Impressions October 29, 2009
Posted by Tag a star in Punjab press.Tags: children, memories
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The other day I uploaded pictures of my little dolls in a photo blog of mine.
Last year I spent many wonderful moments with these two little girls. I am apprehensive that they might forget their ‘arpana aunty’ or ‘arpan pooji’ as they get older. They will most certainly continue to be in my treasured memories. These two girls have given me so much to cherish. I remember them in my prayers. They brighten my mood when I think about them.
Of the many things I remember is how Jasmine spat out a sweet, or any eatable that tasted sweet. She would frown and look around not knowing where to put it out. Hold out the palm and the little one was simply prompt to come over and spit.
She had once gone with her mother to a house which was mourning the death of a son. it had left such a deep impact on her and she was scared to even converse with people.
Then like a magical entertainment for the stupid adults around this little one Jasmine would just sit in on the ground as she was walking. One knee folded perpendicular to the ground and the other parallel, one palm on her chest and the other on her head. Both hands simultaneously moved causing chest beating and head banging. She would cry aloud “hhaaai mera putt magggayyaaaa” repeatedly. Some nuts encouraged her to enact her wailing drama, it would upset me so much that I would talk something or do something to distract her. Nautanki khatam… elders go about their chores. Little one then went around doing anything else she pleased.
Then there is one other repetition of how the boy died, and it was a “boy” that died.
It saddened me to think how sometimes because of circumstances we allow children to pick up so much around us. We think they do not understand but they are constantly taking in so much.
Then there is my darling Baljyot. My constant evening companion. How amused she would get with my masala dabba. Seven assorted spices in their containers. Her game was to combine it all and then assort them… It scared me. Haldi,jeera,mustard,dahaniya,fenugreek,tinychillies,saunf…separate them all 
I started to hide it the moment she hollered Aaaauntieeeeeeee at the gate. She inspired me to become smarter.
She would promptly leave turning around from the door itself if there was no “cheezi”. Cheezi is junk food in their tongue.
I had many lessons from Baljyot about when I should be stirring my vegetables on the stove to how I must be pinching off dough, roll it out and then how to make phulkas. My method was different from what her mom did, so the right thing for her to do is correct Arpan auntiee.
The wonderful moments we spent with her lying upon me in the quiet of the twilight is one of the most fulfilling moments of mine. The young ones know just what they want. 
The dolls did leave an impression upon me by being with me and by showing innocently what impressions had been left in their minds.
Under the makeshift sky October 26, 2009
Posted by Tag a star in Everday life.3 comments
Today it was just a day like one in summer! It is the last week of October. I miss the October it was when I was a 6-year-old.
I’m not too fond of the locality of the house we currently are staying. Knowing it is only for a few more days makes me feel good. It is noise from day break to the next daybreak. Cigarette smoke and vehicle fumes are complimentary.
Comming back to the summer day today…
It was afternoon, saw some ants walking on the corner of one of the walls. It was lit by the sun. The ants looked bright red and in full of life. Wanted to capture them in a camera moment. I fetched my camera went out and so had the sun… sun had moved too. A moment lost.
Going out all the same did pay.
Yesterday a function had been organised by someone down the road… can call them neighbours but only that I do not know them in person. Prosperous Marwadi Jains in Bengaluru. They had their function and to accomodate their guests they had a huge Pandal (like a marquee) put up on the road, covering half the width. The pandal was at least 120 – 130 feet long. Last night they had removed the walls of the pandal . Today it was a shaded corridor with to walk , ride or drive through. The ceiling of the corridor was adorned with pink and white buntings.
It was a hot day and people were going about their work, doing their chores. While I was standing in front of the wall with ants and no lights to Highlight my ants, I saw a woman walk down the road. She had a typical twisted face and I knew it was the glare of the sun that she had her face like that. Well I just knew it, and yes it was confirmed when she neared the remains of the pandal. her face all lit up she beamed. Her bosom beamed with joy. The blissful woman threw her head up and soaked up all the pink and white of the buntings. She walked at a leisurely pace under the make shift sky before proceeding on under the sun lit sky. I do not know if her face twisted again or she was happy to have walked in shade for some time Today.
I walked under the same Makeshift sky when I went out today
