Love is mushy!

'Why can't you open the blinds ever?' I frowned opening all the blinds one by one. Since our marriage it has become a customary morning ritual for me, back in India it used to be curtains. :)

'This is something I love seeing you do!' Tarunn said with cutest expressions.

'Ha-ha that was a good line, but it's not doing its wonders.' I teased as I opened blinds of balcony. My eyes sparkled and quickly I said, 'Tarunn come fast, comeeeeeeeeee and see. It is so nice!'

He joined me in no time. On the blanket of snow someone had expressed love by writing love you Loke. Big alphabets totally aligned written in a stencil like manner. I could actually see the efforts gone into it. :) I didn't know who wrote it or for whom this special love message was, but it put a wide smile on my face. I was so excited as if I was a part of it. Crazy me! I clicked a picture from my phone.

That's what love does to you, it makes you do something special, something even you never knew you can do for someone. Even the most practical people become mushy mushy in love. :)

Spending time talking and listening to endless, minutest, stupidest of things. Things that will not change the economy or as a matter of fact improve knowledge quotient, :) But will surely make you come close and feel connected. It is not mandatory to give a rose on a rose day. Well don't get me wrong, surprises are always welcome. What I want to say is that guys sometimes compensate their absence with a flower or a bouquet. As a girl I can tell, we feel best when we see your presence around us. The biggest gift is giving time, words of appreciation and not to forget valuing each other's work! And, after these essentials any surprises give over the top kind of feeling. As if we are on cloud nine. :)

Every couple has a couple's thing. Do it regularly. It can be dance or yoga or cooking a meal together or anything that a couple loves to do together. This strictly doesn't include grocery shopping. :D Even if you have kids, take time off. If not frequently, but make sure you have some exclusive together together time.

Love is not an overnight thing or a seasonal change. It nourishes with time. A beautiful relation is when you and your partner, irrespective of age, still talk anything and everything and never get bored. You have so much to share that a lifetime seems less.

Cherish it and embrace as it has happened for good! :)

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Land of humongous choices!

From endless choices to array of brands, being in States has been a ride. Is vitamin A milk better than vitamin D, or as a matter of fact the combination of both? Plethora of options actually throw you away sometimes. Picking a simple thing like cornflakes can consume a long time. As all my friends say, you can go as healthy in States as you want. But it comes with a long list of choices to be made, evaluating one over thousands, just like a carrier choice. I am not exaggerating, surely too many options are always confusing.

Amongst all the choosing stuff, on a weekend we went to a grill place for dinner. Ambience was good and peppy. A cheerful waitress handed us the menu. With all smiles, I started reading the whole menu. You know the feeling, when you are hungry and reading a menu awakens gustatory delights. :) When you just want to order asap, without any precious time wasted! With glittering eyes, full of excitement I read 'Create a bowl'. As I looked up from the menu, she came back and handed us medium size bowls. In a jet speed she recited, 'You can fill in whatever you like from the choices over there and hand it over to be cooked.' What man! Can someone please give me a break. :) I was so done picking up grocery, making different varied choices last couple of weeks. For once I had an opportunity to laze, order some random chicken dish and have an element of surprise to engulf me. But, even that was taken away. I am not complaining, but surprises do charm me.

So there were choices of meat and seafood to pick up from. Almost 30 different kind of sauce plus endless salad and greens to choose. Also, pastas and noodles. In short, we had to fit in a world of flavours that we like in that small bowl! I had a great laugh seeing people squeezing their favourites almost double the size of bowl and I was no exception. Everyone carried a mini mountain in their hands. :) There was a huge round grill in centre where they tossed and grilled ingredients from our bowl and poured mixture of sauce we selected. I noticed, with almost 11 people there, none of us had tiny resemble in our picks. Once my bowl was grilled, it was placed nicely on a platter and handed over the counter to me.

Generally, how easily we pass a judgement.
Not great preparation.
It could have been better.
Argh, pathetic place ever! 
As I picked my fork to taste, a sudden realisation made me smile. I was going to be rating myself! :P Phew! How was that for a situation where practically I had not cooked or even had an extravagant spree of chopping vegetables. Still I was the creator of my own meal. I questioned myself-
What if it's not that great! Or
Forget great, it's not even edible.

But then it had to be tasted. I had to pass my own test. :) I grabbed my fork and gulped a morsel of my colourful sautéed meal. Multiple flavours rushed inside my mouth, hitting the taste buds, reclaiming their presence more than the other one. I don't want to praise myself, but luckily it was an awesome combination of juicy flavours! I had the most delightful meal. For a moment, I felt like a master-chef ! :)

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House of cards!

'Aastha, have you seen movie "the angrez"?'
'Naaaah, is it a good watch?'
'You got to watch it then. I'll play a scene from the movie. It's super fun. Or how about we all watch it together?' Suresh beamed.
'Narayan are you comfortable with Hindi?' I asked.
'Not that much, can make out few words in between. My server only catches Tamil, English, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam.' :)
We smiled.
'Okay then let's watch some English movie. What say?'  I asked.
Or, how about a regional language movie with subtitles, we all joked.
We browsed through a long list of movies commenting on single one of them.
No not this one, its a rubbish movie...
No horror please ( I voted)....
Have seen this one already...
.......
So after a long picking and dropping game we finally played Hunger games- Mockingjay.

With full attention, we watched. Even if someone said something in between, we shushed him,
As the movie played with each passing quarter we slowly dragged out our phones to call India. You can't help it, time difference is always at the back of your mind. Like a dual clock we live in two time zones, calculating hour by hour difference between States and India. :) Though today it is much simpler to connect across the world and distance doesn't actually hit you until busy mornings there with multiple honking at the background is accompanied by long silence of night here.

'Ami bhala achi.'
'Veppanilai -20.'
'Halo, miru emi cestunnaru.'
Everyone on phone spoke in different native languages. At that moment instantly I realised how culturally rich we are! We always know it, but how often we take note or witness the same? Generally, here at the company guest house we all communicate in English with few half bitten or awkwardly sounding Hindi words in between. :) As we just relocated to States have been putting up at the company's guest house. Finally, after undergoing a big house hunting exercise, next week we would shift to our house. It would be our first step towards settling down. Right now it feels like my hostel days are back! :)

Amidst all my wonderland experience, I heard my husband catching up with his old friend.
'Haan bholle, kiddan?'
I turned around amused. Well, it was not the first time he spoke in Punjabi, but every time it's a new feeling for me. Yes, intercaste marriages are fun that way. :) We converse in Hindi and English. Whenever he speaks in Punjabi, its like I don't know him (pun intended). :D I often tease him saying-

Imagine a full house with Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil and Bengali. :) Six languages at one place! People in West can draw parallel with six different nationalities Chinese, Arab, Spanish, Russian, French and American sharing a fun evening together. But here we are my dear fellows, recreating a mini India at the guest house miles away from home. And, that's how we all are. And, that's how we like it! :)

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COMIC STRIP...FACE-OFF

In my new comic strip, my two favourite characters come together for a face-off. Let's see what happens! :)

© AJP 

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New place, new beginning...

'You may proceed. Have a pleasant stay.' The airport security guy said maintaining a tough look.
As we exited the port of entry, a sudden reality check of being in States engulfed me.
I looked around and greeted a new world. People rushed pacing their way whereas I strolled like a tortoise reading every board and not missing any announcement in a different accent. :) It was music to my ears! The thought of starting afresh in a new country amidst new surroundings and new people was exciting and scary at the same time.

As we stepped out of the airport I was frozen in a nano second. The chilled wind hugged me tight. I jumped into the cab without wasting any time. I couldn't stop shivering and was scared that my teeth would chew down my tongue.

'Hi, How are you guys doing?' our taxi driver said.
'Very well, thank you.' Tarunn exchanged the greetings.
'Wh..y is it ssso cold.' I said in a shaky voice rubbing my palms together. It was almost 2 Celsius (35 Fahrenheit)!
He chuckled and said, 'Oh, it's a warm day.'
'Hell no!' I smiled.
My eyes were glued on undulated, far-flung landscapes. Sun played hide-and-seek through clouds, showering its smile on and off. Moving on the highway, speeds of vehicles scared me for a bit, but I got over it quickly. We stopped at a signal and I could not help, but notice the traffic lights hanging on wires and dwindling with the wind. I hoped they don't crash land on one of the cars because of high wind speeds. In India we have traffic light posts (which most people don't follow). Everyone stopped peacefully here with absolutely no honking. Ah!! I thought to myself, what a difference. By now people would have honked your brains out to get ahead half past the red signal in India and few would have jumped it as well.

Go Green!! In a flash of a moment our driver took a sharp turn to the right and my heart stopped.
'Oh no no no, watch out! We are in a wrong lane!' I shrieked.
'Its right side drive here. Happens with all. Is it your first time to States?' He said in a very friendly relaxed tone.
'Oh yes. What was I thinking? So silly of me.' I covered my face with hands in embarrassment.
A few seconds of silence, as I calmed down, we all laughed like freaks.

Just like the opposite side drive, life has also taken a new turn. Unseen pathways and new beginning. There's a weird excitement.

Finally, we reached the hotel. As Tarunn cleared the bill for taxi, I collected the room keys from reception. After few minutes, I wondered where Tarunn went. I went out from warm cosy area to the windy extreme looking for him. He waved at me standing next to the line of suitcases.
'Why standing in cold?'
'We need to drag the suitcases ourselves.'
'What? You've got to be kidding!'
He smiled, 'That's how it is here,'
'Good lord! In India tip 100 rupees and people will carry you to the room as well. Haha.' I blabbered as we carried all the loaded suitcases to our room.

Jet lagged plus enervated, I couldn't control the urge to dive into bed. We have had our share of crazy days of winding up an innings in Bangalore. Along with it, series of late night send off parties by friends and family. Life had just squeezed to limited number of suitcases that we could carry with us.

I woke up rubbing my eyes in dark. God, how much did I sleep? Is it the next night? I searched for my watch. It was three in the morning. What a jerk, I should sleep again. After multiple failed attempts, I got up irritated to the core, grabbed my phone and read series of messages from friends.
'Gosh you are in States! I always wanted to be there. How are you liking it? My dear friend typed with thousands of smilies. :)
'Umm, so far so good.' I typed thoughtfully.
'Great, where in States?'
'Michigan.'
'You don't sound that excited.' she intervened.
'And, you are overexcited.' :) I giggled while I typed,
All sounded like being in States was a biggie and I should have been extremely excited. I wondered and asked myself as to how I was feeling.

Well, was it a dream for me to come here?
Not even a daydream with open eyes. :P

Is it a life changing thing?
It's definitely a new phase. And, every phase has its own charm.

Am I excited?
Yes, there is a childlike excitement of exploring the new world around, of knowing and experiencing. But surely I miss something. Maybe my friends in States can correlate well with missing-something-feeling of mine.

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There's cotton in the air

Rubbing my eyes, yawning in full swing, I sleepwalked. My subconscious mind followed a daily ritual of peeping outside window. I saw and then walked away. Stopped and then again opened shutters in exhilaration. It took five minutes to register the view outside. Pathways, houses and cars were all draped in white blanket of snow. I jumped in excitement, all my senses were awake in a jolt. Multiple times I have had sneaked out in anticipation of snow in last two weeks of being in States. Yeah it sounds crazy, but I was so looking forward to it. Though it becomes dull and boring after a point in time, but none can take away the pleasure of firsts. :)

Like springs on my feet, I hopped to dress. In a quickie I changed my pyjamas and loaded myself with layers of warmers to go outside. As I opened the door, snow was everywhere. WELCOME on the doormat seemed to have taken a different font and colour. As I walked the narrow pathway, the soft cushion of fur had imprints of my footsteps. In excitement I turned around and saw Tarunn standing few steps behind reminding me of a song by Def Leppard "I'll be two steps behind you".

I collected snow in my palms like some precious souvenir. It was so soft and velvety, :) I blew the snow flakes in air, with wind gushing in my direction it splashed my face and hair.

It was freezing cold. My skin was numb and wind added a natural blush on effect on checks as well as tip of my nose. :) Instantly reminded me of Bollywood actresses and models braving such cold in shiffon sarees and dresses. Hats off to you ladies!

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Soaked up in love!

It knocked my door, I ignored
Charmed me when I questioned
I ran from it and it chased me down
I wondered when it chuckled
The more I disdained, the more it embraced
It healed me when I was fallen apart
In appalling times shined like a star
I pondered it to be a winter spell
Though it promised to be a summer rain
Was it true? Or something surreal
Did it work its magic on me?
Playing back and forward its musings
I shut my mind in disbelief
In valour, held my armour firm and tight 
I had to fight as I believed in null
It hailed a winning spree
And, I lost my grip in every battle
Was I that vulnerable?
I fought a loosing battle
Irritated yet happy 
I clasped and held, then let it go
I tossed a coin and counted thousands of petals
Trapped in a yes or a no
Puzzled in entangled feelings
Until I understood
I was already soaked up in love :)

©AJP

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