On forgetfulness

I forgot what this is about. Oh, it is about forgetfulness! ‘Forgetfulness is one of the ‘curses’ of old age’ Do you agree? No, I don’t . It is in fact, a gift from the God. Many times, it is a boon to forget some past happenings in life, which otherwise will be tormenting us. … Read more

Ammalu is always right

Just for fun, Ammalu, can I call your mom by her pet name and bolt through the back door?’ ‘Front door is better. She keeps her walking stick near the back door’ ——————————– Do you have any objection to my wearing ripped or truncated jeans, Ammalu?’ ‘Not at all. When shall we go to shop?’ … Read more

On pain and old age

We outsource almost everything almost everything, including God-worship a purely personal affair between man and his creator. The Chettiar in my corner shop does pooja on Saturday evenings through an ‘Iyer’, on payment. A couple in the neighborhood, extremely busy with their medical career, gets the pooja in their home, done through a Pandit, just … Read more

Hug is costly in my country

Hugging is common here in America, among friends, relatives, when they meet. It is not an accepted practice in India, but when I met an old friend and neighbor in a shopping center, I hugged her spontaneously. She laughed like a thunder and pressed me to her big belly so hard that my breath stopped … Read more

Sea and Fire absorb all

From my archives A view through the car window on a journey from New Jersey to Baltimore Whatever be the skin colour, every body, ultimately has to go back to the Elements. So, like cafeterias, cloth shops or churches or temples, the burial ground too have demand in any country, any city, any village. Our … Read more