‘Ammalu, am I fit only to eat iddlies?’ ‘Certainly not. Who said so?’ ‘Your dear mom’ ‘I have to rethink’ ‘You have to rethink ? OK. Rethink. Let me, in the meantime, to prove my mettle, climb the coconut and mango trees and remove the fruits. Or shall I dive into the well and pick … Read more
‘Ammalu, there is a Brahma tejas, divine glow emanating from my face, say your friends. Sorry, they don’t say so about you and I feel sad about it’ ‘I’m not an avathar of Brahma or Vishu unlike you and my shine was already dedicated to you, the moment I became your wife. This is not … Read more
An index finger and Ammalu’s lucky number The advent of ATMs has appreciably reduced the time we stand before the bank clerks. But I had an urgent work and stood before a clerk and asked him how my bank credit stayed stable for the past three months at Rs.1111.11. He didn’t bother to explain. Instead, … Read more
Imaginary relationship breaks like fried papods! I got up from my front seat in the bus to provide accommodation for a lady, just out of courtesy and also paid for her ticket as a matter of respect for a graceful woman. ‘You’re great, I admire you’, she applauded and enquired, ‘Where do you stay, Sir?’ … Read more
When you grow old, you learn many lessons- One I learned- I can’t correct the world, I can’t correct my own children I can’t correct even my grandchildren ‘s home work But I can do a great thing: I can correct myself! ———————————- My Christian friends I never see the caste, creed or religion or … Read more
‘Ammalu, a Mahamuni says that beauty is to be appreciated, wherever it is found, even in a woman. What you say?’ ‘Tell him that I never tolerate insensible talk even from my husband’ ‘Ammalu, why drag me? It was my Guru who said that, not me’ ‘Then, tell your Guru, to get married and tell … Read more
Shivaratri memories On Shivaratri, I remember two elders, my mother’s elder sister Bhavani periya ammai and Perinkulam Krishna vadhyar . Periyammai, orthodox to the core used to prepare three days in advance for Shivaratri upavasam, sincerely do the fasting, Japam etc, manage to skip the afternoon nap, go to Kalpathy at night, with a grass … Read more
‘Ammalu, you have no business to stop my children talking to me’ ‘I didn’t. They too are eager to talk to you, but you don’t give them a chance to talk. The moment they say ‘hello’ dad, you repeat the same story about your glory, which they are well aware of. Right from your SSLC … Read more
Ammalu, among my New Year Pledges, one related to you is, ‘how to improve my understanding about my wife? In reciprocation, I too expect you to take a similar pledge. What you say?’ ‘Nothing’ ‘Say something , please’ ‘OK. Even if we live together for another one hundred years, you won’t understand me. So, your … Read more
‘Ammalu, come soon. I don’t find peace here at home or there. at the temple, Tell me where I should go and what I should do?’ ‘Don’t go out. I can help you here, right here. I dropped a handful of fenugreek seeds into the coriander seed dabba, by mistake. Sit in the front hall … Read more