YASHODA AND HER KANHAIYAS BOND BEAUTIFULLY !

Yashoda stared in disbelief."You will not do that,I hope you can understand, my little boy.".. she said.The little prankster was a hyperactive kid and kept Yashoda on her toes all day long.

As she gaped in awe and to her utter dismay,and before she could stop him,the lad hurriedly grabbed the pair of shoes lying nearby and flung it outside, from the third floor balcony.

As Rahul grinned mischievously,a seemingly innocent Gokul emerged out of the balcony.Yashoda was in tears and her little boys were jumping with glee..

"This is just one of the pranks that my boys are upto anytime of the day remarked Yashoda.I keep a close watch and I am always alert,"she said."They are blessed with a mechanical bent of mind ,remarked the young mother....and so I have placed most of my household appliances out of their reach," she added.

This is an excerpt of a conversation ,when I met Yashoda a few years ago."It is very difficult and yet pleasures of motherhood ,Aaaha." she said.

Two days ago and after a gap of nearly 10 years,I happened to meet Yashoda and her children at a function.I was thrilled.After all,it was a reunite with a close chum after so many years.
When her twin boys were 5 years old,her husband ,a bank officer was transferred further south.We kept in touch and wished one another on all occasions.I would enquire about the activities of her kids and she would say ,"Oh ! Thankfully they seem to be mellowing down with age...I had met the kids a couple of times and they were Oh ! so lovable."

Now,here I was meeting them again after a decade.It was a pleasant surprise and I spotted Yashoda first..."Oh ! How come you are here ?' I asked her."We have just been posted back to Chennai ,"she said and in the process of shifting ."she added."How are your little boys ?"I asked her..."Oh ! They are fine,grown up to be six footers and she pointed her fingers towards the two tall boys standing in one corner of the hall.

I was taken aback..."Who they ?I was not too sure,As we talked,the boys moved towards us and as they neared me,Yashoda introduced me to them..."Hey Please meet my sons Rahul and Gokul.They are fifteen years old."I was still in a state of disbelief ,but I was happy to meet them.
We chatted together and it was fun.The boys were cheerful just like the mother......Infact a carbon copy of the mom.Yashoda added..". Rahul aspires to be an aeronautical enbgineer and Gokul wishes to be a doctor."

"Please give me your address "I asked.Immidiately Rahul took out a pen from his pocket,brought out a paper and started writing with his left hand...."Is he left handed just like you ?I asked Yashoda..."Oh ! Yes ! and Gokul is right handed like his father.

So what's new? you may all ask ?Well ! Nature never ceases to amaze us and when I came across the boys after so many years I was surprisedly stunned too.The persona revealed all the traits of Yashoda and here let me tell you,that, she is not their biological mother.Yashoda had adopted them as new borns and I was fully aware of that....

This is not the only case of adoption that I know amongst my close circle of friends..... What amazes me even more is the tremendous parent child bonding in all such relationships in the absence of the umblical link.

As we took leave a blushing Yashoda said with great pride, "The boys have taken after me in their looks and their Dad in their behaviour."

and I left the function with mixed feelings and unanswered questions....

SHRI CHAKRA RAJA SIMHASANESWARI.........

Shree Chakra Raja Simhasaneswaree,Shree Lalithambikaye Bhuvaneswaree...crooned Kannamani inside the puja room on the second floor of 178 Rash Beharee Avenue...Vijaya,she cried out..".Uppu kuzhakkattai poornathirukku elimminchambazham pizhiya marunthudathey." Seree Amma.aracha.Ulundhai vega potturkken.Marakkamatten,"...solii Vijaya went about her Thai Friday chores.."..Vijaya ! do not forget to add lime to the urad dal filling for the salt modaks," a devout and pious Kannamani called out to Vijaya.Yes Amma I shall remember to do that ,"replied the dutiful daughter-in-law Vijaya.

You can never think creative if you do not work hard remarked a friend.That set me thinking...Oh really ? I mused...and creativity in any form finds its way out thanks to the positive mind set of the individual,Right? I added.It also depends upon the number of funny bones and that varies from individual to individual.While some are endowed with a surplus,many ,I am sorry to say do not have even a single one.The friend smiled and nodded in agreement.

I am not surprised when people crib and complain.Life is not a bed of roses,not even for the Gates ,the Birlas or the Ambanis of the world....An individual falls,stumbles,rises,reaches desired heights ,fails at times and tastes success at times.In this journey he undergoes pain ,and when he strives hard the best things he receives are not served to him on a platter...No never...He chooses to hide his pain and moves on.As he moves on,sometimes on thorn ridden paths,he picks up the roses too and makes Happiness a habit.He is happy being himself,lost in admiring his possessions and striving hard towards a reachable goal.He is plain happy ,laughs away his woes and the positivity in him makes him feel extremely good.The side effects are positive and that set me thinking again.

Growing up in a joint family has its advantages and it's share of pinpricks.Atleast it prepared me to live in a joint family .Growing up in one was exciting should I say ? Living in another has been a greater challenge.As I look back....Whoa!..I grew up in a joint family and the upbringing lasted for 25 years.Its been another 25 years and whoa! I am still growing.The state of enlightenment still eludes me and I am happily ignorant.Whoever said that ignorance is bliss ,would be happy to read this.

Kannamani had chalked out her Aadi ,Navarathri,Margazhi ,Thai & Sankatahara chaturthi plans in the month of Chithirai .Vijaya,she called out to her obedient daughter in law.Please make all the necessary arrangements.It was a Sunday and the first Aadi Friday was a couple of months away.Times haven't changed much for today's Nayaki..Citing bossy pressures,Nayaki feigns ignorance and she is excused....Anyway Nayaki is a fantastic helper.She takes care of all the running around and the odd jobs.

Young Nayaki was a silent spectator.She was amused .Intha Kannamani Patti sahasranamam sollarangala illa oray Kuzhakkattai maava ariaithu ariaithu Kuzhakattai bhajanai panrangala ?" ( Does this Kannamani Patti chant the Sahasranamam or does she recite the Modak ?She wakes up with Modaks all over in her body and mind," baby Nayaki chuckled.

Vijaya used to tell her kids tales from the Panchatantra and the Jatakas.With a mischievous glint in her eye and a naughty look on her face,she would ask her grandma..".Kannamani Amma ! Kuzhakattaikku kannu undo dee ? Does the modak have eyes?
Kuzhakattaikku kathu undo dee?Does the modak have ears?
Kuzhakattaikku Vaay undo dee?"Does the modak have a mouth.
Po Kuzhakkattaikku Vaal Undu..
.Unakku Kuzhakkattais kidayathu,
"Go ! Modak has a tail.You will not get modaks to eat,"saying Kannamani would admonish her,only to reward her later sumptuously.

It was great fun growing up in such a family in the midst of a parabhrahmam grandfather,a grandma whose thoughts were always with the hidden provisions ,strict uncles , carefree aunts , gem of parents and a calm and composed brother.

I saw my mom work tirelessly always with a smile on her lips.When I was five years young,I realised the secret behind her smile.The Iyer family despised sulk.It must have been really tough.She was just 21 when she entered the family.An Osmania University graduate,slowly she adapted beautifully to the needs of the Tambong family.She was my youngest uncle's first tution teacher.He doted on her then.He dotes on her till today.

You may be wondering why I am saying all this ?...We love to complain about the weather,about the government,about the roads,about the transport and declare that but for the road blocks,we would be much happier and more comfortably placed.I agree,but citing such circumstances,one tends to become more lazy.

Grandma had a knack of keeping herself and the others busy.She was good at delegation.Granpa would ask every day...I am going out for a walk.Do you need something?She would reply immediately..."Please buy I kg coffee powder,I tin Ovaltin,I kg of Soap powder,6 Sunlight Bars and Two packets of Sandalwood Incense.Grandpa knew very well that she had a store stocked with daily provisions and soap items.He never questioned her but faithfully walked out and returned home empty handed mostly.

Then it was her turn to give him a piece of advice and move on.The arguments would last for a few seconds and life would move on normally.Visitors to our home were always welcomed with a mixed fragrance of incense,camphor,face powder ,Coffee and detergent.We had ample stock tucked away in all corners.

Water was scarce.To be honest there was no water connection and no taps either.Mom used to get water for the daily puja rituals and cooking from a hand tubewell on the ground floor.We lived on the second floor and I remember she used to carry pots of water several times during the day.I have never seen her complain.

Transfer of blame is a sign of weakness.As human it is natural to have negative and positive feelings.Here I wish to stress that it is important to understand that just as moments of glory are temporary,we need not live under a perpetual fear of the unexpected ,unexpected I say because all that is good is what we expect and desire.Its the worry of uncertainty,the possibility of untoward incidents that we constantly think may happen,that paves the way for negativity to make an easy entry into the sub conscious mind.All that is fed into the sub conscious mind is certain to happen sooner or later..

This and more gyan was repeatedly fed into the young minds by a stern Chandru.The octogenarian uncle is a self made man.He plays bridge every day,writes columns in newspapers ,moves around in public transport,walks a mile every day and makes sure that everyone around him wears a smile always.

"Idling and Negativity breed ill feelings and robs the individual of basic reasoning skills,and instead of appreciating all that he is endowed with,he is always dissatisfied citing innumerable excuses,"he would say.......He spoke to me a few days back and said...Hey lazy bones.I stumbled on a web site"Live Mocha.in"........

That's my uncle....He will take the horse to the water...and there ends his efforts...Now He will expect a feedback.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GIRL ! YOUR MOTHER IS YOUR DOCTOR !

Dearest Mama Tolerance Valentino !

I do not remember your first touch.

frail thy name is,you held on to me,

oblivious of all happening around you,

heartening it must have been.

Emotions all bottled up ,

did you need a shoulder to cry upon ?

I do not remember your first words.

With a wide beam on your face,

what could you have said ?

Did you have a lump in your throat?

Overwhelming, was it so ?

I do not remember your first gaze,

charged with emotions,

were you anxious?

Celebrating the moment,

why did you cry?

even as I snuggled upto you.

I do not remember the first kiss,

as tears rolled down your cheek.

You smothered me with salty love.

Sleepless and weary did you whisper

sweet nothings into my tiny ear ?

I do not remember your first fit of rage.

With clenched fists and eyes tightly closed,

Why was I inconsolable ?

It was the colic you had diagnosed,

as I puked over your shoulders

I burped,peed,pooped,and when I didn't

you rushed me to the Doc,

and then you ran again for the shots.

I was warm and you went cold.

When you were terrified,

I was blissfully sleeping.

You stayed awake simply gazing at me.

When your head dropped,

in panic you woke up again.

Your heart was racing,

I was not aware of that,

For nine long months

my heart was beating inside you.

I kicked you .

You did not mind.

You underwent a transformation.

Dearest Mother of Mine !

you envisioned these moments,

in anticipation of the love of your life.

Yet ! why were you always weepy, angry and frustrated ?

Was I really that scary Mommy ?

With love and hugs..

Baby Terror Valentino !

If You Know Me !

It is an out & out Thala Show

On board the flight from Boston to Chennai,a handsome middle aged man hides his identity from the woman who is seated beside him.Just in time ,Thenmozhi checks in and boards the flight .The flight purser informs her that she can occupy a business class seat next to Mr Satya. This has obviously been prearranged.It is the requirement of the story line..

28 year old Thenmozhi is played by Anushka Shetty .She stands tall at 5ft 10 .Seeing a debonair Ajith by her side,she is speechless.She has already lost her heart to the stranger.

From there the movie goes forth and back as Thala narrates the story of his childhood,his murdered father whom he idolises and because of whose advice he sticks on to the right side of law,his love the dancer Hemanika played by Trisha who is expressive and Esha her daughter from her failed marriage .

Many parts of the movie are on flashback mode with a well groomed black haired and bearded Ajith dominating the frames.Each time a grey,pepper and stubbled Ajith made his appearance on the screen,the audience was in raptures and the dialogues were drowned in the sound of applause ..

Victor is the bad man played by Arun Kumar .He plays his role convincingly.The cop Satya is out on a mission to eliminate evil and get to the bottom of an organ transplant racket.

It may take some time till the songs get registered in the viewers minds and nothing exceptional about the movie except for the fact that hero oriented movies are here to stay.In some frames he appears stiff  ,without the slightest of expression but overall Ajith looks dignified.

Yennai Arinthal is another usual cop drama .Violence depicted is typical of a Gautam Menon flick.Seeing these gory acts makes one wonder how the blood ,knives and guns went past the censors.Portions of dialogues have been muted and that could be a reason how the movie was finally granted a U.....

Damp Wicks and Sour Oranges !

I have to write something and pour my heart out.Friends are family and who else but family to lend a ear to all that I have to say.

So on that note ,without much ado, let me begin.Time and again ,I keep reiterating that, the social media has it's side effects , both good and bad.Take the good ,stay focussed on your requirements and move on.

Again the world is a stage,life is a drama where each one of us has a different role to play. During the course of the play we keep learning , we make mistakes and we learn from some of the mistakes,rectify them,some we repeat,some we simply ignore...

Each act of ours comes with a caution notice,which at times we tend to overlook due to over confidence.Each one of us is adept at some work or the other and prone to fail in some.

Take the example of water that can quench our thirst .If we are aware that it is hot ,we will be careful .If we are not aware,the result would be a burnt tongue.So before you try to drink water straight from the Hot & Cold stainless steel thermos jar,think twice.Here ,this may also be termed as carelessness.I would like to look at it another way.Never take anything for granted ,however sure you may be.Chances are that you may be wrong.So take one step at a time,tread carefully and look before you leap.

It is a Saturday today,a day I love because the next day is a Sunday.I bet you would have read this ,close to a zillion times now ,ever since FaceBook went viral.The days of the week have never ever been more meaningful than now.

Anyway,the purpose of the post is also to tell you all that ,weekend domestic chores do take up a lot of my precious time.In the middle of all this,in order to stay motivated , I experiment,sometimes to the utter amazement of my loved ones and sometimes to their dismay..

A few days back,if memory serves me right and since public memory is short,I would like to bring to your notice once again that I had posted the photograph of a Santhra Peel Diya. Here I have to proclaim proudly that on that day, the lamp was burning for nearly twelve hours.Needless to say ,ever since that day,I am overjoyed at the very sight of the orange fruit.

A friend visited us yesterday.She brought with her a dozen oranges and handed over the cover to me.I was delighted .With dreams of the choicest luscious oranges,sparkling oil lamps and the fragrance of citrus ,I went to sleep.

I woke up with much enthusiasm.This is where staying motivated and inspired helps.Go to bed with happy thoughts.Keep looking out for possible acts and small things that give you happiness.Try to be close to them as much as possible.

With much glee ,I peeled the orange.While peeling,I experienced difficulty.It was not as simple as in the previous one.The peel was stuck to the fruit and for every prick,I was damaging the fruit inside.Nevertheless I had begun and I was in no mood to let go.I managed to get the two halves in proper shape along with the natural fibre in the centre that serves as the wick…

The woes had just begun.I lighted the first match stick,then the second ,then one after another and I tried to light the wick.My efforts were in vain and in a few minutes a new match box had been depleted of all its sticks.I was still hopeful.The wick stood firm ground and even as baffled family members looked on,I kept on trying.I did not wish to waste any more match sticks.So I tried with a candle but my efforts went futile.I tried with a cotton wick dipped in oil.I failed…

Could I be responsible for the failure ? I pondered.

"Ofcourse not,"said my inner voice."Find the cause and make it accountable for the failure," she added.

"You had a pleasant previous experience just a few days back my dear,"she whispered.

"Oh ! Yes ! I cannot be wrong."I was still confident…

But by now,I was also almost in a state of despair.The floor of my puja room was strewn with burnt matchsticks and smeared with patches of oil.In a moment of hopelessness,I gave up.I poured the oil from the orange into the normal daily lamp,cleaned the floor and resumed my duties..

But then ,I had to find out the reason for the failure.It seemed so damn simple the other day.This is why I keep saying that , in order to learn , in tune with the times we live in ,it becomes mandatory to log on to FB,use it as a learning tool,disable some notifications,as they recommend in Feng shui,keep the wall free of clutter,let FB know what you like based on your searches,allow FB to indicate your preferences, choose the pages ,learn from them ,try them out,make mistakes, accept moral responsibility and rectify the mistake.........or , alternatively google,learn from tutorials,make mistakes and learn from the mistakes by identifying the cause. 

Most important,if you really have a desire ,give your heart and soul to it and do not lose hope.What you love is divine.What you love to do is worship.

In the context of success and failures,hopes and disappointments,I think it would be apt to explain with an example, how the character of the orange here has a major role to play,how it 's intrinsic character can influence the outcome and how the series of observations I make in the process can cause to have a lasting impression on my mind.

Hence my earlier observation about the world being a stage ,each individual being unique and drama being the basic philosophy behind life becoming relevant here.One orange was a true hero a few days back.Stoically he had stood with the spark burning bright for nearly 12 hours.Today's orange was different ,unique,but was not suitable for the role as far as execution of my interest was concerned.It's as simple as that…Naive that I am ,how was I to know ?..Hence the advice,do not take anything for granted.

The orange that played the role of the hero a few days back was suave,handsome dressed in a loose orange coloured jacket.He was quite flexible.The orange today was good looking too,firm and strong .Attired in a thick, skin fitting, orange coloured jacket, he appeared to be unyielding though .But didn't I say looks are deceptive ? 

He looked much stronger but he did not live upto the expectation of the gracious hero I admired.He was neither chivalrous nor magnanimous enough to take on the heat of a tiny spark …….

LEAD BY EXAMPLE & CATCH ' EM YOUNG

Just because I happen to be a favourite does not give me the right to brag .Right ! I agree whole heartedly.I keep reiterating this so that each one of you may understand that when I write,I speak my mind.My capabilities are highly limited ,restricted to a few activities within the confines of a home ,an office or any other comfort zone wherein I can adapt and be myself.

Here I would like to stress upon , a subtle difference that differentiates me from the rest,all of whom are more experienced,multifaceted ,highly talented,very humble ,who either do not write or exhibit their talent.My salutes to them.

My tryst with the keyboard began a few years back when I also realised that though I had the potential to be a leader ,I  preferred to stay in the background.I am still very much the same.I am at home taking orders and implementing them to the best of my ability.

If I cut veggies, I have a selfish interest.I like to slice,cut,shred and chop.The sight of the vegetable cart is enough to be send me into a frenzy.It is a joy to simply sit on the floor ,keep a bowl of water ,listen to music ,segregate the vegetables and go chop chop chop on the chopping board with a sense of achievement.It is a pleasure to shell the peas,pop in a few into the mouth,grate the carrots,cucumber and tomatoes for the salad and chew the fragmented ends.

So by the time the mami has arrived,I have created a beautiful working atmosphere for her.These are the small things that matter a lot and small tasks that each one of is doing...not just me.

In the absence of the mami,I take a small break,write to rewind and hey presto ! I have donned a new garb...

Now I hope you can understand the difference.I speak about the Aam Aadmi and his daily contribution ,I speak for the sake of others, I speak on behalf of that community at large,on behalf of the unsung men and women,who prefer to remain in the background ,selflessly silent,whose service is unseen and unheard.

This was an intro if you may like to call it so.The intention of the post is to highlight the qualities of a good leader.

Each one of us is a leader at sometime or the other ,somewhere.The responsibilities change according to the circumstances..

It could be home,workplace,any comfort zone,where over a period of time as we assume responsibilities we become leaders.It is as simple as that.

A leader is one who takes on responsibilities not because he is compelled to,not because he is paid for being so,but because he likes to be accountable.That is the sure sign of a good leader.

He needs people around to help him.They are not his subordinates.They are also leaders.By delegating duties to each one of them,the person at the helm is initiating,making them accountable and helping them to lead.Hence the saying..Lead by example and catch them young..

So  as one takes on willing responsibility because it is in his interests to love,care or serve,expect help to which he is entitled,refuse assistance in order to create awareness of accountability,he is in fact , creating new leaders,who at some time of their lives are going to emulate his practices,adapt themselves with the changing times and again lead by example..This is how leadership works..

A good leader begins work at the ground level.He takes responsibility for the basic foundation of any work , is involved continuously in the work,monitors the progress and because he foresees the favourable change,he is absolutely confident that the goals can be reached.Such a person is not afraid to speak out when the intentions are good.Any new change proposed is bound to face stiff opposition and a good leader knows that too well.

Undeterred by brickbats or any protests he will carry on unfazed because he is absolutely certain of the exciting and good prospects ahead....

Huh ! Now he must be having hicupps !

Mind you ! I dream.....even in the midst of an afternoon siesta....

An age old therapy I stress upon now and then,is to relive the past in the form of anecdotes,to dwell in the present in useful activity and then put them down in black and white.The therapeutic benefits of writing are immense , where all that one has to do is , to jog those grey cells to get the fingers moving .Writing is an activity akin to meditation.It elevates one to a state of supreme bliss.It takes only a word to get started,and you will be surprised that words spring up from nowhere ,that a story has already taken shape and you have nearly reached euphoria.

A little master had declared .What's that if you may ask ? It was a sporting event,the gentleman's game,a few decades back that many of us would have seen with our eyes wide open live on the ground,or followed the game ball to ball with a transistor glued to our ears.The little master had declared the innings.The opening pair was playing in copybook style and the openers complemented each other ,block with block.Cursed and under the influence of an evil omen perhaps,the gentleman Chetan Chauhan  stood as a rock,even as his partner slowly inched towards the century mark ...Alas ! the three digit magic figure eluded Chauhan quite often and who can forget the euphoria live,the hot tea in the mud cups ,the cuppa that accidentally slipped out of my hand and fell on the back of an excited spectatator.

I still remember his wails ,though he did not raise any alarm.He did not call in the police.He was writhing in pain , he removed his shirt and showed the scalded bruises to every body around.The excitement of  watching the game and maintaining the tempo of the cheers /screams was more important.Poor fellow...Very soon he had also forgotten about the mishap and the frenzied ecstasy alone remained in the air.A nearly one lakh crowd sighed in unision as the gentleman walked towards the pavilion.He was cleaned bowled on 99.

Those were the Sunny Days when Packer introduced Night cricket.The first Asian games were declared open when the television set was a luxury .Memories of a huge indoor stadium , where a dashing Amitabh fitted with electric bulbs on his dress,danced to the tune of Sara Zamana Haseenon ka deewana with a pretty Neetu by his side , come not to haunt but to give me immense pleasure.I have no count of the number of times I would have watched Biwi O Biwi,a laugh riot starring Randhir Kapoor and Poonam Dhillon,simply because we had just acquired a video casette player and this movie came free with the purchase. I watched the movie innumerable number of times ,memorised the dialogues which had a lasting impression on my young mind.So ! I had sufficient reason to believe that a manglik should get married only to a manglik .

The Mangalyan now reinforces my faith in goodness of humanity,that God dwells in Good,that you are the creator of your own destiny and so you become what you think.A positive mind leads one to the path of growth and thereby endows upon one , the ability to decide without superstitions obstructing his/her way of thinking.Mankind has progressed way beyond what may have been deemed impossible...

These and many more memories are very special,they are random thoughts that spring up in my mind now and then....of cement floors,wooden shutters,wooden foldable chairs,trunk boxes,holdalls,Navtal locks,the large iron keys,rusty creaking iron door latches,clicking fan regulators and the clacking ceramic switches.....