Tu
Mera Hero! (You are My Hero)
Someone
I know is all set to tie the knot with her intimidating and macho boyfriend
very soon. This girl has been through all his temper tantrums and slaps, bouts
of extreme possessiveness but still, like a dim-wit follower of a local pseudo god
man, she is hell bent on marrying the boy who she believes, is a hero and will make her life a
secure heaven. Anyways, it is just one story amongst the millions where girls
easily or rather willingly marry boys who are involved in brawls and even heinous
crimes like rapes. The basic feeling that runs deep down is the point of ‘safety’
which, to most girls, means only physical strength and a dominating
personality.
I feel such girls themselves lack confidence in their own selves
or maybe they are too insecure and shudder at the very thought of a big bad
world out there that gets them naturally and mindlessly attracted to men having
such terrifying personalities. Surprisingly, they are often happy in facing
physical abuse and severe excoriations all their lives and barter dignity for a
sense of safety.
I
discussed this with my friend and she gave me a solid suggestion for
their wedding gift that made me laugh my ribs out! “Why don’t you gift her a
year’s supply of Volini!”
Good
one!
***
Didi!
(Elder Sister)
On
One sleepy afternoon, a few days back, two cute little boys rang my doorbell. I
answered from inside and one said ‘Aunty, ball aa gai hai, please de do’
(Aunty, please return our ball) but before I could utter a syllable,
another one promptly interrupted in somewhat hushed tone and said ‘Pagal,
Aunty bolega to nai milegi, didi bol’ (Dumbo, she won’t return if you’ll call
her aunty, instead call her didi). And both cried in unison ‘Didi…didi
please ball de do’ and honestly, I could not stop giggling for an hour or
so! Such instances of pure innocence can make one smile even after years pass
by.
***
Blossoms!
I
have of late grown quite fond of flowers and have even memorized the names of
various types with much interest. I can name them like kids can tell you
alphabet table- excitedly, in a single breath! Blossoms add a dash of color and
style in other wise wilted and annoying days of scorching summers. I easily
identified a wild flower growing in my neighbor’s garden. It was a white
petunia (in pic) and for some reason seemed to me like an infant, too cute to avoid!
There is another plant called ‘Chinese Lantern’ (in pic below) that has a box like net that
covers the fruit and looks beautiful in fiery orange! Now, I have added to my
‘to-do’ list this task of buying new flower-plants from nearby nursery and placing
them in beautiful pots (gamla) that are easily available in the markets now.
I have plants in plastic pots but still I feel earthen ones are better. I
prefer flowers in pots because of the ease in carrying and also you can arrange
and place them as and where you wish, unlike rooted ones.
***
