The procession at the busy pavement on NH 71 came to a halt in front of two ragshacks almost crumbling to the floor.. The groom smiled and the bride sported that universal nonchalant yet enthralled within kind of look! The handful of relatives walked beside, a few gentlemen holding hands with the groom. Large drops of jasmine and chrysanthimum dotted the bride's short oily hair.. Her thali dangling from the tiny gold chain, and the pair of ear rings were hardly noticeable. She wore a flashy yellow sari, with jerries all around, the type that you can purchase at a high bargain from those roadside vendors.. The groom held her hands and they sat together on the ricketty wooden bench on the pavement. Hot tea came in small cups from the boy who mixed tea with incredible speed and dexterity.. Toothless 'patties' (old ladies) chewed betal leaves in style! The drummer at the rear end of the procession halted and beat the tracks copying those flaming moves from Sivamani:-) The youth danced to the rhythm and little girls took high energy steps to the tune of macha peru madhurai! Ithu thaneda spirit!
And the laughter and happiness all around the place was spreading cheers to everyone walked by! The little boy who was dancing on the sides had his trousers dangling below the knees, but was still in that ecstatic mood, beating Vijay in his now famous Njan Adichal steps.. His anna getting married is no small event!
While the crowd enjoyed the event, drinking cups and cups of tea and tapping to the tunes of tamil chart busters, the groom held his bride close to him, promising a life full of love, protection and togetherness! My wishes to you folks, and am sure all the passers by did the same! What a fabulous wedding!
Best
Roy
Musings from everyday life.. Family, kids, food, movies, books, travel, friends, inspirations, aspirations, dreams!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Say yes to life!!!
I could not help noticing the 70+ old grandma in the Gym today. Standing low on the circular platform, she was practicing bicycle twists; her toothless smile was contagious enough to spread a +ve energy in those early morning hours. Starting slow with my aerobics sessions, I kept watching her in the mirror. She switched sessions with amazing ease, doing flies, kicks and even a few abdominal crunches.
Watching her endless energy, I was determined to catch up with her post work out. The coffee shop in the corner downstairs was deserted in the morning hours, and we met there, sipping caffeine and chatting all through. Jude was a promising athlete, and was the university champion in triathlon, three times in a row, while doing her graduation in history. She excelled in academics as well, winning the Gold medal for the best outgoing student from the graduating class.
The years that followed were painful, for a person who was fighting fit all through. She was diagnosed with intestine cancer, and the reality struck her pretty late..The numerous chemo sessions were not productive, and doctors themselves ruled it off.. Back to her one bedroom studio, Jude was all alone. I am all set to die, so what the heck? It is just a question of today or tomorrow, so why not do what I always liked to do? For the next few months she hit the cubbon park in the morning, touted as the walker's paradise, covering her bald head with a white scarf (peace always!). Completing just 200mtrs of walk seemed to be an eternal journey for her. Over the next few weeks, she completed the distance everyday, taking more than an hour. In the next six months, her body started showing promise, her back was strong enough to support her frame, and her arms were more nimble than before.. She could see a few lines of fresh hair dotting her egg head.. A promising tomorrow was up in the rise. The dreadful disease, apparently, stopped fighting back..
A year down the line, she came back to normal life, healthy and smart, her tress touching her shoulders. She partied, and attended her cousin's wedding in style. She met the doctor who had ruled her off in a shopping mall. He was surprised beyond words, and was too thrilled by the incredible fighting spirit and self belief of this ex-athlete.. She never married, but followed a very active life style, teaching in a local school for underprivileged children, writing a few books and giving motivational talks (of her own incredible story) to cancer patients all over the world!! Hats off to you Jude.. Good to know you, and that sure is an incredible story to pass on.. The story that says over and again, never give up your spirits!
And I met Jude again last month in a 'bicycle for a cause' event in the city, and we cycled to the finish line together!!
Regards
Roy
Watching her endless energy, I was determined to catch up with her post work out. The coffee shop in the corner downstairs was deserted in the morning hours, and we met there, sipping caffeine and chatting all through. Jude was a promising athlete, and was the university champion in triathlon, three times in a row, while doing her graduation in history. She excelled in academics as well, winning the Gold medal for the best outgoing student from the graduating class.
The years that followed were painful, for a person who was fighting fit all through. She was diagnosed with intestine cancer, and the reality struck her pretty late..The numerous chemo sessions were not productive, and doctors themselves ruled it off.. Back to her one bedroom studio, Jude was all alone. I am all set to die, so what the heck? It is just a question of today or tomorrow, so why not do what I always liked to do? For the next few months she hit the cubbon park in the morning, touted as the walker's paradise, covering her bald head with a white scarf (peace always!). Completing just 200mtrs of walk seemed to be an eternal journey for her. Over the next few weeks, she completed the distance everyday, taking more than an hour. In the next six months, her body started showing promise, her back was strong enough to support her frame, and her arms were more nimble than before.. She could see a few lines of fresh hair dotting her egg head.. A promising tomorrow was up in the rise. The dreadful disease, apparently, stopped fighting back..
A year down the line, she came back to normal life, healthy and smart, her tress touching her shoulders. She partied, and attended her cousin's wedding in style. She met the doctor who had ruled her off in a shopping mall. He was surprised beyond words, and was too thrilled by the incredible fighting spirit and self belief of this ex-athlete.. She never married, but followed a very active life style, teaching in a local school for underprivileged children, writing a few books and giving motivational talks (of her own incredible story) to cancer patients all over the world!! Hats off to you Jude.. Good to know you, and that sure is an incredible story to pass on.. The story that says over and again, never give up your spirits!
And I met Jude again last month in a 'bicycle for a cause' event in the city, and we cycled to the finish line together!!
Regards
Roy
Friday, May 28, 2010
Sorry, my cell phone is switched off.. I am off to play with my kids in the park!
Holding his grandma’s fragile and flimsy hands, the little boy was walking around the park. Just back from my morning walk, I was relaxing by one of the corner stones, contemplating future and thinking about my own little ones. My girl is completing ten years in another six months, and is an exhilarating thought. She is growing up quick, and in a few years will be leaving home for college/university. Well, am not ready to think about the empty nest syndrome yet:-)
Looking back, she spent the years growing up with us. Her obdurate demands on the stuff that she needs, her bent towards art and craft, the numerous paintings she did, and the ones that she presented to both of us on our birthdays, the long letters that she wrote to both of us signing off with loads of love, the recipes that she hunted down on the Net, the sweet and sour soup and the mushroom shallow fry that she cooked, her first piano performances on stage, her days at school, her grades, her costumes for special days, the numerous story books that she reveled in, the pictures that she took during our holiday travels. Well, we have been there all through beaming with pride, savoring the moments of sweet love. She wants to study art in the University and be a professional artist, and we are dreaming of being there on her gradation day:-) God is love, and our little girl has given us so much to cherish:-)
The younger one is no exception either, his passion for toys, especially the high power ones, his craze for the umpteen cartoon channels, his numerous books on oceans and marine life, his first time stage on the piano, his spider man costumes for the school day, his kara-te and swimming lessons, the occasional fights with his sister, and the cute little painting he did for our wedding anniversary. The list is endless, and the happiness that our little ones have provided us all through is beyond words:-) Again, God is true love!
Back to the story line; the little boy stopped in the corner and was about to ask me something. My younger one was pushing me down on the lawns to play with him, and my little girl was focusing on building a bird’s nest on the lawn with small figs and leaves. The boy smiled again, and came toward us. Uncle, do you think I can play with you? I looked at him for a moment, and could not respond for a few seconds. Nandu got him along quickly and off they went; playing running and catching, one of their favorite games!
If you are a working dad or mom, please take a few minutes to walk your little ones in the park. Play with them on the lawns, ride bicycle with them, or just sit down and read out their favorite stories. You do not know what you give them through those priceless moments, but trust me, they will throw you their sweetest kisses back at you always!
Start doing it today since your little one is soon going to grow up to be a less playful adult tomorrow, and they would hate playing in the park with you:-) And the Grandmas are too old to play in the park!
Warm Regards,
Roy Padmanabhan
Looking back, she spent the years growing up with us. Her obdurate demands on the stuff that she needs, her bent towards art and craft, the numerous paintings she did, and the ones that she presented to both of us on our birthdays, the long letters that she wrote to both of us signing off with loads of love, the recipes that she hunted down on the Net, the sweet and sour soup and the mushroom shallow fry that she cooked, her first piano performances on stage, her days at school, her grades, her costumes for special days, the numerous story books that she reveled in, the pictures that she took during our holiday travels. Well, we have been there all through beaming with pride, savoring the moments of sweet love. She wants to study art in the University and be a professional artist, and we are dreaming of being there on her gradation day:-) God is love, and our little girl has given us so much to cherish:-)
The younger one is no exception either, his passion for toys, especially the high power ones, his craze for the umpteen cartoon channels, his numerous books on oceans and marine life, his first time stage on the piano, his spider man costumes for the school day, his kara-te and swimming lessons, the occasional fights with his sister, and the cute little painting he did for our wedding anniversary. The list is endless, and the happiness that our little ones have provided us all through is beyond words:-) Again, God is true love!
Back to the story line; the little boy stopped in the corner and was about to ask me something. My younger one was pushing me down on the lawns to play with him, and my little girl was focusing on building a bird’s nest on the lawn with small figs and leaves. The boy smiled again, and came toward us. Uncle, do you think I can play with you? I looked at him for a moment, and could not respond for a few seconds. Nandu got him along quickly and off they went; playing running and catching, one of their favorite games!
If you are a working dad or mom, please take a few minutes to walk your little ones in the park. Play with them on the lawns, ride bicycle with them, or just sit down and read out their favorite stories. You do not know what you give them through those priceless moments, but trust me, they will throw you their sweetest kisses back at you always!
Start doing it today since your little one is soon going to grow up to be a less playful adult tomorrow, and they would hate playing in the park with you:-) And the Grandmas are too old to play in the park!
Warm Regards,
Roy Padmanabhan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)