What do i think?

This college is quite old With the sea in front of it. Bungalows are departments and Rooms are halls converted. The green windows in it Are slowly eaten by rust. Walls are cracked beyond repair But shelter a dove and pair. The sand is brought by wind To cover the floor and us. Paint forever is falling on us Prematurely old are we. The botany students of ours Need go nowhere for flowers: For, here we have them in our midst Pressed and ready for use. Cows and pigs and goats Cats and flies and dogs. Blue and grey insects galore Move around the floor. The study of Indian History Is incomplete without this college. ‘cos its still upright with head held high after the tumults of war. (A star for guessing the name of my college)

My niece visited me for a few days. I was amazed to see a wonderful difference in her. I still remember her as a small four year old who looked at Bala, my husband, and shot daggers with her eyes, for snatching away her dearest அத்தை. But the one I see today is a very sweet little girl trying to be a grown up in almost all matters, EXCEPT VEGGIES :-) My cook had made cauliflower sabji and madam hated it. WOW! what faces! The little frowns slowly grew bigger... nastier... and nastier... until I just told her to stop and remove the cauliflower. Read thro' this and you will know that the whole world of children are staging a movement to ban veggies from the world menu.

Can't say my latest. It has been there on and off for the past 6 years. But now I am working on this seriously and furiously.

Yet another day had dawned Thoughts and arguments had formed As I saw my salwar and sari, I donned my Jeans in a hurry. A morning guest had come. I smiled and said ‘Welcome’. The regular – ‘Oh! You’ve grown so tall! But when I saw you, you were small And what are you doing now?’ ‘Sanskrit’, I said with pride. ‘Pity’, he said aside. ‘Scope?’, was the arrogant question. ‘A lot’, was my exit line. At college she asked, ‘What subject?’ ‘Sanskrit’, the reply was direct. She stared at me from head to toe. ‘Sanskrit and Jeans don’t go too well’ Isn’t it modern? Why not, after all! I repeat things over and over. Explain facts time and again. But here I am in my same old Jeans. Yet another day dawns And a new argument forms.

WARNING! may be a bit on the senti side. Why would anybody want a family? This line of questioning has been the latest topic of discussion between Bala and I.... whenever we get the time, after exchanging notes on regular stuff like bills, children, office, work, society vambu etc. etc. etc... Oh I forgot! After both kids go to sleep :-) Before marriage, edho ponom, vandhom, saptom, thoonginom.... but now, all of these just don't happen. There is always a big IF or a WHEN before each and every word, action and movement. Lets take no.1 - ponom. When do we go? Is it sundu's sleep time? Oh never mind! he can take a small nap in the car ride. Is it sundu's lunch time? Ok, lets pack his lunch along. Will my servant come now? Thats fine I have given a key to my neighbour for her. But let me take out the vegetables for her to cut them. Have I put the clothes in the machine? Good! She can spread them out in sun before I come. Diaper bag? check. diapers? check extra clothing for sun...

Lonely, does he shine A black curtain behind With none to help in his work Of lighting up the world. I feel not the need for people Like my beautiful worker Alone I like to live in this world Enjoying an eloquent silence. As I revel in this thought Stars come out to remind Of society which gave me life And I depend on it.

The wind blew with a mighty force. The coconut trees danced in joy. All at once it seemed as though They were seconding the wind, Challenging me to a duel with Nature. A battle within myself – A warning from my practical self And encouraging words From my romantic self. An incurable romantic that I was, I stood trying to resist the wind. The coconut trees seemed to tell me That it was impossible. But there I stood enjoying The wind’s caresses and its effort To cool my body; when ‘CRASH!’ came down a flowerpot. In a flash I understood What sort of a life I was leading. All I knew was Nature’s caresses And not its violence.