The COVID Times

The chill early morning breeze hitting you on your face,

takes you to many years ago in memory, and you hasten to think

which year or what age you were at, that memory trying to make you remember.

With birds chirping away, a sound that seems to have become a constant now.

The early mornings never fail to bring back memories of years gone by.

How is it even possible that one thinks back of the flashes of thoughts that

are just in your mind?

Standing aside, when I had a look at the crowd moving about, I was struck

at the alien sight, I was dazed and wanted to confirm if this was real or a dream!

The people moving about their business in the scantily populated roads,

everybody were with their masks on, on the cycle, zipping away in bikes,

jostling about in the autos, briskly walking away, or some strolling about,

all had masks, with just their eyes popping out, some with barely covering their mouth.

What is this time? Is it really reality or a dream?

I felt I would almost wake up from my dreams, dreams that seem to be filled with thoughts that come wayward!

I walked back home, to my desk that seemed to have me seated nonstop from dawn to dusk, fleeting away in between to care for the household chores that seemed to wait forever for my attention.

Memories on a memorable day!

Happy Mother's day to all moms!

Well I just said that as it seem to be the trend all over. FB is full of Mother's day greetings and quotes on moms. Whoever calls up, greets me with this and we took it so much forward this year, with Dad wanting to treat the moms for a special lunch.

I never really thought you need a day to celebrate Mother's day. However on the flip side, if you think one makes an effort to at least appreciate and remember moms, then I am all for it. By the way my kids are not into this as they didn't even know about the day. That's good as I was thinking I was more into spending time with Amma. It so happened that Hubby dear has taken them for a vacation and I get to spend my time with parents. So we had an "our" time after a long time.

So after an elaborate lunch and feeling stuffed to the core, I got back to my alone time, planning what else to work on. It's pretty boring to be sitting alone and thinking you can work loads, when in reality you feel so bored out of nuts and wish everybody is here and I am literally struggling to find time to write.

I would prefer that anytime, I tell you...

On the wheels ~ with Samosas and what not!

I was visiting the city after nearly two decades. I really didn't expect to remember anything from the memories that I have, it felt like I was visiting a new place for the very first time. When places change in a short span, imagine how much two decades can have an effect. Bangalore was nothing like what I remember. Until I was in my higher secondary school, visits to Bangalore and Ooty was an yearly affair. Our tours stopped when I came to twelfth grade and somehow I never managed to go back to Bangalore.

Though we didn't have relatives living in Bangalore even then, we had very close family friends to visit. Now I have my friends, and I have been planning nearly two years to make this visit. Still I never realized I would make it this time. It was sudden plan, all after seeing the Double Decker train plying between Madras and Bangalore, that we planned it just like that. From my childhood, I always had a penchant for Double Decker modes of transportation. I remember making a bus travel just to get on the Double Decker bus when I was a kid. So this train captivated my interest. With boys on their vacation, we thought would make it with Konda.

We weren't very sure we would make it as all our weekends were booked. Yet we went ahead with booking just to make sure we have the tickets, if we decide to go. Until the last moment, we weren't sure, yet I made sure I had the BM posts ready and all scheduled. However another unexpected travel hindered my plans on making the last week posts ready. So you know how I missed making the samosas as planned.

Coming back to our story of Samosas and what not, it was more a pun on the fact that I ended up eating Samosas on the train, which I tell you, is a taboo in my family. Dad being a doctor would never approve of it. And hubby dear knowing I have lived all my life without the joy of what a travel would bring upon, made sure he got everything that went across us in the journey.

We boarded the train at about quarter past seven. We had the expected pictures in front of the train, with Konda being so embarrassed at my behavior. I now know how it must be for a teen to feel embarrassed at the elder's antics. I used to be so touchy on such things during the same age myself. Being in 30's gives you a care not attitude that can't be felt unless you reach that age!

Anyway hubby dear was so happy we got the top and asked us to walk around the place to see how well it's done. Being part of the railway fraternity, gives one a sense of pride as if the train belongs to you. Well I still have that sense and feel very proud of how it's been constructed. We finally settled when the train started moving. First came the breakfast, a parcel of Idli, Vada and Chutney. Sambar sadly missing in the package, we had to settle for whatever was in the offering. Once that was done, I was playing with the camera. Konda was getting restless with the endless clicks that was in progress.

Next came a call for Samosas. Hubby dear looked at me expectedly. I hear a voice from somewhere, saying nooo. But then another voice very close by says I should atleast try. So we got a plate of that. I wanted to dissect to see what the stuffing was. To my horror, it was carrots with curry leave and mustard tempering. I am not a person who can accept fusion very easily. If one can blend it such that you can't obviously differentiate, it's okay with me. Else these mix and match is a no no in my books of cooking. Very neatly I removed the stuffing and ate the outer crispy layer, which was surprisingly very good.

So for the lack of actual Samosa recipe, I have two Samosa pictures to share with you guys!

On the row in front of us, was a family of three with a daughter almost Konda's age. All through the journey, the father ensured he got everything for the kid, making sure she was always eating non stop. The train stopped in about 4 -5 stations in between. We reached the Bangalore Cantonment at about 1 pm. My friend V, came to pick us up. She lives near Ulsoor lake and yes we had a glance at the lake and saw it was quite nice.

For all the non conforming cook that she is, she gave us a feast of typical Iyar sapadu, a full course meal. We were so stuffed that we couldn't think of anything. Though we were badly in need of a siesta, we managed to stay put and spent time with my friend's family. We had plans of going shopping in the evening.

We went to the Forum mall and by the time we managed to come back, it was raining. The mall is just as you expect, as it started raining heavily the travel from one spot to another became even worse. On the way we saw MG Road, commercial Street. I said I dont' have the patience for shopping. And I had asked for props shopping the next day. So all I was expecting was just roaming around the city.

For dinner we went to the Nakshatra, Nagarjuna Restaurants. Hubby dear sternly gave a look that said I am not supposed to take the camera out. So unfortunately I had the dinner without a single picture clicked. By the time we returned back, it was quite late and we were still feeling stuffed. After a stroll for a while, we retired to sleep.

Since my friend was running the Marathon the next day conducted by the TCS, she woke up early and left by the time I got up at 7. I was planning to make Poori channa for her daughters. So the entire morning was spend just with breakfast and relaxing in front of the idiot box.

We went out for shopping for the blog. Imagine six of us trying to pick up stuffs for the props. There was nothing that I won't get in madras, I simply wanted to have things to remember my weekend. Once the shopping was done, we roamed around trying to figure out where to land for lunch. We had to catch the 4.20 shatabdi, another of my first.

We finally landed in UB city, a class of its own. Finally a place you can fall in love with. It is beautifully constructed and reminded me of those outdoor cafe shops I saw in SFA. We booked table in Rajdhani, an authentic Rajasthan joint. The kids played in the fountain that was there in the center.

For a food blogger, it was a delicious sight. For people like my husband, it is surely not a place to eat. They serve about 10 different subjis, 3 sweets, chats and starters. Hubby dear can't eat such small servings of so many varieties. Since I had the camera ready, I had a fun time clicking away the dishes.

Everything tasted great. Of course as expected I didn't remember anything in the end. However it was a memorable lunch.

We had just enough time to reach the station. We bid our friends and thanked for their hospitality.

Boarded the train at 4.15 and settled in Shatabdi. I always wondered how I missed travelling by this train. Since the trains's introduction, I never travelled in train much. So this experience was wonderful. With the food being part of the fare, you get endless items to give you occupied. They served Samosa for snacks and I clicked a pic of that.

Since there is no stopping in between the travel time is much less and we reached home at about 10 pm.

Coming back to an empty home made us miss the boys.

Guess what when they saw the pictures, both of them started saying we have to take them soon. So another trip surely awaits us!

Thoughts...

Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop!

I know I haven't updated this space in so many months! Let's say I was preoccupied. So many things happen in life that you think you hardly have time for other things. Those things are meant to happened else we don't call this life a life right. Anyway, the moment I thought I must pen my thoughts, I happened to read this quote above in green. Nice one to begin another chapter in updating this Journey called Life!

From the last post until now, I have had a long resting period, when all I did was lying down and watching videos and reading from my mobile. Never thought I would put my BB to so much usage. Me and my BB one inseparable duo. That's the last thing I look at and first thing to glance again, of course after checking on my kiddos.

Then followed a period of uncertainty when I didn't know what to cook. Meaning I was really caught up with getting back to normalcy and wanting to cook something new for the blog at least. Those things never happened, else you would've read new posts right. Diwali came and went, and first time in our history we simply let it pass. There was nothing prepared to welcome nor was the interest high enough to push me to make something special. Yes we spent quality time with the kids, playing with them. I think that really matters and it also helps that they are not so much into sweets or snacks that are attached to Diwali. That really helped!

And during the last couple of weeks, my obsession with certain one thing got lessen and I am hoping I will spring back to action and get the blog see some new dishes. I had a old friend visiting, along with the visit came so many old memories and voices. Well I realized I had to give some time for those memories to settle back. The passage of twenty years felt in span of couple of years is too much for the soul. Still I managed.

In between I also managed to meet couple of blogger friends. It was a real treat to actually think you met somebody over a virtual space and finally you put a face and a voice. That takes friendship to a new level.

All said and done, here I am, all set to get the shop open again.

Reflections...

As the car slowly slides on, you look out to see the bright blue sky. With clouds moving in slow motion, it feels like you are on it, slowly gliding away. The bright light beckons you to look out, as you look on the reflections on the glass is more dominant than what's outside. The reflections of things within you, things that one should look more deeply and ponder. You are always given two choices, either you do or not. A very thin line always separates what's good and not.

With daylight so bright, you still wonder why it's gloomy inside, only to realize it's just your thoughts. Sometimes there hardly seem any scope for inspiration. You still should go on, checking in places where you would least find inspirations, those timeless moments comes when you least expect. And this journey is all about just traveling the best way possible.

Bonded by love...

For the Raksha Bandan yesterday, I got the Rakhi for Konda to tie for her brothers. Just as Hubby dear predicted, Chinnu ended up asking why there were two for daddy and only one for them. I had to explain the reason behind it. I think he was fine with the explanation or rather he was distracted with the chocolates he saw on the plate. Thereafter his attension was only them and wanted to know who gets what.

After the rakhi tying ceremony, the boys showed their hands for a joint click.

Since we knew the boys don't eat any sort of sweets, hubby dear said that chocolates would be the best bet. As he said they really loved having an unexpected treat.

Those moments..

There are moments in life when you feel the want of inspiration to just go on. Moments like this are so hard on you that you just want to give up and dig in. Instead of giving up, if you just look around yourself, you may just get back the vigour you need to get back in track.

 

While all these thoughts were running riot, I happened to meet a spinster. She has many problems that really count as problems. Yet I have always seen her with a sunny smile however always a hint of pathos lingering around. But that's only obvious if you observe. Else none would ever say she shoulders so many responsibilities or pains.

People such as her, inspire you lot more ways than you care to know. It makes you know that hardships we think as such are never so!

Many grays in between!

The days are surely flying! When did I ever not feel this way. If there was one thing I would love to do, is to slower the pace of this hurried and fast life and savour each moment as it comes. Kids are growing up so quickly, there is hardly enough time to spend with them. Konda is soon going to be 7th grader. I can still remember my own 6th and then how it was moving to a 7th grade. I still remember the confusion, the dilemma and so many other things that plague a child. I wish I could assure her in every single step and make her feel comfortable learning on her own, what this Journey of life has in store.

But then each one has to learn their own lessons, experience everything on their own, to make this life more precious. We just have to be there for them, as our parents were for us and still continue to be.

I don't think parents needs to verbally tell their children how much they love and what they mean to their existence. I guess it's understood. Yet everybody longs to hear it, though they always feel it, with the many hugs, the many kisses and many little words that convey more than enough.

Way too much?

It helps to have a four burner stove!

The Chase!

It was a busy evening, she was racing to jump the signals. As expected traffic at that office closing time is unbearable. The route that she took is always crowded but can't help much as she has to go through that way. Suddenly there was no way but to stop as the signal turned to red!

 

For no reason the car in front of her, caught her attention and she keenly looked at it. Then she heard some sound coming. which she knew was from the car in front of her. Before the Nancy Drew in her came waking, she had to first ascertain if it's true. Zip Zap she rode ahead, trying to be very close to the car to peep in. The car had all dark glass which didn't help at all. Now the sound was very distinct. It was surely coming from the car.

 

The car driver was in his late 40s or so, he didn't look much like a kidnapper. But then she has not actually seen a kidnapper in person right. For all you know there might be somebody dragged and tied down in the back seat, who was beating against the door. The noise was getting louder and she wondered why none of the other commuters didn't notice.

 

All the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys she devoured as a kid, came to help. She zoomed ahead to make sure she helps whoever that monster was kidnapping!

 

She was hoping the driver won't take a different route or a police would come before that happens. The police never came but the road was diverging and she had a hunch that he was taking the turn. She was short of ideas at what to do next, she was saw he turning. She also saw a loose silencer hanging below...

 

She was glad he took that turn!