My one regret as I look
back is when I allowed my parents to throw out a cat and her kittens
from our home.
The mother cat had come
in to our home as a stray kitten. She was very cute as all kittens
are. We developed a bond instantly. We could understand each other. I
was around 10 years old. She was my best friend. Then her own kittens
arrived. My parents panicked. Pictured an outbreak of kittens.
Kittens pouring out of every nook and corner and every wardrobe and
cupboard. They elaborately discussed with me the various horrors of
cats over running your home. I finally caved in in a weak moment and
then they were just dropped off somewhere near a fish market where
they would always find food.
I cried every evening
after school for the longest time. The tiny fur balls of pure
cuteness. I felt guilty as hell. I was haunted by their faces. I had
let them down. I never had a pet cat again even though I nursed an
injured kitten back to health and fed some strays.
Every
civilized human should have a basic sense of hygiene. Personal
hygiene is very important for good health and so is a hygienic
approach to the people around you as well as the place where you live
and work. The most common disgusting habit of the Indian is spitting.
I see people spitting everywhere as they please. I also know of an
elderly person who did not approve of the flat system because he
wasn't able to spit through the window whenever he wanted. That is
the most pathetic need of a person. To be able to comfortably spit. I
have often noticed the dark red stains of chewed pan on the windows
of the lobby our building. Feel free to spit, every window seems to
say. So does every road. Feel free to urinate, says every corner to
the Indian man.
It
shows of a basic disrespect to the society in which we live. How
would this spit obsessed Indian feel if someone came inside his house
and spat right in his living room?
Why
does he feel differently about every other place?
Why
does he have the attitude that he can go and dirty up every other
place outside of his own home?
The
moral police are very busy these days. It doesn't seem to bother them
that many women and girls are using open fields and railway tracks
instead of a walled clean toilet. It sure seems fine by them to see
hundreds of children in broad day light sitting along the roads of
Mumbai and just piling up human waste. As long as no one kisses or
hugs anyone. As long as no one mentions Valentines day. The grand old
Indian culture is all safe guarded.
A
couple of leaders sweeping some dried grass and crumpled paper
doesn't lead to a cleaner India. It needs to begin from the numb mind
of that Indian who only bothers about his living room being clean. It
is all about patriotism. Not to just show off to the so called
developed countries. We need to love our land. And our fellow Indian
brothers and sisters. To care about not causing any harm or any
discomfort.
So
do you have it in you to speak up ? Can you show the not so patriotic
Indian his grave mistake of spitting or throwing stuff on the road?
Who will bell the cat ?
When
will the government install garbage bins at every nook and corner, we
do not know. When will the policeman stand at the corner and grab
those who dirty the strests, we do not know. But we can start right
away. Before you preach to a stranger, you can start at home.
Parents, spouse, kids etc It s time for us to do our tiny little bit
for our beloved motheland. Time to speak up, without any hesitation
or fear. Time to start cleansing out attitude. Not silent or numb any
more. Not passive any more. Your nation needs your voice, your
actions and not your sighs and shrugs.
Strepsils have launched a digital campaign to encourage Indians to speak their mind, to voice their discomfort or opinion. No more to suppress. Your words should be heard. Even when its embarrassing for those you respect, you need to speak and show them gently but firmly the fault in their attitude.
Mira sipped her tea
slowly and drank in the romance playing on the telly. She loved this
new Hindi soap. There was so much chemistry between the two. The kids
were packed off to school and the husband was out on the usual
morning walk. This was her tiny window of peace and solitude. She
generally watched some comedy series and laughed along but these days
she had got herself hooked on to a romantic story.
Suddenly she heard the
door bell. How did Ayush return so quickly ? She wondered and quickly
turned off the telly. She ran and opened the door.
Ayush appeared tired.
“I stopped early.”
Mira looked at him
carefully. The stress on him was showing under his eyes. He didn't
sleep properly, she realized.
Ayush headed for the
shower. He called out “Get the breakfast ready..I want to go early
to office”
Mira headed promptly to
the kitchen. She went about the mechanical motions of preparing the
dosa.
She wished Ayush would
share his troubles with her. He was clearly worried.
All they talked about
to each other were about the kids. Which classes, hobbies or sports
to take up and which competitions to sign up etc.
Mira laid out the
breakfast on the table and waited.
Ayush sat down in a
hurry. As Mira served Dosa and chutney on his plate she longed to ask
him about the apparent anxiety gnawing on him. The phone rang as it
always did when Ayush ever tried to do anything else but work. Mira
bit her lip.
Ayush ran to his room,
talking on the phone and opened up his laptop.
The breakfast was soon
forgotten.
Mira closed her eyes
briefly and then she realized that Ayush had stopped talking on the
phone but he was working. She could hear the key press sounds in a
silence filled home.
Mira picked up Ayush's
plate and walked over to his room.
He shrugged at her ”I
know its getting cold but I have to do something very important...”
Mira smiled and nodded.
She tried to push away the awkwardness she felt and slowly hesitantly
offered Ayush a piece of Dosa. He suddenly looked up at her. She only
fed the kids this way anymore. He smiled and opened his mouth.
“Turning me also into
your child ?”, he asked.
“If you are behaving
like one, what else to do”, she replied as she wiped the corner of
his mouth with her fingers.
Ayush put his hand on
her fingers and looked into her eyes.
“I am glad you are
here for me.”
He closed his eyes and
realised how soft her hands were. He opened his eyes and looked at
the girl he fell in love with. Her touch would always calm him and
assure him that he wasn't alone. She was there for him. Taking care
of him. He was suddenly happy that she was right there.
He pulled her gently
towards him. “Let 's finish the hot dosas first”, she laughed as
she placed one more piece into his mouth.
It's amazing how you Can speak right to my heart. Without saying a word You can light up the dark. The smile on your face Lets me know that you need me. There's a truth in your eyes Saying you'll never leave me. The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall. You say it best when you say nothing at all.
From
When You Say Nothing At All
by Ronan Keating
A gentle ‘touch’ can go a long way in rekindling the lost spark and chemistry between couples.
Feeling awkward with touches ? Love your skin more by giving it care and nourishment. Discover how to do ... take a peek intohttp://www.pblskin.com/
Tweet your ideas about the touches that melt your heart with #BringBackTheTouch
When my intercom rings
in the afternoon on a holiday I get worried. Most times it has been
the neighbours who live immediately below us. They are hard working
people and want to rest their tender muscles on holidays by sleeping
off in the noon.
I wish I could too but
holidays mean double the work and no sleep at all..My two boys would
be at home and not in school.
After lunch they get
into hyper drive and they run about..jump from sofa to sofa or bed or
table or chair to chair ..I am used to all the hell raising din and I
can even doze off in the midst of all that but my poor hard working
neighbours get the scare of their lives with all the bounding on the
roof above their heads
They try to bury their
head under all the pillows they can find but finally give up and ring
me
“Can you please tell
them not to jump around so much ?”
“Can you please tell
them not to bounce the ball so much ?”
These very polite
requests vex me because I do not want to the annoying neighbour .
So now you get the
picture of my home...endless jumping, running and all manners of
motions of all kind of substances. My boys just can't keep still...not even in sleep. In sleep they go around in circles like the needles of a clock. Every minute or hour ...they turn an angle. I haven't figured out the turning rate in bed yet.
Well..in a place which
is so bustling with activity, when the projectiles are suddenly in
bed a cloud of gloom descends.
The sofas lose their
vibrancy and elasticity.
The floor looks so tidy
and deserted. Where are those elaborate airports constructed in nooks
and corners ?The railway tracks look heart broken at the abandonment
.Even the neighbours I am sure are tossing about in the bed because
of the eerie silence and calm.
Children should be up
and bounding about from adventure to the next. Even when we complain
of their mischief we relish it. When I see them inactive or in pain I
feel the pangs of guilt. What could have I done to avoid them the
aches ? Kids need to fall, I agree but they shouldn't be falling sick
Kids need to get dirty
but they should fight off the dirt
How can we shield them
from all harm ? We can only pray to God almighty but some things we
can do. We can nurture good habits in them. We can nudge them towards
good health.
Good health comes in
these days through good research and planning.
To enjoy a full
childhood where they can explore the world in front of them they need
the correct blend of nutrients
Anything that will
shield them against all those nasty germs out there must be welcome
in our homes.
Traditionally prepared
herbal mixtures which are quick fixes for the common ailments in
children are getting popular with new age moms.
Regular intake of
chyawanprash is something I remember about my childhood. I am ready
to try the same with my kids. Especially now that they are growing up
and taking up all sorts of classes and hobbies. Many products
available in the market carry a shadow of doubt. Steroids,
hormones....various news reports spread fear of everything edible
even.
Dabur is a name I
always relate to herbal and ayurvedic concoctions. Right from my
childhood I have seen and heard the name. It promises trust and care
with results.
I want to see my boys
doing everything they fancy. Learning and growing through adventures.
Conjuring up new stories and games. And that's what I would like to
equip them with my giving them the best nutrition and other aids to
increase immunity.
I guess I myself need
some chyawanprash to keep up with them.
To dive more into the Dabur world of immunity visit -
A perfect nude female form glowed from the blackboard. The whole class sat in rapt anticipation of the onslaught.
She scanned poor Tim's face for malice. Putting down the biology text, she said "That wasn't what I meant".
Katherine Paterson, author of Bridge to Terabithia, wrote, “It's like the smarter you are, the more things can scare you.” We are looking for a 33-word explanation of what scares you (or your character) -
Mine is the night. I can't sleep if I am alone. I keep a bible near my hand all night. Unknown, unexplained there roams something in the spaces between the darkness and light.
We have 99 words to add on any word of our choice. I chose Bach.
She slowly dried her eyes. She wondered why the tears
still hurt. She was used to his need of humiliating her in front of his friends
and family. Was she not worth any respect or care? She tried to remember the
good times. She could not let the bitterness invade. He was so good in many other
ways but he seemed impervious to her pain.
The door opened and
he glided in. He sat near her. Her eyes searched for remorse. His mouth came down hard on her lips. She
retched within and drowned herself in the Bach crescendo.
I would like to travel back to the day India was declared
an independent nation. Every time I read Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny”
speech which he delivered on the midnight of Aug 14, 1947 as India woke into
liberty, I am filled with awe. Moving the ordinary man to believe he has a part
in the glorious dream. I can imagine how they rejoiced. How powerful they felt.
I want to feel that pulse. The blood throbbing exhilaration on an amazing
victory over the empire where the sun never set. Dancing away, not a shred of
doubt that anything was ever going to go wrong.
This week’s word in the spotlight is rainbow. What a
beautiful thing to write about but we have to use the third definition which is
an illusory goal or dream. Much like the one I have about winning a Trifecta
challenge.
1:
an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum
and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the
sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist
There were days when she woke up and fear gripped her. But
she dragged herself up and pushed on to the day care center. There were cranky colicky
babies and tantrum throwing toddlers. Unlimited chaos. Havoc spewing monsters. She
needed the money. She had come into the city with hopes of being a scriptwriter.
She had huge volumes of her marvelous stories. Rejection after rejection piled
up and started blocking her source of creativity. She began to feel numb and
words stopped tumbling out of her soul.
Today was no different. Like a moving mannequin she
walked towards Daffodils filled with
cute looking imps. The huge yellow plastic blossoms seemed to mock her. We are
more Daffodils than you are a writer. She turned her head away.
She always wanted to write a movie script. There was no
doubt in her heart until now. Maybe I should go back to college and get some
professional degree, she realized with a shudder. She shook it off and tried to
breathe in some fresh morning air. Someone had puked in the front yard, she gasped.
Placing her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from the same fate she ran
inside.
Hot tears stung
her eyes. She started quivering with uncontrollable sobs. Everything she was so
sure of started crumbling around her in that minute. I am not a writer. What would
life be without passion, she agonized. Doing some job just to survive, to pay
bills. All what she fought for was coming to naught. Fiery speeches she made
about living true to your calling rose up like ghosts with a vengeance and tangoed
around her.
Suddenly her phone jingled. Although she wanted to dash
it on the wall with hideously painted daffodils, she answered it.
“Miss. Thomas, I
am calling from the YRH studios. We would like a meeting with you regarding a
script you have presented.”
Shopping in 2030! Roughly sixteen years from now, how will our lives be? The question
triggers a thought, will I even be alive? What ever those answers are,
technology is surely going to advance. Our lives will be enhanced with new
gadgets, which make our chores simpler. Would girls ever think of shopping as a
chore? I guess not. We could go on hunting for that perfect shoe or dress.
Which would have no flaws and would simply delight us.
Malls will not be going away for sure as it is a fun way to engage
in group retail therapy. Also we do need a bit of human interaction, feeling
the texture, taking in the smells and soaking in the hues.
I can see some grocery shopping tasks getting revitalized in
2030. Kitchen cabinets with sensors to monitor the level of supplies. It could
also monitor and alert if any thing goes stale or moldy. A screen would be placed on the wall listing
critical levels and seeking confirmation for placing grocery orders.
I personally like grocery shopping at DMart but I am finding
the crowd getting bigger each day. It’s a hassle pushing the shopping cart
through aisles flooded with people and then carrying them back home. It would
be welcome if we could do away with the store visits. It may also help in
keeping the grocery stocks in good hygienic conditions.
We should also voice recognition shopping lists. As I cook I
can just talk to it and store my wish list of anything at all. It would crawl all
over the web and bring back good deals.
Web applications to try out clothes and accessories would be
radical. I could just try it online. I am guessing it would be all holograms
and I could just upload my hologram.
It would be a virtual trying out experience in which I can see the fitting on my hologram.
http://walyou.com/led-sculpture/
I t would be cool to have web apps to
choose a good glam shoe which would advise us on the health effects also. We could upload our foot holograms which also
take into consideration our weight, leg shape and then when we choose stilettos
or wedges, we could make an informed selection.
Nothing more uplifting than trying shoes and clothes, virtually in the comfort of home !!
How ever the scene transforms, we are still going to love shopping.
Written for ebay contest Future of Shopping. For more details visit the ebay check page. Updates on ebay prices , any product, anywhere directly on google chrome bar.
