‘Give me your blessings uncle. Your blessings, not god’s. I don’t believe in God ‘ ‘Oh!’ ‘I don’t believe in astrology and other worn out practices’ ‘Oh!’ ‘We are in the 21st century, a free world. People forget that’ ‘Oh!’ ‘Why do you say, ‘oh, oh’ and nothing else ?’ ‘You love a girl?’ ‘Yes, … Read more
‘Vicha, the newspaper fellow claims that he didn’t collect his bill for the last three months. Is he right?’ ‘Anna, how do I know? You settle all bills and not me!’ ‘So, you have no responsibility in this house? You are careless, forgetful, irresponsible—‘ ‘Anna, I saw some clothes in the washing machine’ ‘Oh, woo, … Read more
A day of chats, it looks today. ‘Mama, namaskaram, aaseervaadam pannunkol’ ‘Namaskaram, deerghasumangali bhava’ ‘How do you know that I’m a sumangali?’ ‘You called me ‘mAma’ ; so you should be a ‘mAmi’ ‘If I’m unmarried?’ ‘Still my blessings hold’ ‘If I don’t want to marry?’ ‘Still my blessings hold. Mangalam is auspiciousness. You will … Read more
Hyderabad winter has a warmth in its approach, unlike the Baltimore or New Jersey counter part. She slides her soft hand through my chin; doesn’t strangulate me. She whispers, doesn’t yell; She sings love songs, not beat war drums. Madhavi’s parents had invited for Rudrabhishekam in their house. I forgot the engagement. It was … Read more
‘I need your help, Thirumeni’ ‘I’m not a Nambudiri’ ‘Aren’t you the Malayali mantravadi, people are talking about?’ ‘No. But I know some mantrams and tanthrams . You want to attract some old woman?’ ‘I can do that myself’ ‘How old are you?’ ‘Eighty’ ‘Oh, then you don’t need my help’ ‘My problem … Read more
Cartoon courtesy Ramki of Chennai ‘With so much load on your head, you are able to laugh and laugh so loud?’, commented Dr.Rao, , who stays a few houses away, when we met last evening. I was sad to see the man who had repaired the legs of several patients had to use a … Read more
I would like to have more hands and legs at least a dozen more, to cope up with my present assignment. It is not the lackadaisical behavior of my mind or brain that haunts me, but my inability to do ten jobs at a time as my daughter and daughters in law are doing, … Read more
They came to invite me for their wedding. Don’t remember the young man’s name but I can’t forget the young lady’s name. She was Karthi, the abridged version of Karthyayani, her original name . My daughter in law had told me before their arrival that they were living together for more than a year in … Read more
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
35 years of hard work, in Govt. department is not a joke. He retired. ‘Complete rest, SP’. He said. ‘Yes,’ I endorsed, ‘don’t move out of your house during the first three months’ ‘But, how to spend time?’ He had a genuine doubt. ‘Spend time chatting, playing, quarreling with your wife. She deserves your company, … Read more