Rendezvous with my self..

A few years back, while in Bangalore, I was in this shop looking at some tops and T-shirts. Mummy was with me too, helping me out to choose.

I happened to look long at this skimpy kind of tank top and then pushed it aside.

She noticed and said ” That is so pretty! Take it “

I made a skeptical face and said ” Not sure, mummy. It looks too skimpy”.

“So what? It will look good on you!”

While I was still thinking and holding it up trying to decide, the sales girl at the counter spoke.

” I think you should buy it ma’m. It will suit you. Moreover, this is the time you can wear all these sexy clothes. Once you get married and have a mother-in-law, I doubt she will be as supportive as your mom now!”

Me and ‘mummy’ looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Trying hard to stop, I said ” Thanks for the advice! By the way, this is my mummy-in-law”.

The face of that girl at the counter was worth watching

Frankly, I think my ‘mummy’ is cool in many ways though she is quite orthodox and conservative by nature.

Me and hubby have lived separately from parents, but have been visiting them atleast once a month until we moved out from India to the US.

I have admired mummy for how supportive and kind she is. She never tried bossing around or expected me to be the ‘bholi-bhali-bahu’, like most women of her age do. I like her energy and the vigor with which she moves around the house doing all the work. Never seen her sit and while away a single minute.

She is visiting us and has been around for a few months now.
Am happy about it and happy for my hubby who is all smiles to have his mom around.

But..But, I realize that it is not much fun to always have your mom-in-law
next to you..however good they are. ( You don’t know how much guilt I feel while I type these words!)

One major problem – She talks a lot.

When I say ‘lot’ , read – REALLY REALLY LOT!
All our conversations usually get drowned in her voice, all our thoughts too. She seems to think that if she stops talking, the world will miss a GRAVELY USEFUL information that can be promptly imparted in a few seconds!

The information, however, almost always involves – How her cousin’s brother’s elder son’s first daughter has a similar necklace or how another ‘close’ (?!) relative was in a similar situation that we are discussing! Almost always, these informations conclude to nothing and lead to nowhere.

Otherwise, it is mostly ” In our old times..” stories. The stories that go on and on with how she used to love a particular dish her aunty made or how she used to enjoy going out with her friends for movies.

Those were fun to listen to..until they became annoyingly repetitive. Trust me when I say, I have heard EVERY story she starts, atleast 5 times before that. It hurts to be torn between the heart that says ” Poor Lady, spare her the joy of talking!” and the mind which yells ” Stop her! I cannot bear to listen this story for the 10th time now! Please!”

I remain silent and nod anyway..

Secondly, hubby thinks his mom is the best cook ever ( Yeah, what’s new in that?! That is an inbuilt feature in any man, isn’t it?!).

So what, if the vegetables are overcooked or if they miss some salt. So what, if that chutney is 3 days old from the fridge and smells a bit different ? So what, if the biryani tastes nowhere like one and so what if she missed just one key-ingredient!!

To be honest, she is a very mediocre cook. (No, that does not in the slightest way imply that I am a great cook. I am still learning and trying to do my best.)

I remain silent and eat anyway..

I am getting a little tired remaining silent. I can sense that when I hear myself say ” Mummy, You have told that story earlier.” or ” Mummy, this item is missing some salt and the other one needs more gravy”.

God, While I wish mummy all the health and happiness, I wish myself some more patience and some more endurance to go on with her for a few more months until she returns to her home.

Amen?

————————————————–
Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt.
Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth.
—————————————————–
I love this quote and dancing too.
That is why I joined this dance group to perform in a show..after 4 long years spent away from stage.

All of ‘them’ dance so beautifully. I shake my hips along side those delightfully enthusiastic girls.

But, somehow, it does not feel like I belong.

Am I intimidated by their grace ?.. their ability to pick any step in a jiffy or the fact that I try too hard remembering my next step while the rest of them just flow with the music ?

Maybe..Or is it just because I am the only new one in the group and all the rest are buddies who have shared the stage in several performances over the years?

I dance my heart out every time and then say ‘ One more rehearsal please?’, while the rest of them sit around relaxing and chit-chatting.

More rehearsals = More time spent dancing together which will get me the sense of belonging..among this bunch of ‘well known’ strangers? Not sure.

I have hardly felt so detached to any group of ‘friends’ before.

I know, I know – There are greater things in the world to worry about.
The worsening global food crisis, the sky rocketing fuel prices, the heart wrenching natural disasters in China and Burma, recession in America or even that Tendulkar is not being able to make it to the IPL matches! I know.

That is exactly why I did not want to post this piece earlier.
But, what the heck !
I am affected by this little happening in my life as much as I am by the other events in the world. ( Of course their degrees are never comparable)

This dance show has many other groups and even professionals performing. The funds collected will be handed over to a well known charitable organization in India that supports orphaned children. I am proud to be a part of their noble effort. Plus, I am doing myself a favor by dusting off my dance shoes..after those blissfully energetic days spent dancing during college days.

I am doing pretty well, I suppose, In spite of that nagging inferiority complex when I am around ‘those’ girls.

Thankfully, nothing or nobody seem to matter me when the music starts.

Tomorrow is the big night.. and am gonna dance like nobody’s watching !

Yes

      

The overwhelming moment came when we stepped on this peak called ‘Klien Matterhorn’. The clouds floating below us.. snow peaks trying hard to hold their heads higher and the sun smiling at all this silly game. Words fail me in describing how it felt there..    

Austria

We spent just two days in Vienna, and wished we stayed some more.

The music Gods of the 18th century – Mozart and Strauss were born here. This place is musical all over. We went for a concert involving an orchestra, ballet and oprah performances and I could not stop smiling for the entire evening. Man,those people are TALENTED !

Venice was charming, in it’s own way. Not very clean, quite noisy and hot – but, I can hardly remember these negative aspects. All I can remember vividly when I think of Venice are the colorful houses and the carnival masks. Ah, and the waters ..and the Gondola ride But, charging tourists 90 Euros for a 30 minute trip was a rip off ! I think those Gondola ‘drivers’ are millionaires already. They just wear simple striped shirts and appear ‘normal’ just to make more money, yeah!

Rome cried out history from every brick. The colosseum spoke volumes and I was dizzy imagining 50,000 Romans cheering at the fight between the gladiator and the ferocious animal on the arena. A chill ran down my spine when the audio guide told ” The dead Gladiators were touched by a burning iron rod to avoid any chances of the Gladiator pretending dead”. Wow !

    

See ya around, people