bliss

today was the most satisfying day i have experienced in a very long time. today marked the 7th death anniversary of my dad, and instead of the sadness usually (and always) prevalent on this date, i felt joy, i felt good, because instead of performing the routine nonsensical pooja calling them monotonous verse-chanting pandits home, create a brick stove in the middle of the house and burn cowdung, and fuel it with ghee, and accomplishing nothing but holes burnt through the pocket and itcy watery eyes, i instead decided to head to monginis, purchase 300 muffins and distribute it among the orphans at the mankhurd children's home.
watching their peering inquisitive eyes as i entered the gate in the car, some were engaged in cricket, others in simple tomfoolery, making faces, playing catch-n-cook, etc.. the pure unadulterated joy blatant in their eyes.

as i entered, i felt like an alien, invading their space.. after the matron managed to make them assemble into single file, my sister n i began distributing the muffins in exchange for meek "thank you"s and the occasional "thank you uncle"!.. seeing their (mostly)-toothy smiles and glee, others were too shy, receiving the muffin, thanking the ground and scooting away.
i haven't felt this satisfied, such a fulfilling experience, in quite a while.. and i remembered my dad and knew that he'd prefer the smiles on the faces of these innocent kids than the traditional inconsequential, nonsensical poojas that only appeases the pandits.. another victory of the human spirit against religion.

today, i can say.. i am happy.. and mean it.

splash

the intermittant rains are the only participants in the non-routineness around here. i recently acquired a stash of movies, and all i do at night before i crash is watch them. one such movie franchise i rediscovered along this path was the star wars one. that was one awesome 2-set trilogy.

the rains cant seem to decide to whether deluge us like july of 2005 or play hide n seek like an immature brat that strikes you when u least expect it. a bright sunny saturday morning ended up with a monotonous boring gray cloudy-at-times-and-raining-at-all-times day. grr. the blasted rains! the zip of my slingbag breaking doesnt help in easing my suffering. playin on my new guitar offers some solace; i finally get to learn the long pending new old songs.

walked back home at 1 a.m from a frnds' plc without an umbrella in the torrential rains.. raindrops lashing ur face, oncoming trucks and their lack of dippers or lazyness thereof of activating them resulting in temporary blindness accompanied by the bassy honks.. swaying, howling winds rendering the weak store parapets loose.. almost making it an accesory percussion instrument in its grand orchestra.. the chiming of the rains on the puddles, sounding like a billion crickets chirping, the poor dripping wet dog shivering away under the temple bench, auto drivers sleeping in awkward poses within their ricks. another usual night in rainy july.

phlegm

being sick was a good thing back in the day. It allowed you to bask in all the attention the grownups showered on you. "are you all right?"... "want some comic books?".. "some warm soup?".. shall i apply vicks on ur head, chest, back?"..."shall i switch off/on the fan?".."want some milk, hot chocolate, biscuits?.. etc.. Those were the days.

And now, falling ill, whether you hav the common cold, or complications involving ur throat (resulting in a froggy impersonation every time I open my mouth), fever, runny nose, whatever.. doesnt entitle you to any discounts, in cash or emotions... "wipe ur face and get over it!".. "i told you not to eat from outside in this weather!"..."yea, crib now,.. didn't listen na when i told you to switch off the a/c within an hour?!"..."good, now eat hot hot curd rice, and do steam inhaling..".... "vicks? yea, apply it urself, u big sissy!"... etc.. *sigh*.

one good thing about childhood reminiscing is that i've begun to miss my toys, all of them.. from my favorite he-man and battlecat, skeletor and black panther, all my gi joes, hotwheels, all of them!.. in fact, i missed them so much, i found myself going to the mall and buying a few of them. As of now, on my childhood revisiting tour, I have collected 6 hotwheels, 2 jets, 3 transformers, and 2 justice league action figures (batman n superman) :P .. and it feels great!! .. i only wish they continued to made heman and gi joes. ebay seems to be the only choice.. i shall persist, nonetheless.

being sick has become fun again! weee.. *aa..aaa...aa...AA..Tishoo!!"