Just curious ...

If you had the time and unlimited resources in life, what would you choose to do?

Observations by offsprings

• Mother is addicted to the Internet no matter what country she’s in.

• Jackfruit actually grows on trees, in people’s backyards, and not in the refrigerated section of the Chinese store.
  

• Mom does look nicer in Indian clothes and a bindi. But she'd rather die than admit that her parents are right.

• Traveling without seat belts is fun! Jumping from the front seat to the back seat while the car is in motion is more fun, especially when told not to do so.
  

• If your mother tends to frown when you ask for your second ice cream of the day, wait until the grandparents are within hearing range. They never say no and will usually follow up with a candy bar or two.
  

• Why do people ask me for my good name? I didn't know I have a bad name.
  

• Strangers pinch your cheeks as they pass by. Mom hovers worriedly and is downright rude to any man who attempts to make small talk with her children.
  

• Some people jump up before the plane comes to a complete halt. These people are obviously not traveling with their mothers because I get yelled at when I do the same.
  

• Airplane toilets stink even if you’re the first person to use them.
  

• Sweet lime juice is not the same as lemonade. Mom admits it was an honest mistake when she ordered, but I have my doubts after the way she grabbed my glass and drained it in a single gulp.

• Did Chennai ever have sidewalks?

• The word “fair” has nothing to do with honesty, but with the color of your skin.
  

• Mom wearily wonders when blouse pieces will be outlawed as token gifts in southern Indian households.

The Namesake

The skies spilled their bounty just as mom was about to leave to keep her appointment with Lakshmi and her little one.

“Be back soon,” shouted mom over her shoulder, waving goodbye to her aunt and running to the call taxi parked outside the compound gate.

Like a filmi mom shouting, “Arrey, naashta to kar ke jao!” aunty stood on the porch and offered to make ginger tea while pointing worriedly to the dark skies.

Throwing her dupatta over her head, mom and the kids hopped, skipped and jumped over puddles and pelting rain to get to the taxi, which was locked, of course, with the driver snoozing inside. By the time she hustled her children in and climbed into the car, mom’s hair hung limp to her shoulders and her white salwar kameez clung to her curves, reminiscent of a wet Mandakini standing under a waterfall in Ram Teri Ganga Maili.

In a bit of an anticlimax, the conditions were tailor-made for a romantic rendezvous instead of a platonic one - the rain showed no signs of abating, the taxi’s windows were steamed up, the radio hummed Nee Varumpothu, and traffic came to a standstill on Chamiers Road, causing mom’s heart to leap anxiously as she watched the minutes speed by.

When she walked into the coffee shop a good 30 minutes behind schedule and mumbled her apologies, big South Indian eyes and a warm smile greeted mom. The children flashed each other toothy grins and waited for the ice to break, while their mothers bonded over drinks. Lakshmi was a model of Zen patience throughout the meeting, tending to her cherub and responding to her childish prattle with nary a trace of irritation.

Talk naturally turned to blogging, and a fellow blogger was sorely missed.

As she sipped her smoothie, mom thought about the chance encounters she has had with bloggers over the years at DesiPundit, where random posts have helped forge unlikely friendships across age groups, time zones and distance.

The rains descended the skies again as the women parted company with promises to meet soon.

As she sped away in her call taxi with a smile on her face, mom couldn’t help but notice that while Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth may beg to differ, when it comes to reticence, mom still remains the unparalleled superstar in the universe.

Hum ko Man ki Shakti Dena

One suitcase ready and a couple more to go before mom’s long-awaited trip to the homeland.

“Why are you taking so much stuff?” frowns dad, eyeing the lone suitcase that’s been packed so far.

Clearly, he has no idea what a woman needs.

The suitcases are bursting with clothes, but mom is still undecided on what to wear for the rendezvous with Lakshmi and Shoefie.

Butterflies are flitting through her stomach and she’s almost tempted to call it off before the women discover that her online persona is at least six degrees separated from her real self. Add in the question of logistics in an unfamiliar city, and suddenly watching Jodhaa-Akbar for the second time seems less daunting.

“Who are you meeting?” her father will want to know, followed by a game of 20 questions on “when; where; how; why; family name; gothram?” etc.

Consider yourself warned, fair ladies. If nothing else, at least make sure you catch the pearls that purportedly fall whenever mom opens her mouth.

Mum's the word

I could tell you about mom's trip to Las Vegas for a conference last week, but apparently there's some rule that states, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."

I know rules are meant to be broken, but ....