Eloquences of a NRI daughter ...

Papa you know my colleague Denis got a brand new shimmering red BMW Series 3 equipped bountifully with ten speakers, ABS ... and I got a opportunity to relish the extraveganza of his ultra luxury car this afternoon on the streets of Manhattan, New York, lucky me! My lunch time was almost entirely devoured by overjoyed Denis and the endless descriptions of the never-ending features of his BMW Series three ... ohh how jealous I felt of that guy and his BeeeeEmmmDoubluee.

But as he went on and on, surprisingly this green-eyed monster within me went down and down ... down the memory lanes of our first car, our first "second hand" Green colored Maruti800, I do not remember the numbers of my own Corolla which I drive daily here but I do remember the numbers of our Maruti800 which you never allowed me to drive. I know I too will be driving some BMW series three four or whatever someday, but this complain of not being allowed to drive your Maruti800 will always be rooted deep in my heart. Such was the ecstasy of that Maruti800 unparalleled with Denis's ruby red opulence.

Smell of our Maruti800, still so fresh somewhere within me, no other car freshener can discover the same aroma of fragrance, I bet ya! The car had no air conditioner and we drove it in the temperatures above a hundred degrees in the blisteringly hot summers of India, it had no music system, no seat covers even, it was a bare car, which could offer the only luxury of travelling little more comfortably with all the five members of our family togather. And still it was the best car I ever rode ... I couldn't stop myself from telling this to Denis.

• We get saturdays and Sundays and almost a half of Friday but this all seems less fun than one single sunday of yours Papa.
• I have witnessed five farewell parties but none of them were as grand as one and only farewell party of yours.
• All my companies were fortune500 (a big deal that I will always be proud of) but I never could build the same repo and same relation as you had in your small Aluminium Plant.
• I get a fat pay stub but I never get those sweat smells from my shirts that you always had in all the seasons after your office hours, will my kids ever believe that I had a real hectic day at office?
• I am exposed to a much larger world than yours but still I have less number of real friends.

How uncool is that Papa?

Yeah it was a bare car Papa but the FOTM is it was the best one I ever had. Me and Deniss' and lot of others like us strive here and there back in India to afford these luxuries but we often forget that the best ones were the ones that we already left behind. Big things comes in small packages, how true is that. I came to New York with some of the very demanding career and personal goals, to grow a level up from what I was before, but these levels are never ending, I achieve one goal and from the next day itself I start starving for another one, this race has no finish point and this race has no winners.

And I still keep wondering that why simplest of the things gives biggest pleasures. And still why we run after the big and more biggger pleasures leaving behind the simple and the simplest ones.

History repeats ...

Papa is using internet since last couple of months and he repeated lot of customer care jokes, and I would like to pen down one here …

Me: Papa, open your yahoo messenger.
Papa: Where is it?
Me: well... it should be on the bottom right corner of your monitor.
Papa (after 5 minutes or so): No I can’t get it.
Me: okay let’s try to find it on your desktop.
Papa: I only have lots of fishes swimming on my desktop, I still can’t see yahoo messenger.
Me: fishes … (grrrr) you have a screen saver on. Papa, move your mouse a little and then try to find yahoo messenger on either bottom left corner or on your desktop …
Papa (gets his desktop hidden behind those cute fishes that my Mom likes so much): ok still I can’t see your yahoo messenger.
Me: ok Papa, what all you see in your bottom left corner ( I thought this will be faster than identifying all the icons on the desktop)
Papa (goes like this): 10:30AM, E, W … blah blah and finally one Yellow laughing face with white teethes.
Aru: ok gotchcha …that one yeah Papa that yellow laughing face, that is the one we morons call Yahoo Messanger.

That yellow laughing face… hold it tight …yeah scold that tight … as you used to scold us few decades back, during our homework sessions … Do you also hate my internet classes as much as I hated your spelling and math classes?

Mom's Herbal Laddu (Jachki Laddu)

My blog site is not a cooking BlogSpot … but I couldn’t resist penning down this recipe … or medicine … or is it a sweet dish … ummn okay let’s call it my Mom’s Herbal Laddu!

The reason why I want to keep this recipe alive is not because it is very tasty or easy to make … in contrary this Herbal Laddu is actually not very good in taste and the procedure is very lengthy and intricate. But the reason is … First … I didn’t get this recipe anywhere on net and second this Herbal Laddu is a Laddu made especially for women’s postpartum period … this helps new Mom’s to regain the lost strength and helps her to rule the family once again … to get her back to her usual roaring spirit once again … yeah gals my Mom’s Herbal Laddu is that powerful!

I am sure Laddu would magnetize many sweet tooths like Ra’s … he couldn’t kept himself away from these Herbal Laddu’s despite of my Mom’s warnings … but trust me he never tried a second one after having that first .. so watch ya mouth guys !

Okay so without much ado (yup I watched entertainment ke liye’s first season with some interest) here goes the recipe …

Ingredients:

1. 250g Khadi Methi (Fenugreek seeds )
2. 250g Sonth (Dry Ginger)
3. 250g Aami Haldi (Mango turmeric)
4. 250g Mota Peepara
5. 100g Patala Peepara
6. 100g Jadi Peepara
7. 50g Mool Peepara
8. 100g Aswagandha
9. 200g Satawar
10. 250g khane ka Gond
11. 50g Kamarkas
12. 250g Ajwain
13. 250g Karayat
14. 0.5kg Makhana (Kamalgatta)
15. 1.5kg Khaskhas (Opium seeds)
16. 250g Mota Haldi
17. 4kg Grinded Gud
18. 0.5kg Chuhara (dry Date Palm)
19. 2kg Badam
20. 2kg kishmish (dry Grapes)
21. 250g Pista
22. 0.5kg Chironjee
23. 4kg Cow's shudhdh Ghee (if possible made at home)

Procedure:

1. Clean all the herbs in water and sundry it ... this may take 2-3 days, depending on amount of sunlight you are getting.
2. Fry Ajwain and khaskhas in a pan.
3. Deep fry Makhana in hot Ghee and keep it separately.
4. Deep Fry all the herbs (except Kishmish) one by one separately in hot Ghee.
5. Let all the fried herbs cool down then grind them separately one by one in your grinder or mixer, traditionally all the herbs are manually grinded using stone (Seel Batta).
6. Cut Chuhara into small pieces.
7. Now mix all the ginded herbs, fried Makhana and cut Chuhara in a big pan.
8. After mixing well, put grinded Gud and Kishmish in between this mix and pour hot Ghee on the Gud and kishmish.
9. Once Gud starts melting, mix eveything using big spoons (remember ghee you poured is very hot ... so do not use hands)

Now make gol gol Laddu's with this mix.

I have been eating these Laddu's since last two months ... two to three per day depending on my Moms memory ... and thank God ... Mummy told me yesterday only that she has just one more month of Laddu stock left in her big box.

My bamboo shoot ... my shooting star ...

One day she decided to quit ... quit her job, her relationship, her spirituality... she wanted to quit her life.

She went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", she said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised her...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", she replied.
When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit." He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant... But just six months later the bamboo rose to over a hundred feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to her. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots."

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you". Don't compare yourself to others" He said "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern ... Yet… they both make the forest beautiful."

“Your time will come” God said to her “You will rise high!”

“How high should I rise?" She asked.

“How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?” She questioned.

“Yes.” He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

She left the forest and brought back this story to me … and I was so proud of her the moment I read her story … I knew she has it in her … She is my bamboo shoot … She is my only shooting star carrying unfulfilled wishes of her own; she has come so far … she can’t go back where she used to be ... but still a whole new World! Yes a whole new world is waiting for her!

You will rise as high as you want... and will bring glory to God and to all of us … God will never give up on you … my lil princess!

A spiritual twist ...

Sri Ram chandra kripalu bhaj man haran bhav bhay darunam
Nav kanj lochan kanj mukh kar kanj pad kanjarunam ... sri ...

One more ... Thumak chalat Ram chandra bajat paijaniya ... thumak chalat ram chandra ... and I do see thumak thumak of a cutie pie Ram like kiddo …

And one more ... maiyya mori mai nah makhan khayo ... I do visualize a four year old mischievous Kanhaiyya

And actually lot mores to go ... I have no idea when and how I started listening to these bhajans … no clue since when Anoop Jalota became so melodious but these feels so soothing and so pleasing, I keep humming them all the time. Now a days I do not try to learn the lyrics of Susan Boyle les miserables I dreamed a dream ... but I do spend a considerable time looking for the lyrics and meaning of Sri Ram chandra kripalu bhaj man ... kind bhajans ... ohh someone there in India must be smiling at me, someone who so much wanted her daughter to learn the lyrics of these bhajans till the time I was in control of her ... time changes, mind purifies!

And apart from that I am reading Sea of Poppies, its gripping, but the language ... not his english but the lascar language that he has used is very difficult to understand. It’s a mix of English Hindi and some other out of world language, but I am not able to fully understand it as if now … till the completion of my first chapter. I wish somebody could provide me the dictionary of this language … anyways google zindabad, I am sure it’s not me alone with this complain. Deeti’s part is mysterious and very pleasing to read, the details of her and her daughter’s daily household chores, eating roti’s with aloo poshto and all makes me feel nostalgic.

Baby kicks now a days, I feel tired and sleepy all the time, not sure whether I am pretending to get an excuse for my laziness or I really am tired.

My lil chidiya ...

His parents call him Noddy, on the name of that little wooden toy character who lives in Toytown and who nods his head in exchange of some chocolates. But the actual story behind his name goes like this ... When this little chidiya was very small and didn't had any good neck support, his head used to nod and when one three year old neighbour girl noticed that she said that he nods like Noddy and since than he became Noddy for everybody except me.

To me he is still a chidiya, because when I took this two days old small thing in my lap, he opened half of his eyes lazily and started opening and closing his small mouth like a small bird's beak. All the times when he is not sleeping and not crying he used to repeat the same show and since than he is a chidiya to me.

This classic pic was taken during my last visit to India, when his smart Mom forgot to pick the small suitcase of my small chidiya from her in-laws place. She was in such hurry to meet her sis or to bid adieu to the streets of her in laws home ... wink wink ! So since chidiya had not even a single kachcha of his own that night, he had to manage with the borrowed clothes of creatures double or tripple of his size and age. Not that he cared even a bit but we all did, for the sake of protecting him from mosquitos and winter and also for making a good memory to laugh about and to write about ... sometimes in future.

This kid for some reason is obsessed with the trains since he arrived his Nana's home for the first time, nobody in the home will notice the horn of distant arriving train, but he will and he will do that each and every single time. When he couldn't speak, his eyes would speak in response of the train's horn, and somebody will have to take him out to show the train every time. I can't tell you how satisfied he would feel to see the train ... I mean some kind of eternal pleasure will brighten his eyes. The kind of serene tranquility you would see in some great monk ... same kind I see in this kids eye when he watches this black and brown monsterous machine. The blue and maroon sweater that he is wearing is a historical one too ... its his Mom's childhood favourite sweater. The socks are probably mine, the T-shirt that he is wearing inside is his Nana's ... and the designer of this complete dress is his dearest Nani. The added accessory ... the Lantern that my chidiya is holding was given to him as a bribe on some occasion I do not remember. The day he got this, none of trains crossed from our neighbourhood without getting a green signal from his pink and white toy Lantern. he waved his lantern dutifully to each and every train until he slept and not to forget, as a responsible official he did assigned his shift to his subordinate Maashi before sleeping.

One more classic one ... this ones my favourite too ... nothing much about this snap but he looks adorable, isn't he, He never asks for any expensive toys ... he creates his own toys, it can be anything beyond your imagination. One day he played with all the tomatoes of the house, put the marks of his small teeth in each and every tomato available in the house. One another fine day he played with this blue cap round dabba, I have no idea what qualifies these weired things to become his favourite of the day ... but he does enjoy himself up to the brim with these small things which we never even take notice of. I wish everybody in the world were this easy to please !

I also wish to show my chidiya this blog with these snaps someday to tell him how much fun we had with him ... and how much we loved this first Diwan kiddo of his generation.

My lil bundle of joy !

I came here and noticed I had not written anything since last four months in this blog, but not like I am not writting at all ... I do write ... and Iiiiiiiiiii ... I write for the little bundle of joy that I am carrying inside yeeeei I am carrying a five month baby yuhu clap clap! And I was involved writting for him only since last few months. Talks between me and him, secrets between me and him and a fine tuning between me and him ... I am trying to feel how is it to be a Mom ! But geeeeek its real odd, will he mind calling me by name?

But otherwise the journey till now has gone pretty smooth, I never felt a thing for a single moment, no cravings, no vommitings, no morning, evening sicknesses and no pains. My lil pumpkin has been really good to me till now.

Wish me and my chubby cheek luck !!!

The New Den ...

I was used to getting up with the noice of birds chirping outside my bedroom window, my living room window very often was lined up with white and blue pegions, my bedroom, kitchen and bathroom used to be lighted with sunlight till afternoon and boy my bedroom very often was lighted with moonlight too ... and this was all in my previous apartment.

My new apartment's bedroom is right above a traffic signal, I wake up with the noise of cars and ambulance sirens, sulight falls only in my bedroom that too as if its doing a favor on me. And moonlight ... just forget about it, I can't even see the sky from my bedroom window since its all covered with the surrounding skyscrappers. No garden in front of the windows and no kids to shout for Rajib Uncle and Rajib Aunty.

Only comfort that we have is, we are saving our commute time, earlier we used to be inside the car for full three hours, but we ignored the positives that we were getting from these three hours commute. We were spending quality three hours togather everyday. There was no TV, no laptop to disturb us, me and Ra and nobody else, we had nothing else to do except talk to each other or resolve our previous fights or if nothing else than get involved in a new fight, and man why the heck I let this luxury taken away from me so easily.

Oh I am badly missing my old apartment, and my good old Parkway and everything else that I used to complain about earlier !

My old home .. sweet home ...

The New Den .. (dont go on the interiors ... sab chalawa hai ...)