The gift!

The year 2015 is ending soon. Here, I am thinking about the significance of 2015 in my life. "Lost, lose or Stolen" are the only words that can describe my memories of 2015 in my life till now. Losing something can affect in ways that can make a person lose one’s mind, emotions, health and whatever related to Physiological, Psychological and neurological aspects of human. Phone, camera, headphones, bag, pen-drive, money were not the only things that gets looted. (Actually, the above mentioned ones really got stolen in my case) But things like Opportunities, Chances, Self-esteem, Happiness, Satisfaction, Freedom, etc are also looted in the course of life. Nowadays, Criticism and Prejudice are more prominent than Appreciation and Guidance. 

So, in order to participate in something we need a great level of support and courage. After that, we need to overcome the worry, self-doubts about the decision, etc. Too many considerations are required in order to finish a task. For example: To ask a pen from a person, first we analyse whom to ask, when to ask, why should I ask, why not I just borrow it without asking for their permission, etc. When we are ready to ask the person, our brain calculates all sorts of unnecessary case scenarios some of which will be illogical and impossible in reality. That person would have left the place; by the time we finish the mental debate in our heads, whether to ask or not to ask for a pen. Still, there is a need for speed in this “modern world”. 

On the morning of Nov 26th, I was busy getting ready for college. I rarely read newspapers but that day I started reading and noticed an advertisement about Milk Moustache contest by Amul in newspaper. The occasion was National Milk Day and Birthday of Dr. Verghese Kurien who brought white revolution in India. It was about sending a Selfie with a glass of milk and a milk moustache. So, as a human I got curious to participate in the competition at the same time a mental debate of why should I participate? What if I waste time and reach college late because of a Selfie; What if I forget about it if I try to do it later. I realised Why not? Let’s give it a try.

So quickly, I take one fancy glass from kitchen cupboard which my mom inherited from my grandma’s glassware collection. The boiled milk was poured into it. Now arrival of the anxiety in the form of questions takes place: Should the milk be white in colour? (My mom adds maltova - Chocó flavoured malt powder), Should the background be in a peculiar way? Is the lighting good? Why the camera not opening in my dad mobile? (After my mobile and camera got stolen I was ended up with basic mobile. So no camera with me) why did the froth on my upper lip vanished so quickly? What if the glass slips from my hand and breaks? After the Selfie is taken: what if the mobile doesn’t connect with the Wi-Fi? What if my dad deletes the picture accidentally? What if the contest was a hoax? So, finally when all required stuff is finished. Usually I hesitate a lot before participating and also expect a lot. This time I just participated and remained satisfied that I am part of it.

When December begun, I totally forgot about whatever I did before the floods hit my house, stuff and lives. During afternoon of Dec 12, 2015, a courier guy came with a rectangular cardboard box with tapes and handle with care sign. And it seems he spelled my name as sunya and my mom couldn’t recognise anybody with that name. But luckily I did because my whole life people misspelled or mispronounced my name. (How my parents ended up naming me sunayana is another dramatic story) I sign the sheets to receive the mystery package. I saw the address it was sent from Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF). Still, I had no idea what the package contains even though it is wrapped with lots of duct tape and marked handle with care. 

Carefully I began to tear the tape and opened the box. There was CD, bunch of books and a red box. I pulled everything and saw a blue card which states that these goodies are for my participation in the contest which Amul conducted. I was so happy to know I received something for my participation. Even though the contest might be not essential part of life it did elated my happiness and appreciated the active participation. I suppose this is something the world lacks. People always hesitate or avoid appreciating each other. When everyone encourages each other the world becomes a better place to live. Goodies, objects, decorated items and many other materialistic things alone aren’t great gifts. Giving a piece of advice is a gift, making others happy is a gift, showing compassion is a gift, having a meaningful conversation is a gift the list goes on. When there are so many gifts in you, Please don’t hide them just share it. 

Hope everyone share and receive lot more gifts in your life!

Pictures!!

This was the selfie i sent for the contest. (I know, i look hideous)

The stuff inside the Mystery package from Amul

Contents of the package:

The blue card that congratulated me.

The Amar Chitra Katha book about Verghese Kurein. The start of Amul and the efforts associated with it was well described and illustrated in awesome way! A good comic book that can inspire many children in India.

I neither like nor hate old films. But i expected this movie would be good as the cover looked like about empowering women. as the movie was taken during 1976 the concept was too boring to watch even in fast-forward.

This book was amusing. It consisted of how the Girl in Amul's ads aided as a marketing tool. 

Yet to read this book. Its an autobiography about Verghese Kurien.

Last but not the least, the chocolates. I never knew Amul had this many range of chocolates. My personal favourite is dark chocolate.  

Flood Life!

December 2015 began with hopes and dreams. But for Chennai it began with floods and streams. There is a saying "Little drops of water make the mighty ocean" I admire philosophy but no offense I get annoyed if it is too confusing. Yet the literal depiction of that saying became reality. Little drops of rain became floods which drowned prominent regions of Tamil Nadu. Seeing floods and experiencing floods are completely divergent. And I can say I have been both the spectator and the victim of the floods. 

From my previous post - “Rains of Chennai lead to my boredom” can show my perspective about floods as a spectator. This post is about my experience with floods as a victim. 

Dec 1, 2015: It was a usual day with my routine work. There was unusual pattern of continuous rainfall. Thoughts about Christmas time, end of the year, start of New Year, etc were captivating my mind. Until, the nuisance began at the night. Sudden flow of water from the drains entered the floors of my home. The water was clear and less but constant. So, I, my mom and my brother tried to sweep off the water. I felt like being heroic even though the herculean task was to just sweep off the water from the floors. As the level of water was not increasing and the flow of water was not halting. We got tired of putting anymore effort left in our body tissues. So, we all went to sleep. The good cosy feeling of sleeping after being tired; surrounded by the fluffy pillows, soft & warm fabric of the bed sheets and the last but not the least the bed that’s been supportive more than anyone in my life is something I won’t trade for anything. 

Dec 2, 2015: Once in a blue moon, I get deep sleep and I am an avid dreamer. Anyways, Instead of waking up to bright amber sunlight, I woke up to wet floors, smell of fungus/whatever similar to swamp atmosphere, darkness (no electricity), and expecting an apocalypse. The level of water increased and slightly having brownish tinge. I went to the sink and brushed my teeth. Then, I and my brother opened the door to see the situation outside the house, but suddenly water gushed inside the house we got startled and pushed the door harder to lock it up. We felt like feeling trapped on all sides but thank god the level of water was 2 feet which was okay for walking yet increasing at rapid rate. We started brainstorming immediately to safeguard the stuff to be packed in bags and kept on the top of shelves as high as possible. We dragged all the important certificates, some money, my laptop, chargers, phones, snack packets, water bottle, blankets,etc packed into a luggage and we kept as many remaining stuff on the top of the shelves and got out of the house. At first we waited for my dad to arrive from his shop to give keys for his office which is above the house at first floor. We poor souls were too afraid and stunned by the raising levels of water and stayed on the steps which lead to the door of the tenant’s place. The tenants came and they offered us to stay at their place. I was too suspicious and hesitant to enter but I had to obey my mom who gave me this ferociously frustrated anger stare on me till I enter. So I entered to see the view of darkness, secluded, dirt-filled and other obscure oddities of the tenant’s place. My instincts were alarming not to go inside any further but I had no other choice. Until, my dad arrived and asked us to come inside the office. I was gleaming with joy to get out of the tenant’s place and to stay at my dad’s office. We ate snacks for while, saw the water level rising, saw neighbor's houses getting sunk, saw a rat at a neighbor’s wall patiently and safely waiting for the water to reduce, saw people roaming in the flooded pathways, and the skies got dark. We took some photos and videos, spoke jokes, and got drowsy. There were sounds of helicopters roaming on the skies and rescue boats roamed on the pathways. We ate our dinner which was 4 biscuits, some puffed rice, salted peanuts and sip of water. And slept in chairs, which were icy cold like the weather outside. 

Dec 3, 2015: The dawn was cloudy. Everything was stinking, the place, the stuff, the surroundings, and us. The view bored my eyes. The birds were flying on the sky and I wished why I didn’t have wings to escape from fate’s catastrophes. The ambiance of the place was strangely calm, sad, and cold. Everyone wished the water level reduces. By afternoon it got reduced; we entered the house to analyze the state of the house. The furniture were tumbled and jumbled on the floor which looked like a perplexing maze. The electronics which we forgot to keep in safe place because of being in a panic and hurry to escape from floods were all drenched. It was shocking to see that all the vital stuff bought with hard earned money is gone. Seeing the books, clothes, food and other objects collected for the past 20 years dripping with water, glued with slime and coated with mud; even though I am not a bookworm or materialistic person still it felt so heart-wrenching to see them in that condition. The level of water was imprinted on the walls which showed that water came up to 5 feet. There were dead insects, lizards and a rat on the leftover water at the rear end of the house. The doors and windows were soaked which fell off when touched. The floor wet and filled with mud, filth and cooking oil that got spilled from the kitchen due to flooding of water. It was very uneasy and too slippery to walk on the floor. Also it was a risk to walk because the glass on the cupboards were broken into pieces on the floor. The thought of where to start cleaning and dumping trash was haunting the brains. When cleaning was initiated someone in the roads started telling that the Chembarambakkam dam got broken and run for your life. And here we were again feared what to do? Is it true? Etc. Then the police announced in loudspeakers that it was a rumor. On top of helping why would certain people create rumors to add more misery to us? The need and importance of a candle and matchbox is known when there is no electricity and no torches. Mom got calls from grandma and her sisters. I was bit jealous and sad that no one cared to call me to enquire whether I was dead or alive. Then the electricity came, but there was no phone signal and Wi-fi working. We cleaned the guest room near the porch and slept there. 

Dec 4, 2015: I woke up with body aches and stink. Even though electricity came only the fans and lights worked. I and my brother had to bring buckets of water from the hand pump to the house which is not an easy task. Cleaning the aftermath of a flood is difficult. The mud gets stuck if it dries or gets stagnated persistently if it is wet. The walls get covered by patches of microbes, fungus and florae. The heavy furniture has to be hauled outside in order to clean properly. The stuff that cannot be useful anymore has to be thrown away even though they have a lot of sentimental value. And occasional bruising, bleeding, slipping, and getting hurt both physically and emotionally occurs. Life feels worthless and trashy. Then, the Wi-fi worked. I started checking mails and other apps. In the messages few of my friends texted whether i was fine or not and some even said they will help if I require any help. These words were enough to restore my belief in life. And because of this I guess I am not psychotic yet. Someone delivered lemon rice to everyone which was delicious. And some gave biscuits, matchbox, candle, water bottles, milk powder and foods which was the reason for my survival. Thanks to those people who were determined to help the flood affected people. Belief in humanity got restored.

Dec 5 & 6 - 2015: I was too tired to do anything. I browsed internet for a while, mom started slandering about me for being lazy and useless. Then, I segregated another pile of drenched stuff to keep and stuff to be fare welled. And proceeded to cleaning which was by now became a routine. The electrician came and dried the electronics with a hair dryer and to my surprise they worked. 

Dec 7, 2015: The same usual clean and dump activity happened the whole day. Bathing after a long time is like glimpse of heaven.  I saw a frog being with me near the bed at night without croaking and leaping. We had a stare contest, truth was I was petrified to hell don’t know what the frog was thinking and stared at me. I don’t remember what happened next I was tired and slept. 

Dec 8, 2015: Today, I am alive and blogging about my Experience with floods as a victim. And also got the strength to recall what happened few days back. Still the cleaning and segregation work is pending but the stink has reduced. Being flooded is not fun but it teaches a lot of life lessons. 

Some of the flood pics:

The flooded porch at my house

Bridge near Kasi theatre which is submerged 

Prepped Life boats to the rescue!

That's me.. Does selfie and floods means floofie?

Nearby area

The view i got when i woke on Dec 3, 2015

Buses & Bus stops

I have been traveling in buses for the past 2 years. By the way my college started; it went well until after that I had to take a bus. Too many holidays, Cold winds, and a distance of 1.5 Km between the college and the bus-stop can make anyone to think twice to take a bus. Even though I was super sleepy and tired, walking is something I always preferred, plus it doesn't cost you any money, just your calories. So, one step at a time with different music tunes from the memory to distract tiredness and reach my destination: The bus-stop. 

Finally!!! I reached the bus-stop. I felt proud of myself whenever I reach the bus-stop and this achievement is something unique and gives me satisfaction even though it is just a walk to reach a bus-stop. So, reaching bus-stop is like Level-1 task; Level-2 is known as waiting and having patience till the correct bus that takes you home arrives. While waiting, we observe a lot of things, the roads, the vehicles, the skies, the birds (mostly crows and pigeons here), etc. This doesn't happens when the travel is by own personal vehicle. So, at first my patience and waiting for the bus was good, until I got bored and weak as the bag I was carrying was heavy.

My thoughts wandered towards questioning the need for urban lifestyle, pollution, no chairs to sit at the bus-stop; what if the bus never arrives? (The Nightmare). I even thought about why humans don't have hibernation period. Also, certain thoughts like what if someone is stalking or staring at me can occur if the wait is too long. An eyesight similar to Binocular vision is extremely important in order to read the signboards on the bus or else suffer missing the correct bus which leads to even more waiting that will test your patience. At last, When the correct bus is coming, my first thought would be Is this a mirage? Is my bus really coming? When it is confirmed a sense of euphoria occurs to me. But reality checks in and shows the bus so crowded which makes me to think twice to get into the bus. Lesson learnt ~ when we get joy, we get haunted by disappointment. 

So, without any further thinking I get into the crowded bus, crammed with people who stare as if I am forbidden from entering a bus. Then, other struggles can be taking out the exact money to get a ticket; holding on to the metal rod which can only prevent from falling and being stable even though the bus is drove on bumps, pits, etc. At this time, I wish and pray teleportation is invented and available to use. When the bus-stop where I need to get down is soon to be reached, I need to reach the open end of the bus to get down so I had to try squirming in such a way I think Yoga is easy to do. Alas, I reach my place safely and the song “we are the champions” by Crazy Frog comes into the mind.

Thanks for reading :)

Festival special: Karthigai deepam

Today, most of the Tamilians celebrate Karthigai deepam i.e. festival of lights. My mom wasn’t that much into religious practices; she says god has to be prayed from within. But she never restricted me to lit a lamp or go to temples. 

When I was a school kid, I used to collect broken chalk pieces on the floor after last class of the day ends. Then carefully I put those tiny chalk pieces into my pencil box. I used to draw beautiful... okay somewhat creative murals on the floor of the porch at my home. These abstract yet wonderful patterns/drawings on floor are called as “Kolam” in Tamil Nadu. I always find tranquility whenever I do kolam. Traditionally, Kolam are made using rice flour so that it also acts as food to birds. And the patterns are also filled with different shades of contrasting colors.

The best part comes when the clay lamps a.k.a Vilaku are lit in the evening. I won’t say to lit a vilaku is an extremely difficult skill to acquire but the way it is lit is somewhat fulfills the soul with satisfaction. We had three lamps at house, i used to clean them properly with a wet cloth then use it. Adequate amount of oil is poured into the lamps and then a small amount of cotton is taken from the First aid box and rolled into wicks. The wicks are dipped into the oil and one end is kept ready to be lit.

I always insist my mom that only I will light the lamps. So, she turns the gas stove on, where the luminous blue flames arise. She lit the candle and gives it to me so that I don’t burn my hands. I keep the fire near the wick until the wick gets lit. Sometimes the November weather is cold so the wick doesn’t gets heated up soon and this used to test my patience but still if there is interest the level of patience increases.

Then we keep these lamps on the porch. I used to break a small piece from the broomstick and use it whenever to adjust the wick and have spare oil to pour over the lamps whenever I feel like the oil is less until i get tired and drowsy. I also enjoy the view of neighbor places filled with tiny specks of lights. So, that’s how I used to celebrate my karthigai deepam. 

Hope today is also awesome and happy karthigai deepam!!

Rains of Chennai lead to my boredom

          College was something that I dreaded as a routine in my life. When finally the holidays are announced after my exams; I was definitely at cloud nine. But eventually, I got bored of holidays too. The same old Facebook, YouTube, and whole lots of websites became my cheerleaders during my holidays. Finally, I was counting days to enter the first day of my Final semester at college on November 16, 2015. And the skies in Chennai had other plans.

In Chennai, I believe most of the youth/students are diverse yet united by Rains. Because getting heavy rains in Chennai is like a spectacle for every Chennailite. And when it happens especially every school/college student like me turns the T.V. on and looks at the flashing News section of all the Tamil News channels. We all usually wish the college and schools announces holiday due to heavy rains. Whenever they announce holiday due to heavy rains that day has the beautiful sunshine. But this time it was different, the rains were constant and flooded the Chennai. Even though holidays are fun when there are rains it is hard to go out or take a vacation especially for a person who thinks too much while stepping out of the house.

So for past few days my life schedule is dependent on the Tamil news channels, Internet and weather. Now, I am dreading this kind of routine. By God’s grace me, my family and my friends are safe. But there is this feeling of getting annoyed by constant heavy rains, no college, no actual social interactions, no activity, etc. So here I am finally giving a try at blogging about my life experiences.

P.s. All the opinions above are mine and it can be pointless, nonsense, etc. But if you like it thanks for reading it. 

This area was near my house.. hope rains becomes less constant for a while. Picture courtesy: My dad