Vein in Vanity

Over the last month things have been a little shaky  health-wise  in the household. We have been falling sick one after the other. Reason to be blue? But when both the man and the woman in the house are sick, with two children to tend to, blue becomes black and bleak. Yesterday out of sheer desperation, I went to visit a doctor for the first time since we got here. Until now I was doing very well on the calpol snd benedryl I had brought along. The medical system here though very efficient needs some getting used to. In every district doctors have clinics that are open from Monday to Friday but only at specific times. They don't give out appointments and the waiting time is a minimum of two hours. Reason enough to not see a doctor huh? Also if you fall sick on a weekend you need to go to the hospital where the waiting time… well  lets just say you might have to wait very long. As a rule we, especially the kids, always fall sick on Fridays allowing us enough time to worry. Most

Sitting in the park with the sun caressing my body I think to myself the best things in life are free. Alongside is a weary peddler hawking his wares, a subtle reminder that there is no such thing as free lunch A woman in the finest attire draws attention of many a passerby, of course clothes maketh a man. Once she starts to damn the crying child, eyes revert as you never judge a book by its cover. A young boy practises his interview skills for he wants to make the first impression the best.  While his friends wonder out aloud aren't mistakes another chance of getting it right. I see a man smiling to himself, perhaps thinking of his lover back home bringing to mind that absence makes the heart grow fonder. But not without a streak of misgiving because isn't out of sight out of mind? For personal benefit two rival politicians see eye to eye with the smug satisfaction that great minds think alike. The bourgeois, watching this charade unravel thinks to

Guess who is making waves on the internet, OUR very own coconut oil . Remember when your mom, grand mom told you to use coconut oil on anything and everything and you would scorn thinking “old school”?Apparently they were right (like many other times). This “ super food ” slows down ageing, is easily digested, has anti bacterial properties naming just the few of its innumerable benefits. Turmeric has a similar story. It has anti cancer properties besides providing many beauty benefits. And this list goes on- brown rice, lentils, bananas and so on.  But its not just any coconut oil or simply turmeric powder or plain brown rice it has to be organic. What with all the adulteration! To say you need to pay more to get ethical food (that's a term). Now what was that? We just need to word hard to earn a living? Oh no.. now we need to work hard and some more to earn enough to buy organic. But shouldn't all food be organic like always? You see, I was stuffing my face with the

I perform hard mental labour every single day. I am very meticulous in making observations, analysis, deductions and conclusions. But I don't get anything out of it ; no job satisfaction, no growth, no appreciation and no money - not even a couple of bucks. What service do I provide? I pass judgements… on people ofcourse.I reckon all of us do. Some of us are very passionate, performing the service full time, some part time and the others, the clever ones opt for a better vocation. Having realised I am getting nil benefits in my current position, I decided to focus my valuable energy on figuring out on how the situation can be improved to my advantage. Here are some judgement worthy situations and common reactions to it.  Skin-tone: On seeing someone very fair, he/she is undoubtedly a snob, is proud and boastful. A dark skin colour on the other hand evokes sympathy or contempt. This is on the outside while inside you are thinking how dark or fair you personally are and

Finding a native among all the foreign faces here gives me the same pleasure that finding Pav Bhaji on Mt. Titlis in Switzerland did. No no that would be overdoing it. That was something else! But the sentiment is close enough. Although it is one that is not mutual, apparently.  Here when you come across someone (not necessarily anyone you know) at work or in the apartment building for instance, the custom is to greet. I think its civil and follow it. By habit I tend to smile at anyone who makes eye contact and so it is no surprise that I smile when I come across a fellow countryman. But sadly most often I end up looking like a donkey baring all its teeth and don't even get a friendly nod in return.  When this happens I first look at what I am wearing - am I shabby? and then consciously touch my hair. I agree I am no head turner but do I have to be just to be acknowledged as a compatriot? If it’s not the appearance is it my religion? Political views? Or can they by any mea

There is man of my acquaintance who was always in a hurry. In a hurry to eat, to sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and finish all his work (ya like that is possible!!). So when he went on holiday, for instance, he would want to see EVERYTHING and always ended up enjoying NOTHING. The reason he was in such haste was because he didn't want to be left behind. He belonged to the school of thought that believes in life being a race. Not just any race but a rat race. He was aware that by being in a rush constantly he did miss out on simple pleasures like relishing a sumptuous meal, a bright sunny day or even good conversation. What touched a sore spot was the realisation that there was more. He realised he couldn't be sincerely happy for another person unless he was involved in the scene. This was most difficult to accept because when he looked at his life he did lead a wholesome life and thus couldn't believe that there was any underlying discontent. He was t

For the longest time I can remember I used to cringe with embarrassment for things like  a) being an aggressive tomboy in school, I was 10 yrs old b) dancing on camera for my sister’s wedding, I was 13 yrs old (btw having two left feet I am   still a little embarrassed every time I see the video) c) not being an avid cook at time I got married, I was 24. I am 30 now and all these things are pretty insignificant leading me to believe, age and ergo our experience/inexperience makes us label incidents good, bad or ugly. I can never get my daughter to feel bad for not wanting to go to the kindergarden or stop her from wondering out aloud about why that lady on the bus has blue hair. Why? Because at 3 staying away from home, even for a couple of hours, is unthinkable and the second because she is only learning the ways of the world. When your little brother stops you from calling him the sobriquet he was born with, its not him. Its just that he hasn't been around lon

I enjoy following fashion. I like wearing stylish clothes, accessorising them and generally looking smart. Hail Pinterest.  But I have a problem. I am never à la mode. I never have all the pieces required to put together a look. When I have the shirt, I don't have the pants and when the pants are bought there are no shoes. And by the time I find just the right ones the trend has come and gone. Concisely I never have enough to wear and behold the hole in my pocket. Sounds familiar? This had been happening for so long that I decided to find a viable and enduring solution. So I started looking harder only to find that there aren't any rules to the grammar of fashion. I mean if sneakers look good with dresses and blazers worn with torn… ahem distressed denim pass as formal how can there be etiquettes in dressing?  The answer is that there can’t be because I am not made like you and you are nothing like me. What looks good on you looks so wrong on someone else. Most imp

Its been over a year and half that I slept well at night. And enjoyed a whole cup of coffee sitting down, had a bath everyday ( judge me all you want ) or paid full attention to what the other person is saying when in conversation (not always unintentionally). So on the rare occasion that I manage to do one or all the above (a very rare and auspicious occasion) I am elated. You know that drivel about feeling blessed and appreciating the simple things in life? I used to think, sure that’s totally done when you have everything plus a MAID!! Then I, would even appreciate the dust under the couch that I have been covering up with a throw rug for weeks now!  However, now all that has started to make sense. When you have stayed awake all night because the baby won’t stop crying, you are obviously grateful for the nights that you can sleep for two hours straight. Yes I am talking on that level. But on every other day when I am this far from pulling my hair out, I patiently remi