, and sat and waited. Luggage acquired, we stepped out and were received by the travel company’s agent. Our villa was about half an hour away. It was lovely, with a private swimming pool, surrounded by frangipani trees, bearing pink and yellow flowers, such a gentle fragrance. I luxuriated in that silken water.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A glass bottomed boat ride to Turtle Island. Corals and shoals of fish. Wading through sandy, stony water. Holding turtles: large and cool to touch. A visit to a temple on the shore, with a gentle young guide. The sea and the rocks and the ancient stone. There were many temples across the city, ancient looking stone, with fascinating gateways: the inner side smooth, the outer side carved and chunky at the base, open at the top. Offerings outside every home and shop for both the good spirits (at a higher level) and the bad spirits (on the ground). The acknowledgement of both good and evil in the black and white checked cloth wrapped around many statues. The huge Hindu mythological statuary at a few roundabouts. The strangeness of no one being allowed to enter the temples, except the priests, on most days. The coffee plantation where we tried all kinds of coffee, and delicious lemongrass tea, but didn’t dare try the world’s most expensive Luwak coffee, wherein the coffee cherries are fed to civets, the beans emerge in their poop, after which they are cleaned and processed further. The beans smelled good enough, but no thank you.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We saw silver craftsmen at work, and wood carvers, and artists painting beautiful canvases.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We saw a delightful, colourful dance drama in a temple hall surrounded by emerald green rice fields, with a troupe of musicians playing various traditional instruments, in pleasing harmony and rhythms. We went back to Ubud, to a long street full of more kinds of wood carvings than you can imagine, to buy a traditional Barong mask, an exquisite, somewhat scary looking good spirit, which the spouse had set his heart on. A little bit of Bali now lives with us!</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div class="x1n2onr6" id="jsc_c_s6" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="x1n2onr6" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl x1qjc9v5 xjbqb8w xjqpnuy xa49m3k xqeqjp1 x2hbi6w x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xdl72j9 x2lah0s xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x2lwn1j xeuugli xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1n2onr6 x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1ja2u2z x1t137rt x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x1q0g3np x87ps6o x1lku1pv x1a2a7pz x1lliihq x1pdlv7q" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10224877062166977&set=a.2702760161358&__cft__[0]=AZU3Xi3DdorQDtRstnCnqsFK7WJmcejWaQN5H7_4jlXt2PrCpNX3t3E_jFK-pBjNGmOkzjseiPJ80ffSmbTMiZhfFOsjhy_9d9cPvmDLWmcknDdCQkixbUP8pCnavPcOnDr1P8C95fsz2J_exQnB5lQZbFvtRRBqHgCFy82yGFiP0A&__tn__=EH-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px;"><div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z x78zum5 x2lah0s x1qughib x1qjc9v5 xozqiw3 x1q0g3np x150jy0e x1e558r4 xjkvuk6 x1iorvi4 xwrv7xz x8182xy x4cne27 xifccgj" style="align-items: stretch; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: -6px -2px; padding: 4px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w xeuugli x1r8uery x1iyjqo2 xs83m0k xg83lxy x1h0ha7o x10b6aqq x1yrsyyn" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 2px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div aria-label="Send this to friends or post it on your timeline." class="x1i10hfl x1qjc9v5 xjbqb8w xjqpnuy xa49m3k xqeqjp1 x2hbi6w x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xdl72j9 x2lah0s xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x2lwn1j xeuugli xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1n2onr6 x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1ja2u2z x1t137rt x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x3nfvp2 x1q0g3np x87ps6o x1lku1pv x1a2a7pz" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: -6px -2px; padding: 4px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w xeuugli x1r8uery x1iyjqo2 xs83m0k xg83lxy x1h0ha7o x10b6aqq x1yrsyyn" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 2px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 4</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A 500 word fiction piece (which must be complete and coherent and must begin and end within 500 words) ordered around a grocery list.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Riya wakes up automatically at 5 a.m. every morning, even when on holiday. Her body is used to getting up on time to fill up the drinking/cooking water vessels and run the motor to fill the overhead tank when the water supply comes on, for just half an hour every morning. They moved to an apartment complex with all conveniences a few years <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>ago, and she no longer needs to fill anything, but she still wakes up at five.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Today, though, she and her husband are at their daughter’s place, in a Virginia suburb. She seems to be over her jetlag, and is awake at her usual time. They are visiting Priya for the first time since she married Daniel. This is their first weekend here, and Daniel has promised to drive them to Patel Brothers, in Fairfax, a good hour’s drive from their home. Ramesh is quite sure that he does not want to drive in America, on the wrong side of the road. Being a passenger here is disorienting enough. Priya is eight months pregnant. They will be here for a while, to welcome their first grandchild, and to take care of their daughter. Riya quietly makes herself a cup of tea, and sits on the patio, waiting for the sun to rise. Priya has told them that you can get everything desi at Patel Brothers, no need to bring stuff from India, but Riya has got some good quality heeng and edible gum granules with her. She remembers her late mother making a strong heeng solution and applying it on Baby Priya’s belly button, and then gently warming her abdomen with a folded cloth heated on a clean pan. It worked wonders for colic. The edible gum was for the traditional laddoos made for post-partum, lactating mothers. She sips her tea, and pads softly into the study to pick up paper and pen. She needs to make an exhaustive list, especially of lactation enhancers. She has heard of so many young women these days having problems with breast feeding. Ghee, atta, almonds, sultanas, dried figs, fenugreek seeds, mustard oil, which is great for massaging babies. Daniel might not like his baby to smell of mustard oil. In which case she will cook with it, maybe make some pickles. Dals. Fleased husk: Priya is getting constipated, nothing is as safe as Isabgol. Jaggery powder, for the panjeeri laddoos. Basmati rice. Although Riya likes soups, salads, pasta and baked casseroles, she and Ramesh are now craving desi khana. What else does she need? Good desi achaar. Chooran. Aniseed, cardamom. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The door opens. An agitated Daniel rushes in, hair tousled, glasses crooked: </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Priya’s in labour. Her water’s burst. It’s too soon. I’m calling the hospital.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Riya throws down her pen and notepad, enters her bedroom and shakes Ramesh awake.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Then she goes to her daughter. Priya is both distraught and excited. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank goodness I’d packed my hospital bag last week, she laughs. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Your panjeeri laddoos, sighs Riya, hugging her daughter.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_l6" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Day5</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Today, we play around with nonsense verse.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>500 word piece with perfectly formed sentences that make no sense. Like a garbled dream. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/bina.gupta.7?__cft__[0]=AZVCeNvc1opcllDZDrHxYDXozrni4UNOYq6Gjl22DjxBbrldQyTN44Dr6rF4A2Qb1Q6neOvBadOk1jZclShw8hf_36dw1teDH9J9aKCLpnA4gJVA8GmIez-ozztO0CbvtMMkBEji90jAWQXRUhiV9D9VGkELhECxwQNudo53yxKIJg&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">Bina Gupta</span></a></span> : Thank you for the second Thurber quotation, which sent me down this nonsensical path.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">People who do not understand pigeons―and pigeons can be understood only when you understand that there is nothing to understand about them―should not go around describing pigeons or the effect of pigeons. -- James Thurber</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Hens embarrass me; owls disturb me; if I am with an eagle I always pretend that I am not with an eagle; and so on down to swallows at twilight who scare the hell out of me. But pigeons have absolutely no effect on me. ― James Thurber</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Peter and his Pals</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A literate pigeon called Peter</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Was quite an inveterate reader</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He ate and he read, he read and he ate</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">All day long, till it was quite late.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He read from potato chip packing</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of which the dustbins never were lacking</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Newspapers and books in warm cozy nooks</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Were always his for the asking.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Librarians loved him: he cooed at them</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With warm guttural mutterings he wooed them</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Until one sad day, the above words came his way</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And our peaceful Peter wasn’t seen again.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">His pigeonly pride was shredded to pieces</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He summoned all his nephews and nieces</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To a family conclave, over James Thurber’s grave</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">All of whom concurred, save</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">One absurd bird, who spoke the truth</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But no one was listening to this youth:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thurber is long dead and gone now</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">What is the point of this silly powwow?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There are better things to do</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For me and for you</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Why waste our time on this useless gutturgoo?</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ranted Peter’s avid supporters</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You foolish feathered traitor</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Our Peter is right, wise and erudite, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You are no more than a winged potater.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The peaceful pigeon withdrew from the gang</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And stayed alone, far away from his clan.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He would rather be lonely, than be with them only</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To listen to nonsensical plans.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We must desecrate this grave, cried Peter</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Though dead, Thurber is a cheater</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And a liar. We will give him an 'effect'</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That will cure the defect</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In his thinking, that miserable liar.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It’s time we claimed our rightful place</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">On Planet Earth, we are powerful birds</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With no dearth of wing power and poop power.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We shall rule, mark my words.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And so, starting from the Green Lawn Cemetery, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Columbus, Ohio, a global movement started</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Led by Peter, who had his plans all sorted</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A pigeonesque dream, following a stream</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of thought both mala fide and malign.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We are the pooper troopers, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Cried their leader, the erstwhile avid reader</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And the pigeons agreed that this was their creed</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To feed and to poop, to poop and to feed.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And so the late lamented James</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who as a humorist had many a claim to fame, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">was now relegated </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To the pigeon hall of shame.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He’s the reason why they don’t spare us:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Our homes, our cars, and even us</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If they can, they will poop</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">All over your stoop</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Your porch, your yard</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Your birthday card.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The world is their pooping arena</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Which is why it is not any cleaner.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJldLl3wL1CqRuIIH30PshtT6Qsk49N7dgECFGEV0GkDyL4j87zLBnykcFiyq3TWbOmBRGwd0rvmq4FyZtWMOiZL0dVLBlzf8mXIFn2NfNyH-KEYwqXtxLUun2rx93LEK_9jViHZVLvE5xh_IN0NmxUL8A8QQIpUmheww6TtfReY-h4h6tBs8Qbsnw8Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJldLl3wL1CqRuIIH30PshtT6Qsk49N7dgECFGEV0GkDyL4j87zLBnykcFiyq3TWbOmBRGwd0rvmq4FyZtWMOiZL0dVLBlzf8mXIFn2NfNyH-KEYwqXtxLUun2rx93LEK_9jViHZVLvE5xh_IN0NmxUL8A8QQIpUmheww6TtfReY-h4h6tBs8Qbsnw8Q" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 6</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> A 500 word piece chronicling a climate change event as both a material, empirical one but also a metaphorical one. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Non-fiction. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The entire piece must be written in second-person. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span> From Under the Stars to the Great Indoors</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When you moved back to Delhi from London at the age of eight, and lived in your aunt’s house for several months until your father was allotted his own accommodation, one of the things you found most fascinating were the sleeping arrangements for all the family. There was a huge open grassy ground, surrounded by houses on three sides, divided from its twin by a central road. The entire neighbourhood slept outdoors all summer. Newlywed couples were issued the enclosed aangan, for privacy. Charpais stood on their sides in the verandahs, and were laid out before dinner time. Bedrolls were stored on a huge trunk in the storeroom, and neatly unrolled, and covered with sheets, pillows distributed, and a pot of drinking water was placed on a stool. Your father was allotted a first floor house with a high-walled terrace, with an open barsati to protect your charpais and bedding from the elements, so you continued to sleep outdoors for much of the year. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Summer also meant dust storms. The strong, dusty wind, known as ‘loo’ meant a pre-emptive closing of doors and windows, and you or your sister had to sweep the verandahs, which became slippery with dust. You also had to lug buckets of water upstairs to the terrace, (before a tap was installed there) and throw mugs full of water all across the terrace floor to cool it down. The summer heat was intense: this process made it bearable. The loo has not been seen or felt for decades now. Those were the years of childhood, of teenage angst, of a room shared with your sibling, in which you only slept during the harsh northern winter.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Getting married and moving to a tropical country was your first introduction to domestic air conditioners. Getting out of the plane had you perspiring buckets until you reached the arrival hall. Air conditioners were de riguer except when it rained steadily for days, bringing a modicum of coolness. Getting attuned to marriage and motherhood was not without its share of storms, either. Many thunderous looks and angry tears, until both parties recognized the futility of attempted mindreading.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You return to another city in north India, dry and dusty in summer, freezing in winter. You invest in desert coolers, which are brilliant except when it’s very humid. Filling them with water, making sure the pumps were working, all a part of your Lucknow summers. You have a tiny front lawn, and a backyard with trees, but have, somehow, lost your sleeping outdoors mojo. Your spouse’s company blesses you with one air conditioner, which you use as sparingly as possible, because you still have to pay the electricity bills.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You move to Kochi, where humidity and air conditioners rule. You move north, then south, then to sticky Kolkata where you get an air conditioner for your kitchen. Now just the two of you live in an apartment with five air conditioners. God save the planet.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi xjkvuk6 x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_dv" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 7</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> 500 words of a memory palace for 2022. Pick any place, any memories/ objects/ people. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Aide-memoire aka memory palace</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Go placidly amid the <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 1: The shoe cupboard just inside my front door, in which rest my pinky-purple sneakers, tells me to go out and about, with all the energy and enthusiasm I can muster.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 2 is for placidly, and silence: The leafy green belt at the back of our complex, where I walk in blessed silence, apart from being howled at by the occasional territorial beagle.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 3 is the large common garden, where I am often accosted by a person with whom I have very little in common, but she is like a warm, friendly puppy, so I occasionally, willingly, do engage in conversation with her.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Hydrate. Even though it’s winter, and it’s cold, living beings need to drink plenty of water</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 4: The copper jug on the dining table. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 5: The twenty water bottles on the kitchen counter.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 6. The front balcony with the plants and the water bowl for the birds. Today, three little sparrows drank from the water bowl, unbullied by the parading pigeons. Such joy.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Do not drink tea or coffee before a long car drive, in your own best interests, as you are definitely psychologically weak bladdered, if not physiologically so.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 6. The semi-circular little console table near the front door, with the car key in the drawer.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Woollen garments can spread themselves like wildfire across a medium sized apartment. They need to be tamed and put in their place immediately.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spots 6. 7, 8: One bedroom closet for my pullovers, cardigans, and jackets. One hanging space in the steel almirah in the store room for shawls, scarves, stoles, caps and gloves. The spouse’s sole wardrobe.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Do not sit for long stretches of time, sitting is the new smoking.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 9: The dark brown leather couch which pulls you in and holds you in its thrall, bought over sixteen years ago, when you, your knees, and your entire musculo-skeletal system were much younger. You may ask, gentle reader, why don’t we get rid of it? For two reasons: that we do have youngsters visit us occasionally, and that it holds many memories.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A sexagenarian and a septuagenarian need regular meals, but actually can’t eat a great deal at a time. The septuagenarian will consume any given leftover only once. Do not buy more than you can cook/consume over a reasonable period of time.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 10. Our long suffering refrigerator, which always seems to be overflowing. We remain on adversarial terms, despite my good intentions.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Get rid of stuff. Be ruthless. Paper especially multiplies exponentially. Like woollen garments, papers also require ceaseless vigilance </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spot 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17…ad nauseum</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">All drawers in the house need cleaning and sorting. So many drawers, so little time.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x168nmei x13lgxp2 x30kzoy x9jhf4c x6ikm8r x10wlt62" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1n2onr6" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="x6s0dn4 xi81zsa x78zum5 x6prxxf x13a6bvl xvq8zen xdj266r xktsk01 xat24cr x1d52u69 x889kno x4uap5 x1a8lsjc xkhd6sd xdppsyt" style="align-items: center; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--divider); color: var(--secondary-text); display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; justify-content: flex-end; line-height: 1.3333; margin: 0px 16px; padding: 10px 0px;"><div class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1iyjqo2 x6ikm8r x10wlt62" style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div class="" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j x1jfb8zj" style="align-items: inherit; 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flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x1ey2m1c xds687c xg01cxk x47corl x10l6tqk x17qophe x13vifvy x1ebt8du x19991ni x1dhq9h x1wpzbip" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="background-color: var(--hover-overlay); border-radius: 4px; font-family: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="x1jx94hy x12nagc" style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 4px;"></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-86627538777990490212022-12-26T13:12:00.004+05:302022-12-26T13:12:52.862+05:30One hundred years <p> <span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today is very special for me as it marks my father's 100th birthday. </span></p><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_17p" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This photograph is about thirty years old, taken on the occasion of Holi, at my aunt's home in Allahabad. My brother was visiting from England, and he accompanied my parents to Allahabad, and to my home in Lucknow.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My father looked like this for much of his life: serene, good humoured, with a smile hovering around his lips. Even when he was old and infirm, Daddy was always stoic. He shed a few tears on learning of my brother's sudden demise, but subsequently kept his grief to himself. He shared joyful memories of my brother with my sister-in-law and my nephews, for the memorial service</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From him, I think, I have learned to find joy and contentment in the everyday, to appreciate whatever life has to offer. He was always appreciative of good food, and relished, most expressively, my mother's cooking. He would, enthusiastically, share the hottest of green chillies with me, leaving me with watering eyes and a burning mouth! He loved listening to good music, especially his beloved Saigal, whom he inflicted upon his unwilling children, until Saigal's immortal songs became part of our very being. He had a fondness for the performing arts, and was an enthusiastic theatre goer. I remember hearing about my parents, (when we lived in London), having had to book their tickets for the My Fair Lady musical, some ten months in advance. He subsequently also loved the Stagedoor performance of Pygmalion in Delhi several decades later. An abiding memory is of an M.S.Subbalakshmi concert at the Ashoka Hotel, transformative by its sheer beauty. He would take me and my sister to Sapru House to watch children's films. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Books, of course. A few cherished reference books: an atlas, dictionary, encyclopaedia, plus some of the Readers Digest condensed books. Mostly library books. Daddy chortling away while reading Wodehouse. Much later, while staying with us (when living independently was no longer possible for my parents), he would happily watch old Utpal Dutt movies time and time again, chuckling away at the same comedies. Golmaal and Naram Garam were his great favourites. He had a wicked sense of humour. He also, in his later years, became very fond of Google Baba, which became the arbiter of any factual disagreements we may have had. He had always been staunchly independent, and was always willing to try to learn/do something new. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As I plan to make the first carrot halwa of the season, I remember our family halwa making venture, with Daddy grating many kilos of carrots with a hand-powered rotary grater.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He was always appreciative of my efforts in looking after him, and would say, "Tum ko badi mushakkat karni padti hai."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I am inundated with memories, far too many to share here. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I remain eternally grateful for having Dayal Saran Seth as my father.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I am sharing here several blog posts which feature him:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2007/12/eighty-fifth-birthday.html?fbclid=IwAR1tKgoqlG1i0xxSkCIZiAbcMRfFnBZGs572GyOAH0IqEgJqpoSguXmULR4" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../eighty-fifth...</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-2009.html?fbclid=IwAR2P3ndmZVR7WQ3GvzBCJsfCyUdXbi1_JldKh-oTtaoQTTjpBCxJueE83c8" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../12/christmas-2009.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2009/05/man-with-new-spectacles.html?fbclid=IwAR1Cmm3xssu0KddyfhsR0eWN5oL9kY7-71uE_E9ofS1Cf2Kt16RCIMAMZ3o" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../man-with-new...</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2009/04/wanted-good-wishes.html?fbclid=IwAR1Y_Lvf7CHZzpZyUaw_1hsjyEVAJK6Tc4uPDz1SXw30i5lvUlSHrPQf3lU" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../wanted-good-wishes...</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2009/01/eighty-six-years-old.html?fbclid=IwAR1N9Ekc-TJWeQ1FDHlW9Fc4I6DZ_MMa5u1n4UQtdonpP4nzt4YUXa7GY4I" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../eighty-six-years...</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2010/06/fathers-day-2010.html?fbclid=IwAR0H3EXrMc16Q0y4BP94G5CFprHn6sPFbDCeRL5EHTJjPYUnWpv8LBA4kkQ" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../fathers-day-2010.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2010/06/last-farewell.html?fbclid=IwAR1tKgoqlG1i0xxSkCIZiAbcMRfFnBZGs572GyOAH0IqEgJqpoSguXmULR4" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2010/06/last-farewell.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2010/04/favourite-photos.html?fbclid=IwAR3qEPbGkiXXmJbVG9xhNrB-3doNmX8c8hmkQTPOST3ThJMlBlTeTfXxtGU" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../favourite-photos.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2010/04/strange-diet.html?fbclid=IwAR2LJdeUqfwjG9uJBlYUo4cKqq3A7mpNcxsxlV4n3q93gkKNc8nMUhuqBBs" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2010/04/strange-diet.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2011/05/bonus-month.html?fbclid=IwAR171J3BuLlpT2mLrczzWC3lY52GxwEgWSk2YYbLvtI2rXfEtfjdZXvoEXY" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2011/05/bonus-month.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2013/02/ek-tha-bachpan.html?fbclid=IwAR1tKgoqlG1i0xxSkCIZiAbcMRfFnBZGs572GyOAH0IqEgJqpoSguXmULR4" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../02/ek-tha-bachpan.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2014/12/basement-musings.html?fbclid=IwAR0GQ-lKYDQ-jR1UQSEQ4Mr80YUCKDmLPWrZH4Fuu2vkzSwvmSjjPNQGA1A" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../basement-musings.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2014/06/not-meloncholy-post-at-all.html?fbclid=IwAR3mDYFluBrWux5vWS4t7jSNaIU1iakwpvf0lPLMICcV38Bvj6DoDYfxa-A" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../not-meloncholy-post...</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2015/04/toothpaste-tales.html?fbclid=IwAR1eGypgyLIx2Piqcz0FW4F_KjBK_1zTaM-1OsQk_29sFDia5agzLwhRU0A" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../toothpaste-tales.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2016/01/owning-half-year.html?fbclid=IwAR3gmXVcP34or8fxrk7i8iJNcEq0hCjAyCUXIUr5fm3Jg_YwkHM09DA69XY" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../owning-half-year.html</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2017/12/daddy-and-mr-saigal.html?fbclid=IwAR0CyqRHp-RVHdcyw-D8fWePJCEFj2WnlvZBVrChpbsOKlsGX1dTSL6e8Jc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../daddy-and-mr-saigal...</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/2020/12/boxing-day-2020.html?fbclid=IwAR0J2C7f6wCTKAYDC35WXOuIiS1tC95pv-g1GedfeWL6Ap1MQaqbgXz1G_4" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://dipalitaneja.blogspot.com/.../boxing-day-2020.html</a></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div class="x1n2onr6" id="jsc_c_17q" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="x1n2onr6" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl x1qjc9v5 xjbqb8w xjqpnuy xa49m3k xqeqjp1 x2hbi6w x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xdl72j9 x2lah0s xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x2lwn1j xeuugli xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1n2onr6 x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1ja2u2z x1t137rt x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x1q0g3np x87ps6o x1lku1pv x1a2a7pz x1lliihq x1pdlv7q" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10224991970359610&set=a.2702760161358&__cft__[0]=AZWb8nepM0ed0YzHty9T9TKySKO95q5dYtlcWm4bXmcq9X9MFNhdJ5xeiEyX2UlbnJT5K-OC_wuByhlK-1Ksy5JzEjBjINaRNqD7xNt3XclVv7le19oY02f8tmmrQGRikLw&__tn__=EH-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-radius: inherit; border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; display: block; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 xdt5ytf x6ikm8r x10wlt62 x1n2onr6 xh8yej3 x1jx94hy" style="align-items: center; background-color: #544542; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 680px;"><div style="font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 500px; width: calc((100vh + -325px) * 0.800752);"><div class="xqtp20y x6ikm8r x10wlt62 x1n2onr6" style="font-family: inherit; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 624.406px; position: relative;"><div class="x10l6tqk x13vifvy" style="font-family: inherit; height: 624.406px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 500px;"><img alt="May be an image of 1 person" class="x1ey2m1c xds687c x5yr21d x10l6tqk x17qophe x13vifvy xh8yej3 xl1xv1r" height="266" 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style="align-items: inherit; align-self: inherit; display: inherit; flex-direction: inherit; flex: inherit; font-family: inherit; height: inherit; max-height: inherit; max-width: inherit; min-height: inherit; min-width: inherit; place-content: inherit; width: inherit;"><div aria-expanded="true" class="x1i10hfl x1qjc9v5 xjqpnuy xa49m3k xqeqjp1 x2hbi6w x1ypdohk xdl72j9 x2lah0s xe8uvvx x2lwn1j xeuugli x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1t137rt x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x3nfvp2 x1q0g3np x87ps6o x1a2a7pz xjyslct xjbqb8w x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1heor9g xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1n2onr6 x16tdsg8 x1ja2u2z xt0b8zv" id="jsc_c_17r" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; appearance: none; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-radius: inherit; border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div><br /></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-88616887257842228292022-10-28T22:34:00.002+05:302022-10-29T07:47:59.943+05:30Unparenting!<p>Reema Ahmed's book, Unparenting bears the tagline "Sharing Awkward Truths With Curious Kids." It is much, much more than that. It is a deeply philosophical book which has you question many of your own beliefs and practices, and seriously makes you think, not just about parenting, but about your own relationship with the world. It is also gently humorous in places. It can also punch you in the gut. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cloudfront.penguin.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/9780143447764.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="424" height="650" src="https://cloudfront.penguin.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/9780143447764.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> I read this book a few weeks ago, and have, since then, been wondering how to write about it without merely quoting Reema's words!</p><p>Reading (and practicing) Unparenting is likely to provide an antidote to Philip Larkin's immortal 'This Be the Verse':</p><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They fuck you up, your mum and dad. <br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> They may not mean to, but they do. <br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They fill you with the faults they had<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> And add some extra, just for you.<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But they were fucked up in their turn<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> By fools in old-style hats and coats, <br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who half the time were soppy-stern<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> And half at one another’s throats.<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Man hands on misery to man.<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> It deepens like a coastal shelf.<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Get out as early as you can,<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> And don’t have any kids yourself.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I quote."in its rush to propagate our species, to achieve fulfilment and immortality, to feel whole and happy, we have forgotten something crucial to the survival of the very thing we need--the clarity to want to reproduce not because we feel we need children, but because we <i>want </i>them....very few parents think deeply about what a child really needs beyond the basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter...Does that tiny, beautiful, incredible, individual life exist because you want it to exist, because you're ready and <i>prepared</i> to welcome and nurture it with presence and joy? Or does it exist because you think it is something that must be done or simply because there was a condom 'accident'?....We need to probe deeper into our own patterns of need and neglect as parents that create these 'bad' children who never really grow up...Children are born powerless, innocent and harmless. If they destroy themselves and others, if they fall prey to violence and abuse, then surely, their circumstances are a reflection of the society they live in...children are routinely subjected to fear, punishment, deprivation and neglect. and no one intervenes. Why?"</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The author describes real life cases of parenting gone wrong, cases that will break your heart. She speaks of body safety and abuse awareness, in terms which help safeguard rather than frighten the child. She speaks of the child's discovery of its own body, and its curiosity about self and other relevant bodies. The author guides parents to answer their child's questions pertaining to sex with sensitivity, and age appropriate information. The chapter headings speak for themselves, dealing with puberty, sex and reproduction, bullying, relationships, love and dating, single parents and dating, separation and divorce, loss and grief, emotions and mental health. She gives examples from her own life as a divorced single mother with a now teenage son. She writes of the support she has received from her natal family, as well as the difficulty of balancing the emotional needs of her child vis-a-vis the generational differences with her parents. She speaks of the need for support and friendships which sustain. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I find myself unable to do justice to this beautifully written, intensely honest book. I think that the best I can say about it is, Read It! It will transform you. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">Unparenting is published by Penguin Random House India.</div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-85829814042563137412022-09-29T11:53:00.001+05:302022-09-29T19:29:30.527+05:30Book Review: Hyderabad: The Second Book of the Partition Trilogy<p> Manreet Sodhi Someshwar is an author whose books speak about the human condition in immensely informative and enriching ways, and one whose works I value greatly.</p><p>I was greatly affected by her first book in this Trilogy, Lahore. Her interweaving of the lives of ordinary people, with the lives of the leaders and politicians of the time, was masterful. The character of Sardar Patel stood out for me, as I realised I knew so little about this stalwart, as well as the support he received from his daughter, Manibehn. Even the Mountbattens' dog found a mention, as did their daughter, Pamela. Somehow, though, the horrors of that painful time in our country's history converged, in my mind, with our present state of simmering communal tension, inducing intense despair, which kept me from writing about that brilliant book.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGULe8wmXk6wu1pZ9aKTsEyJwRKamB_TM07Mw0ZKKOUyTOvE1NK0fycGNyqYwT27lQ6Tua9e1b3acFsdagX44JCEo9zFgBD5FIwpsgHyWdsurUFFs2tURkGwEpEQhyqHagHzKVp3I7aLEo3-KILxSXG2ahVI4Kq_NPy6Qtj7uGl-RGrKvIPVKYtt_JnA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2539" data-original-width="1654" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGULe8wmXk6wu1pZ9aKTsEyJwRKamB_TM07Mw0ZKKOUyTOvE1NK0fycGNyqYwT27lQ6Tua9e1b3acFsdagX44JCEo9zFgBD5FIwpsgHyWdsurUFFs2tURkGwEpEQhyqHagHzKVp3I7aLEo3-KILxSXG2ahVI4Kq_NPy6Qtj7uGl-RGrKvIPVKYtt_JnA=w209-h321" width="209" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Hyderabad deals with a history that I knew very little about. It is an immensely readable account of the difficulties in getting the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, to join the newly independent Indian nation. It is a fascinating, and yet again, painful time in our history, with communal riots breaking out, 'death trains' crossing the borders between India and Pakistan, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, and Jinnah's attempts to woo the Nizam, who was an extremely strange character in his own right. Dirty, smelly, a heavy smoker, yet astute enough to run rings around his legal adviser, Walter Monckton, the Indian government as well as the Governor General, Louis Mountbatten, the Nizam comes across as an extremely intriguing character, totally convinced of his own, and his kingdom's, invincibility. And yet, his daughter-in-law, the Princess Niloufer, speaks highly of his kindness to her. Her lady in waiting, Uzma, gets caught up in the political intrigues of the time, as do Jaabili, and Daniyal Khan, who runs a printing press.The narrative is richly textured, and one learns about many of the social systems prevalent in Hyderabad at the time, many of which were patently unfair, if not actually cruel. There are many characters and many adventures, all interwoven skillfully, to create a richly woven masterpiece. </p><p><br /></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-3594965283865319572022-09-02T20:46:00.001+05:302022-09-02T20:46:32.267+05:30Tech travails<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">The universe seems to be truly conspiring to get me to blog! This morning's adventure is a case in point.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Not wanting to bore you, gentle readers, with medical details, let me tell you that for several years now, the spouse has been on blood thinners, and also has to keep the thinness of his blood within certain parameters. This has involved regular visits to the local pathology lab, scoldings and much nagging when there is too huge an interval between tests. In India, though, testing itself has never been a problem: you give the blood sample in the morning, and by late afternoon or early evening you get the report online, well in time for the next dose of blood thinner, which we have learned to tweak as required. (During the lockdown, the technician would come home in protective gear and take the sample).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The problem arises when we travel abroad, and especially in the USA, where our visits are of a longer duration. Most places you can't get a blood test without a prescription, and if you do manage to get a doctor to phone in a requisition for you, you don't get the results in time for you to know how much of the thinner to take that evening. It becomes especially stressful if the patient has symptoms of extra thin blood like bleeding from the ear or nose.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And so, before we visited the son and his family in the USA this summer, I was determined not to travel without a Coaguchek, a device very similar to the home blood sugar monitors, but vastly more expensive, and rather more complicated. Nonetheless, your testing remains in your domain. The spouse had tried my cousin's machine when we visited him last October. It seemed sensible to acquire one. And so, a few weeks before we were due to travel, I bought the device from the dealer, and he came over in the evening to give the spouse a live demonstration of the same. This included setting the date and time, and the code chip for the box of strips. Although there was a fairly exhaustive booklet accompanying the device, I made simple procedural notes on a sheet of paper, which I kept in the machine's pouch. The young man was incredibly helpful, and said that we could call him any time we had a problem.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had adventures with the device. The next time we tried to use it, it showed an error. We phoned. The dealer told us that it was a delicate darling, would not function in severe summer heat. And so tests were conducted in our bedroom, with the air conditioning on. The blood drop had to be of the right size, the device demanded a fat drop of blood. You had to remove your finger at the precise moment that it beeped. There were various error codes. Each time the spouse tests, it is a joint venture: I stand by with my instruction sheet, issuing instructions. We seemed to be getting reasonably competent, or so we thought.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This morning, after much prodding over the past few days, we proceeded to test. But, the device showed Error No. 3, which meant that the strip had expired. I checked the box: the strips were expiring next August. We tried another strip,and another one from a new box, which bore the same expiry date. (The second box is a monument to my stupidity, will spare you that story). We urgently phoned the dealer. He said that it was possible that the device's date settings had changed, hence the error. We looked. The time, day, month, all were correct. The year had mysteriously changed itself to 2023. The dealer had said that he could help us correct it on a video call. The spouse pottered off to his study. Charged by my new gung-ho spirit, I took out the instruction manual, and successfully changed the date. Summoned the spouse. The test was conducted successfully. I messaged the kind dealer, and we went about our day. Our life and its strange challenges!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-9397231090769688472022-09-01T13:11:00.001+05:302022-09-01T13:11:54.085+05:30Come September : A new beginning<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">The last few weeks were marked by exhaustion/laziness. I walked, cooked, did the laundry, put things into wardrobe i.e out of the way. Nothing done particularly well. (All cupboards just have stuff dumped in, not placed/hung neatly and elegantly). <i>Ennui </i>ruled, big time. It was not lack of things to do. It was too many things to do, and a complete lack of interest in doing them. Not doing them added to the guilt, of course, compounding the burdened feeling.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a new cupboard made for our storeroom in the apartment. The old, smaller, almost cardboard/hardboard cupboard that I had ordered online last year, was falling to pieces. Our carpenter fixed that beautifully, too, after some persistent persuasion by the spouse. (The spouse is a force of nature, easier to go along with than to resist). The <i>raison d'etre</i> for the new cupboard were the bags and cartons of assorted<i> objet d'art </i>and candles and what not lying in our basement since we moved last year. (Unforgettably, on Independence Day. The cupboards were installed the next day). Somehow, I wasn't able to take myself down to the basement. The lift goes right there, our storage room isn't far from the lift either. The mental block was real. I knew I had to go, but I couldn't. Ironed laundry was piling up in the guest room, ironed sarees and blouses parked themselves on top of the laundry drier, right next to the steel almirahs in which they belong. There's a shelf full of sad pickles in the kitchen that urgently needs sorting. Books double-line the shelves, and are hence "unfindable".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My younger grandchild turned five yesterday. I think I was energized by talking to her. As of yesterday, all the kids in her Kindergarten class are five years old! There was tremendous magic in her being four years old one day, and five years old the next! I think that magic affected me too! August with its <i>ennui</i> is over, September is a brand new month. This morning I went for my walk with the basement key in my pocket, and came home with a large bag which I have yet to unpack and sort. The laundry has been put away. A new blogpost has been written. September augurs well.</span></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-37305141699130928932022-08-29T22:51:00.000+05:302022-08-29T22:51:09.059+05:30Fifteen Years Old Today!<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, Of This and That has been around for the past fifteen years, for better or worse. Nowadays I often see it as just a repository for my musings on Facebook, but nonetheless, it exists. My intentions towards it are always honourable. Perhaps I will do you justice before you turn sixteen, Blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These fifteen years have been transformative in so many ways. Many warm friendships in the real and virtual world. An opening up of worlds hitherto unknown. Friendships across the globe. Babies and small kids who featured in their parent's blogs are now grown up, or almost. So much has transpired in these fifteen years. I had the support and love of so many during my parents' last years. Travelling to the USA for the first time in 2007. Subsequent visits, for my son's wedding, for the birth of both my grandchildren, just for fun. Travels to Australia, Singapore, Thailand, England, Europe: some featured here, some ignored due to inertia. The wisdom of so many others, the poetry of many poets, my introduction to some absolutely fabulous authors and poets, movies, theatre, all began in the blog world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am so thankful to the technology that has brought so many close to me. I grieve for the misuse of the same technology. I remember Forster's wise words, Only Connect.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, that is what we have always tried to do, me and my blog. Only connect.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy birthday, Blog.</span></p><p><br /></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-81871953624398091932022-08-25T20:06:00.005+05:302022-08-25T20:06:45.672+05:30August musings, (with a little July)<div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My duranta is in bloom.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A lone balloon on the lawn</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A skinny kitten eludes the camera</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whitey perches on the guestroom </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">window sill</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>few fat drops of rain</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That do not keep me from</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Completing my last round.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy morning!</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">26th July, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The insomniac's wife is majorly sleep deprived.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He sleeps whenever sleep comes, like a baby.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Like a small baby's mother, she is advised, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sleep when he sleeps.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It didn't make sense then,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>doesn't make sense now </div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There's the household with its rhythms</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And its help, its particular timings.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And morning walks are possible only</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the morning.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Breakfast merges with lunch.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Leftovers get leftover again,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Then are given to the help.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Each snore is an onslaught upon her brain.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">She prays that he sleeps through the night</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And life gets its rhythm back again.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">28th July, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Betrayal</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who was the betrayer, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The one I always loved</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who now refused</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>be good to me?</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or the vicissitudes of age</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Which led to problems</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Between my beloved and I?</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">No longer were we in harmony,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Once made for each other, but now</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Troublesome, painful in the extreme.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My beloved, favourite arhar (tur) dal,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Tell me why I can no longer digest you?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">31st July 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Random thoughts on Independence Day 2022</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We were brave enough to move house last year on this day! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Our "own" apartment, as 'permanent' a residence as is possible in this temporary world of ours</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Which fact many forget in their hubris...</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>are only guests on this planet, not permanent residents.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We, humanity, haven't been good tenants on this earth of ours</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Leaving it in a greater mess than before</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">While Nature wreaks havoc in despair.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My mind leaps from thought to thought</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Is it not a strange coincidence that our housing societies are governed by RWAs</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Which seem very Right Wing in their practices?</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The polyester flag is statutory this year.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You have no option but to pay for it</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And have it installed in your balcony</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">While poverty, ignorance and disease</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Run rampant. Huge funds spent, and collected, on shiny polyester flags.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Symbolizing perhaps our synthetic patriotism, in a country where huge power</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Is held by descendants of the polyester baron.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, my heart sings songs of freedom</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">'Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Vijayee vishwa tiranga pyaara'.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Though I despair of so much that happens here</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My love for my country is visceral. </div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Happy 94th birthday to my mother.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">She was already mother to a toddler then,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And would go to Gandhiji's prayer meetings</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With my father, all those decades ago.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Our independence was truly hard won, something to cherish and preserve forever.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Happy 75th Independence Day, India.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">15th August, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Archeology of Dentistry</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Every single new hairdresser I've ever been to </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Complains of the lousy job the one before them did.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Similarly, dentists.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>you get to my age</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And have lived in several cities</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And have had several dentists</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You are asked strange questions</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To which you don't remember the answers</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If you ever knew them, that is.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Because once pain is over</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Treatment is done, and you feel half human again</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You blank out all memory of visits to the dentist of the day/month/year/city,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And what was done to what tooth when. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Which dentist was responsible for which root canal, which crown, which implant...</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Impossible to remember. </div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">While having a very long overdue cleaning session today, with my very competent and charming young dentist, I recalled an ancient fantasy of mine:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To be wealthy enough to have a dental chamber at home, with my personal dentist brushing my teeth for me every single day,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So that I would never have to go to the dentist!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">24th August, 2022</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-1611769857977359072022-08-25T19:57:00.001+05:302022-08-25T19:57:32.475+05:30Catching up!<div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The French window is open</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The plants I watered this morning</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Are enjoying the rain</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The lights are on</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The son is home</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>Breakfast done</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The country is unspeakable</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We have rain today.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">30th June, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Beagle</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Seems to think</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That the walking path</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In our green belt </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Belongs exclusively to him</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>he stands in front of me</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And howls at me</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Until he is leashed</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And taken away.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I have to break stride</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For him, annoying,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But I know that we are soul mates:</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We both claim that path</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As our own!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">15th July 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The rainy day </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Had the dryer</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Justify its existence</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A thunderclap:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>Pigeons panic </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">flying to shelter</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The airconditioner</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Has time off.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And we go for a long drive.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">17th July 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; white-space: normal;"><div class="d2hqwtrz r227ecj6 ez8dtbzv gt60zsk1" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_124" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="alzwoclg cqf1kptm siwo0mpr gu5uzgus" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="jroqu855 nthtkgg5" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="gvxzyvdx aeinzg81 t7p7dqev gh25dzvf exr7barw b6ax4al1 gem102v4 ncib64c9 mrvwc6qr sx8pxkcf f597kf1v cpcgwwas m2nijcs8 hxfwr5lz k1z55t6l oog5qr5w tes86rjd pbevjfx6 ztn2w49o" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd ezidihy3" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjqeoenXXQo&fbclid=IwAR1coq-qNaDYV3MOYi1MD6y7JswkAJc8ejAJ69joj-Ry5kkTlh-OCudQo9g" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjqeoenXXQo</a></span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I am introduced at approximately one hour and ten minutes. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, it would be wonderful if you have the time to hear the whole programme.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div class="om3e55n1" id="jsc_c_125" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; position: relative; white-space: normal;"><div class="om3e55n1" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kgnml90y om3e55n1" style="background-color: var(--comment-background); font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="alzwoclg lisst02g lq84ybu9 hf30pyar om3e55n1" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq jxuftiz4 cxfqmxzd pytsy3co mfclru0v" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjqeoenXXQo&fbclid=IwAR238l-eEbd8FBmq-_FEpg1cLuz3fCGlpzcbUh9HUHDuc438Rzs1c7wtgqM" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; width: 680px;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><div class="i85zmo3j k0kqjr44 alzwoclg cqf1kptm lq84ybu9 hf30pyar om3e55n1 mfclru0v" style="align-items: center; background-color: var(--card-background); display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 680px;"><div style="font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 500px; width: calc((100vh + -325px) * 1.92);"><div class="nuz1ool1 lq84ybu9 hf30pyar om3e55n1" style="font-family: inherit; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 354.156px; position: relative;"><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><img alt="Srijan Poetry: Tribute to ANNA AKHMATOVA & June Multi-Lingual Poetry Adda!" class="z6erz7xo on4d8346 pytsy3co s8sjc6am myo4itp8 ekq1a7f9 mfclru0v p9wrh9lq" height="250" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://external.fdel27-5.fna.fbcdn.net/emg1/v/t13/13054377981574062664?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FwjqeoenXXQo%2Fhqdefault.jpg&fb_obo=1&utld=ytimg.com&stp=c0.5000x0.5000f_dst-jpg_flffffff_p480x250_q75&ccb=13-1&oh=06_AarSbbNyeOqJ1dAeJoDpbMppBqKXAQ91aIZNhGwm5A1kNw&oe=630967A9&_nc_sid=c504da" style="border: 0px; height: 354.156px; inset: 0px; object-fit: cover; position: absolute; width: 680px;" width="480" /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div><div class="s8sjc6am ekq1a7f9" style="font-family: inherit; height: 354.156px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 680px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-47490819058219497682022-08-25T19:51:00.003+05:302022-08-25T19:51:25.585+05:30Right to Life: Powerful indeed<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">SAILLE: Right To Life</span></p><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A woman is not a pear tree</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>thrusting her fruit into mindless fecundity</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">into the world. Even pear trees bear</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">heavily one year and rest and grow the next.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">An orchard gone wild drops few warm rotting</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">fruit in the grass but the trees stretch</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">high and wiry gifting the birds forty</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">feet up among inch long thorns</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">broken atavistically from the smooth wood.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A woman is not a basket you place</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">your buns in to keep them warm. Not a brood</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">hen you can slip duck eggs under.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not the purse holding the coins of your</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">descendants till you spend them in wars.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not a bank where your genes gather interest</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and interesting mutations in the tainted</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">rain, any more than you are.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You plant corn and you harvest</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">it to eat or sell. You put the lamb</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">in the pasture to fatten and haul it in to</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">butcher for chops. You slice the mountain</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">in two for a road and gouge the high plains</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">for coal and the waters run muddy for</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">miles and years. Fish die but you do not</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">call them yours unless you wished to eat them.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Now you legislate mineral rights in a woman.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You lay claim to her pastures for grazing,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">fields for growing babies like iceberg</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">lettuce. You value children so dearly</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">that none ever go hungry, none weep</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">with no one to tend them when mothers</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">work, none lack fresh fruit,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">none chew lead or cough to death and your</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">orphanages are empty. Every noon the best</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">restaurants serve poor children steaks.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At this moment at nine o’clock a partera</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">is performing a table top abortion on an</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">unwed mother in Texas who can’t get</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Medicaid any longer. In five days she will die</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">of tetanus and her little daughter will cry</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and be taken away. Next door a husband</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and wife are sticking pins in the son</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">they did not want. They will explain</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">for hours how wicked he is,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">how he wants discipline.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We are all born of woman, in the rose</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">of the womb we suckled our mother’s blood</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and every baby born has a right to love</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">like a seedling to sun. Every baby born</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">unloved, unwanted, is a bill that will come</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">due in twenty years with interest, an anger</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">that must find a target, a pain that will</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">beget pain. A decade downstream a child</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">screams, a woman falls, a synagogue is torched,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">a firing squad is summoned, a button</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">is pushed and the world burns.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I will choose what enters me, what becomes</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">of my flesh. Without choice, no politics,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">no ethics lives. I am not your cornfield,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">not your uranium mine, not your calf</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">for fattening, not your cow for milking.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You may not use me as your factory.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Priests and legislators do not hold shares</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">in my womb or my mind.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This is my body. If I give it to you</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I want it back. My life</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">is a non-negotiable demand.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">—Marge Piercy, from her 1980 poetry collection The Moon is Always Female</div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-46701213129854375482022-06-23T23:52:00.000+05:302022-06-23T23:52:20.289+05:30April Onwards<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Petrified pigeons in a flap</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">flapping away to safety</span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">as a black kite glides</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">between our tall buildings, </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">a rara avis in these parts.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto">And now the children</div><div dir="auto">Are going to school again</div><div dir="auto">After two years of </div><div dir="auto">Staying home, learning</div><div dir="auto">Virtually, many of them.</div><div dir="auto">I don't know most of them, </div><div dir="auto">The children in our complex,</div><div dir="auto">But today, it was a surprise </div><div dir="auto">To see the little chap</div><div dir="auto">I would meet each morning,</div><div dir="auto">with his father, small,</div><div dir="auto">Shot up, so much taller</div><div dir="auto">But clinging, today,</div><div dir="auto">To his mother's hand.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">5th April </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Tiny purple sunbird </div><div dir="auto">Perched on the very tip</div><div dir="auto">Of the huge fan palm leaf</div><div dir="auto">A good morning indeed.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">7th April</div></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I went for a swim after years, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This morning, after a walk</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To the milkbooth </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Where I snarked at the booth owner, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">because a young woman</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Barged straight ahead,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Wanting dosa batter and chutney,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And then said that her kids </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Had to go to school, lateness!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I said, a simple 'Excuse me'</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At the very least,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Might have helped</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I was also annoyed at myself</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For being such a khadoos,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But sometimes one has to be.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The water was glorious,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The pool empty, more or less.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And the pigeons delicately </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perched on the edge</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sipping chlorinated water </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope it doesn't hurt them.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">8th April</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Chidiyaghar?</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Lapwing on the lawn</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sparrows chirping</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Bulbul on the bough</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pigeons at the pool</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Drinking daintily, but also</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pooping on the poolside.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">9th April</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_19m" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Fallen dry champa leaves</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From a distance</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Birds pecking at the ground</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not soaring away</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">10th April</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div dir="auto">Cloudy neem trees</div><div dir="auto">With a halo of tiny flowers </div><div dir="auto">Summer beauty</div><div dir="auto">Soon scattered</div><div dir="auto">On the ground.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">21st April</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pool ponderings </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The thirsty pigeons drink </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perched on the edge of the pool</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Bottoms up has a new meaning!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">They poop there too, being pigeons. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My backstroke is haunted </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">By the thought of pigeons pooping</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Mid flight, over the pool.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But they seem to need terra firma</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For both input and output.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's so hot that they cool their feet</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the balcony water bowl, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Shallow enough to feel safe. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's just too hot to not care</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">About these creatures.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">30th April</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div dir="auto">Puffed up pigeon</div><div dir="auto">At the edge of the pool.</div><div dir="auto">Many others came</div><div dir="auto">And drank their fill.</div><div dir="auto">This one preened, </div><div dir="auto">Flicking water from its beak</div><div dir="auto">To left and right,</div><div dir="auto">Several times.</div><div dir="auto">Cooling off, perhaps,</div><div dir="auto">Pink feet at the edge</div><div dir="auto">Enjoying the 'waves' </div><div dir="auto">Lapping over, nervous too.</div><div dir="auto">Pigeon sponge bath?</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">5th May</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Tenth Birthday </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The little boy is ten today.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A milestone in more ways than one.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This is, thanks to Covid,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">His first birthday </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Without his father's presence.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not the only child so bereft, I know,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But it doesn't lessen our grief.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">5th May</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Low flying lapwing</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Gliding over the Expressway </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Have you missed your bus?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Are you going to Agra?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or Mathura, Aligarh, Hathras?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or a distant sector of my city itself?</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The cars grouping for a wedding</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Are left far behind, and you,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">An unlikely guest!</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My childhood triangle </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Aligarh, Hathras, Agra:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Both grandfathers and ancestral home,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Place of pilgrimage too.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">An oft repeated threesome...</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The pilgrimage is much overdue.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you reached your destination </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">safely, lapwing. Traffic can be hazardous.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">15th May</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Heatwave</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I keep filling</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The balcony water bowl</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For the pigeons, and the</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">occasional sparrow, or squirrel,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">in this extreme summer heat.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday afternoon was distressing:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A dead pigeon lay</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">On top of the window ledge, a floor below.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I couldn't bear to look at it again,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And watered the plants in the evening</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With eyes averted, sadness within.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This morning, though,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There was no evidence </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of yesterday's tragedy.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Did a kite dispose of the pigeon,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or did a cat? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or did the wind blow it down</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To the gardens below?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or did its fellow pigeons </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Fly off with it somewhere, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">An avian cortege?</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps it hadn't died after all,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A happy thought, but unlikely. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(It had looked completely dead).</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">One of life's many mysteries.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">16th May</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A magical evening. A neighbour singing on his front porch, microphone, amplifiers and all. Folding chairs, neighbours and passersby listening. A small girl whirling and twirling to the music. The sheer perfection of time and place. Pure magic.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">30th May ( Memorial Day weekend, USA)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The elephant in the porch</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Seemed quite unlikely</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In a suburban home in the US.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not a live elephant, of course,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But a statue of one,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The biggish statue you might see</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In a state emporium.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I came up closer</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With trusty camera phone</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And clicked.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not an elephant at all, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But a grey-brown covered</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thing</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps a barbecue grill,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or a motorcycle.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Homesick? No. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Just a desi who sees</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Elephants where none exist.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">3rd June</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Impending departure</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Packing up a month of memories</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of wonderful times</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With children and grandchildren</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And the cat, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">a character in his own right</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With his propensity to bite</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My ankles. Pesky beautiful cat.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Our own lives beckon, across the globe...</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Memories of cuddles and bubbles</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Books and toys, walks and games</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Car seats, and songs, both contemporary</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And ancient ones from my childhood.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Will the little ones miss us? </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We have to pack today,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Material goods, ours, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And things</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For our other children</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> in another part of the world.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Our memories are already packed, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So why am I crying?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">16th June</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Father's Day 2022</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This morning I woke up, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Jet and holiday lagged</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To the realization that</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I had completely forgotten</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My father's death anniversary</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Earlier this month.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I was in a time warp</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At my son's home,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Cherishing each moment</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With him and his family.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The grandchildren were the focus </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">of much of our attention,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And dates didn't really register.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, not a day passed</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I did not remember my father. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I saw him in my son's balding pate,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In his tenderness towards his children,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And towards us, his parents,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Nurturing us with his care</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And concern for both of us,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sharing the sense of privilege</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We had in being together</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">After so very very long.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Father's Day, <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/anand.v.taneja?__cft__[0]=AZVmSsjhv4ItC713tB4JfKhj7drHHcBFLGkL7sjzsv5bs_0RJMmDOqT-FVxAJv5mqK_D-orGxKpYe5oCuYoJRvZNLHt_hyIroA_OcMtHKj6WyVteWhZVNQMmeO0tMCkYycXJljEevpRZ-WaENWvkagK6&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">Anand Vivek Taneja</span></a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="stjgntxs ni8dbmo4 l82x9zwi uo3d90p7 h905i5nu monazrh9" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="l9j0dhe7" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="bp9cbjyn m9osqain j83agx80 jq4qci2q bkfpd7mw a3bd9o3v kvgmc6g5 wkznzc2l oygrvhab dhix69tm jktsbyx5 rz4wbd8a osnr6wyh a8nywdso s1tcr66n" style="align-items: center; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--divider); color: var(--secondary-text); display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; justify-content: flex-end; line-height: 1.3333; margin: 0px 16px; padding: 10px 0px;"><br /><div class="kb5gq1qc pfnyh3mw c0wkt4kp" style="color: #65676b; flex-grow: 0; flex-shrink: 0; white-space: normal; width: 7px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-76816090600909963852022-04-25T23:41:00.000+05:302022-04-25T23:41:42.767+05:30Seven years later...<p> It's been seven years since she left us so suddenly.</p><p>When I think of her, I think of this beautiful song, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BItMuq9cir8">Gori tore nain</a>, kajar bin kaare kaare kaare</p><p>She had beautiful dark eyes and eyelashes, and never used kajal (kohl). She never needed to.</p><p>And this was something I noticed perhaps the very last time I met her, after knowing her my entire life.</p><p>I am so glad I went with her that time to see the flowers blooming in her garden.</p><p>I am so glad we had that brief period of living in the same city.</p><p>I am so glad we were back from our road trip to Amritsar, barely a week before she left us.</p><p>I am so glad she was able to come to Kolkata as often as I needed her to, despite her own health issues, to help take care of our parents when they were ailing.</p><p>I am glad that after she left us, I could take her precious gift to our sister-in-law in England.</p><p>I am glad she was not here to witness the devastating loss of her son last May, when Covid's malevolent second wave wreaked havoc in so many homes.</p><p>I am glad that I have wonderful memories of this immensely talented and determined person, who cut and sewed a beautiful frock for me when she was barely twelve. She was the one who plaited my hair, who read to me cuddled up in our brother's bed, when he was away at college. She taught me so much. We argued and we quarrelled, we loved, we hated. I was jealous of her privileges, she was jealous of the pampering she thought I got, as the youngest child, and of my shapely finger nails. She was immensely hard-working. She had beautiful hand writing, and would send beautiful cards for every birthday and anniversary. She sewed baby clothes for my children. She was immensely generous.</p><p>Where do I begin, and where do I end, dear sister?</p><p>When you left, you took away my childhood, our childhood.</p><p>There's no one left who shared it with me...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-35987100362332000832022-03-30T22:28:00.003+05:302022-03-30T22:39:18.427+05:30March Musings<p> 2nd March, 2022</p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The morning held </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">some more magic.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A labrador and an alsatian </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">at the cricket pitch</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Catching practice.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">7th March</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eye Contact</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The white pigeon</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perched outside </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">the guest room window</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Flutters nervously </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As it sees me</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Looking at it,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(Yes, we make eye contact</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Through the glass)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And is ready to take off.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Until I go about my business</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And it settles down again.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I remember holding </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">my infant granddaughter </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Some years ago, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As she drank milk </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From her feeding bottle,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Looking at me with big round eyes</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But no longer sucking</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(And crying too)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">the minute I looked at her.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Strange creatures, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Birds and babies.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">12th March</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div dir="auto">The utter stupidity </div><div dir="auto">Of looking, in vain,</div><div dir="auto">for a rich blue</div><div dir="auto">Kanjeevaram saree</div><div dir="auto">In your cupboard</div><div dir="auto">All winter,</div><div dir="auto">And realizing, today,</div><div dir="auto">That it had always been </div><div dir="auto">Hanging there </div><div dir="auto">With the maroon palla</div><div dir="auto">On the outer, visible side!</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">14th March</div><div dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My printer hadn't been </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">taking up paper to print on : </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">much coercion, persuasion, even smacks</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">had to be used, single sheet by single sheet,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">for the past couple of years.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">frustrating in the extreme.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, it just refused </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">to swallow even a single sheet of paper.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing worked, none of my usual bag of tricks. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We thought of replacing it,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">scroogy me wanting the ink cartridges </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">to get over first. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The spouse looked, online, at new models</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and also found an authorized service centre</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">at the other end of our town, which option</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">we decided to explore today.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">They delivered it home for us,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">pristine, looking brand new,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and running like a dream.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It had been trying to tell us,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">for so long, that it was unwell</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and needed to go to Printer Hospital,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and have some money spent on its well being.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I guess everything and everybody </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">needs tender loving care.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">16th March</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Did you know</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That pigeons can </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Tell the time?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I water my plants </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Each morning </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At around 7.20,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">After filling our </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Drinking and cooking </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">water, from the RO supply</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Which is what my plants </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thrive on.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The pigeons mutter </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And splutter, impatient, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Waiting to drink </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From the pots,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Once I'm done watering. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It almost seems as if</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">They are telling me </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To hurry up and leave</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So they can drink their fill.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">17th March</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I drove past your home</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, dear brother,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And fought down the urge</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To stop, to enter the gate, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And ask the guard, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Mehra Sahib hain?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing fully well</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That you were not there</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not up those stairs,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not there to call me Betey.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And neither was </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">my dear bhabhi,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who would offer me </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Narangi chutney</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Made from narangis</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From the tree they had planted</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the common garden</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So many years ago.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Both of you together now,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This past year,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Still so sorely missed...</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">19th March</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Afterwards </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The detritus of Holi</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And a little bit of magic too.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The elderly gentlemen </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">exercise together every morning</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the colony garden</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And then sit on the benches </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and chat for a while</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps the best part of their day.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I walk around, on the path,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and a song wafts my way</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">One of the gentlemen is singing</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Beautifully, tunefully, a Hori</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A Barsaney ki Hori.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Happiness.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">29th March</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A hard fought battle</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With the suitcases</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">( the old, hard ones)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In which our woollens </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Have finally been stored</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Till next winter,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When the entire circus</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Will happen again.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I know I bought </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A few cardigans </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And pullovers last year,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Making it a huge fight</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To close the suitcases!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I did win, though.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(Some old woollens </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">were too ratty to wear</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And will definitely </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Be given away</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Before the next cold season).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For now, though, no guilt</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Only triumph</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At having completed, once more,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This daunting task.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">North Indian seasons, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You are both joy and pain.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Can't have one</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Without the other.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You teach me philosophy!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">30th March</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Petrified pigeons in a flap</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">flapping away to safety</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">as a black kite glides</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">between our tall buildings, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">a </span><i style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">rara avis </i><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">in these parts.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="stjgntxs ni8dbmo4 l82x9zwi uo3d90p7 h905i5nu monazrh9" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; white-space: normal;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="tvfksri0 ozuftl9m jmbispl3 olo4ujb6" style="border-top: 1px solid var(--divider); font-family: inherit; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px; margin-top: 12px;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 pfnyh3mw i1fnvgqd gs1a9yip owycx6da btwxx1t3 ph5uu5jm b3onmgus e5nlhep0 ecm0bbzt nkwizq5d roh60bw9 mysgfdmx hddg9phg" style="align-items: stretch; 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display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 2px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div aria-label="Send this to friends or post it on your timeline." class="oajrlxb2 gs1a9yip g5ia77u1 mtkw9kbi tlpljxtp qensuy8j ppp5ayq2 goun2846 ccm00jje s44p3ltw mk2mc5f4 rt8b4zig n8ej3o3l agehan2d sk4xxmp2 rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 mg4g778l pfnyh3mw p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x tgvbjcpo hpfvmrgz jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso l9j0dhe7 i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of du4w35lb n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql pq6dq46d btwxx1t3 abiwlrkh p8dawk7l lzcic4wl" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-radius: inherit; border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 rj1gh0hx buofh1pr g5gj957u hpfvmrgz taijpn5t bp9cbjyn owycx6da btwxx1t3 d1544ag0 tw6a2znq jb3vyjys dlv3wnog rl04r1d5 mysgfdmx hddg9phg qu8okrzs g0qnabr5" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; height: 44px; justify-content: center; margin: -6px -4px; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 0;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 cbu4d94t pfnyh3mw d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz ph5uu5jm b3onmgus iuny7tx3 ipjc6fyt" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 4px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><i class="hu5pjgll m6k467ps" data-visualcompletion="css-img" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v3/yu/r/1_BjIGZDq2d.png"); background-position: 0px -266px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; filter: var(--filter-secondary-icon); height: 18px; vertical-align: -0.25em; width: 18px;"></i></div><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 cbu4d94t pfnyh3mw d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz ph5uu5jm b3onmgus iuny7tx3 ipjc6fyt" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 4px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v lrazzd5p m9osqain" dir="auto" style="color: var(--secondary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Share</span></div></div><div class="n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 b5wmifdl hzruof5a pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 c5ndavph art1omkt ot9fgl3s" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="border-radius: 4px; font-family: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="cwj9ozl2 tvmbv18p" style="background-color: var(--card-background); color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 4px; white-space: normal;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-33964832430253392252022-02-16T16:07:00.003+05:302022-02-16T16:07:31.981+05:30More Prose Poems<div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The doorbell rang</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The courier handed </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me a packet, a book</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I thought that</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was the book in which</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a story and a poem</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I reach the kitchen</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And cut it open</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To find a book</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That the husband had</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ordered for himself.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My monkey mind </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had jumped so far ahead</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of actual reality</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was, in my head, </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Posting a photograph </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of myself with the book.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sorry folks, you'll </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have to wait a bit longer!</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3rd February, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot, in good conscience,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Listen to Rolf Harris any more,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Or to the Gundecha brothers,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(Although their Jhini Jhini was sublime).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I also cannot stop the spouse</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From buying a book by a certified creep</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who, I am so glad to say,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Lost the defamation case</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He had slapped on the woman</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who accused him of molestation. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The spouse was reading the book</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the car, and fell asleep, snoring.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The book lay face down on the seat,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Infringing upon my space,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">While I shrank away from it,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Distressed by the presence in my life</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of that ugly, beastly, name.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We didn't meet Vishakha this evening</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(Her husband was one of our teatime guests)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But used her name to educate the spouse </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">on the guidelines of the same name.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The second set of visitors</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Included my staunchly feminist niece</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So the spouse was further educated </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">On the 'Me too' movement as well as</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The creepiness of yesterday's author, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And other famous folks</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Now infamous for their lechery.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Waiting for him to bury that book now!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">4th February, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div dir="auto">Pre-dawn this morning</div><div dir="auto">I hear the mellifluous notes</div><div dir="auto">Of a magpie robin</div><div dir="auto">Piercing the silence, briefly. </div><div dir="auto">Then silence again.</div><div dir="auto">Did it go back to sleep,</div><div dir="auto">To snooze until dawn?</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">9th February, 2022</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc dati1w0a e5nlhep0" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_f1" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Treasure Hunt</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For the past few days</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The spouse has been </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Missing a book which </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Was on his bedside table </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">An unspecified while ago.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It was a book of Hindi poetry</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A paperback, with a green cover.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Poet unknown, name of the book</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Also unknown.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I say 'missing a book' deliberately </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Because looking for a book</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Seems to be too tough a task</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For one whose mind is almost </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Always preoccupied</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I was willing to look, no easy task</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In a house as privileged as ours</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With many books in many shelves</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Often in double rows.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I needed more clues.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The spouse had a photograph </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">On his phone, of a page</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From this book. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps the font would help.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(How, I wondered, could it?)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He had shared this photograph</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of a poem with a friend,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who wanted to know </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">the name of the poet,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Hence the need for the book.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And then, he saw that the photograph </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Showed a strip of the adjoining page,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The edges of English words.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Eureka! This is one of</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Javed Akhtar's books</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Transcribed and translated </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Into Hindi and English, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That much I remembered.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I thought it was Tarkash.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Into his study, into the cupboard </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Where the overflow of his books</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Is stashed, and I spot</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The mustard spine, no green anywhere,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of a book called </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In Other Words, by Javed Akhtar.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(Hindi on the left hand page, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">English on the right).</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hand it to the spouse.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Valentine's day!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">14th February, 2022</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="stjgntxs ni8dbmo4 l82x9zwi uo3d90p7 h905i5nu monazrh9" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; white-space: normal;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="tvfksri0 ozuftl9m jmbispl3 olo4ujb6" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 pfnyh3mw i1fnvgqd gs1a9yip owycx6da btwxx1t3 ph5uu5jm b3onmgus e5nlhep0 ecm0bbzt nkwizq5d roh60bw9 mysgfdmx hddg9phg" style="align-items: stretch; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: -6px -2px; padding: 4px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 cbu4d94t d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz rj1gh0hx buofh1pr g5gj957u n8tt0mok hyh9befq iuny7tx3 ipjc6fyt" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 2px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div aria-label="Send this to friends or post it on your timeline." class="oajrlxb2 gs1a9yip g5ia77u1 mtkw9kbi tlpljxtp qensuy8j ppp5ayq2 goun2846 ccm00jje s44p3ltw mk2mc5f4 rt8b4zig n8ej3o3l agehan2d sk4xxmp2 rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 mg4g778l pfnyh3mw p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x tgvbjcpo hpfvmrgz jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso l9j0dhe7 i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of du4w35lb n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql pq6dq46d btwxx1t3 abiwlrkh p8dawk7l lzcic4wl" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-radius: inherit; border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 b5wmifdl hzruof5a pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 c5ndavph art1omkt ot9fgl3s" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="border-radius: 4px; font-family: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="cwj9ozl2 tvmbv18p" style="background-color: var(--card-background); color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 4px; white-space: normal;"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-50724433902756168142022-02-02T13:21:00.002+05:302022-02-02T15:37:00.152+05:30Random Recent Writings<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">1st February, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Today I morphed into a gyaani</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Publicly offering wisdom </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">to the young man in the bank</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Young man with a maroon knitted cap</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who just had to get a cheque 'received'.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He tried jumping the queue</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But the counter clerk told him</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To join the line like everyone else.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The two customers before me</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Had time-consuming dealings </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And this young man, just behind me</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Was grumbling away, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">about how useless and</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">terrible this bank was.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With all the kindness (and patience)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That I could summon up,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Overcoming my natural diffidence </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I spoke to him, telling him gently</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That today is the first of the month</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A busy day for bankers, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And if you are in a place</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Where you have to wait for a while</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Curb your irritation, and use it well</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Think good thoughts, remember God,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If you happen to believe,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And do not let your mind</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Be agitated and restless. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He listened, perhaps stunned</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">By this strange, masked woman, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And said that he believed </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In his Thakurji.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I then spent half a minute</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At the counter,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Getting two cheques 'received'</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And left, exchanging with him</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A warm and friendly smile.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I sometimes surprise myself!</div></div><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">21st January, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">When there's not enough </div><div dir="auto">leftover rice to put away</div><div dir="auto">or to give away,</div><div dir="auto">and which you don't want</div><div dir="auto">to throw away</div><div dir="auto">the pigeons come to mind</div><div dir="auto">as avian waste disposal</div><div dir="auto">Put it on the outer edge</div><div dir="auto">of the balcony railing</div><div dir="auto">Whitey comes along</div><div dir="auto">with a lean and hungry look</div><div dir="auto">This winter has been a harsh one</div><div dir="auto">others follow,</div><div dir="auto">and you find yourself</div><div dir="auto">reaching for a stale roti too,</div><div dir="auto">wondering if you are being a fool</div><div dir="auto">inviting the pestiferous pigeons </div><div dir="auto">into your territory.</div><div dir="auto">The squirrel comes along too, </div><div dir="auto">foraging, charming,</div><div dir="auto">as desi squirrels are.</div><div dir="auto">A quick look in the fridge </div><div dir="auto">finds a forgotten lump of paneer,</div><div dir="auto">stale and smelly.</div><div dir="auto">You break it into pieces, and leave it out</div><div dir="auto">and wonder if it will be eaten</div><div dir="auto">The squirrel sits there quietly</div><div dir="auto">whiskers aquiver, while 'suspigeons' wonder</div><div dir="auto">if this white stuff is food or not. </div><div dir="auto">You come back after a while, and its all gone,</div><div dir="auto">as are the squirrel and the pigeons.</div></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc dati1w0a e5nlhep0" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_rm" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">16th January, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The spouse sometimes has</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Two hardboiled eggs</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For breakfast, or dinner.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I knock them together </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To shell them, and have observed that</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The egg in my left hand always cracks,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Is the 'hittee', to coin a term</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">While the one in the right hand</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Remains whole, the hitter,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Till I crack it on the worktop.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Is this a metaphor for life?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Hittee and hitter are both</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sliced,salted, peppered</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Consumed.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">12th January, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the cold of winter</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the midst of the gloom</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The limes are ripening</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As new flowers bloom</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Many leaves are browning</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There is much decay</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But there's the promise that spring</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Isn't too far away</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hope?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXdBcJMXQ61-dVF9JPesPttqY2hCQdEJnuQGywffHHsYdf-iYK-zoSxRPxbDgOeTxxAxzAmdkfT2GJFWBWvZBK_SZ5BpZY7U-euO6wFvRhQsYax9-IcMr9KCUSSkvHRe1M&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#hope</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">3rd January, 2022</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The sickness and rot</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Spreading like a cancer </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Through minds that know</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">No grace, no love</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A cancer fostered by</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Impunity pumped within</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This sick system</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Dehumanizing all</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But the few they consider </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Worthy of survival </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In mera Bharat mahaan</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Excluding many</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Targeting minorities </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The underprivileged </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Underdogs, who ache</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To survive with respect </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Just a modicum of it,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As human beings</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As equal citizens</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In a country that belongs </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To us all.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My heart aches</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At the rot, seemingly</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Untreatable. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Please prove me wrong.</div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="stjgntxs ni8dbmo4 l82x9zwi uo3d90p7 h905i5nu monazrh9" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; white-space: normal;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="tvfksri0 ozuftl9m jmbispl3 olo4ujb6" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 pfnyh3mw i1fnvgqd gs1a9yip owycx6da btwxx1t3 ph5uu5jm b3onmgus e5nlhep0 ecm0bbzt nkwizq5d roh60bw9 mysgfdmx hddg9phg" style="align-items: stretch; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: -6px -2px; padding: 4px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 cbu4d94t d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz rj1gh0hx buofh1pr g5gj957u n8tt0mok hyh9befq iuny7tx3 ipjc6fyt" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 2px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div aria-label="Send this to friends or post it on your timeline." class="oajrlxb2 gs1a9yip g5ia77u1 mtkw9kbi tlpljxtp qensuy8j ppp5ayq2 goun2846 ccm00jje s44p3ltw mk2mc5f4 rt8b4zig n8ej3o3l agehan2d sk4xxmp2 rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 mg4g778l pfnyh3mw p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x tgvbjcpo hpfvmrgz jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso l9j0dhe7 i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of du4w35lb n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql pq6dq46d btwxx1t3 abiwlrkh p8dawk7l lzcic4wl" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-radius: inherit; border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 b5wmifdl hzruof5a pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 c5ndavph art1omkt ot9fgl3s" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="border-radius: 4px; font-family: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="cwj9ozl2 tvmbv18p" style="background-color: var(--card-background); color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 4px; white-space: normal;"></div></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-79077247266630829012022-01-02T23:44:00.000+05:302022-01-02T23:44:21.036+05:30Book Review: Write in Power: An Anthology of the Personal and the Political<p> I bought Write in Power: An Anthology of the Personal and the Political in October 2021, after watching the beautiful webinar organised for its launch. It was a book I simply had to read, also because I had recently read Vijaylakhmi Harish's brilliant book, Strangely Familiar Tales.</p><p>When I browsed through the index, once I had the book, I was pleased to see some familiar names, of women I 'knew' on Facebook, Srishtaa Aparna Pallavi, Hema Gopinathan Sah, Anjali G. Sharma, (whom I have had the pleasure of meeting). Their poems are powerful and hard-hitting. I quote from Hema's poem, A Prayer For/To Everywoman:</p><p><i>There was a body I was born with, this body, though, I have earned. </i></p><p><i>I am not pretty. I am beautiful.</i></p><p>In another powerful poem, she writes</p><p><i>Do not insult these hands that wear bangles. </i></p><p><i>Upon them you are held.</i></p><p>It is hard to do justice to this book without writing about each and every chapter. Let me mention a few themes off the top of my head: a voluntarily child-free woman ponders the impending loss of her uterus, in a chapter that is both moving and hilarious. A visually impaired woman recalls the agony that was her schooling. A neighbour attends a memorial service at the home of an elderly <i>mashima</i> who seems deeply unloved and unmourned by her family. An accidentally pregnant woman is brow-beaten by several gynaecologists who disagree with her request for an abortion. A widowed mother goes to buy gold jewellery for her daughter's wedding, in a chapter that speaks volumes about the treatment and status of widows even today. A woman whose husband's criminal activities endanger her life and well being. A Dalit woman's agony at the death of her auto-rickshaw driver father's death. A member of the minority community decides to emigrate, sacrificing all his childhood dreams and aspirations. A community where young girls fake possession as Devis. A girl is fat-shamed by her so-called well-wishers. The difficulties of coming out as queer, not just to family and friends. The beautiful chapter called Meditative Monsoon Recipes for Healing Chronically Ill Queers. There is much much more, as well as powerful poetry, wonderful art.</p><p>It is a book that shakes you out of ignorance and complacence. It is an education in empathy, brilliantly and beautifully written, curated, and edited. I conclude with an excerpt from the editorial team:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The Hidden Pen Collective seeks to amplify writings from South Asia, from the margins imposed by caste, class, gender, race, religion, and sexuality. For aeons, our stories have been set aside, our voices have been silenced, and we find in the 21st century that we are still struggling to be heard. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">In this compelling anthology of fictional and non-fictional prose, poems, and art, we present the writings of twenty-four writers and artists from an inclusive spectrum of human experience. These perspectives speak to the intersections of the personal and the political creating a space for discussion and change. We find our power in our traditions, or by breaking those traditions. We look outwards for love and acceptance, or to our own selves because we are all we have. Our stories - rebellious, accommodating, loving, suffering, defeated and in victory - declare our essential power.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGfQrNwiaOBZetTkhQ8mtX7cTNRJLoaOpN82xbgMc-3-xfIjAkwQBVpKF0LvVbl88GjUANqOcB2tStUaYhKt4ZJBKC_bp02FhFGv6OG7f2i4jvNrahAm5ALNFrgx-i8eLkgBVO9zBQki3FIUkwujNsWzUXzw4QbnSVoQYIXGYTUK80Ky4Ka5a84jK3Zw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGfQrNwiaOBZetTkhQ8mtX7cTNRJLoaOpN82xbgMc-3-xfIjAkwQBVpKF0LvVbl88GjUANqOcB2tStUaYhKt4ZJBKC_bp02FhFGv6OG7f2i4jvNrahAm5ALNFrgx-i8eLkgBVO9zBQki3FIUkwujNsWzUXzw4QbnSVoQYIXGYTUK80Ky4Ka5a84jK3Zw=w248-h395" width="248" /></a></div><p></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-66080347949272261892022-01-01T16:58:00.003+05:302022-01-01T16:58:51.430+05:30Squirrel Tales/Tails?<p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have a very strange relationship with American supermarket
baked goods. They are too big or too sweet, or just too unfamiliar. My last visit
to Tennessee feels like a lifetime ago. On that last visit I was attacked by
severe cake cravings. For just a simple fruit cake, not a creamy, iced kind of
cake. My second grandchild had arrived, and neither the mother nor the grandmother
of the newborn baby were in any mood to bake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I walked to the local supermarket, a beautifully
located chain store. I would ramble around the suburban streets, admiring the
beautiful gardens on my way to it, but would take the shortest route home,
inevitably lugging more than I had planned to. After much searching in the
shelves and display cases, I found a box of blueberry muffins, tiny ones,
perhaps an inch and a half across. They were triumphantly borne home, along
with the regular fresh produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once home,
I took a bite, and was most upset with the cloying sweetness. I asked my son to
take a bite, and he was equally horrified. (Also that his diabetic mother had
been foolish enough to buy cake). The older grandchild was rarely given sweet
stuff. Could we give them to her nursery school teachers? No, because the box
was now open. My son told me to just throw them in the trashcan, but my <i>desi</i>
heart rebelled. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I wandered into the back yard. There was a tree with
forked branches, where I would often spy large American squirrels. Hmm. The
squirrels might make good guinea pigs for the muffins. No harm in trying. And
so, out of the remaining eleven muffins/cupcakes (can’t really tell the difference)
I kept two in the fork of the tree, whose name I never knew. (My son didn’t
know it then, either). I kept a watch from the kitchen door, and to my great
delight, the muffins were devoured in no time. For the next few days it was
party time for the backyard squirrels. They came, they saw, they gobbled. Every
day until the wretched muffins got over. They must have wondered where the
muffin dispensing person had disappeared to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am sorry to say that I do not really love American
squirrels. They lack the petite charm of our little <i>desi</i> ones. Their white
stripes are supposedly the result of Lord Rama stroking a squirrel’s back, when
it tried to help build the bridge to Lanka by carrying pebbles in its tiny
mouth. I love squirrels in the great outdoors, but am never glad to see one on
our seventh floor balcony, which I do occasionally. My cousin’s air-conditioner’s
outdoor wires were chewed up by squirrels. His wife’s blouse was stolen
off the clothes line and stuffed inside the airconditoner to line their nest.
Not good neighbours at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nonetheless, they are beautiful creatures, with
their bright, shiny eyes and bushy tails. Whenever the Covid gods permit me to
meet my grandchildren, I might celebrate by buying a box of blueberry
muffins just for the backyard squirrels.<o:p></o:p></span></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-60854424762862406832022-01-01T14:42:00.002+05:302022-01-01T14:42:50.757+05:30Prompted to write, Mathangi's challenge for December 2021<p>Mathangi Krish was kind enough to set us another writing challenge, this time for a mere seven days this December. When I accepted the challenge a while ago, I didn't know that I would be travelling/attending a wedding during the last three days, and would be writing on my phone. So I am justifiably proud of myself for completing this. Also, no word count for the last three posts. </p><p>But anyway. I write. Does that make me a writer? I hope it does!</p><p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Writing prompt no.1:</b></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Go take a walk. What did you see, hear, touch, smell, feel?</b></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A Voluntary Involuntary Walk</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I love to walk, but my walks are usually limited to the tiny, microcosmic world of my housing complex, with its familiar walking paths, trees, birds, and cats. Today, though, was an adventure. I had to go to Jamia Milia Islamia, to meet a friend, and didn’t have the time for my morning constitutional. I booked a cab, which took me more than half way there, before it developed a flat tyre. I was near Kalindi Kunj, with Shaheen Bagh to my left, and the Yamuna, fiercely protected by high fencing and trees which rendered it invisible, to my right. I decided to walk for as long as I was able to, before looking for an auto or another cab. December in Delhi is walking weather, all day long. Truly, no sweat!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There was a stink, though. The rubbish dump was off the road, behind a fence, but there was a stench. There were a large number of sinister looking pariah kites (scary birds that terrorized innumerable school children by swooping down and grabbing their food in the playground), and egrets perched on the branches of the acacia and neem trees edging the road. I hurried past, thankful that it wasn’t summer, and crossed the market, most of the shops elevated 3-4 feet above the road, selling furniture, clothing, curtains. A large building was called the Market Basket Complex, but it was closed, and I didn’t really have time to explore! I walked past Ashraf Masjid, and Noor Masjid, and the Jamia Nagar Post Office. And then, there was this long, blank wall to my left. What was absolutely fascinating about this stretch of the road and the wall was the number of horses standing there. I kept a safe distance from potentially dangerous hooves, and walked. It was, apparently, breakfast time for the horses. The first feeding trough, an old fibreglass bath tub, seemed like an anomaly. The next couple of horses were feeding from tall metal drums, occasionally neighing in satisfaction. There were no carts nearby, though, and the horses were tethered but otherwise unattended. I wondered why they were there. I walked on for about a kilometer, noticing several decrepit bathtubs being used as troughs, and many more horses. I wondered where all this detritus came from, testimony to the fact that in India nothing is ever actually wasted. Horses and bathtubs, a surreal sight indeed. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The road turned into a busy market full of small eateries. There was the heady smell of samosas and jalebis frying. A shop that made rotis in a tandoor. Fruit shops and juice shops, shops that could make number plates, including the new high security ones, apparently. A loud thud: a cycle-pulled handcart laden with vegetables had overturned. Several young men rushed to help the hapless handcart wala. I realized that I had another five odd kilometers to traverse, and was getting late. I hailed a passing auto, mulling over the richness of life outside my little sanctuary.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Writing prompt no.2: </b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Pluck out any one element from yesterday's piece and weave a speculative tale (fiction or non-fiction). </b> </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> A Road Less Travelled?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to Covid and the associated lockdown, the long standing anti CAA protest site at Shaheen Bagh had to wind down. Whenever I pass that road now, I cannot help but remember the vibrant protest site, the camaraderie, the willingness of the shopkeepers to keep their shops closed so that the protests could continue, the extreme traffic jams on the other major road connecting us Noida-waasis to Delhi, the innumerable performers who came there in solidarity, the food that people would bring and share, the grandmothers and homemakers who willingly disrupted their lives, the entire movement of a people asking for justice.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Let us assume, for a moment, that Covid had not arrived, wreaking havoc in its wake. The protest site at Shaheen Bagh is still as busy and vibrant as ever. Civil society is even more invested in the protests, and the movement grows stronger day by day. My friend Chinna Dua has not succumbed to Covid. In my mind’s eye I see her singing Faiz’s immortal words, Hum Dekhenge, as she had earlier sung at Jantar Mantar, when we were protesting Akhlaq’s death, and Junaid’s death, when we had gathered to say, loud and clear, that every life is precious, and we are all equal citizens of India. Since this is merely speculative, I can happily say that the government finally acceded to the demands of the protestors, and scrapped the CAA. What a happy fantasy!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And if I have the liberty to assume stuff, let me go further back in time and assume that the police did not attack Jamia Milia Islamia students two years ago, entering, with impunity, the hallowed portals of a central university, and hence no students are still suffering from the physical and emotional trauma of that attack, which happened exactly two years ago. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If I could change history, I would erase the trauma of Partition. Shaheen Bagh and the surrounding area would not be thought of as Muslim ghettos, but would have a rich and vibrant mix of people from all communities. (You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one). I speculate here with great sorrow, knowing that realities are harsh, that my privilege allows me to speak, that toxic hatred is manifest today more than ever, and there is little that I can do to stop it. And yet I must reiterate, in whichever forum I can, that all human beings have an equal right to live long and prosper.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps the horses in the Okhla/Jamia areas are harbingers of peace and harmony, and the old bathtubs are feeding them with Love, which they will magically share with suffering humanity. Perhaps the polluted Yamuna that flows past, becomes pristine again. Let the open rubbish dump vanish, and the kites and egrets find better things to feast upon. Perhaps the vegetable cart did tumble over, even in my speculative world, but it’s nothing that I need to change because there were helping hands around...</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Writing Prompt No.3: Gauge the dominant emotion, affect, rasa, of your previous piece and write a non-fiction essay on its contours.</b></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Hope Central</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Is clueless optimism a rasa? Looking at my last speculative post, it certainly seems to be. Does being optimistic help anyone but yourself? And being clueless, floating around in your happy little bubble, because you have decided that, whatever difference you aim to make in the world, you cannot make it without a degree of self–preservation. Essentially, putting on your own oxygen mask first, before trying to help anyone else. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In today’s dark and dreary world, I try to preserve my sanity and my optimism by avoiding the news insofar as possible. Watching a very very important personage taking a dip in the Ganga neither edifies nor instructs, and I’d honestly rather not even imagine it. And yet, my mental cordon sanitaire is not impermeable, the world trickles in, and is dealt with, with as much or little attention as I can muster at that point. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The clueless optimist actively seeks joy. The magic in the commonplace. In the curve of a baby’s cheek. In a geographically distant grandchild’s plaintive: “I don’t want to talk”. In the rumbling morning mutterings of our resident kabootar clan, late risers, the lazy lot of them. In capturing reluctant cats with my phone camera: they seriously seem to wonder at my sanity. In walking, the sheer blessing of being mobile. When you have seen your family elders bedridden and immobile, you cannot really take mobility for granted. Actually, the entire ‘normal’ functioning of both body and mind is a source of both wonder and gratitude.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There is joy to be found everywhere, but it sometimes disappears without a trace. Violence in the world is an instant depleter. Any one of my children being unwell or unhappy. The full janjaal of moh and maya, huge sources of both joy and sorrow. An acceptance of the ultimate reality of death, though the sudden ones, or the apparently untimely ones take much getting used to. Physical pain, illness, especially long drawn out illnesses. The harsh reality of the pandemic, with no end date in sight. The unknown.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The clueless optimist muddles through, trying to learn about the world and life without getting bogged down in it. Coping with technology, and being reasonable au courant and somewhat competent with it, makes life easier. Gratitude for what is seems to be a central attribute. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Doing what you can do. Perhaps very little, but perhaps your little encouraging word makes all the difference to someone who is struggling. Giving what you can give, without expectation. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the immortal words of Max Ehrman, in his prose poem Desiderata, lies my creed.:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Writing Prompt No. 4</b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(a) Employ 3 characters, one embodying the emotion/ affect you picked for your previous piece, one embodying its opposite, and the third illustrating any other emotion/ affect of choice. </b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(b) Stage an event/ occasion with dialogues. </b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(c) Fiction</b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Thesis, antithesis</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to the pandemic, Meeta hasn’t been able to visit her parents for over two years. After the initial euphoria of her arrival, Meeta finds her father very gloomy and withdrawn.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: Ma, what’s the matter with Papa? He seems much quieter than usual.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ma: Kya bataoon, he doesn’t seem to like anything these days. If I’m singing while I’m cooking, he’ll ask me what is there to be so happy about!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: And what do you tell him, Ma? Why are you so happy?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ma: Meetu, you know me. Thankful for each day that the good Lord has granted me. You and Ravi are both well and well settled. Haan, I miss my children, but I know you have your own lives to lead. And I can see you on video calls, it’s almost as good as being with you, apart from missing the hugs, and feeding you your favourite dishes. When I was young phones were so few and far between, and calls were so expensive. Baaqi, I have my home and my garden and my books and my music. What more do I need?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: But Papa seemed okay whenever we spoke, he seemed fine even on video chats.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ma: He was happy when he was talking to you. But he’d become very quiet again once the call was over.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: Well, I’m here now. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Papa enters, sits down, glumly.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: Good morning, Papa.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Papa grunts.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: Are you worried about something, Papa? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Papa: What has to happen will happen. My worrying won’t change anything.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: That is true, but a worry shared is a worry halved, no?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Papa: This pandemic has ruined the balance of the world. I am so far from my children. If I fall ill, you may not even be able to see me one last time.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: Things are much better now, you can always come and stay with me. And Ravi has been asking you to move to his place ever since you retired.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ma: We’ve spent exactly one week at Ravi’s place, before the pandemic, and then too your Papa only wanted to come back here. He was like Ravi when he was little, he’d tag along with me to Buaji’s house, and then spend the entire time there whining Ghar chalo, ghar chalo.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Papa: You can mock me, Gayatri, all you like. I want to be in my own house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ma: As if you are all that happy here. No one would think that you are happy to see your only daughter, looking at your long face. Hmphhh.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(Ma stomps off to the kitchen. Meeta takes both her father’s hands in hers.)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta: Kya baat hai, Papa? You know you can tell me anything. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Papa: Kya bataoon, beta. Nothing feels good. All my medical tests are fine, but nothing feels good. And you, my darling child, have come after so long only to leave me again in two short weeks.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta hugs her father, and goes to call her best friend, a psychiatrist. She is sure that a mild anxiolytic will help.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Writing Prompt. No.5</b></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Plant an object in your scene/ event/ occasion from your last piece and write its story. Non-fiction out of a fictional piece.</b></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Rosie appears to be in intensive need of both a physiotherapist and a hairdresser. She also needs a new wardrobe. Her old blue and white striped sailor collar dress is ragged. Her underwear has lost all semblance of elastic, and slips off the minute she is held vertically. Her head tilts to the right, and one arm seems to be in imminent danger of detaching itself from her torso, with its gently rounded belly. Her blonde curls have matted into an amorphous dull brown mass, almost like the 'jatas' sported by the sadhu babas that Meeta found so frightening as a child. Her shoes, tiny white plastic ones which buttoned up with a sharp click, are now a dull, uneven grey. Rosie is a mess. But Rosie is precious. Rosie is more than sixty years old now. Rosie belonged to Meeta's mother, Gayatri, and her younger sister Arti Masi. Their father, Nanaji, went to England on business, and brought back what was known then as a walkie-talkie doll. If you tilted her, face down, a strange sound emerged from her innards, something between 'Awaawee' and 'Mummy'. There was some kind of speaking device embedded within her, with tiny round holes. Rosie had pretty pink cheeks, a rosebud mouth, china blue eyes, with eyelids that closed and opened when she was tilted. For Gayatri and Arti she was the most beautiful doll in the world. Both sisters were gentle with her, and so was Meeta, when she had the privilege to 'own' her. Rosie's troubles started after Meeta grew up and went off to college, and then abroad, for doctoral studies. On one stray visit, Ravi's then three year old son got hold of Rosie, and manhandled her. Gayatri managed to rescue her before her grandson could wreak further damage upon her. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Meeta was rummaging through the store room, looking for the carton of her childhood story books to donate to a library, when she spotted a disconsolate Rosie sheathed in a plastic bag. She cleans up Rosie with moist cotton wool, and goes and buys a new born sized frock with matching underwear. She dresses Rosie in these new clothes. Rosie glares into the distance.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>For Writing Prompt No.6: </b></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>For your penultimate exercise, gather everything you have written so far and write a story (fiction) with a plot -- a beginning, a twist, and a denouement, with a key phrase from each of your essays so far. Mark each phrase in inverted commas. </b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> Shiny taps</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Staying in a hotel was immensely liberating for Rani. Not only did she not have to cook or clean or make packed lunches for husband (and, earlier, children), she could let the bathroom taps get splashed without bothering to wipe them down. No one else bothered to wipe them, anyway, but she hated the destructive effects of hard water, "wreaking havoc in its wake". She was, in her head, the woman with shiny clean taps in a shiny clean home. She was tired of being that woman. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The children were grown up, one in a far away college, one working abroad. Her husband had a week long conference in another city, and so, Rani was ready to explore "the richness of life outside her little sanctuary." </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Rani had earned a goodly sum from her home tuition classes, from which she was taking a short break. Ravi never knew what she earned, and neither was he curious. He had, truth to tell, gotten more than a little bored with home and Rani. He used to call her his doll, 'the most beautiful doll in the world.' But he had found a new doll now. He was not, actually, working, that particular week. Nor was he travelling. He and his secretary were holed up in this nature resort a couple of hours away from Delhi. He and Rani spoke, morning and evening, dutifully.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Rani had splurged on her secret holiday. She swam in the hotel pool. She had massages in the luxury of the hotel spa. She enjoyed her solitary cocktails, reading, sunhatted, at the poolside. She felt deliciously guilty, and even more deliciously, free. She didn't quite know what had "ruined the balance of the world " that she had shared with her family, but she knew that something had. This break was helping her clear her thoughts, decide what she actually wanted to do with her life.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And then, she gets an agitated call from Ravi's secretary. Ravi has tripped and fractured his ankle. He is in hospital. She needs the insurance papers. Rani is/acts surprised. Wasn't he supposed to be in Mumbai this week? Why is he in hospital in Delhi? </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">She checks out of her hotel, walking carefully, thankful for "the sheer blessing of being mobile". Ravi will have some explaining to do. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Writing Prompt No.7: What will you write in 2022? Go on, set your intentions in 500 words.</b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Why do I actually want to write? What do I have to say that hasn't been said before, and better? Does the world benefit from anything that I have to say? Only in answering these questions will I find my writing intentions for the coming year.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I want to write to share the bits and bobs of magic I find in the everyday. Unexpected love and human concern, in a world which often seems harsh and meaningless to many. I remain aware of the privilege that allows me optimism, yet I see joyfulness among those far less privileged.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The motherly security guard who frisked me at Raipur airport today was very concerned about the two young girls who had preceded me. One had cuts all along her forearms, had no father, and her mother worked in Delhi. The girls were going to Bangalore, were tattooed and had piercings, were skimpily clad under their jackets, and she was genuinely concerned about their welfare. We were joined, for just a moment, in our helpless concern for the young.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I find joy in writing and I find joy in being read. Which means, that at the fabulous age of sixty six, I need to carve out the time to do so. Dear friends have been encouraging, knowing that I am a permanent member of the dhakka-start school of writing. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/kiran.manral?__cft__[0]=AZU13pMDMmk2c40V-uogwv3JvXIOc1qho6SXCIZANIiB6YBCzJfo-etlsbi33k6_s2m4O0cGET9_PVO09gSWZF7YQ-M9UiUnOQOQtGVB7XtnxDntOAu7Z217RGPJMM1OEgw&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">Kiran Manral</span></a></span> has insisted on a 500 word a day output, which she has promised to monitor. I see lazy me, already bargaining for time off on weekends and holidays, even before I have begun.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My joy in reading needs to meld with my fondness for writing: I need to share my thoughts about the books I have loved and haven't written about. My greed for reading new books needs to be controlled, until I have listed them with a teeny tiny impressionistic review, at the very least.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Shall I be very ambitious and translate my love of theatre into a play??? A thought to mull over.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I have to convince myself that my writing matters, that I have something to say, and that it matters to someone besides myself.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In that hope, I am writing these somewhat wishy-washy intentions whilst flying from Raipur to Delhi, and will post them as soon as we land. I was motivated enough to complete this challenge while attending a family wedding celebration, for which I am mentally patting myself on the back. Daily riyaaz is a must, which I must make a part of my routine. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Intentions are solid, boss.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-43248843771386845432021-12-14T11:21:00.002+05:302021-12-14T12:01:23.283+05:30The Garden Of Heaven by Madhulika Liddle: my three reviews!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81JcpDwWkgL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="518" height="711" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81JcpDwWkgL.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>An Exquisite Historical Tapestry : <span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">My Amazon review</span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Madhulika Liddle has surpassed herself with this exquisitely crafted novel, set in the Delhi of the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries, the period between the conquests by Muhammed of Ghur, and Taimur. Epic in its sweep, peopled with beautifully etched characters, representatives of two families whose lives intertwine across the generations. Actual historical figures add to the authenticity of the stories. Many of our present day concerns are reflected in the narration. The interaction between members of different communities,i.e. the conquerors and the conquered, have interesting social ramifications. Razia Sultan, Yogi Maiyya, and Jayshree, among others, are strong women whose actions affect many others. The relationships between the sexes are sensitively depicted. The book is structured very cleverly, interweaving its several discrete threads into a beautiful whole. A book to be read and re-read several times. The city of Delhi is depicted in a fascinating manner, and is, indeed, a central character in the book!</span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">The Garden of Heaven (The Delhi Quartet #1) : My Goodreads review</span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">An exquisite look at a turbulent period of Delhi's history, through the eyes of members of two families. The family of Sridhar Sahu migrates to Delhi in peacetime, in order for Sahu to further his fortunes. Young Madhav loses his entire family and village as Muhammed of Ghur's marauding army, led by Qutbuddin Aibak, wreaks havoc upon the civilian population as well as upon the army of Prithviraj Chauhan. The old stone carver, Balram, takes the terrified child under his wing and they start a new life in Delhi, settling down in Yoginipur. Yogi Maiyya is a fascinating character, a strong, independent widow who fends for herself, and has a soft corner for the most vulnerable. Liddle's characters are beautifully etched, as are the scenes she depicts. The story continues across generations, introducing much social commentary as the local populace learns to co-exist with the invaders. This fear of the 'other' is beautifully depicted in Girdhar's story. Razia Sultan appears in an intimate, personalized, cameo. Her friendship with Jayshree, Sridhar's granddaughter, has ramifications for the subsequent generations. i was delighted to see two of my favourite Delhi personages, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and his devoted follower, Amir Khusro, as part of the narrative. The book is exquisitely crafted, with each story a richly woven panel, which forms an integral part of a larger tapestry. A book to be read and savoured again and again.</span></p><p> xxx--xxx--xxx</p><p>My very personal, subjective and emotional response to this book, which I read and re-read several times, and will read yet again. I am trying to analyse why I like it so very much, and perhaps that is more to do with me than with the book, but here goes:</p><p>The stench of war and the destruction in its wake frames the book, in a fraught, moving narration. War becomes the <i>leitmotif </i>of the book, the prime mover that changes lives in an instant, no less than a devastating natural calamity. Families are destroyed, children orphaned, settlements destroyed. A peacetime migration for ostensibly economic prowess precedes the warfare, and a family settles down in the outskirts of Delhi. The conquering army 'settles' into its new abode, feared as the other, and yet needed as the provider for the conquered. The tensions between the conquerors and the conquered are beautifully depicted, sadly reflected till the present day. Despite the horrors of war, and the eternal apprehension of the 'other', there is also immense kindness between many of the characters. It is a book written with compassion, and despite the devastation it depicts, there is also much growth, of the city, of the characters, across the generations. </p><p>(Growing up in Delhi in the sixties and early seventies, wars, both actual and potential, were a grim reality, leaving an entire generation with memories of blacked out windows and air raid sirens and safety trenches. Fortunately I was never directly affected by war, but the fear of it remains deep within me, along with my fear of natural calamities).</p><p>The book speaks to me of a familiar milieu, of the land of my ancestors, who were also, historically, long ago migrants. In reading this book, I recall the comfort offered by the first grown up story teller of my life, my beloved Phupha. (My first ever story teller was my sister.) On our return to Delhi after six years in England, I was all of eight, my sister ten. We could understand, and also speak Hindi, but most inhibitedly. English was our comfort language, in a place that was so utterly different from anything that we we were familiar with. Those few months at my aunt and uncle's home, until my father was allotted his own government accommodation, were a strange orientation to our new life, back in the early sixties. Phupha would, every single evening, tell us stories, from the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, and Russian folk tales, all in English. He would also, when able to, take us to the playground at Birla Mandir. He was the most grandfatherly member of my family, and I miss him still. Even when I was a grown up myself, (or appeared to be one), his wisdom and kindliness were always a source of great sustenance and comfort. I am dipping into The Garden of Heaven again and again, finding so much similar beauty and comfort in its pages.</p><p>When a book has the power to move you like this, and to give you more and more insights on each reading, it is very very special indeed. Your beautiful book, Madhulika, speaks to my soul. </p><p><br /></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089956061483501286.post-22124431520755382692021-12-01T10:46:00.010+05:302021-12-01T10:54:51.714+05:30Mumu Shelley: a brilliant new film<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185//vXzu4tyDMwQ9UMteLDCQ9M4Ez1z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="185" height="362" src="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185//vXzu4tyDMwQ9UMteLDCQ9M4Ez1z.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Batul Mukhtiar's new film is a delight. It starts with a very very familiar desperation: the need for a loo! Aiman Mukhtiar plays the role of Shelley, the girlfriend of the omni-absent Mishti. Mishti is supposed to be meeting her at her (Mishti's) cool Mumu Didi's home, so that Mumu can help Mishti come out of the closet to her family.</p><p>Mumu, (played by Pubali Sanyal), however, battles demons of her own. Her first (sun-hatted indoors, in the evening) appearance has her politely pleading with her husband to attend the dinner party she is hosting that evening. But is she? She is cooking vast quantities of food, assisted, or not, by a reluctant Shelley, who has happily imbibed some strange looking cocktails prepared by Mumu, but no other guests seem to be coming. Shelley keeps calling Mishti, who never appears. No other guest either appears, or calls to apologize for not coming. Nor does the host. Is Mumu delusional, or merely deluding herself? </p><p>The equations between Mumu and Shelley change over the course of the evening. Beautiful performances by both the actors, a fascinating set, a gamut of emotions, much learning by both protagonists over the course of a mere fifty minutes!</p><p>Kudos to Aiman Mukhtiar for writing this brilliant script!</p><p>Showing online at the South Asian Feminist Festival at doculive.blogspot.com, from 4 p.m. (IST) on 3rd December upto 11 a.m. (IST) on 13th December 2021.</p><p>Do watch!</p><p><br /></p>dipalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070862196307376073noreply@blogger.com3