15 Reasons To Say No To Marriage!

I suggest and recommend that you don't even think about marriage, if you

1. Don't know why your elders are asking you to get married
2. Don't know why you want to get married
3. Are looking for ONLY sex in a marriage
4. Want to make way to your younger siblings. It has always been that way in our Indian culture. Elders first. 
5. Have failed in your love life and looking for a get away
6. Want to get away from some one who is behind you for many years and begging you for your love.
7. Are not sure what your sexual orientation is.
8. Don't have a job that could support you and your wife, financially
9. Are not ready yet, to accept your partner into your inner circle
10. Are not matured enough to accept your partner for what he/she is
11. Don't possess a healthy body and mind to carry the responsibilities of your family 
12. Don't have the guts to stand by and fight for your partner's space/place within your family
13. Are looking for a house keeping assistant.
14. Are in a relationship
15. Can't mend your ways to save the marriage

Is there another reason that you could add to this list. for not saying YES for a marriage proposal?

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

Photo by farconville

Married But Complicated

40% of my male friends are in a relationship or seeing some one or seeing many. 60% of my friends are married! Of them 40% would like to declare their relationship status as MBC - Married But Complicated.

When I ventured into the private territory of marital relationship of the latter 40% of friends, I found that almost all of them wanted the relationship status to be declared as complicated. Hushhhhhhhhhhh! Don;t ask me to point out them in my Facebook friends list. Their peace will go for a toss.

I always thought that parents who have kids at home are having the most happiest relationship between them.  I was curious to know why would they want to declare their status as "Married But Complicated". So I asked these questions to them in a very casual conversations. I found that all of them are happy with their marriage because they have a son or a daughter out of the marital relationship. But confessed they would feel more happier to be a single parent than living with a 'oh-not-so-understanding' partner.

Conversation between me and my male friend

Yours Truly: Hey, Long time no see, huh!
Male Friend: Yeah, Sorry. Couldn't stay in touch with you as often as I would love to.

Y.T.: That's ok. I understand.
M.F.: Yeah! You are a very understanding friend of mine. I have hardly met anybody as understanding as you are. (Honestly, I didn't make this)

Y.T.: (Smiles) Thanks. So, How are you?
M.F.: Am doing good.

Y.T.: How is your wife and kid?
F.F.: Both are good.

Y.T.: How is work?
F.F.: Work is keeping me busy most of the days. But its okay. I spend time at home on weekends. But not all the weekends, anyway.

Y.T.: Otherwise I hope things are better at home (throw a look at him questioningly)
F.F.: Yeah! Things are ooooookayyyyyyy! But could have been better if my wife understand me better. She don't even want to listen to my side of the story, almost ALL the time!

Y.T.: I guess you are married for 16years. And you think you guys still don't have a better understanding!!?
F.F.: Was it just 16years? Oh my gosh! Why do I feel like I have lived with her for 50 years??!!

Y.T.: What do you mean?
F.F.: Life is not so good at home. My weekday's evenings are hell and weekends are even worse. I get no time to sleep peacefully, even on weekends. I get no time to talk or visit my friends.

Conversation between me and a female friend

Yours Truly: Hi, How are you doing?

Female Friend: Oh! Am good. You tell me, how are you doing? Looking much younger, huh? (I could see jealousy in her eyes)

Y.T.: I am great. Yeah, I look younger compared to you, because I color my hair and work out. I have no kids. You have a son who is doing his engineering. How is his studies?

F.F. :Studies are ok. He can manage.

Y.T.: How is your husband?

F.F.: He is good too. How is yours?

Y.T.: He is good. How is life?

F.F.: Good to see my son growing. Am proud of him that he is active in sports as well. But sad that he is acquiring the characters of his dad.

Y.T.: Like?

F.F.: Very lazy. He sleeps on Sundays till 12.00noon. Won't take bath on weekends, unless we expect any guests. Won't help me on my house chores. Won't go out to buy things for home. Started having girl friends. Talks on phone and 'Whatsapp'ing all day and night. Just like his Dad! (This was told in an angry tone)

Y.T.: May be you have to tell him that you are growing old, you need some help at home and outside.

F.F.: Yeah! What would I do, if father and son sleep on the same bed?

Conversation between you and me

You: What about you, Uma?
Y.T.: Oh! No. Not me. My relationship status is HMBS.

My 6 years old nephew's obsession with automobiles - reflects my mood! :)

You: Huh!!?
Y.T.: Happily Married But Single. LOL!

I know, I can clearly understand if you are feeling jealous of me.

Have fun people!

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

Photo by photostock | freedigitalphotos.net

Summer Activities At Home

Managing kids during Summer Holidays is very very difficult. I know all the parents and care-takers would agree with me. Keeping them engaged during holidays is a tough task, unless the elders or parents or the kids themselves are more creative.

I am so blessed with little nephews and niece because they don't bother us when we give them the drawing materials like clean notebooks, slates, chalk pieces, pencils, crayons etc

They all love drawing and painting, on the paper as well as on the computer. They use MS Paint to give life to their imagination, on the computer

Yesterday, I felt so proud of my 6year old nephew, when I saw this little art work that he has created using the pens, pencils, chalk pieces, water tubes, flying disks, erasers, Rubik cube pieces and whatever he could get hold on to.

Sharing the art work with the world. If you stumble upon this blog at any time, then please share some of your kid's creative art work here. Let us make a scrap book. :)

If this art work inspired you or your kids to try something new, then please share the art work here, in the comments below. Thanks.

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

Choosing and Testing Leggings

I was bored of wearing the traditional Salwar Kameez and wanted to change my style. So, have started wearing some short tops and leggings, from this year, 2015.

My thought was that thick and tight leggings, would last longer. So I bought this black legging from a mall in Velachery five months back. I liked it so much and wanted to keep it for my best tops, as the black bottom goes well with most of the colored tops. I found the leggings in this sorry state after the third use. Trust me, I hand washed as per the instructions that is given in the tag.

The hole can be seen in the thigh section

There are many small holes that I tried to take photos using my iPhone 4. But they were not so clearly visible in the images.So, I didn't post them here.

Another view of the hole

Washing Instructions

This shows that a tight thick leggings doesn't suit a fast woman like myself. Yeah, I walk fast. Climb up steps in the subways running two steps at a time. Climb down the steps faster than others. So, am a very active person. And I I found that I feel very comfortable with short tops and trousers than with the traditional dresses like Salwar Kameez. I don't wear sarees. I suggest you don't buy thick, tight leggings if you are an active woman like me. :)

Next time when I went to buy some dresses for myself, I bought the more stretchable, thin leggings, a blue one for my bluish green top. This time I made a point to make a note of the brand of the legging. I selected this legging from the "Attract" company. I was so impressed with the different kind of stitches that I bought three leggings. I thought these stitches are made so, so that this would withstand the wear and tears. Along with this blue, I bought brown and black leggings in the month of January 2015. Am yet to try the black legging. But I have used the blue and brown leggings many times. 

There were no washing instructions on this leggings. So, I wanted to find out which washing suits this company's leggings. I hand washed the brown legging and machine washed the blue legging. Look at the blue legging in spite of the special stitching.

Threads from the stitches

So, this means, even 'Attract" leggings have to be hand washed. "Attract" leggings suits my faster lifestyle, though. They were flexible enough to withstand my run, hop and jump. :)

I will have to try other brand leggings to see whether they can be machine washed as well as whether they would be flexible enough to withstand my fast walk, run and the hop on the stairs.I will keep you updated with the new brands. 

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

A Small Break to Build Stronger Bonds

I am a very open minded, friendly and social person. So, its quite natural to jump on any chance to hang out with friends. I love to spend as much time as possible with friends with similar interests. While I was running my Cyber Cafe, friends kept visiting me whenever they found time. I closed my cafe in 2011.

How would you feel if you meet your long lost dear friend, after many years? Happy and excited, right?  A few minutes conversation on the road would make us more happier than spending an hour on a dinner night. Memories would rush through our mind and we would start seeing movies in our thoughts.

This is what happened when I met my two dear friends on a short break. While we were still single without any responsibilities, we spent hours together sitting and chatting and hanging out. We wanted to compensate for all those missing moments, now.

After I joined this engineering design organization, I couldn't find much time to spend with any of my friends. I hardly visited my friends who live in the same city of mine, Namma Chennai. I know most of them are disappointed with me due to this. So when one of my long time friend who got transferred to another city called me to inform me about his visit to Chennai for three days, I made up my mind to not to miss this chance to meet him. I didn't meet him when he visited Chennai, twice, earlier. The more the merrier. So, I invited him to visit one of our mutual friend's home for dinner. This dinner date with the other friend was pending for a long long time.

Friends For Life - Reunion. The kitchen help, yours truly and the Super Chef ;)

Chappathi with Paneer Butter Masala

Victory for him, he made the dough for chappati after getting the instructions from his mom from Trivandram

Here is our Super Chef from Varanasi, who made the yummy Chappati.
The dough was so watery that he had to make the chappati pieces thicker than the normal

It was a great time to make up for all the years we were apart. Our Super Chef had his own stories of life in Varanasi. Our kitchen help, a marketing guy, had his own stories of his clients and family. Though it was only a short break for all of us, it did help us to build the friendship stronger.

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

Train Journey - Bangalore to Chennai - Vacation 2014

The Yellow Board

I took the train back to Chennai from KR Puram railway station. My host, my friend for life, Kamesh, was kind enough to drop me at the station, early morning on that Christmas Day.

We reached the station just few minutes before the arrival of the train. The queue in the ticket counter was so long that I couldn't want for Kamesh to buy his platform ticket to accompany me to the platform. Kamesh instructed me to find the parking lot of my reserved compartment 'D' from the board in the platform. I couldn't find the board written 'D' on it. I could find A,B and C.I was looking at the small boards that were hanging from the roof.

I walked from this end to that end, twice, looking for my compartment number, in vain. I finally decided to ask some one. I went near two ladies. Looked at the younger one and asked,"Yeh compartment kahan rukega?" showed my mobile for her to read the booking confirmation SMS. She didn't look at my mobile and blinked at me.

I again said,"Chennai Express, compartment D, kahan rukega?". She murmured something which I didn't understand.

I said,"Do you know English?". She smiled and shook her head twice, which meant a NO.

I said,"Kannada?"

She smiled and nodded her head up and down twice. People were watching me strolling up and down with my mobile stretched forward. I felt like an uneducated nomad. There was a family standing next to the girl watching and listening to our conversation.

I walked forward a step ahead and asked a girl,"Do you know where the Compartment D would be parked?"

She answered,"You can find out from the board there. Which train?".

I said,"Chennai Express. But I could see other compartments and not D", pointing at the hanging boards.

She smiled and said,"Oh! you missed the large yellow board that shows the train names along with the parking spot of the compartments. Come with me"

I followed her. The large yellow board was erected right at the middle of the platform. I felt so shy and foolish to have missed that board that I laughed at myself.

She scanned the board for a few moments and said,"Your compartment would be parked in the place where you asked that girl. So lets go and wait there. In fact, I have bought a general ticket, though I have a tatkal ticket booked for me. But it is in waiting list. I shall ask the ticket checker to allot a cancelled seat for me."

I looked at her blankly. She understood and said,"Yeah, when your booked ticket is in waiting list and if you buy a general ticket before boarding the train, you can cajole the ticket checker to allot any of the cancelled seat, by giving him 'something'." I smiled at her.

The train arrived. People who were standing here and there started running towards the entrance of my compartment. The train would stop just for 2 minutes in that station. So,everybody wanted to get in before the train moved. I found no change in the behavior of the crowd.

The Fat Lady

I had a reservation and my seat number was 49, the window seat. I don't remember the name of the station from where this fat lady boarded the train. She looked at me and said,"50,51,55 get up". I looked at her and she waved her hand at me and at those who were sitting next to me. The one next to me was an old lady and she took her own time to get up. Probably she didn't have a seat reserved for her. She was supposed to travel in a general compartment. The fat lady looked at me annoyingly. I actually laughed at her and showed the written seat numbers to make clear that my seat number was actually 49. She shouted until others got up. Her behavior looked so funny to me. She didn't even made an attempt to verify or ask for my seat number, before commanding me as well as the others to get up. After the seats were vacated by a handful of people, her husband, her daughter and herself took their seats and sat comfortably. 
While this fat lady was preparing to sit I heard a loud argument just two rows ahead of me. I heard a girl shouting,"You should ask us politely, Mam. We have also reserved seats for us and we all are friends. We just want to sit near each other."  LOL! I know why the girl was angry with that woman.

Uma, the Observer

I am a kind of person who is interested in observing and analyzing the actions and reactions of persons in any given situation. This fat lady just got inside the train carrying all her luggage. I guess she was tired because she helped her thin husband to carry the suitcases from home to the train. She must also be tired due to her body weight. She was upset because her seat was occupied. She just wanted to sit and relax ASAP. Until then her body would not cooperate with her mind to act in a more polite manner. I was right. Because after sitting comfortably on the opposite seat of mine, she was bit composed and quiet. She stamped on my feet almost ten times before making herself comfortable. She didn't bother to apologize. I know the leg space was too small to accommodate her big feat. I had to sit tight to make more leg space for her throughout the 6 hours journey. She smiled at me after some time. I smiled back at her. She tried to strike a conversation with me. But I was not interested. So I buried my face in the book I bought from Higginbothams, Jeff's 'Kane and Abel'. 

Destined Meeting

I found Bangalore very very very cold. I returned to Chennai, with severe cold and throat infection. I had to pop a pain pill in the middle of the journey to feel better. After reaching the Park station from Chennai central station, I walked towards the ticket counter to buy the train ticket to Pallavaram. The girl who helped me in KR Puram railway station to find the parking lot of my compartment, was walking on the platform.

I smiled at her and said,"Oh! we are here again, together."

She smiled back and asked me,"Oh, yes. Where are you going?"

I said,"Pallavaram. And you?"

She replied,"Chrompet."

I asked,"What about the ticket?"

She said,"I have a monthly pass."

She walked away from me and I went to stand in the queue. There were five persons in the queue already. I was the sixth and the last. A guy came and stood beside me. I thought he has come along with some one else who was already standing in the queue somewhere.

After a while, he went to the guy who was standing before me and said,"Kannada"?

This guy looked at him questioningly. He said again,"Neenu Kannada?" and added,"Oru ticket Tambaram."

The guy who stood before me said in Tamil,"Queuela vaanga." (Stand in the queue)

The "Kannada" guy went back to stand in the queue.  Three more persons were standing behind me in the queue now. 

I bought the ticket and started to climb up the overhead bridge to the platform. The train to Pallavaram arrived and came to a halt. I was still climbing down the stairs, carrying my rolling travel suitcase. I didn't want to run down with the heavy suitcase, so I climbed down in normal speed. The train didn't leave the station until I boarded the ladies compartment. I found a vacant seat and went to sit there. The same girl was already sitting in the opposite seat of mine. This time we both laughed.

I said," I am back to you, again."

She playfully said,"Are you not going to leave me?"

I said,"Nope. I feel grateful to you. Because you helped me in Bangalore."

She said,"Oh! that's ok."

I got down in Pallavaram, waved my hand at her and said bye for the last time. She smiled and waved her hand back at me. Some people come into our life for a reason, a season or a life time.

Luv u all

Uma

Freelancer

Thrilling Drives - Vacation 2014 - Bangalore

The path to the lakeview holiday home is not much illuminated. So if you plan a late evening drive to the city or beyond Jakkur Lake, then please make sure that you make a note of the turns and points to trace back your way to the apartment from the main road.

This is how thrilling it was when we returned back to the apartment after a late evening drive to the city



The drive to the city was not so thrilling. But it was really enjoyable to watch the decorations on the MG Road for Christmas and New Year.

I had a nice time with my friends & family and the city, Bangalore. I am already looking forward to my next vacation - to Mysore :)

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

Lake View Holiday Home - Vacation 2014 - Bangalore

I always wished and dreamed of taking a break in a place where there is more nature and less people. I love to live with nature. No, I am not talking about living in a forest. Though I love adventure.

My dreams are

• to wake up listening to the chirping of the birds and to the bright sun light shining through my window
• to be invited by the greenness, colorful birds and flowers in my backyard early morning
• to watch the mother birds and other parent animals feeding their little ones
• to take a long walk when the sun is slowly raising from the horizon, feeling the cool breeze on my cheeks
• to laze around or lie in the backyard basking in the afternoon sun
• to take a long walk in the evening to watch the birds flying back to their nests
• to lie in the open terrace in the night, to count the stars and to watch the movements of the clouds over the moon
• to walk in the woods after rainfall
• to sit on top of a mountain to get the feel of the air and to look at the surrounding land, lake and water beneath the mountain
• to scuba dive and touch the underwater animals and plants (am yet to learn swimming)
• to climb a mountain on a horse
• and many more

I made it a point to spend a few days with nature this vacation in 2014. I chose a service apartment of a friend of mine, which is near to a very large lake in Bangalore, the Jakkur Lake.  The view of the lake is beautiful from the windows, front patio and side patio of the first floor of the house.

So, if you are looking for a place

• to watch ducks swim lazily
• to watch little ripples of water on the lake day and night
• to watch the colorful sunset behind the lake

Below is the view of the sun set from the side sit out of the first floor. It was such a pleasant feeling to look at the ever changing colors of the sky and the yellow ball of fire going down behind the trees.

 

• to watch Emu and other birds roaming around your neighborhood


• to watch the beautiful sunrise from your front patio
• I am sure you will love this view of Sunrise from the window of the large hall





• to taste the wine with your partner sitting on the side sit out enjoying the cool breeze from the lake
• to unwind in a large living room on comfortable couches
• to chit chat with your partner without interruptions from the barking stray dogs
• to sleep peacefully sans your loud mouthed neighbors 


then I recommend you, to call my dear and long time friend and cousin, Vijayan to book the holiday home for you. I also suggest, you should let Vijayan cook lunch or dinner for you. Because he is a great Chef. I literally drank many cups of Sambar that he made for lunch. And the Chappathi's that he prepared were soft and tasty. Rest assured that he has kept the kitchen clean and very hygienic. He also write posts occasionally for this blog. 



Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

PISASU with a handsome stranger - Vacation 2014 - Bangalore

It was Christmas holidays, so my princess was staying back at home. It's always fun at home when kids are around, as long as they listen to us. Ash, was a very obedient and sweet girl. She and Santhu went to participate in one of her friend's Birthday celebration in the neighborhood. Santhu said she danced in the party merrily. Sadly Santhu couldn't record it, because she left her mobile at home.

Afternoon was our appointment with the PISASU, the Tamil movie directed by, Mysskin, one of the most admired directors, by the present younger generation, in the Tamil film industry. The movie had all the interesting features such as comedy, suspense, thrill, action and romance. I enjoyed watching the movie in Gopalan Cinemas in Bannerghata Road.

A Handsome Stranger

We had three seats reserved for us, the adults. Ash had to be carried on either Kamesh's or Santhu's lap. When we found our way to our seats, I saw that our seats were in the middle of a row that had approximately ten to fifteen seats. There were four unoccupied seats. A handsome young man was sitting next to the third vacant seat. I know Kamesh would decide to occupy a seat, so that he could sit next to a man. So that either Santhu or myself could sit comfortably without worrying about being seated next to a stranger. But what would he do, if the other vacant seat is going to be occupied by a man?

I didn't leave either Santhu or Kamesh to tackle the situation. I went straight to sit next to a handsome stranger. Santhu sat next to me. Kamesh sat next to Santhu and carried Ash on his lap.

I looked at the stranger, only when I went to sit next to him. I have to admit that I was attracted to him. He looked nice. I had to calm myself and had to stop myself from turning towards him to take another look. I didn't want him to find that I was attracted to him. Because I knew I have to sit next to him for another two and a half hours. I knew I have to share the same arm rest of the chair. I knew I have to be very careful that my knees don't touch his knees when I sit comfortably. I knew I have to make myself as comfortable as possible without sending any wrong signals. I have the habit of squatting on the seat while watching a movie in a movie theatre. But this time, I had to force myself to not to do that while watching the movie for two and a half hours. It was tough but I succeeded. I was very decent. LOL!

Our lunch was Pizza in a Pizza Corner in the same mall. The last time I had a Pizza was on Sep 20,2012, my birthday. One of my close friend, with whom I spent the day, bought a Pizza to celebrate my birthday. I don't eat junk food. I learned that day, that Santhu loves junk food. But that's okay. She is still young. :)

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

My Hosts and The Twits - Vacation 2014 - Bangalore

Friends For Life: My Hosts

I felt so happy to see one of my best friend's family. I met his beautiful wife and his gorgeous daughter for the first time that afternoon. Oh my! I must admit that Santhu made me feel that we have been friends for years. She was so nice to me. I got another sister in this life. I feel very thankful for the love she showered on me.

Santhu's Love

The day I arrived in Bangalore was very very cold. I was not used to such a cold weather, that I was literally shivering. She didn't hesitate to lend me the bed sheet, that was presented to her by Kamesh during their honeymoon, to cover me. She offered a new bed sheet to me that first night. I refused to use it saying that, that was new. I used an old one. When I went to bed the next night, the new bed sheet was lying over my pillow with a new bed spread on my bed. I was so touched with her love that my eyes were moist with tears. The cold weather, the water and the food left my throat sore. I was suffering from severe cold. When she looked at me and saw me suffering from sore throat, she readily offered me to give me a bottle of hot water. I used it for dinner and she again gave me a bottle of hot water when I retired to bed that night.

She took such a personal care of me, that she reminded me of my dear sister, who always make it a point to take a cue from my facial expressions and other body languages to take care of my every need. I love my friends' family. :)

Kamesh, Santhu and Ashwi

Kamesh, my dear friend

Kamesh is very fond of watching movies, reading and writing stories and watching stage plays. He is an aspiring story writer /script writer/editor. I wish him all the best.

Kamesh had the ticket booked for the stage play 'TheTwits' at Jagriti Theatre  on the evening I arrived in Bangalore.

Ashwini, my adorable princess

 

We call Ashwini as Ash with love. She is young and smart enough to understand and speak in English. Isn't she looking like a princess? I adore her. She is such a lovely child. She liked the pink dress so much that she told her mom, Santhu to stitch a dress for her in the same fashion. 

Just as any loving mom would do, Santhu bought clothes to stitch a dress for Ash. Santhu is learning sewing. This is how Ash looked at me when I told her to look at my Iphone camera. We were on the way to the Jagriti Theatre. 

An evening with 'The Twits'

 

That is Mrs.Twits with her dirty, entangled hair and my princess, Ash, in her favorite pink dress. She really enjoyed watching the show. The play was enacted very nicely by the kids. After watching the stage show, she couldn't stop herself from chanting 'roly poly, roly poly'. She watched the 'The Twits' cartoon play on youtube endlessly, on her dad's laptop, after we returned from the Theatre until she went to bed.

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

Train Journey - Vacation 2014 - Chennai to Bangalore

The Breakfast

The train rolled out of the Chennai central station fast. That was a electric train. So it started to run fast. After a while, I felt hungry and waited for the food vendor to show up. A vendor entered  my compartment shouting,"Idli, Vada." I waved my hand at him and bought a packet. The Idli was cold. Sambar was watery. The coconut chutney was sour. Probably I bought the food that was made for the previous late night travellers. I shoved inside whatever I could and drank the only pleasant fluid that I had. The water that I bought from the ZeroB outlet.

The elderly people started to talk among themselves. The little girls felt fresh after a short nap at the lap of their mother who was sitting next to me. The younger one stuck to her mother's chest always. The elder one squeezed herself between her mom and me. I guess they didn't buy ticket for them, since they were too young. So they didn't have their own place to sit. The three elderly persons, one man and two women, who were sitting opposite to me, didn't even bother to offer space for the elder kid.  They were all travelling together and the mother of two little girls addressed them as sisters and uncle. She looked different from others. She was dark, short and thin. The women and man looked fair, and healthier than her. The little girls looked exactly like their mother. I some how felt that this lady with the kids were not getting her fair share of respect and care from the other elders there. She was the only one that was tending to both the kids. None of the elders offered any help to her, when either of the kids wanted to use the rest room. When the elder whispered to her mom that she was hungry, the mom looked helplessly at the elders. But I could see no response from them. The kid said that she is hungry, this time a little louder that others could hear. There was no response again.

Water Bottle Making Rounds

I felt very pity for the mother and her two little daughters. While I was pondering about the ways that I could lend my help to them, she called an elder and asked,"Sister, where is Idli package?" One among them pointed to another person who was sitting two rows back. This lady left the elder kid with me and carried the little one to get the Idlis. She came back with the silver bucket of Idlis. And I saw another woman accompanying her with another silver bucket of Coconut Chutney. I felt happy to see the little girls relishing their breakfast. The mom was happy too. The elder kid asked for water and all the elders answered at once,"We forgot to keep the water bottles in the bag." I offered my bottle of water immediately. The other elders started to have their breakfast once these two little ones finished. My water bottle was making rounds, jumping from one row to another. I was only praying the almighty that I shouldn't feel thirsty until I reach my friend's home in Bangalore. I have a very sensitive stomach. So, I don't have food and water from outside shops unless the situation demand.

The train stopped on the way somewhere. The man got down, bought a bottle of water and gave it to me thanking me for offering my water bottle to them. The elders were all praise for me, for lending the water bottle to them and letting them to finish it. I politely said thanks and buried my face into Jeff's Kane and Abel.  I didn't touch the water bottle and left it hanging in the bottle pouch and told them to use it since they were going to travel till the Bangalore main station. I got down at KR Puram railway station and waited for my friend, at whose place I was going to stay, to pick me up. I was feeling very very thirsty as well as hungry. I was waiting for the moment to calm down my growling stomach and wet my dry throat.

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

photo credit: ranjit via photopin cc

The Start - Vacation 2014 - Chennai to Bangalore

Chennai Central

I reached Chennai Central at 07.00am though my train was only at 07.50am. I wanted to meet another friend of mine, who was going to leave by 07.20am train to Bangalore. But he arrived at the station at the time of leaving, so we couldn't meet. He just called my mobile phone and apologized.

I wanted to buy a bottle of water. Went to the ZeroB water purifying outlet and bought a 2 litre bottle of water.Turned around and saw the Higgin Bothams. The journey is going to be a 6hour one. So decided to buy a book to read. Looked at the Jeffrey Archer's and Paulo Coelho's, two of my favorite authors. Chose Jeffrey's "Kane and Abel", paid and came back to the front of the digital notice board. The platform number of my train hasn't announced yet. Wandered around Saravana Bhavan and Fruit juice shops. Didn't like any of the food items. Made up my mind to buy something in the train. Came back to the notice board.

A middle aged couple walked fast and came to a halt just in front of me. She was carrying a little kid on her hip. The man was looking at the notice board. She said,"Can you please hold him?"

He said,"Why? Where are you going?"

She said,"I will go and buy a platform ticket for myself."

He asked,"Why do you want a platform ticket?"

I thought - Isn't it quite obvious that she want to see her husband off in the train? What an idiot is he!

She said,"Ok. Let me go and buy the platform ticket."

He repeated again,"Why do you need a platform ticket? I can't carry this bag all the way to the counter and then again here to take the train"

I thought - 'come on man, you are just going to roll the luggage and your wife wants to see you off, obviously.' It was quite clear that the man didn't want his wife to come to the platform to bid him bye.

She felt sad and turned to look at me. I pretended to not to hear their conversation and fixed my eye on the notice board.

The Train

The platform number was announced at 7.45. I had to pass three platforms to reach mine. When I went there, there was no train. But the crowd was milling about in the platform. The designated compartments were not clearly marked for the reserved travelers. It was 7.50am, when the train slowly moved into the slot. Since that was the time that train is supposed to leave, the crowd panicked. The compartment's door were closed. I found my compartment marked "D". The crowd was banging the door to open. After 2 minutes, the door was opened from inside. All hell broke loose.

Some one shouted,"Get in fast. It's time for the train to leave the station."

If only they had entered the compartment one by one, we all of us would have boarded within ten minutes. When my turn came to get in, I saw a man standing right in the entrance. I looked at him puzzled. He moved and made way for me. Some one who got in after me, shouted,"If you don't have any reservation made, then you should get down immediately." The man jumped out. Luckily my seat was near the entrance. I sat down and found myself surrounded by five elders and two little girls who were talking in Tamil, my mother tongue. I thanked almighty for it. I didn't want to be surrounded by people who speak Kannada. Because I don't know the language, though I am going to the place where people talk in Kannada.

After settling in, the train started to move at 08.05am. I was excited. I was going to Bangalore on a vacation. A vacation that I was planning since 2000.

photo credit: Ravages via photopin cc

The Power of Positive Thinking

Ever experienced the effects of thoughts, both positive as well as negative, in your life? We all have experienced it in our life, without actually realizing it. Are you in a hurry now? Just stop for a second and think. Haven't you got whatever you wanted? I know what you are thinking right now. You also, got whatever you didn't want. You might have gotten whatever you wanted, a bit late, but you have got it at the right moment. Right? That is the power of positive thinking. It applies to the negative thoughts also. But we all want only positive things to happen to us. Let us stay positive and think ONLY positive things. So only positive things happen to us, always.

I love reading books and right now, am reading the book written by Esther Hicks "Ask And Its Given". This book was gifted to me by one of my best clients Rosie Bank, for my 46th birthday, on 20th September. And I am so grateful for the gift. Whenever I read the book, I feel my brain pumped up. I feel like I have given a work-out to my brain. And now, after reading half of the book, I realize that I have actually got whatever I wanted in my life, all these years. My thoughts, both positive as well as negative, have come to reality. Now, I have learned to invite just the positive things in my life even in difficult situations, for positive things to happen. And I am experiencing it now. I would like you also to experience it, by staying positive. Let me give you an example of what happened last week.

I was at work last Thursday. While I was moving here and there, looking at the mirror in the rest room of my office, I stamped on a tiny object that I felt beneath my slippers. I moved away to see that it was one of my ear stud. The stud was there. But the back of the stud was missing. I searched all the nook and corner of the rest room. Yeah, I didn't forget the toilet seat. LOL. But I couldn't find it.

I played back the scene in my mind about the places where I went before entering the rest room. I came to the rest room from the pantry passing a narrow path between the pantry and the rest room. Before going to the pantry, I went into the conference room for some reasons. Before going into the conference room, I walked to the main office from my cabin. I searched all the places before coming to my cabin. But all of the time, I was thinking that I am going to get it back from one of these places. I couldn't find it until I reached my cabin. It was there just below my chair. I wasn't surprised at all. Incidences like these has been happening for a quite a long time in my life, without me realizing it.

For example, It takes half an hour to pass through the peak hour traffic from my home to Pallavaram railway station. So whenever I leave home well after the usual time of 8.15am to catch the ladies special train that come to the Pallavaram suburban railway station at 8.45am, I always think that I am going to, somehow, make it to the station at 8.45am. And I have always made it. Some times the traffic was less. And if it was heavy, the driver of the auto I traveled took less frequented another route, without me asking him to do so. Or the subway was less crowded. Or the station road was less crowded for me to walk fast, to the reach the station on time. BUT whenever I thought that I am NOT going to make it, I have never made it. Isn't this the power of positive thinking?

What about you? Do you realize, now, that you have always got whatever you wanted? Do you realize that you are living here, because you wanted to live here, at some point of time in your life? Do you realize that all that has happened in your life was because of your thoughts?  Do you have an experience to share with the world about the power of positive thinking? I am looking forward to read YOUR experiences.

Have a good life.

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

The Crying Children

Around 4pm one day in March2014. 

"Grandma, please come."

Less louder,"please come, Grandma, my leg is paining."

More louder,"Grandma!"

I was cleaning the utensils outside at my backyard. I was wondering about the silence of the old man and the old lady in that house. I walked to the compound wall. I couldn't see anybody around in the kitchen. 

I called my mom and said,"Mom, this kid is crying for a few minutes but I couldn't seen anybody inside the house. I guess the kid's grandparents are not doing good. Can we just go to their house and find out what is keeping them from answering this boy?"  

My mom didn't give me any answer. She wore her slippers and started walking down the street to go to the next street. I took out a stool and placed it near the compound wall. Climbed on the stool, climbed on the compound wall and jumped on their washing stone on the other side. Got down from the stone and reached their back gate. I saw the old lady cradling the little baby holding the milk bottle in her hand, in the hall. The old man was sitting on the sofa and watching this. None of them bothered to answer the little boy's cry.

I called,"Aunty."

The second call,"Aunty." She came to the gate and asked me,"what happened?!!"

I said,"The little boy has been crying for a long time. And nobody bothered to answer him. So I thought something was wrong and was worried. "

She laughed and said,"Oh, he always does that. He is sitting inside the toilet and waiting for me to go and wash him."

I said,"Ok. He has been shouting and crying for a long time. And I didn't hear you asking him to wait. So I thought something has happened to you."

She laughed again and said ,"Oh, he always does that. I told him to wait for some time since I was tending to his little sister. But he never listens."

I said,"Ok" and started climbing on the washing stone. She came out of the gate and said,"Be careful girl. You can go through the front gate." 

I said,"That's ok. I have a stool down there in the other side of the compound wall. Thanks."

She repeated again,"This boy keep shouting like this. You don't bother about it."

By the time I climbed their washing stone my mom reached their front gate. The old man came out and gave the same reply, what the old lady gave to me. 

My mom asked him,"Ok. The lady was tending to the baby. Why didn't YOU go and help him to wash?" 

There was no answer for that question. The old man repeated what the lady said,"Oh. This kid always does this. He won't wait for us to come and wash him."

I am worried about the way this kid is being raised. I don't think he would react immediately if he come across some one's cry for help. He would take his own sweet time. 

On a rainy day in Nov2014

"Mom"

"Mom, can you please come and wash me?"

"Mom".

His mom yelled at him,"I said,Wait." His mom is a very short tempered woman.

A few seconds passed. The boy started to shout louder,"Mom, please come and wash me."

There was no power and the house was dark. The boy was shouting,"Mom." 

I guess he was afraid to sit inside that darkness. Or he wanted his mom to come and stand near the toilet. 

I know kids always does that. My cousins, nephew and niece always wanted us to stand near the entrance whenever they use the rest room, even during broad day light. It's quite understandable. Children are afraid either of the small room or the darkness. 

There was no answer from his mom for a few seconds. She said,"Hmm, wait" when the kid called again. 

The kid waited for some time and started shouting louder,"Mom, please come and wash."

I felt angry with her lethargic attitude and couldn't help myself from going near the compound wall to peep through the gate. Couldn't see anybody because it was dark. The toilet had no candle light. I felt very sorry for the kid. 

After a few seconds I heard her beating him inside the toilet and heard her saying,"Here. Wash it cleanly. Can't you wait for a few minutes until I come? Why should you shout like that?."

Like mother like daughter.

I heard him crying and I felt very bad for the kid. I was only thinking that if this kid is going to be raised by his elders in this fashion then I am sure he is not going to care for the elders in their old age. 

How can these elders expect their kids to care for them when they have failed to raise the same kids with the same love that they are seeking from them now?

I am seeing, of late, that many parents are not caring for their children the same way how my parents and my grandparents cared for us. 

Last weekend my mom had to walk to the next street to another house, only to be told by his mother that the kid was crying downstairs because she went upstairs to dry clothes leaving him downstairs. But we heard the kid cry as though some one was beating him hardly. That is an apartment and none of the neighbours came out to look for the kid. 

I am worried about the future world populated with these kind of kids who are raised with no love and no feelings towards the call for help and sufferings of others.

Will we see 'Like mother, like son' after a few years?

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

The Best and Amazing Architect!

On a sunny morning, while I went to my backyard to dry my clothes, I saw a spider busy building its home inside the well. It was very interesting to see how fast it moved from the wall and pipes to the centre of the web to get the support from them to hang in there. LOL.

The Sun started shinning right on its web as the day passed on. I came back to take a photograph of the shinning web but I saw that it has changed the place of its home.

But during this rainy season, for reasons unknown, I found that it kept spinning its web in the same place and in the same fashion every time a heavy wind or a rainfall broke its web.

Take a look at this busy bee at work. What an amazing architect!



Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

You Reap What You Sow!

My personal experiences has made me to believe that I have received whatever I have given. Good and Bad.

I have had many good as well as good-bad friends. No, I don't want to call them as BAD friends. They were GOOD-BAD friends. Because they returned all those bad deeds that I gave to some one at some point in my life.

Good friends are the ones who give good to us and receive good from us. 

Its an enlightening experience to analyze our friendship with those good-bad friends.

I was deceived by them because I deceived somebody who believed in me.
They weren't trustworthy because I cheated somebody who trusted me.
They weren't kind to me because I was unkind to some one who showered their kindness on me.
They didn't love me because I failed to return the love to some one who loved me dearly.
They didn't care for me because I didn't care for some body who looked upon me.

Its like "You Reap What You Sow". If you feel that you have been an angel to everybody but received all negative things from them, then am sure you are lying to yourself. Think about those whom you have shunned. Think about those whom you have ashamed. Think about those whom you have failed to help. Think about those caregivers whom you took for granted.

We have to be true to ourselves. We have to analyze our own actions and behavior honestly, before pointing fingers at some one else. Understanding our own actions and correcting ourselves will give us the salvation.

Sow love and kindness to reap love and kindness. Sow happiness to reap happiness. Trust me if one of your friend didn't return your affection, you will get it in abundance from another friend. So don't stop being kind. If a situation arises for you to be unkind to some one, then the best option is to move away from that situation.

Let us sow love. This world is in need of it.

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer 

Image courtesy: By Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / freedigitalphotos.net

Disappointment Turns To Joy!

Have you ever felt disappointed that you didn't get something that you wished for? And later realized that you didn't get it for your own good?

That is what happened to me this morning. While I was waiting for a share auto in pammal, I waved my hands at an auto that was coming towards me. The driver stopped the auto just a few steps away from me. Even before I boarded the auto, girls swarmed it and boarded it. I felt very bad about it. I asked a little girl that whether she can sit on my lap. She replied, "No". The auto rolled on. I felt very bad of this incidence. I was feeling sad that the driver who stopped for me didn't even care to see that I boarded it. I know that he didn't have to. All he needed was passengers, either me or by standers.  If there was no one else, then he might have waited for me to board.

I know that getting an auto at that peak hour, is difficult. So, I have made it a habit to carry working women, working girls, school girls on my lap.

Uma in a share auto 

I saw another auto after a few minutes. Waved my hand. I boarded and I was the last passenger to be seated. After a few distance, there was a girl waiting for a share auto. The driver shouted at us,"Can you girls adjust for that passenger?". No one replied. I said,"Yes". The girl happily traveled on my lap.

I then realized that that was the reason why I couldn't board the previous auto. This girl would have left out if I had gone in the previous auto. Disappointment Turned To Joy in few minutes.

I  now understand EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

If you have come across these kind of experiences, then please share with me. I would like to listen to you.


Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer

Overcoming Shyness

I have always felt shy to take photographs in the public. I don't feel comfortable stopping on the way to take a click on something interesting happening around. The photographs that I have taken so far are from places where no one could see me photographing something outside in the public.

For example: This photograph of a woman with the tattooed hands was taken while I was standing in the train. No body could see my tiny Apple Iphone's camera focusing this woman.

 

Here is another one that I dared to take in the public, but no body could see me taking this picture. This one was in the train again.

  

I wrote a blog post two days back with the title The Woman With The Umbrella. And I wished to add a photograph of the Pallavaram Railway Station in the blog post. But I felt very shy to stop on my way to stand some where near the railway station or near the ticket counter or on the over bridge to take a photograph.

I was talking to myself all the way to the station from the subway this morning. I was just saying to myself, "you can do this. All you have to do is to just stop somewhere near the station and take a photograph". 

And I also said,"But people would be staring at me." 

I replied to myself,"It would hardly take a few seconds for you to take it.So give it a try".

I continued,"I feel very shy to do that." 

I said,"Let this be your breaking point. Do it once and you will never miss all the interesting happenings around you that have missed to capture earlier."

I was nearing the over bridge and started to climb. My instinct was pushing me to take the iPhone. It said,"Come on, do it."  I have started trusting my instincts these days. So I took it out of my bag and stopped on the stairs while I was climbing. I could sense the people who was passing by looking at me. I ignored them. I stood in a place from where the platform, the counter and the stairs covered. Captured it and climbed up back. Put my iPhone inside my bag. I felt happy, while I was climbing down the stairs.

I almost passed a middle aged lady struggling to carry a heavy bag up the stairs. I helped her to bring it up the bridge and walked back to the platform. I really really felt good for two reasons.

1. I overcame my shyness. 2. I helped some one today.

How did YOU overcome your shyness?

Luv u all
Uma
Freelancer