DEMAND

The world needs better systems where MEN/GUYS/BOYS can understand that 'women/girls/females also work'. On weekdays/weekends.

I think I have been programmed to assume not to disturb/lower my expectations any 'boy(s)' around me when they declare they are working. Why are these programs absent (taken for granted) in the guy psyche ? Not because I am being a feminist here, but because simply if you demand to have a working girl for a wife, I demand for you to understand this.

ok ? OK.

Nightflier

Silence that heals

I spent one day with Upasna (from Someplace Else) and Pradnya (nature's baby) at a forest lodge. We ate, we hiked, we soaked ourselves in the lake water, we followed the lake trail, we chatted (a lot!), we played cards, we shared experiences, we dare deviled the trek to duke's nose and came back alive and a bit tired on friday the 13th.

During all this in a rare moment of calm, we were listening to the nature speak to us, when I exclaimed, 'I think I can bear this silence. But not the city silence.'

Of course the talking did not stop :D

The view from the hill

inside our gorgeous homestay

How fun is the warli painted wall!

~nightflier

Earned distinction!

On a family reunion sunday afternoon, after hogging tons of amazing vegetarian food (kheer!), we sat in front of the tv, watching 'kati patang' anticipating siesta. Who will 'repose' or 'manufacture zzzz' sooner than the others was the topic of chatter over 'how much one ate beyond one's capacity'.  Until I noticed the carrom board lurking in the corner of the hall. No discussion was needed. Within minutes the setup was ready. Boric powder was thrown on the board, magic tricks of distracting the opponent were performed. I teamed up with uncle, whereas father and cousin, both champions in their 'hay' college days, formed the other team.


More magic tricks involving shadowing the board pockets, deliberately talking loudly when the opponent was concentrating, were performed. During all this I was kind of having trouble getting the right finger position to hit the striker. The pain of playing a childhood game after 12 years! I drove my uncle crazy, when he would advise me to hit a particular coin and I would by default do something equally random and particularly useless.


Uncle : beta, try to take that coin (pointing at it) from the corner circle.
nightflier : Yes trying.
(after few seconds of forced concentration and hitting the shot)
uncle : But, we are playing with black coins, not white!!!
everyone around : #facepalm


Then while surfing channels, and stumbling across Vishwatma on TV, waiting for Divya Bharti to start crooning 'saat samundar' I found the finger hold. I am the straight shot types. Baba having observed this, suddenly told everyone, 'that's how my father used to hold/hit the striker too!' There! I am the girl who holds/hits the striker like her grandfather. And grandfather passed away long time back. I don't really have any tangible memory of him.


So I am extremely happy and proud to have earned this 'distinction' with him! Next time I play carrom, will make sure to remember this, lest I forget.


~nightflier