Sabbatical Final Round Up

...so tomorrow I start work.

It's at my old office, and it's an interesting project, really - it's part time, and not a long-term commitment  Still, it's the official end of the sabbatical. Dead tired as I am right now, I wanted to do one final round up of my sabbatical, which ended up being ...almost ten months long!

So here goes, as I look back over the last few months ( apologies if you've heard some of this before, but this is really a list more for me than anything else)

1. Went on the GM diet and lost a couple of kilos
2. Took up Zumba and been doing it almost throughout, lost the remaining extra kilos. Toyed with the idea of Instructor training, but still toying. In the meantime, can lead the choreos for about a dozen songs. Just for fun.
3. Gave my kids an awesome birthday party, all combined since they're all born in the same month. They turned 5 and 2 respectively.
4. Started and settled the kids into playschool. Made sure I went to drop them and pick them up myself everyday till they were comfortable.
5. Launched my first book - and just found it's in the Top 30 titles of HarperCollins for their 2013 order form. Lots of good stuff around Just Married, Please Excuse.
6. Volunteered for the first time ever at my daughter's school to tell the kids about Eid (!)
7. Hung out with Peanut a lot more - took her places like Mindcafe, Hangout and most importantly to Happy School as my teaching assistant.
8. Volunteered to teach English at the Happy School to a bunch of Class 1 students every Saturday. I hope to continue this one.
9. Hung out with my grandma three days a week, even though she stayed in Noida with my Mom. Lost both grandma and grandpa this January. Features at no. 9 in this list, but is the most important part of my sabbatical.
10.Took guitar lessons for a couple of months. Enjoyed thoroughly. Abandoned soon after because it was all getting too much. No regrets. I continue to play at amateur levels, will do so through my life and have made my peace with it.
11.Filed my tax returns and got our paperwork in *some* semblance of order. It's a start!
12. We shifted house from the third floor to the ground floor and are enjoying the latter thoroughly given that there is no complaint now from the neighbours if the twins bang things around, ride their cycles inside the house or clomp around in my high heeled shoes.
13. Hung out more with my mom, sis and brother than before. We have a whatsapp group called Da-Lal Street. Also known as Duh-Lal street given the quality of the conversation there most days.
14. Looked out for my maids - getting one tuitions in english and math, and opened a bank account for the other one, took one more to the hospital to treat her prolapsed disc. I could tell you more but that would mean telling you how many maids we have, so let's move on.
15. I finally looked up and learnt the meaning of 'sic'. Jesus, this is a weird list.
16. Started and continuing yoga lessons with my father-in-law. Became a fan of the Surya Namaskar.
17. Finally called those two old college friends Amit and Avantika and their families over for a lovely Sunday lunch - this from the woman who hardly ever entertains. Also spent more time with old friends and important family members than ever before; blissful lunches with my retired mother at various places, including a recent picnic with her and the kids at my favourite Lodhi gardens.
18. Experimented with cooking - mostly baking. Currently only make muffins for the children, chocolate and banana at regular intervals.
19. Bought me a desk and a new shelf and created a nice writing corner. My favourite part of the house.
20. Wrote a book and had it accepted. It launches this September.
21. Finished the first draft for ''Still Married, Thank You'' last week. My editor laughed at me and said ''You keep busy.'' Hope to have that out next year.
22. Adopted the colony cafe in December and organized a bunch of activities there, including a book reading, yoga session, Christmas carols and of course, the Zumba. Started a Facebook group to get the community together, and got over a hundred people on it now.
23. Started reading up on meditation - read a whole lot of non-fiction. The fiction list didn't see much movement, but I'll get to that soon.
24. Got some much-pending medical check-ups over with. All is well, glad to report.
25. Got Peanut started on Skating and Piano lessons. The former is fun, the latter is sublime although I have to watch my tendency to over-monitor her.
26. Celebrated a ten-year marriage anniversary with the nicest possible man - different from all the years before.

So these are some of the things that got done...many didn't...many more did but I must sleep now...
Overall, got to know myself better, and who my real friends and family are too.
Worth every single moment.
But it's time now.
Goodnight.

Peanut the Gourmet

I watch my little daughter, her hair tied up in a ponytail, looking very grown up at the dining table.

She has prepared herself for her meal. Always a fussy eater, everything has to be just right. On her plate, she has some dal, carrots-and-peas, a roti, and two pieces of Tinda that she reluctantly allowed me to serve her. An unopened bottle of Yakult lies next to the plate. She will only open it once she's had a few bites of the food.

I observe how she helps herself to a little bit of Ketchup, without which her meal isn't complete. Unfortunately, being the type who cannot have a meal without ketchup myself, I can scarcely try and forbid this little addition to her food.

She notices that two peas have rolled into the ketchup and wrinkles her nose in disdain. As with so many kids, she can't stand it when one item touches the other item. Apparently, it changes the taste of both irreparably. She uses her tiny little finger to roll the errant peas back into their rightful place on the other side of the plate.

She then carefully takes her vegetables and places them in the very center of her roti; She rolls the roti up to make her  ''Roti Roll'' - this magically transforms the most undesirable of meals into something almost palatable.

I smile indulgently as she carefully dips her roti roll into her Dal.
She then proceeds to dip it into the ketchup.
And my smile disappears when I see that she's now dipping it into...a bowl of Kheer!

'Peanut.' I cry '...What are you doing?'

She freezes and looks at me, unable to figure out what the fuss is all about. 'What?'

It takes me just a second to compose myself and I manage to say nonchalantly 'Nothing. Go ahead.'

She goes ahead and finishes her ritual by dipping her Roti roll-dal-ketchup straight into the Kheer, and then takes a huge bite. She chews with immense satisfaction.

'Good?' I ask her.

Her mouth is too full for her to answer me, but she manages a Mmm-hmmm sound and nods vigorously while chewing.

I continue to watch indulgently as she proceeds to finish her entire meal in this unique way.

Ah, childhood. 

Anybody wanna get Vaccinated?

My sister in law is visiting from England - just when Vijay is due to travel there.

'Good timing.' she remarked. 'Have you got your flu vaccinations?' Being a doctor, that's her area of interest.

'Oh yes,' said Vijay. 'Only...perhaps not quite the right one.'

'What do you mean?' she said.

I jumped in to explain. 'Yesterday.' I shot a withering look at Vijay. 'Vijay decided to go to some Jeewan Clinic. I was with him, and we were supposed to go to Artemis but he said that was closer, so we might as well go there.'

'Okayyy' said the sister-in-law.

'That wasn't the problem, though.' I continued 'The problem was that when we landed there, there were already four patients before us and the doctor had still not landed up. No problem, Vijay said...we already know we want the Vaxigrip vaccination, that's what our Jijaji (also a doctor) had recommended. So why should we wait for a doctor, he asked. Can't some pappu over here actually just administer the vaccine?

No sir, they told him politely at the reception. We have to get a consultation with the doctor first and then he will only tell...

What nonsense, said Vijay. This is just a way to make money. I don't need a consultation. I just need the Vaxigrip. Bring on the Pappu.

He was so convincing, I told the bemused sister-in-law, that they finally agreed to let Pappu bring out the vaccination. I watched as Vijay rolled up his sleeve and got the vaccination. Just a quick jab in the shoulder.
He then called out to me as I sat at the reception area 'hey, why don't you also get the Flu vaccination? It'll help you also.'

Without thinking too much about it, I said 'okay.' I'm always up for a little extra cover, if you know what I mean. He beckoned to me, clearly afraid that either I or Pappu would change our minds, and then before I knew it, I too was being jabbed in the shoulder.

'You're joking' gasped the Sister-in-law. 'You randomly got the vaccination too?'

Indeed I had. I was still rubbing my shoulder when Vijay said to the person at billing 'We'll take another vaccine, so that makes three of them' He confided in me 'Jiyaji was saying he's also looking for this vaccine for Munmun ( his son). It's nowhere to be found in Delhi. Might as well pick it up for him.'

I looked at the vaccine in its box and read 'Influ...'...Wait a minute. This is supposed to be Vaxigrip, right?'

'Oh' said Vijay carelessly 'Pappu over there said they don't have Vaxigrip, but this is the same thing.'

He forked over the money, and only when we were in the car did he call Jiyaji to inform him proudly about what we had done.
'What?' he said into the phone and I knew we had a problem. 'Oh. But I've already bought an extra one for you...' I waited while he finished listening to Jiyaji and then asked 'So can I get the Vaxigrip now? No?...'

Yes, I told the sister-in-law, who by now was in the throes of laughter as if this was the funniest thing she had ever heard. Indeed we had got the wrong vaccine. Pappu had misled us with his supposed knowledge of the world of medicine. Apparently this one was for the Swine Flu and didn't have the same wide coverage as the one we were supposed to get.

That wasn't the worst part, I told her. Jiyaji told Vijay categorically that he did not want this particular vaccine for Munmun, and asked him to return it. Vijay didn't feel like turning around and going back though, and so he spent the rest of the car ride trying to convince our Driver, Kamal that he should get vaccinated with this imposter-vaccine that we had purchased.

'Kamal, tumne Swine Flu suna hai?'

'Haan, sir...aaj kal kaafi chal raha hai.'

'Exactly!' he looked triumphantly at me 'That's why we should get Kamal this vaccination. At least he won't get swine flu. It'll make sure he doesn't have to take unnecessary sick leave...'

'You're ridiculous.' I burst out and didn't talk to him all the way home.

The Sister-in-law paused with the laughing long enough to say that if we had indeed gone ahead and bought the vaccine, she might as well administer it to our poor hapless driver -she is herself a doctor, after all. 'Show me the vaccine?'

I went over to my bookshelf and picked it up to bring it to her.

'What?' She was shocked. 'You kept it at ambient temperature? I'm sure it's to be refrigerated...these things usually are...'

'Is it?' Vijay was surprised 'But I'm sure they didn't tell us anything of the sort.And I'm pretty sure ours were also at ambient temperature...they didn't take it out of the fridge or anything...'

She looked at the box and in about two seconds, found the clear bold instructions that read 'Keep stored under refrigeration only.'

'This' she informed us, the laughter returning 'Is now deactivated. I can't say about the ones they give you, but I can tell you for sure...there is no point in jabbing Kamal with this, it will not protect him at all.'

'But' I protested wildly, in a final attempt to make use of our purchase 'We should still do it, because it will psychologically impact him...the Placebo effect.'

Sister-in-law clutched her sides with laughter and said 'I've never heard of people getting vaccinated like this...Please,' she begged me 'you must blog about this.'

Fine, I told her sulkily. Fine. I will.

Fine. 

If You're in Bangalore...

It's been years since we've lived there, our flat in Bangalore. These pictures mailed to me by our ertswhile tenant ( who moved out just yesterday) made me feel very nostalgic about the place. It's really a beautiful complex.

So anyway, he's gone now with his little family. Therefore, we're currently looking for a tenant. This place is 2 bedrooms plus a Study, on the 2nd floor, 1700 square feet in East Bangalore ( near the old Airport). If you know someone who is willing to rent the place on company lease, do direct them here! I can be reached at yashodhara dot lal at gmail dot com.

...and a big thanks to our tenant of the last six years who maintained the place beautifully! Would be great to get another tenant like him. 

The Cycle of Life

I don't know why I bother.

There's this one cycle shop just five minutes from my home. Last year, on my birthday, my husband convinced me to buy this one pink-cycle-with-a-basket which I blew thousands on, and have used exactly four times so far.

So today, I'm pretty sure the guy saw me coming from miles away. The cash registers would have started ringing in his head as soon as my head bobbed into view. Because I don't shop often, but when I do, I go so way overboard that you wouldn't believe I'm actually an unwilling shopper.

Let me start at the beginning.

Peanut, Pickle and Papad have several cycles of varying sizes. There are six in total - but all of them very kiddy-type. Except for one cycle which is Peanut's that reasonably grown up, despite its training wheels. This naturally is the most coveted cycle in our home and there is never a moment's peace about this.

Rinki, my maid, remarks how Peanut never gets to ride that cycle when they take it to the park, and how the twins also keep fighting over it. So I had the bright idea of buying cycles for the twins. I told Peanut that the twins would now get their own 'big boy' cycles so that she could get to ride hers.

Great, she said, and wanted to come along for the shopping for the Bruddas.

On the way, however, as I should have anticipated, she decided that she was the one who needed a 'bigger' cycle because this one was for a 'Four-year-old' only and she's now 'Five-plus.'

Yeah, right, Peanut. Shut up and help me select cycles for your brothers as promised.

Twenty minutes later, we were heading home with a new Big-girl Pink cycle with Basket and Bell for Peanut. The puppy dog eyes, coupled with the fact that she's been sick, were all too much for me to resist.

Then I had another idea. Clearly, Peanut's old cycle was now going to be given to one of the twins. Which meant only that I had to buy another identical cycle to that old cycle and we would be fine. Except that I knew that I was kidding myself because there was no other such cycle that I had spotted in the shop. However, I decided I was going to buy just one more cycle and the twins would just have to learn to share or fight it out.

I reached home and while Peanut played with her new cycle, called up Rinki, who was in the park with the twins and my other maid, Kajal.

'Rinki, bring Pickle home' I instructed. 'Only Pickle.' I figured I needed only twin for size - they're identical after all.

She came home with Pickle, but as we were heading for the car, Pickle all excited at the prospect of a new Bye-cycle, who should come toddling up with Kajal but young Papad, who as Kajal put it ''had overheard Rinki on the phone'' and also wanted to go shopping. Irritated, I bunged both the twins and Kajal into the car and headed back to the cycle shop.

I told them on the way categorically that we would be buying only ONE cycle and sharing it.

Forty minutes later, we were heading home with one spankin' new red cycle with basket and bell and one spankin' new orange cycle with basket and bell. Unfortunately, they didn't have two cycles of the correct size in the same colour. Initially there was a scrap because both the twins wanted the orange bike, and then both of them wanted the red bike - eventually Pickle settled for Orange and Papad for Red.

So I ended up spending heaps of money, but at least I figured, there would now be Peace At Home.

P.S - The last hour was spent in punishing Pickle for pushing over his Orange cycle in a fit of anger, since he decided that he really wanted the Red cycle after all. And currently, he is screaming the roof down because his action of pushing his cycle over loosened the bell and he therefore now hates it beyond all reasonable measure. So here we go again. Back to square one - or you might say, we've cycled around right to the very beginning .
P.P.S - I hate cycles. Passionately.

I GotYe Babe

I went to yesterday's Gotye concert at the Blue Frog.
Excited that I'd managed tickets at the last moment thanks to some very good and resourceful friends. Sheepish that I was just like one of those yuppies who've pretty much heard like two or three of his songs.

It blew me away.

He is stunning in almost every way. As a musician, he is incredibly versatile. I lost count of the number of instruments he played...mostly percussion, but plenty of other things as well, many of them being instruments that I can't even name. The band members were all fantastic, but I could pretty much keep my eyes only on Gotye throughout.

You know how some people are good in the recording studio but actually can't sing to save their lives and go all over the place on stage, particularly with vocals? This guy was unbelievable - not a note out of tone, not a missed beat, amazing energy - and an endearing personality, liberal doses of humour in between song and ...so much grace.

My friend whispered into my ear, looking up in awe ''He looks like Jesus.''
I nodded mutely, thinking Jesus wasn't Hot like this, dude.

I've been to a few concerts - not that many, I guess - INXS, Joe Satriani, Roxette, Elton John and some others I'm forgetting now - and I've actually enjoyed each one of them. But nothing comes close to this man and his crew.

I also lost the sheepishness about never having really heard much of his music beyond the most popular songs. Each song was a discovery in itself and I can't think of a better way to be introduced to his music than seeing him perform all those songs live - showcasing that the popular songs were only the tip of the iceberg as far as he's concerned. I don't think I can describe his music at all, actually. Words fail me, apart from saying that it's beautiful.

Blue Frog was a fairly nice venue - the only thing that really annoyed me was when people in the back ignored Gotye's plea to keep the chatter down for some of the quieter songs because it was disturbing. A bunch of people (sounded like some very drunk and desperate women) were merrily chatting and laughing away and I found myself wishing they'd found some other venue to haunt for the night, since their agenda clearly was NOT the music. But despite this, most of the people there seemed to be listening and truly enjoying the music, and that always makes for a great atmosphere.

Ah Gotye. You're a true artist. Respect.

P.S - nice shot, eh?
P.P.S - don't forget to delurk here! It's Happy Burday week!  

Eventfully Yours

I love February. Always have, always will.

Apart from the fact that weather is beyootiful this month ( yeah, right - have you SEEN the wet misery outside in Delhi today?), it's generally an active month - with a certain overgrown kid's birthday comin' up ...and a certain couple's Ten YEAR wedding anniversary (gasp! we're so OLD!)

Of course, I might not get to go to Gotye's concert tomorrow given that tickets are all sold out and after my initial excitement about this in November ( wherein I called the lady at Blue Frog and told her that Gotye was expected on 6th Feb while she protested that they didn't have their calender yet) - I basically forgot all about it until yesterday. And then, the conversation that I had with my husband put me off.

In the morning, he said 'I still don't understand why you got mad at me...'
'I TOLD you' I sulked 'I said I wanted to go to Gotye for my birthday.'
'I didn't understand what you were talking about...Initially I thought you were saying Gautier furniture, where we bought our Sofa set from...'
'Yes, very funny and all that, but I TOLD you that he is the one who sang Somebody I Used to Know.'
'Yes, you said that' my husband said patiently 'so then I thought you were talking about some guy from school or college that you used to know...I'm telling you, you should be more clear.'
'Listen' I was very petulant 'When your wife is saying that she wants to go for a concert as the only birthday present she really wants, you should be more excited.'
At this, he just burst into snorts of laughter. 'Honey' he choked 'You lost right to say ''This is what I want for my burday'' when you were TWELVE.'
'I have NOT lost the right' I sulked some more 'Anyway, you forget it, I've asked my sister to take me.'
'Oh, okay' He said mildly, and then after a pause 'So, will he stand there naked, expecting the audience to paint him?'

Sigh. We console ourselves by watching the video yet again, then.

Separately, I was supposed to have this session around my book ''Just Married, Please Excuse'' at the World Book Fair today, which got rained out. But now it's rescheduled for 10th February, 1.30-2.30 p.m. at Hall 1R, Pragati Maidan. I'll be in conversation with Richa Lakhera, another HarperCollins author who has debuted with her book 'Garbage Beat', and it should be an interesting session.
I figured if I put this up early enough on my blog, a few of you who happen to be there might drop by. So here's hoping to see you there!

Thirdly, my second book, with the current working title ''The Story of Sid'' is scheduled for release in September this year. I'm quite impressed with my publisher, who has sent me a detailed schedule with actual dates and all. This is very different from last year where everything was, let us say, rather free-flowing by comparison. ( Translation: When is my book out, guys?... Soon, Y, Soon. Another biscuit?)
Yes, sirree, I am mighty impressed.

Lastly, as I've mentioned a couple of times - it's my burday week. And even though my husband claims that I'm too old to ask for presents, the only thing I want from you is to take the opportunity to delurk. I know commenting seems to be a bit of a pain these days, but I do want to hear from you on this particular point - what do you like about this blog, and what is it that you'd like to see more of here? Feel free to say anything. I can't promise I'll be able to do it, but I'd really like to take stock at this point - this is important to me and will help me figure out a few things. So go ooornnn ....say it, why doncha?

After all, mera happy burday hai!

* Shuts ears to Vijay's snorting choking derisive and altogether insensitive laughter*