Teeny-weeny Traditions

My ex-colleague who is based in Canberra visited us last Friday. It is a custom in our office to bring any knick-knacks or local snacks from places that we visit. Our colleague brought us a Lindt Lindor Mango & Cream Bag and Salted Caramel & Vanilla Tim Tams. I took one Lindt chocolate and as I was about to open, the thought about taking it home and sharing with my dear half occurred. I wondered, since when have I stopped taking things back home to share with him. I began thinking about the time I joined my organization. I used to take home chocolates and small snacks that I got from here. My then mentor, encouraged me to 'take one extra' for the man at home. That became a habit. So when had I stopped taking that extra for him?

First days of our married life began in the common room of an Indian family. We were allocated a rack in their refrigerator to use in which, we squeezed in boxes of food that we cooked. So mostly we never bought chocolates or other comfort food that could be stored. He and I brought back sweets and chocolates from office that we shared in the evenings. Fast forward few years, we live in a whole unit now lavishly. The chiller in our fridge is filled with chocolates and goodies. We had forgotten how much we looked forward to the sharing time.

Nevertheless we still share everything. Nothing has changed that. I am glad how some things remain the same even as years pass by. How you create small traditions that become part of our own well-being and help in sustaining relationships.

                                           Trees Only I Seem To Notice

Singapore has a number of fruit trees under the HDB blocks and on highways which include starfruit, rambutan, jackfruit, loobikka/lovlolikka(Indian coffee plum/Indian sour cherry), mango. Local, exotic and everything else that reminds me of Kerala. I hardly see people acknowledging or appreciating these trees here. The bus to office goes along the lane lined by loobikka trees.

The name lovlolikka itself sounds so lovely. A very popular fruit in Kerala, my early memory of loobikka takes me back to my Class 2 or 3 when kids brought small packs of loobika pickle from the pettikada(aka corner shop). I was strictly instructed not to taste these since they were adulterated(Same instruction goes for sip-up, which was a happening, object of joy then). That is what I had been told all these years.

Years later friends in college described about having loobikka trees and mulberry bushes in their homes. And there I was, my good years spent in arid part of Pondicherry where houses where lined next to, facing and on top of each other, where shade from plants and trees was considered luxurious. I salivated at the thought of plucking these berries and fruits from trees and bushes by myself. That would be great. And people talk about apple plucking. Uff!!  

If you have visited Singapore, by this time you know that plucking fruit from trees is not legal. So I sigh at the berries. The bus is nearing the stop where I have to get down. As if all the torment I went through early in the morning was less, I see mangoes now (the neighbourhood my office is in, has a number of mango trees). I know what you are thinking. No, mangoes here are not seasonal. They appear on the trees whenever they like. Sometimes twice, thrice a year. The mangoes of first tree remind you of kanni manga achar and the second of cut mango pickle. The pattern is real random or at least, I have not observed or read up about the pattern yet. If there were mangoes lining on roads in India, then the cottage industries would definitely flourish. I get down the bus and walk to office. There, on the ground, near my leg I spot two mainas(Acridotheres tristis) catch up over a ripe mango. Is that a Banganapalli or Alphonso? Ok lah! Afterall somebody gets to relish them.
 

On those few days

 

As I dab some coconut oil on my dry lips, I feel beautiful. 

The moonstones press against my tummy and I pray for my beautiful Angel. 

Warmth of my bed folds me in, somewhere in the middle of my prayers, I fall asleep.

 In my dreams I see you, my beautiful Angel. 

After what feels like few minutes, I hear my alarm call me loud.  

Leaping out of bed, I wait for a minute.  

Indeed my stomach feels bloated and I feel nauseous.

I comb my hair with hope in my eyes.

Oh my Angel! When will you be home!

On those few days, we are little closer.

On those few days, I wait for you little longer.

There goes the first post... Anybody reading??

                          This is the second time I am making a blog. The first time it started and ended with sharing of blog id and password and that was it. This time, I am more confident that I will be little more committed.

I am new into blogging. Other than my occasional journal entry and jotted down poems, I am not that into writing. But sometimes, I type/write away crazy. Then it struck my mind that I really don't mind if random people read what I actually think. It really does not matter anyways..

I am experimenting with this blogging thing. Hence, please be kind and be patient with me