And then there were more...

• Writing posts as bullet points makes for a fun timepass.
• The desire to write is inversely proportional to the time allotted to it.
• I claim I am insanely busy, but in retrospect I realise I am just insane.
  
• Sometimes I wish they would just postpone 'Sivaji' release to September when I will be in Chennai and can watch it with 'like-minded' citizens :)
• The Mr plans to disown me for that movie as I want to stand up and shout "THALAIVAA!" in my loudest voice. How else can you watch a Rajni movie, pray tell? :D
  
• Miss the 80's..wish I never grew up :(
• The bliss of buying a packet of roasted peanuts for 50 paise, sitting on the cement doorstep of your house and watching the world pass by is unparalleled with all the luxuries of a first world country. Or a progressing third world country which easily forgets its past :(
• I miss Madras, even more Tirunelveli.
• Life is beautiful. I can't agree more. But I miss home, I can't deny anymore.
• "Baleilaka' is one song that makes me smile and cry at the same time.
  
• I miss Inji morappa in Virudhunagar station, Guava at Sattur, Kovilpatti Kadalai mittai, Nellai Town Iyer hotel kuzhal puttu, Rajeswari Amman koil pujari splashing theertham on my face, Friday Santhoshimatha poojai prasadam, running barefoot chasing your cousins, wearing pavadai-thavani, one strand of jasmine flowers, sitting under the hand-pump for a bath, kootanchoru, susiyam, thoothuvalai dosai to cure your cold, Athai's Thai Segu& Sodhi, Soma Akka's Egg curry, Kumaresh Anna's bus stories, Megu Periamma's Ulunthan gali, Achi's kanji & Inji lekiyam, Jeya Periamma's cauliflower fry, Jan's beautician experiments, Raja's Chilli Chicken & Chicken Fried rice thrust through the bars of a moving train, Vasu Periamma's murukku, Karthiga's vengaya pakoda, Thalavai's Sundakkai story, Amma's Maida burfi & murungakkai theeyal,Appa's attempts at coffee, Sankari chithi's rava upma, Raji's kadi jokes, Nambi's wisecracks, Kala chithi's puli kuzhambu, Kavi's nakkal, Manicka Chithi's sambhar & avial, Ranjith's paintings, Maavadu, Neer-thanni, idli upma, thengai mittai, son-papdi, feeding cows that come to your doorstep, Sornachi's booming voice, early morning padhani in palm leaves, Nongu, Koozh Vathal batter, puli thanni & pori-kadalai thovaiyal, Garlic rasam, Ratna Talkies Murukku, Kothu parotta & Salna...
  
• I want it All. I want it Now.
• Note to Self: Grow wings but don't grow up!
  

Love in Sweltering heat

Love is beautiful. It sounds contrived but seriously, it makes so much sense to me, especially now as I find myself lost in her. Some say The One is the reason for my existence but they are folk who haven't seen her. To me she is The One; the beginning and end of everything.

She has one of those wonderful smiles that lights up the entire space. No wait! That's another one of those contrived sentences picked up from a book. I looked over the shoulder of a girl reading a novel the other day and the line caught my attention. Why does Love make me so happy and light yet brings out the worst of my poetic self?

How long have I been in love, you ask? From the moment she smiled at my antics I've been smitten. Last week, I pushed a lock of her hair, more a tease than a taunt. She smiled indulgently and pushed it back behind her ear. On some days when I am at my naughtiest best, I pull her dupatta but the second I see her biting her lower lip in a struggle to wrench it from me, I give up. She looks so vulnerable it pains me.

And I know she misses me if I am not around. Take yesterday for instance, it was the hottest day in Madras. Not a soul was out and nor was I. I did have my duties to attend to but I preferred cooling my heels inside than venture in that unforgiving heat. But she was out, my unlucky angel, draped in a cotton salwar which unsuccessfully did nothing to ease the heat. Her eyes, usually bright and lively, were dull and looking towards the distance, as if searching for someone. Who else? Me, of course.

For a moment, I thought I should go and swoop her in my arms and relieve her stress but my work was not in that area. If someone knew I was working places not in my schedule, I would be in serious trouble. So I stayed at my spot and just looked. Tomorrow, I can meet her. Oh! How I long to surprise her when she least expects me.

I couldn't sit still all night. I roamed the streets, singing and dancing, making the neighbours smile in their sleep. Somehow in Madras, noone ever begrudges my singing or dancing! The day finally dawned and I ran to the bus stop to meet her, knocking a couple of bicycles on the way. I'll treat those kids later. As I arrived closer to her, I stopped dead in my tracks. She wasn't alone. And she wasn't looking out for me either. She was holding hands and laughing with another man. My angel with another man?

I stood rooted to my spot and stared at them. I saw the silly boy take out a letter from his pocket and give her. That's when something snapped within me. A mad rage filled my mind and I charged towards them and snatched the letter. "Nobody gives a letter to My Love", I snapped and rushed away.

As I walked away, I heard my angel shout, "Aiyyo, somebody catch hold of that paper please!The wind just blew it away". I turned back and watched as they tried to grab the paper from my hands. I smiled.