Teething troubles

It was all working out well, that is, theoretically. A van was arranged for the commute to school with the hope that parents would head to work without starting the day exchanging choice words in the bedlam on the road in front of school and RRJ would finally realize his dream of parent-independent commute to school. We had a great run with car pooling last 1.5 years but with new schedules when the idea of a van came up, it just made perfect sense to every one at home. Then it was Monday. Early morning start, RRJ in the van looking a bit apprehensive, in tow his amma just to check out how it feels to go to school again and two more kids heading to another school. We made it in good time of course because we were lucky with two signals and the third one was nicely violated. Amma made some appropriate noise which was met with a stern look from RRJ. We were dropped in the outer fringes of the bedlam and then before I knew RRJ was sucked in through the gate and I got a “ no parents inside” yell. The van dropped the other two kids and then gave us a ride back. Amma didn’t have to struggle to find the driver’s complete disregard for the concept of waiting for signals, traffic rules, and the lack of ability to estimate time required for different activities that are part of his job. If the morning sequence raised some suspicions then the afternoon pick up was the clincher. Suffices to say we reached home an hour and a quarter later for a 3 km distance. Amma had accompanied in this journey as well and didn’t need any more convincing. Evening was spent discussing with another parent and a second chance was agreed upon. Next day, we started earlier, traffic looked okay and all was well, then for lack any excitement the fellow takes a narrow by lane! The only purpose it served was instead of going on a traffic-less, straight main road we got stuck in a narrow by-lane with a lorry coming the wrong way. Amma just did deep breathing while the driver blamed everyone for botching his brilliant plan and tilted his van like a dog ready to pee, while the lorry nudged past. Great start. We reached in time of course, RRJ reached the suction zone and I headed to office. RRS was informed that driver’s services must be discontinued and instead he must do the chauffeuring till an alternate arrangement can be made. In the afternoon RRJ coming out of his class spots me with a questioning look, “driver?” and then he spots RRS. You could see his expression change first to disappointment and then to anger. We had sabotaged his plans: wonderful wait of an hour in the hot sun followed by the fun ride back with an imaginative man at the steering-wheel. While the anger abated Amma wrote down numbers from the vehicles standing outside the school and started calling them. “Call after 4:30, busy with school pick up”. Good! Responsible! In the evening after two three attempts a reasonable person answered. After the negotiations amma tried, “can I come along the first few days”? “Sorry madam, space ille”. So this is the what you don't see you don't know game? Hmmmm…. little does the fellow know that it is not so easy to get us off his back, RRS has already decided where he will wait in his car to follow him till the very bedlam epicenter. The rest of the week is holiday, so the drama unfolds only coming Monday.

Are, atithi phir kab aoge?

It is funny how the home starts looking and feeling like a home just in time before guests arrive. Stuff gets cleaned, stuff gets arranged, stuff gets repaired, stuff gets bought, fights get resolved and people become their homely best.

WC-II

The gentle, controlled and skillful play by Messi was the highlight of the fantastic Argentinian win against South Koreans. The self-goal put the Koreans on the back foot from quite early on but the match was far closer than what the final score-line suggested. On the whole we could definitely do with some more scoring in this world cup, it has been quite dry and dull so far. In the hope of raining goals in the German match, it was raining German tears as Serbia created history. Is it just me or the German coach does dress a bit girlie?

Koi smart koi dumb

In our regular coffee place,“ no change for 1000 rupees, can you pay by card please?” The card never came back and the fool I am, I never noticed until the e-statement reached me this morning. Someone has been on a shopping spree. Seems to be a first timer as thankfully it all adds up to within 5 thousand rupees in two weeks. Could have been so much worse. Blocked the card but wondering should I go and give an earful to the coffee shop staff or just forget it as a stupid, expensive mistake.

The R-word

Seeing children actively participate in religious activities makes me very uncomfortable. I wish parents, if at all they must influence, would let the child see themselves being religious and let the child choose for herself. To me it seems any child who follows religion because of her parents would follow the same religion irrespective of the religion type. Wouldn't it be wonderful then to have the common factor of all religions, the value system, to be passed on rather than what makes a religion distinct from others, the rites and rituals.

WC-I

With each match of the world cup, RRJ finds the playing countries on the globe. And we get to see the tiniest of countries, so tiny that their names don’t fit the space available on the globe, having made it there. Hugely depressing. Turns out we are participating after all, that too in each game! The jabulani soccer balls have the their latex bladder made in India. Hmmm... I want to cry now.

Happened to see the German match against Australia. The unearthly hour and my rotten mood could not get in my way of thoroughly enjoying the superb game that Germans put up. An absolute delight.

Legging it

Football time! Planning to catch most of the action this time. Awesome field gold in the opener has rekindled my interest. Turns out my old favourite Ronaldinho has been given the boot, time to move on. Thrilling, in a scary sense, to see Maradona after all these years of exploring various means of getting into trouble, finally donning the hat of Argentenian coach. Going completely bally in the sidelines during a reasonably cool match. God… the thug he looks now, hard to believe what he was capable of with his foot.. uh ..oh ..ok hand too. My eyes are of course on Italy, they invariably manage to have some eye-candies to offer.

A moment that passed by

Rain-washed trees swaying to the gentle tune of the breeze seem to be living the moment. The unbelievable heat, the sweat, the dust all forgotten and washed away. Curled up in the cane chair, running her finger over the patterns of weaving, she looks around. She feels blank, her fingertips a little cold and strangely numb. Vulnerable and not quite herself she feels the emptiness, the void in her. Wondering how it must feel to rest her head on a warm shoulder, or receive a look, removed from the details of living, meant just for her, or hear a word of appreciation that she matters. A tear drop finds its way down to her chin. Wiping the wake behind the warm drop, a smile curls her lips up, indulging in self-pity never fails to amuse her.