Random Thoughts

Today she came with a request- could I dial her daughter's neighbor's number for her? This appeal came from my maid Sulochana. I call her chechi (elder sister) even though I should have called her aunty considering that she is well into the Autumn of life. She told me that she had a nightmare about her daughter and wanted to confirm that she is well. I put the call through and she inquired after her daughter and was told all is well. Satisfied she went on with her chores and left for the next house in her daily schedule. I remember the day she appeared in front of my gate offering her services. It was a couple of days after we shifted to the new place. We had just unpacked all our stuff and put them in their respective places. I wanted to hire a maid and was planning to ask the neighbors, when she came up, offering her service. She told she had worked for the tenant who stayed in this house before us. I told her to come back next day as I had to ask around. After consulti...

As I rode in the turbulent waves of emotions, I found anchor in you; As I dropped down into the falls of uncertainties, It was you who held me safe and secure; As I struggled to understand the philosophies of life, It was you who simplified them for me! As demons of self-doubt started to flourish in me, It was you who drove them away; As I faltered and fumbled along life's difficult paths, It was you who gave me a helping hand; As unanswered questions and mysteries shrouded me, It was you who lighted the lamp of wisdom As life took away from me, my dreams and aspirations, It was you who held me together. As everything turned bleak & grey and drowned me, It was you who lifted me up to the lights... O! Father of  mine, what would my life be  worth; If you didn't show me the right path! You have been the pillar of my strength, the anchor of my ship, My light in the darkness; Dear Father, life would not be worth living at all, Had i...

It is becoming a huge challenge for me to remember the various passwords for the numerous user ids and profiles that I have created in the cyber world. There are n number of sites which require one to be a member, and for want of better things to do in life, I have subscribed to many - which is proving to be a headache! Of course, there are options to link all your accounts. But, what if it is hacked? I would lose it all... The age old wisdom suggests not to put all your apples in one basket. Hence the need for different names and passwords. Despite taking all usual precautions, one may find one's account hacked and out of bounds!!! Creating "strong" passwords might be comparatively easy... Remembering them, is certainly not! And sometimes, even the "secret" question cannot help, as one have forgotten what was his secret question on this particular site. Then, one has to click the 'forgot password' link, which would send our password /  link ...

"അമ്മ" അമ്മയെക്കുറിച്ചെന്തു പാടണം ഞാന്‍; എത്ര പാടിയാലുമമ്മ തന്‍ സ്നേഹ- വാത്സല്യങ്ങള്‍ക്കു പകരമായീടുമോ??? അമ്മിഞ്ഞപ്പാലിന്‍ മാധുര്യം ആദ്യമായ് നുണഞ്ഞതെന്നാണെന്നോര്‍മ്മയില്ല , എങ്കിലുമാ മധുരമിപ്പോഴും ഞാനറിവൂ... താരാട്ടു പാടിയമ്മയെന്നെയുറക്കിയതെത്ര  രാവുകളെന്നെനിയ്ക്കറിയില്ല;എങ്കിലുമാ   താരാട്ടിന്നീണങ്ങള്‍ ഇന്നും ഞാന്‍ കേള്‍പ്പൂ   പിച്ചവെച്ചിടറിയിടറി വീണതെത്ര നാളെ- ന്നോര്‍ക്കുന്നില്ല ഞാനിപ്പോള്‍; ഓടി വന്ന- മ്മയെന്നെ വാരിപ്പുണര്‍ന്നതോര്‍ക്കുന്നു ഞാന്‍! അക്ഷര നക്ഷത്രങ്ങള്‍ മനസ്സില്‍ മിന്നിയതെ- ന്നോര്‍മ്മയെനിക്കില്ല; അമ്മയോതിത്തന്നോ- രക്ഷരങ്ങളാണെനിയ്ക്കിന്നു കൂട്ടുകാര്‍! ജീവിത യാത്രയില്‍ പകച്ചു നിന്നതെത്രവട്ടമെ- ന്നൊട്ടുമോര്‍മ്മയെനിക്കില്ലയിപ്പോള്‍; കൈ പിടി- ച്ചെന്നെനയിച്ചതമ്മയെന്നോര്‍ക്കുന്നു ഞാന്‍! അജ്ഞാതമാമിടങ്ങളിലും, അജ്ഞാതരാ- യൊരുപറ്റമാള്‍ക്കാര്‍ക്കിടയിലും, അദൃശ്യമാ- യെന്‍ കൂടെയുണ്ടായിരുന്നതെന്നമ്മ മാത്രം! ഹൃദയം നൊന്തു  ഞാനെത്ര കരഞ്ഞുവെന്നെനി- യ്ക്കൊന്നുമറിയില്ല; അമ്മ തന്‍ സ്നേഹമൊരു മരുന്നായെ...

The whole world is colourful when I am with you, The heartbeats, all restful as I look up to you... The never ending love I behold  in your crystal eyes Makes me the most treasured  soul in this world; My joy knows no bounds; my heart sings endless odes; All that life seem to confer on me is happiness and peace! It is you who make my life worthwhile to live It is you who make my strife as easy as it is to breathe.. O! My Love! I know my words didn't tell you this- But the throbbing heart of mine sings out my love for you!!!

Rukmini in Kuchelavrutham. The make up code of female characters in Kathakali is called Minukku. Interestingly, in the earlier days, it was men who played the female characters, because only men performed Kathakali. Over years, women have also joined. Here Rukmini is portrayed by a young lady.