Tiffin Tales 125

 Hola...

Happy Ganesh festival to everyone. May the Lord keep everyone safe and healthy. This is such a time when everyone celebrating this festival wears a broader smile, dances with joy and prays. This year a lot of things are muted in our lives. There is so much stress and panic all over the world. Most of us are wearing a poised look waiting for a solution to this world wide problem.

The last month for us has been good in terms of weather. Most of the days have been sunny and less rainy. The summer days couldn't have been better. In the current scheme of things we couldn't have asked for more. August is almost about to end and the days are getting shorter. We still go for short walks maintaining the safety measures. 

All schools are starting online next week and I am hoping things will start to look up for the students as of now. Children are getting restless and I am moving around like headless chicken. While it's a new and a challenging way of starting a school year yet the students look excited. My toddler is still clueless though with everyone at home she feels its an unending vacation she is savoring.

This morning I have been majorly missing my home and my parents. There are days when nothing seem to convince you even knowing the situations are unfavorable. I feel like going to them even if its just for a few days. The wait seems ceaseless. Looking at the sky and looking at the cargo plane made feel like flying immediately. I wish I could board that plane and just fly to them. I kept gazing at the plane till it flew out of my vision. My vision isn't great though. I do eat vegetables.....

My elder one drew a plane and gifted me. He said, mom you cannot board it but close your eyes, and you can fly with it. His words cheered me up and I did follow them. I flew far and wide above the mountains and oceans and deserts and reached my home. I saw my parents, hugged them, had food with them. It tasted so delectable. I said a quick hello to my neighbors too. I saw my home, the plants, the neighborhood and perhaps every corner of my home. My mother had a compound expression on her face. She was joyous and equally sad because I was leaving. She wanted to pack some goodies for us but I refused because I was flying with my wings on. There was no luggage with me. My heart was the only space which I tried to fill with memories. The wait time to meet again was reshuffled. A few minutes later I came back to my real world. The world where millions like me are waiting to meet their families. I hugged my child. In these unprecedented time these moments of dream add so much laughter and optimism in life. I thank my child today for giving me these euphoric moments which added a bit more strength to my nerves....

Take care, stay healthy...Much love to all...

Tiffin Tales 124

Hola..

Please tell me you all are doing well, at least sailing through. It's been quite a power packed week for us as we tried to fix quite a few things at home. A few mechanical things broke down, we took turns to fix them. The mixer stopped working, the vacuum cleaner got choked with innumerable lego pieces. The door handle of the bathroom came off adding to the fun. I am not quite a pro at fixing these but not a noob either. But the stress of fixing them because we are so dependent on these machineries added to more stress.

The last week was mechanically challenging and surprising that by the weekend time we almost curled up in our bed or sofa fearing any new fender-bender. The door handle was missing a tiny screw and we tried to search the entire area as though looking for a precious stone. We couldn't succeed but in that process cleaned and brushed the entire area multiple times.

We weren't exactly looking forward to any fun weekend either. We were impatiently waiting for the screw parts to arrive which we ordered online. The vacuum was choked to the maximum. It needed lot of time and patience which we spared and finally cleaned. Cleaning a vacuum cleaner for cleaning the house. Fun, huh! The mixer refused to go in circles and I had no idea why. We tried our best but couldn't figure out. Some heavenly stars might have taken pity and to our rescue we found an old mixer which just had the body without any accompaniments. We exactly needed that. The current jars fitted well and what more could we ask for. Get me some tea please!

All through out our weekend we were home, no food from outside, no movies. We tried to snuggle in one corner are praying silently for the things not to fall out of place. We cooked a bit though. The kids wanted to bake a cake and I insisted on a banana cake in order to capitalize those bananas. They were pretty good but they didn't survive the weekend though. No regrets though! I on my part made some rice dishes with vegetables and chicken.

The week started with rains and its cloudy today as well. A lot of new emotions have been added in our lives these days and putting them into words is an art which I am still learning. Let's see how this journey goes. We all are in this together. Stay safe and stay healthy....

Tiffin Tales 123

Hola...

It's Friday and we are indoors. The sun is blazing outside, the heart is screaming to go somewhere by the waterside but there are demons outside. I wish the demons would have gone on some vacation too. We could have got some respite in summer. Summers are a festival here after long winters and who doesn't want to be a part of the celebration. This year we have this unwanted guest who is spoiling our summers, derailed all our plans and bungled all our year long activities.

Let's not even talk about this guest. This week has been good for us in terms of weather. The temperatures have been on the higher side, the sun was fierce and we could not have been happier. There have been rains but no complaints about that. 

We have been celebrating birthdays of our loved ones with virtual hugs. We smiled, wished, spoke loudly and secretly shed a tear or two. We do not know about our next meet but prayed hard that we meet soon. My kids have been insisting on baking cakes/cupcakes/muffins when people on the other side of the screen hav been cutting and enjoying. Lol, thats what is childhood I feel. So I baked muffins to lift their moods, ran with them in our backyard till I got leg cramps, read with them till I fell asleep. I always look and feel sleepy though.

This weekend again we have no such plans. We might try to soak the sun a bit. No travels for us, simple rule of this summer.

What are your plans for this weekend? Lets share some ideas. 

Tiffin Tales 122

Hola...

I am visiting this space after a gap and feel like the world has changed a lot. Everyday surviving is getting more and more challenging and keeping a healthy mental health is getting all the more brute. I know barely anyone reads my lines but writing here makes me feel like standing in front of an open window. We can see and feel a lot of emotions standing in front a window but at the end it makes us feel fresh and more open to our thoughts. 

With so much going around I feel my mind has been cluttered and standing or sitting next to a window seems to be stress buster for me these days. I want to write about so many things but feel not to write about any negativities of our present world. On some days I find myself overpowered by emotions that I speak less on those days. The weather, the world affairs everything seem so very difficult to comprehend.

I am not one of those whose writings or posts or any photos garner any attention. Still I write, post my updates not to bring any big change in this world but help myself. I find writing or posting pictures therapeutic. A few words creates so much impact. These day I am randomly reading blogs of people. People write about so many incidents, thoughts and ideas leaving me alarmed as to whether my words make any sense at all. But then we all are different with different levels of perceptions. 

Over the past few weeks we together have watched or so to say binge watched, tried new recipes and tried to laugh a bit more. Laughing is one of life's blessings and in the current scenario we are too stressed for that. In my home we try to crack a joke or remember any funny incident from past which brings smile or makes us laugh. Apart from lightening the environment it adds well to the family time.

I have no idea where this virus is driving us but each day I pray for more positivity and immunity. Lol! We need both of them in equal proportions now. Its's a hot day here today and we are so happy. Nothing we do but go for walks, run till I can. I am a bad runner by the way. Once home exhausted have dinner and pray. Pray for a better tomorrow, pray for freedom and pray that we are never deprived of basic necessities. Are you praying too? Let me know incase you go through these lines...Stay safe and stay positive...

Tiffin Tales 121

Hola...

It's the sixth month of the year and by now we all have undergone and experienced so many varied levels of emotions. While another six months of the year remains most of us are yawning and waiting for this year to get over. Some of us are stressed and some are scared to the core as to what awaits us next.

Scared? But why? Is it fear of unknown or the fear of how to process that abrogating that piece of news? We all are different when it comes to facing negativity or any other complex emotion. Most of the people must have read about the news of the actor who took his life because of depression. Since yesterday I was feeling disturbed too. The actor wasn't related to me or my family in any possible way but his untimely departure has left many open ended questions. I am sure many like me are looking for answers. He looked well, acted well, earned decently, was well-informed and perceptive then why did he take such a drastic step? We all are weighted with our 'why's'. His set of questions left the earth along with him but our minds are simply drowned with so many questions. It seems he wasn't given due credit, acknowledged for his work, was sidelined and so many things that are surfacing now. He was avoided by many when he started visiting doctor for depression. Nobody to hold his hand firmly and assure him that whatever be the situation it always changes. Only if he knew, understood and hadn't succumbed. My wish along the wish of thousand other people's wish.

We all want to be loved, listened and encouraged from time to time. Feeling loved by people is a basic instinct I guess and he was no different. In this over populous world we find hard to find a trustworthy person to share our feelings. I am sure just like him there are millions out there who really want someone should calmly listen to their stories. Listening is so important and in parenting it's one of the top most. We argue, we scream, we cry, we advise but rarely listen. Having someone listen to our story is so therapeutic. 

In this world of gadgets most of our feelings are expressed through emoticons, smileys, abbreviations and you name it. Machines sense most of our needs, help us with finding the perfect gift for our loved ones. I wonder can they gauge our love for them too? The funniest thing I find people do not trust their family members with their phones. Phones keep their trusted secrets which human beings cannot. My brain still spins while I am writing this. We have replaced human touch with lots of other disposable things.

As I pray for the soul of the departed actor I am hoping that someday we all will have answers to our questions, at least of some. We all can play a little part that nobody falls prey of taking their own lives. It's a one time gift for ourselves and our parents. A parent(s) contribution in raising a child cannot be jotted down in a few lines but when people succumb to the worldly pressures parents die almost instantly too. The actor had many heights to scale, many rocky roads to walk, many milestones to celebrate but he chose a different path. Let's all respect his chosen path but synchronously chose to be more patient with the people around us. Often we ignore people who try to reach us but later regret it. I hope we all try, the least we can do... 

Tiffin Tales120

Hola...

I hope everyone is doing fine amidst all the things in life. The universe seem to be in quite a chaos now. We are all slowly getting back to our pre corona lives. Even though we are trying to make changes and emphasizing a lot on hygiene, yet there is some amount of fear in our minds. The virus has dug deep into our lives and minds.

I really don't know how to feel these days. Each day feels like a mixed bag of emotions. Its June and the only day when everyone at my home felt happy and excited was on May 31st 2020, when two humans went to International Space station first time from a private company. The feeling was so good. It felt that human beings achieved a new scale, set a new benchmark and years of hard work was meeting success. Not for a minute the virus bugged our thoughts, only kept fingers crossed and wished success. Those few moments are so far the most enjoyable and memorable for us.

Within a couple of days I was deeply saddened when I read the news of pregnant elephant who died after consuming pineapple with firecrackers. My head is still spinning thinking how low can we stoop down as humans. This pregnant elephant was just looking for food and trusted the humans. The elephant should have trusted the nature perhaps the baby elephant would have arrived by now. It's so shameful and derogatory just thinking about it. 

We all living beings have equal rights over this planet and resources provided by nature. Our skin color, race, religion should never be a hindrance in getting respect and dignity that we all deserve. The recent killing has opened up all the bottled up oppression that people have to face today and everyday. Protests have sparked off far and wide and its time we change our approach. The universe is trying to change everything or man made beliefs. The century old norms are about to change and we all have to learn to coexist.

I don't know how this weekend looks like but I have to shop a bit. My pantry needs a bit of restocking. So with masks and gloves I will have to run a bit of errands and settle for the next week. Let's just hope the coming days are peaceful so that we all can sit under the sun. Our summers are pretty short and losing one sunny day is a precious loss. All we hope is that the coming days are less stressful and more peaceful. Much love to all...

Tiffin Tales 119

Hola...

It's Memorial day weekend and we are thinking of the fallen heroes all over the world for the service of mankind and humanity. I feel we have warriors all around us. They are unsung and unheard but silently serving the community around them. The brave men and women who defy all societal norms to help others are just more than courageous.

In these corona times we have lots of warriors around us. People who are fighting for our lives and health, people who are keeping us connected, people who are working to deliver the deliverables, people who are teaching and many many others who trying to help in whatever big or small capacity. 

I like to call my kids warriors too. They are helping themselves and me at times to keep everything flowing. These little ones are oblivious to many facts of life yet they are trying in their best possible ways to keep themselves occupied, sometimes without being asked.

Back in my small home town is one such 'Pishi' (aunt) who is doing amazing things in these trying times. She is a widow and her children live in different states. She advised them not to come to her in these strenuous times. Her children regularly call her and try to take care of her. She is fully aware of the current situation yet she decided to make food packets and asked a trusted neighbor to drop them at hospitals or any government organizations where people work in shifts. She never refuses anyone whoever comes at her door step asking for any kind of help. She has been doing this for the past two months and wants to maintain that. While her children are almost freaked out thinking about the consequences she assures them that she is doing fine. Pishi wears gloves for most part of the day, wears masks when she cooks and drops the neatly packed food packet at her patio before someone comes to collect them. She has a maid who also happens to be her renter who helps her in her household but when it comes to cooking she insists on doing everything herself. She takes immense pride in cooking herself and satisfies her soul thinking that someone has eaten the food without going hungry to bed. She makes very simple food probably what she eats but she feels home cooked has extra nutrition because its cooked with love. Those of us know her have simply been amazed by her thoughts and her zeal to do something in these arduous times. Pishi is exemplary for people around us. Some of her neighbors have been motivated by her energy and devotion that they do groceries for her and drop at her door step and she helps others with those food items. Circle of life I say.

There are perhaps thousands of 'Pishi's'  around us who are trying and are contributing. Not everyone can be like her but everyone can smile, pray and share some load and together we can make a difference.

These days the schools are closed and all focus is on the lunch. My fridge has very limited vegetables but surprisingly there were a few chicken drumsticks in my freezer. Rice, chicken drumsticks and some diced carrots and peas, onions, with some minimal spices and all in a cooker. What would you call? He named it 'surprise biryani'. I couldn't be more happy. Now he is resting and let me watch something...Take rest and take care everyone...