Coffee in a silver tumbler …..

Don’t get me wrong – I love rains – have always since childhood – from making paper boats and racing them in puddles with friends (my paper boats even had named – after my favourite characters from my books), to sitting near the window sill watching the droplets fall and writing poems during my teenage years while pestering Mummy for Aloo & Onion bajjis and Tulsi Tea, to now ordering samosas from Swiggy, rains and monsoon has been a favourite season. I was that kid who would get wet in spite of a raincoat or umbrella, used to love the rain falling on my face and still do – doesn’t it make you feel that direct contact with nature? I have visited three of my favourite places – Wayanad, Coorg and Chikkamagalur in monsoon – sipping the chilli wine with a book while watching rain droplets is my favourite memory of Coorg. So where was I? Yes, I do like rain, but today, now, I want the rain to take a break – I prefer my walks in the park to the elliptical at home.

So, I do the next best thing while waiting, sit on the sofa opposite to the window, and write. Sipping hot kashayam from my steel tumbler- there is something so comforting about wrapping my fingers around the tumbler and feeling the warmth flow to my palm and fingers. I remember Paddu Pati, Sesh’s paternal grandma, holder onto the hot silver tumbler with her saree palloo, but still insisting on steaming coffee and looking very upset when I offered to cool it a bit. All the elders at home, used to eat in silver plates and had silver tumblers. As also the very young. Harini had presented Andal & Aditi with 2 large silver cups and spoons, and Durga would ensure that they ate out of them until they were 4-5 years old. Born with a silver spoon? I use the same now for offering Prasadam to God. We also had these huge vessels, I think of brass or bronze, in Tata’s house, which were used for cooking for functions, & functions were fun times during childhood, didn’t actually care what they were held for, even death anniversaries were enjoyed, as we would get to meet all cousins(those from Mysore too) and the food was just delicious. Do you know certain dishes are cooked only for the death anniversary meals? One of them, the raw banana palya is my favourite. Also faintly remember listening to Ammami’s stories in late evenings followed by dinner. No plates, we would stretch out our hand and would receive a fistful/ handful of Rasam rice or Sambhar rice from Brinda aunty. It would be followed by Curd rice, and especially for me, with pieces of mango pickle. The last handful of curd rice would actually taste like butter. That’s by far the best meals I have ever had, would rate it 5/5 for the food and company both. Do you have similar memories?

I travelled this week to visit Andal, and my morning walk was in the airport. While some airports stretch on and on – thankfully not Bengaluru airport. Two ladies, I guessed colleagues, on a work trip, sitting opposite to me, near the departure gate, were unhappy that they had not had a break since 3 years – the work from home had been stressful and tiring. While one wanted to travel to Singapore or Dubai or any destination with lot of activities for her children, the other wanted a quiet somewhere in the middle of nowhere for her husband and herself, and planned to leave her children with her elder brother’s family. I smile – both the ideas do sound perfect – hope they are able to take the break and rejuvenate. I have always preferred quieter holidays where I can set the pace myself instead of racing to see all places in a day – Shouldn’t we leave some place for the next time? The girls & I spent almost a full day in the Prince of Wales Museum and an Art gallery close to it, in Mumbai, a few years back. Do you know there is something called the Slow movement – a cultural attitude shift towards a slower speed of life. A conscious lifestyle change about doing things at the right speed that allows you to savor each experience and prioritise your time to what you value most.

The family, sitting to my right, looks all dressed for a holiday – but both parents are busy on their laptops and children on their Ipad & mobile. Funny, isn’t it, those going on a holiday are busy on laptops, and those on official trip, are busy planning their holiday. We sometimes donot live the present. Hope the parents are able to complete their work and enjoy the break – a true holiday would be one, away from our gadgets – aptly called Digital Detox – I for sure would be initially restless and lost without my mobile. Come to think of it – I actually reach out for my phone before I reach out to my glasses in the morning.

Last Sunday after the walk @Bugle park and breakfast @ Sri Udupi Krishna Bhavan, we returned home richer with 2 books – I picked up ‘Why I am a Hindu’ by Shashi Tharoor and Aditi picked up ‘Ikigai’. During the last 2 years, I have not bought these second hand books – have a regular vendor I buy from, in Malleswaram who sometimes suggests books too, books for all age groups easily available at such affordable costs – Namma Bengaluru is indeed a readers paradise. I got up and bought a Black coffee paying Rs 350/-, grumbling to myself that I could have treated my entire team to coffee & samosas in that, returned back to my seat, continued exploring why I am a Hindu, and waited for my flight to be called.

Finally! God Indra did take a break, and Aditi & I sprinted down the stairs to reach the park. I saw someone there before us, walking with an umbrella. Wow, that is dedication.