पापड, कुरडई आणि खिचडी

काय मंडळी?

तोंडाला पाणी सुटलं की नाही, ब्लॉगपोस्ट चे शीर्षक वाचून? हे असं एक त्रिकुट आहे जे कधीच फेल होत नाही. नाही का? मी अजून एक दोन गोष्टी मुद्दामहून तिकडे लिहिल्या नाहीत. सांडगी मिरची, मिरगुंडं, चिकवड्या आणि पापड्या. ह्यातल्या अर्ध्या गोष्टी तर माहिती नाहीत बऱ्याच जणांना. आज संध्याकाळी जेवणाची तयारी करताना अचानक हे सगळे पदार्थ मनात आले आणि सध्या माझ्याकडे कुरडई, पापड, मिरची, मिरगुंडं हे सगळंच असल्यामुळे ते सगळं मस्त तळता तळता मी परत भूतकाळात गेले.   

डोंबिवली ला आमचं पहिल्या मजल्यावर घर आहे. त्याला दोन्ही बाजूला दोन मोट्ठ्या गॅलऱ्या आहेत. त्यात आम्ही लहानपणी भातुकली, पकडापकडी, घर घर असं बरच काही खेळायचो. झाडांच्या कुंड्या हि बऱ्याच होत्या तिकडे. आई ला खूप हौस होती. त्यातला एका गॅलरी मध्ये एप्रिल आणि मे महिन्यात हमखास माझी आजी आणि मी काही ना काहीतरी वाळत घालत असायचो. साबुदाण्याच्या चिकवड्या, तांदुळाच्या पापड्या, पोह्याचे पापड, एक ना दोन. उन्ह तापली की आम्ही आत आणि आमची मांजर राखण करायला बाहेर मस्त पहुडलेली असायची. कोणाची बिशाद तिकडे एखादी चिमणी किंवा कबुतर फिरकेल ह्याची! आजी सगळं अगदी आनंदाने करायची, जरा जास्तीच करायची, मग शेजारी पाजारी वाटता देखील यायचं. सगळे पदार्थ नीट वाळल्यावर ते नीट स्वछ आणि कोरड्या पत्र्यांच्या डब्यांमध्ये भरून ठेवायचं आणि आजीकडे लगेच खिचडी ची फर्माईश करायची. आजी काय सदैव तयार स्वैपाक घरात जादू करून काही ना काहीतरी मस्त खाऊ करायला. खिचडी मध्ये भरपूर कोथिंबीर, खोबरं हे असायचंच. काय चव लागायची त्या खिचडी ची, साधे तांदूळ आणि मूग डाळ ती पण जी काही चव असायची त्याला आह हा हा. खिचडी च्या सोबत नुकतेच केलेले पापड, कुरडई, मिरची हे ओघाने आलेच. कधी कधी तरी ते सगळं खायला मिळावं म्हणूनच मी आजी ला खिचडी करायला सांगत असे. पुढे पुढे मग आजी ला होईनास झालं आणि मग आम्ही पापड, कुरडई, चिकवड्या आजी च्या भावाच्या सुनेकडून, पेठे मंडळी करून महाड हुन मागवू लागलो! माझ्या बाबांची मामेभावंडं आणि त्यांच्या बायका, म्हणजे माझ्या काका काकू खानावळ चालवत असे आणि खूप सुंदर करायच्या त्या सगळे पदार्थ आणि स्वैपाक पण मस्त असायचा त्यांचा. घरची चव वेगळी कळायची. 

माझी मामी खान्देशी आहे. ती लग्न होऊन आली तेव्हा मी नववी मध्ये होते. ती एक प्रकार करायची खिचडी चा मस्त झणझणीत आणि तेल, दाणे घालून. तिच्याकडे गेले की एकदा तरी करायला सांगायचेच मी तिला तिची स्पेशल खिचडी. तेव्हा ही तळण असायचंच. त्याशिवाय खिचडी घश्याखाली उतरायचीच नाही. मग हळू हळू ते सगळे पदार्थ बाद झाले, अचानक तळकट खाऊ नये, वजन वाढते अश्या जाहिराती येऊ लागल्या आणि बिचारी खिचडी एकटीच खाल्ली जाऊ लागली. मज्जा येत नव्हती, पण काय करणार, भीती मुळे सगळे चित्रच बदलून गेले होते. वडे, भजी, ही सगळे पदार्थ लुप्तच होऊन गेले महाराष्ट्रीयन स्वैपाक घरातून आणि त्याची जागा घेतली कॉर्नफ्लॅक्स, ब्रेड अश्या पाश्चिमात्य पदार्थानी.

पण त्याने काय वाट लागली आहे आपल्या प्रकृतीची हे आपल्या सगळ्यांना माहित आहे. भारतीय आहार हा पौष्टिक आहे, त्यात समतोल असतो सगळ्या घटकांचा हे आता आपल्यालाच पाशात्य देश सांगत आहेत आणि ते आपण मान्य करतोय, काय विरोदाभास आहे पहा!

तर मंडळी, पुढच्या वेळेस खिचडी केलीत तर त्यासोबत पापड, कुरडई आणि मिरच्या तळायला विसरू नका! बाहेर मस्त पाऊस, डिसेंबर ची थंडी आणि घरी तुपावर केलेली गरम गरम खमंग अशी खिचडी! त्यात हव्या त्या भाज्या घाला, मस्त ओलं खोबरं आणि भरपूर कोथिंबीर वरून पाहिजे तर थोडं लिंबू!!! मी खिचडीत गोडा मसाला सुद्धा घालते.

खिचडी, पापड आणि कुरडई! 

तुमच्या काही आठवणी आहेत का?

नक्की सांगा मला! 

Happy birthday Baba!

The bond of fathers and daughters is an exceptional one; someone has said this. But to experience it in reality, you have to either be born as a daughter or become a father to the daughter. You can't fathom the depth and nature of a father-daughter relationship from outside. My father, whom I have always called Baba is a testimony to this, and he has pampered me to the core and taught me many valuable things in my life which I try to follow. Sometimes I am successful; sometimes, I am not.

He was born into a middle-class family. His father, my grandfather, had made a name for himself by his sheer hard work and dedication, and he tried to give the best to his son, my dad in whatever he could. My dad stayed in Pune and studied at the Bhosala Military School. The discipline and orderliness of the school got inculcated in him so much that even today if someone touches his things or moves things from his drawer, he immediately comes to know from the way the other person keeps things. He is a perfectionist when it comes to arranging stuff, packing clothes. Even today, when I go to India, he enthusiastically packs all the things in a bag and tells us to give him more stuff to pack. He can pack 100 kgs in one cargo bag without any hassles. He loves collecting books, pens, and his room is often filled with memories and things from the past. It is often like entering a treasure chest and experiencing a blast from the past.

When I decided to move to Bangalore for my job, he helped me bring stuff from Mumbai and helped me settle in the new house in Bangalore. Every home, I moved to, he was there to help me shift and arrange things. And he did this with love and enthusiasm like a six-year-old child. He never got tired or bored. He was always active and wanted to do something or the other. When I was in Bangalore with Tanay, he came to stay with me for a year. He entirely managed the kitchen and the house while I was working. He took care of Tanay, made him ready for school, took him to school, played with him, took him for a walk outside. He never scolded him or got angry with him. Why not? He was the grandson, after all. He formed a special bond with him, and that's the reason, Tanay considers him at the first position in his list of his favorite people. I am somewhere in the 5th position :-)

My dad had a medical shop in Dombivli West, and it was one of the first medical shops there. People of all ages knew him, and he was always ready to help people. As we stayed just above the medical shop, people have come at 2 am to get medicines in an emergency. My dad has helped many such people without any second thought. He always told me, it is essential to build networks and keep in contact with people. It is a virtue to help people in need. There have been times when he has given medicines for free because people didn't have enough money. Many people have taken advantage of this, and he was duped by many people too. But that didn't stop him from helping people and trusting people. He keeps on doing that even today and everybody knows my dad has a contact in some or the other office or hospital or department in public office and people often approach him for advice and help. 

Today, on his birthday, I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart for everything he has done for me so far. Words are not enough, and I will be most happy when he visits me in Germany next year. That will be his right birthday gift, I think. I want to show him this part of the world, which is so different and which he has never seen or experienced. He is nearing his 70s, and that's the reason I want him to come here soon. He will be able to enjoy and see nature and beautiful things here. His grandson intends to take him to the city center in the tram, just two of them so that they can spend the day together and his "aaba" will let him buy anything he wants to.

So here's wishing you a very happy birthday, dear Baba!

You are and shall always be the "Rock" in my life on which I can lean on for support, help, love, and care!

Have a great day ahead and enjoy the cake that I have sent! 

Adios Amigo

The jinxed year 2020 is almost to an end. And Germany is gearing up for the second lockdown. All the non-essential services have stopped, and people are encouraged to be indoors and avoid unnecessary traveling and shopping. I was also in a low mood on Monday just like many others who have no answer to the question, when will the world be back to normal. When will this end? When will this massacre stop? 

The year 2020 dealt one more blow to all of us, the school friends, the 1995 year SSC pass-out batch of Kidland English School in Dombivli when we got the news of the demise of our head boy, who was just old as we all are. In our early 40's! We all were in rude shock, and many of us thought that it is a cruel joke someone has played on us. 

We girls have a WhatsApp group, and we suddenly were talking about this person, who was no more in this world. We never saw him after school. But he was a brilliant and sharp individual. He excelled in sports and was a school topper. He was the captain of the blue house for all the years we were in school. He was mischievous, frank, and ready to help others. There was often rivalry between him and the other topper in the class, and they sometimes got into a brawl which usually ended up in a scolding by the class teacher. He rose to a high position with his sheer dedication, hard work, and commitment. He was in the UK for many years, and he returned to India a few years back to take care of his aging parents. He ran marathons and was a very athletic person. He took good care of his food habits.

I had chatted with him on Facebook after he returned, and he had mentioned how he would start a new chapter back in India after not having peace and love back there. I was happy for him; we all were very proud of him and hoped to meet him sometime when we planned another get-together. But that wasn't supposed to be.

From the time he returned from the UK, he had complaints of stomach ache and digestion problems. He had issues back there, but maybe due to the work pressure and less time, he didn't get time to do a check-up. After returning here, he got married, and he seemed so happy in the pictures with his new wife. They both looked so much in love and made for each other! But destiny had some other plans, and he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he had to undergo chemotherapy on his first wedding anniversary. One of our school friends was in touch with him like he is with many others. And he watched him deteriorate from the time his health started dipping. We can't imagine how his parents and his wife must have coped with all this. Watching our loved ones die little by little in front of our own eyes is impossible even to imagine! His friends were with him 24/7 in his last days, and our school friend told me that he was holding his hand for two days and not leaving him at all. Perhaps he was aware that he wouldn't be able to survive all this. He tried his best to seek help, and if it wasn't Corona, he was even planning to fly to the UK for treatment. He was in great pain and distress, and he was very agitated and couldn't control his temper. He must be feeling helpless. God relieved him of his pain and sent him to a better place. His parents and wife must be inconsolable, but they will have to face the truth and believe in God for his better plans. 

The girl's gang in the school group were sad about the fact that we lost a good human being, an intelligent human being, and a good friend. I am sure the boys felt the same about our batchmate. We all have started taking people for granted. We also take relationships for granted. We don't find time to acknowledge people for their goodness and kindness. We ignore others and their lives. We have lost touch with humility, and we have stopped feeling like humans in this fast-paced life.

We all should value our relationships and be thankful every day for having good health. Taking care of yourself and your loved ones by eating right and healthy food, exercising regularly, not getting into negative self-talk, and doing regular health check-ups would help us all in the long run.

Dear Kidlander, blue house captain and the topper of the batch, 

We all will always remember you as an intelligent and athletic person. We are sorry, we couldn't share your pain and didn't know what all you went through. We will pray for you and may God give strength to your family to cope up with your untimely exit. May you attain peace and be pain-free.  

दिवाळी २०२०

२०२० हे वर्ष खूपच वेगळं आहे. सगळ्यांच्या लक्षात रहाण्याजोगं आहे. कोरोना ह्या छोट्याश्या विषाणू ने काय काय गमती घडवून आणल्या जगभरात हे काही आपल्याला आता नवीन नाही. लोकांच्या राहायच्या सवयी बदल्या, कामाच्या वेळा आणि स्वरूप बदलले, मित्र परिवार, नातेवाईक ह्यांना प्रत्यक्ष न भेटता ऑनलाईन सुद्धा भेटता येते, हे उमगले. ११ महिने हां हां म्हणता गेले सुद्धा आणि दिवाळी येऊन ठेपली. जर्मनी मध्ये काय ती दिवाळी! मागच्या वर्षी मराठी मंडळ कार्लसहृ चा मस्त "दिवाळी फराळ" हा कार्यक्रम तरी झाला होता एक दिवसाचा, पण ह्या वर्षी जानेवारी मध्ये हळदी कुंकू कार्यक्रम सोडला तर काहीही करता आलं नाही. मग सगळ्यांनी घरच्या घरीच दिवाळी साजरी केली ह्या वर्षी.

आमची ह्या वर्षी चंगळ होती. माझ्या आई बाबानी आणि सासू सासर्यांनी भरपूर खाऊ, फराळ आम्हाला इकडे पाठवला. ते नाही येऊ शकले, पण त्यांचे आशीर्वाद, प्रेम आणि खाऊ मात्र धनत्रयोदशी ला येऊन पोचला. मग काय माझी मज्जा! लहान मुलासारखं झालं होतें मला. एक एक बॉक्स मधून खाऊ आणि इतर सामान काढताना इतकी गम्मत वाटत होती! मी घरी लाडू आणि चिवडा केला होता, बाकी सगळं तिकडून आलं. चकली, शंकरपाळे, अनारसे, करंजी, शेव एक ना दोन! काय खाऊ आणि काय नाही असं झालं होतें मला, पण स्वतःला सावरलं जरा. दुसऱ्या दिवशी नैवेद्य दाखवला आणि मग चव घेतली सगळ्याची.

मी लहान असताना डोंबिवली ला आजी सगळा फराळ घरी करायची. दिवाळीच्या १०-१५ दिवस आधी पासून घराघरातून वेगवेगळे वास येऊ लागायचे. भाजणीचे, लाडवांचे. तेव्हा वाटायचं चला आता दिवाळी लवकरच येणार! शेजारच्या नायक काकू आजी ला मदत करू लागायच्या, मी पण लुडबुड करत, गप्पा मारत फराळ करू लागायचे. कंदील, पणत्या, रांगोळी, दिव्यांच्या माळा ह्यांनी मस्त झगमगून जायचं घर आणि अक्खी बिल्डिंग आणि सगळे मजले खूपच सुंदर दिसायचे. मुलांनी मिळून वाजवले फटाके, एकत्र, भांडत, केलेला किल्ला, मग एकमेकांकडे फराळाला जायचं, देवळात बाप्पा ला फराळ देऊन यायचा, दिवाळी च्या पहिल्या दिवशी पलीकडे गणपती मंदिराला हजेरी लावून यायचं असं बरंच काही करायचो आम्ही मित्र मैत्रिणी मिळून.

मग हळूहळू सगळं बदलले, लोक दूर गेली नोकरी निम्मित, आजी ला मग होई नासे झालं आणि ती गम्मत ही राहिली नाही पहिल्यासारखी. बंगलोर ला गेल्यावर तिकडे सगळेच वेगवेगळ्या प्रांतातून आलेले. तिकडे हि एकत्र मिळून दिवाळी साजरी करायचो. आई बाबा नाहीतर सासू सासरे एकत्र असायचे तेव्हा.

जर्मनी मध्ये आमची ह्या वेळेची तिसरी दिवाळी. तीन वर्षातली हि सर्वात छान साजरी केलेली दिवाळी असं म्हणता येईल. माझ्या नवऱ्याने १० दिवस आधीच कंदील, दिव्यांच्या माळा लावून ठेवल्या होत्या बाल्कनी मध्ये. इतकी सुंदर दिसत होती ना बाल्कनी. घरात प्रत्येक खोलीत, बाल्कनी मध्ये, दारा बाहेर, देवापाशी वेगवेगळ्या रंगायच्या पणत्या लावायला खुप मज्जा यायची. अतुल ने तर फुलबाजी आणि अनार हि शोधून आणले होतें दुकानातून. आमच्या मजल्या वर राहणारी ७५ वर्षांची आजी जाम प्रेमात त्या रोषणाईच्या. तिला कल्पना होती, पण मी तिला समजावून सांगितलं. Das ist wie Weihnachten für uns. म्हणजेच तुमचा जसा क्रिसमस तशीच आमची दिवाळी. तिला मी थोडा फराळ दिला. तिने मला नऊवारी साडी आणि दागिने घातलेले बघून माझा मुकाच घ्यायचा बाकी होती, पण कोरोना मुले तिला तसं करता आलं नाही. ती नुसती माझ्याकडे पाहताच राहिली बराच वेळ आणि म्हणाली किती विविध रंग असतात तुमच्या सणांमध्ये. किती छान नटता तुम्ही! म्हंटलं हो, आमचे सगळेच सण हे विविध प्रकारचे आणि रंगतदार असतात. तिला फराळ खूप आवडला. 

तनय त्याच्या एका जर्मन आणि एका रशियन मित्राला घेऊन आला. माझ्या आजीने भरपूर इंडियन खाऊ पाठवला आहे, तर चला टेस्ट करायला! विशेषतः "Indische Chips" खायला, म्हणजे काय? तर खाकरे! त्या दोघांनी तर धाड मारली खाकऱ्यांवर आणि फराळांच्या डब्ब्यांवर. ५ वाजून गेले होतें आणि त्यांची घरी जायची वेळ झाली होती म्हणून मग मी त्यांना पिशव्यांमध्ये फराळ थोडा थोडा बांधून दिला तरी त्यांचं समाधान होईना. वेगवेगळे पदार्थ, रंग बघून आणि छान छान वास घेऊन ते भांबावून गेले होतें. शेवटी त्यांना घरी धाडलं आणि मी हुश्श केलं.

मी माझ्या काही जर्मन मैत्रिणींना (तनयच्या मित्रांच्या आई) फराळ दिला. त्यांना खूप आश्चर्य वाटले. त्यांचा क्रिसमस हा सण फक्त परिवारात साजरा करतात. त्यात शेजारी पाजारी, मित्र मंडळी नसतात. एकीने विचारला सुद्धा मला तू का असा मला फराळ आणून दिलास? मी तिला समजावलं. आम्ही नेहमीच सगळे सण एकत्र साजरे करतो, एकत्र फराळ बनवतो, मिळून मिसळून सण साजरे करतो, दिवाळी ची तयारी करायला मदत करतो. सण म्हणजे इतरांना आनंद देणे, मदत करणे, आपल्याकडे केलेलं थोडंसं इतरांनाही देणे, आम्ही नेहमीच असं करतो. तिला खूपच आनंद झाला हे ऐकून आणि तिने अगदी मिटक्या मारत, चिवडा, शंकरपाळे, लाडू खाल्ले. 

मी इकडे काही वयस्क जर्मन लोकांना इंग्रजी शिकवते. सोमवारी माझा क्लास होताच. त्यात भाऊबीज आणि पाडवा सुद्धा. मग त्यांना मी दिवाळी बद्दल सांगितलं त्या दिवशी. पणत्या घेऊन गेले दाखवायला, काजू कत्तली घेऊन गेले खायला. मग काय सगळे माझ्यावर भलतेच खुश झालें. त्यांतल्या बऱ्याच जणांना हा सण माहीतच नव्हता. त्यांना दिवाळी बद्दल माहिती करून देताना मला खूप आनंद वाटत होता. हिंदू संस्कृती, भारतातले सण ह्यावर बोलताना मला खूप भरून आलं होतं.

जर्मन लोकांना भारतीय जेवण पद्धत खूप आवडते. पण आतपर्यंत त्यांना कोणी फराळ दिला होता का दिवाळी चा कोणास ठाऊक. मी सुरवात केली इकडे. भारतीय नाही तर नाही, जर्मन लोकांबरोबर साजरी करता आली ह्या वर्षी दिवाळी! 

शेवटी सण साजरा करणे हे महत्वाचे!

ही दिवाळी तुमच्या आयुष्यात आनंद, समृद्धी, समाधान, आरोग्य आणो!

The new me

The whole world is gloomy,

waiting for the pandemic to end,

everyone is trying their best

to adjust to the new normal around them.

It's a paradox,

if I look within me,

Outside it's so dark

and inside me a glistening peace.

There is no time to think, brood and,

be sad about what will happen tomorrow,

I am very much engrossed

and happy in whatever that is today.

The grey skies outside,

have no effect on my inner yellow warmth,

The cold winter is about to come,

and will be aghast to find me beaming.

I am happy in my space,

prancing all around,

radiating joy and smiles,

and trying to make a small difference in someone's life!

मी आणि माझा मित्रपक्ष - मांजर

आज सकाळी सकाळी आईचा व्हाट्सअँप वर मेसेज, वेळ झाला की कॉल कर, एक गम्मत सांगायची आहे. 

आज काय झालं - मी मनातल्या मनात 

पटकन कामं आवरली आणि तिला फोन केला.

आई: अगं तुला ती मनी माऊ आठवत्ये ना, रोज आपल्या बाल्कनी मध्ये येणारी? 

मी: हं

आई: ती अगं बाळंतीण झाली होती, पण तिची पिल्लं कुठे ठेवली होतीं इतके दिवस हे काही कळत नव्हतं. परवा बाबा आणि मी बाल्कनी मध्ये उभे होतो रस्त्यावरची गम्मत बघत तर खाली बघतो तर काय, एक पिल्लू निपचित पडलं होतं, आपल्या बाल्कनी च्या खाली, त्या दुकानाच्या वरच्या पॅसेज मध्ये. काही हालचाल करत नव्हतं. आम्हाला वाटलं मेल बिचारं. पाऊस खूप पडत होता. नंतर त्याला वर काढू असा विचार करून आम्ही घरात गेलो. २४ तास उलटून गेले, तरी पाऊस थांबायचा काही पत्ता नाही. ते पिलू तसंच तिकडे होते आणि काय चमत्कार, ते हालत होते अगं. बाबा तर एकदम ओरडले, ते हलतंय, ते हलतंय. त्यांच्या ऑफिस मध्ये एक बाई कामाला आहे झाड पूस करणारी ती सांगायची मांजरीचे पिल्लू मला द्या ती व्यायली की. त्यांनी तडक तिला फोन केला, ती धावतच आली, तिच्या नातीला ही घेऊन आली. भर पावसात बाबा खाली उतरले आणि त्यांनी त्या पिल्लाला उचलले, त्या बाईंनी मग बाबाना वर चढायला मदत केली. मी डब्बा शोधून घेऊन येई पर्यंत ह्यांनी पिल्लाला वर काढलं ही. मी ओरडलेच बाबांना. पडले बिडले असते म्हणजे, एवढ्या पावसात, केवढ्याला पडलं असतं ते. असो. महत्वाचं म्हणजे ते पिल्लू जिवंत होतं. त्या पिल्लाला पुसलं, त्याला कापड घालून डब्यात बसवलं, त्याला बोळ्याने दूध पाजलं आणि ते पिल्लू ती बाई घेऊन गेली घरी. आता ते मस्त आहे. वाढतं आहे, तिची नातं त्या पिल्लाची मस्त काळजी घेत आहे! बघ ज्याच्या पाठी देव असतो, त्याला कोणी काहीही करू शकत नाही. २४ तास पावसात भिजत होते ते. आजूबाजूला कावळे, कबूतंर होती, पण ते टिकून राहिलं, त्याचे स्वाश चालू होते, त्याची दोरी बळकट होती!

मी: काय सांगतेस काय? खूपच मस्त बातमी आहे की ते पिल्लू आता बरं आहे! आणि बाकीच्या पिल्लांचं काही कळलं का?

आई: हो, अगं तिसऱ्या मजल्यावर श्रेया च्या घरासमोर आहे सगळी फॅमिली. ३ पिल्लं आणि स्वतः आई. तिसऱ्या मजल्यावर सगळ्यांकडे जाते, दूध पिते, म्हणून आपल्याकडे आता कमी येते. एकदा सकाळी हजेरी लावून जाते. बाबांशी मस्ती करून, त्यांच्या पायात घुटमळून. त्यांनी कुरवाळले, दूध दिले की ही पसार. वर तिसऱ्या मजल्यावर सगळे छान काळजी घेत आहेत तिची. 

मी: चला बरं झालं. तुमची काळजी मिटली. तुम्हाला ही तुमची नातवंडं बघता येतील वरचेवर.

आई हसली.

आई: हो गं, आम्हांला ही थोडा विरंगुळा. वेळ कसा जायचा नाहीतर आमचा? तेवढंच जरा तोंडीलावणं.

मी: हो, खरंय!

मग इकडच्या तिकडच्या गप्पा मारून, एकमेकींना बाय करून, फोन ठेवला. 

तसं मांजर हा विषय आमचा खूप जिव्हाळ्याचा. शाळेत असताना आमच्याकडे नेहमीच मांजर असायचे. आमचे घर पहिल्या मजल्यावर असल्याने आणि मोट्ठी टेरेस असल्याने मांजरी सहज तिकडे येऊ शकायच्या आणि आम्ही ही कधी त्यांना हाकलून दिलं नाही. माझे आजी आजोबा नेहमीच मला प्रोत्साहन देत आणि मांजरीचं करायला मदत करत. आमच्याकडे जवळ जवळ १५ वर्ष मांजरीच्या तीन पिढ्या वाढल्या. मग प्रत्येक मांजरीची डझन भर बाळंतपणं, त्या पिलांचे बोक्यांपासून संरक्षण करणं, पिल्लं थोडी मोट्ठी झाली कि त्यांना कोणाला तरी देणं किंवा मग दूर सोडून येणं हे काम माझे आणि माझ्या बाबांचे असायचे. वेलणकर कॅट मॅटर्निटी होम असं नाव ठेवायला पाहिजे असं मी बाबाना नेहमी गमतीने म्हणायचे. 

माझी आजी तासंतास मांजरीशी गप्पा मारत बसायची. बाहेर जिन्यावरून जाणारे लोक अचंबित होयचे. घरात कोणी नसताना आजी कोणाशी बोलत आहेत असा नेहमीच त्यांना प्रश्न पडायचा. मांजर सुद्धा डोळे मिटून शांतपणे आजीचं सगळं ऐकत बसायची. पायात घुटमळत राहणे हा त्यांचा मनपसंद छंद. कधी कधी तर आजीच्या नऊवारी पाताळामध्ये अडकून आजी पडता पडता वाचायची, मग खायची आजीच्या शिव्या. पण तरीही दुसऱ्या मिंटाला परत तेच. मांजर आम्हांला सगळ्यांना अजिबात घाबरायची नाही. पण माझी आई ऑफिस मधून येणार हे कळलं, म्हणजे जवळ पास ६ वाजले कि ही बरोबर सोफ्यावरून खाली उतरून तिच्या नेमून दिलेल्या जागेवर येऊन बसायची. आईचा दराराच असा होता कि मांजर ही घाबरून असायचे.

आमच्याकडे असलेली मांजर कधीच चोरून दूध प्यायची नाही. मांजर ह्या नावाला ती कधीच जागली नाही. तिच्या ताटली मध्ये दूध दिलं तरच ती प्यायची, कधी चुकून दूध उतू गेलं आणि हिला ओट्यावर आम्ही नेऊन तोंड दुधापाशी नेलं तरीही ही अजिबात प्यायची नाही. ते उतू गेलेलं दूध मग आजी तिच्या ताटलीमध्ये ओतायची तेव्हा मॅडम पिणार. दुधाचा पातेलं साफ करायची वेळ ठरलेली असायची, रात्री ८ ला आई राहिलेली साय काढून, थोडा खरवडून मांजरीला दूध द्यायची. ८ वाजले रे वाजले कि ही कुठूनतरी धावत यायची आणि सगळं गट्टम करून टाकायची. तिच्या डोक्यात वेळ अगदी फिट्ट बसली होती. तिन्ही पिढ्या अगदी ना चुकता वेळेत येऊन दूध प्यायच्या.

माझ्या शाळेतल्या मैत्रिणी नेहमी यायच्या पिलांशी खेळायला किंवा मनीमाऊ चे खेळ पाहायला. तासंतास स्वतःला स्वचछ करत चाटत बसायची. उन्हं खात, मस्त रेलून द्यायची. कधी स्वतःच्या शेपटीशी गोल गोल फिरत खेळत बसायची. तिच्याकडे कधी छोटा रबरी बॉल टाकला कि मस्त दोन्ही पुढच्या पायांनी इकडून तिकडे सरकावायची. एकदा चुकून लोकरीचा गोळा आला तिच्या ताब्यात, मग काय विचारता, मस्त स्वतःला त्याच्यात गुंडाळून घेऊन अडकली कि. तिला सोडवायला किती तरी वेळ लागला. माझे आजोबा गेले त्या नंतर ३ दिवस तिने काहीही खाल्लं नाही. सारखी ते असलेल्या खोलीत जायची, त्यांना हाक मारल्यासारखं म्याव म्याव करत त्यांना शोधत होती. 

एकदा ती समोरच्या तिसऱ्या मजल्यावरच्या एका घरच्या खिडकीच्या छपरावर अडकली. तिथे कशी काय गेली कोणास ठाऊक. ते घर बंद होतं, अनेक वर्ष. तिथे कोणीच रहात नव्हतं. काढणार तरी कसं तिला. बरं इकडून बोलून काही तिला कळणार नव्हतं. फायर ब्रिगेड ला बोलवायचा विचार झाला. शेवटी मग आमच्याकडे पाण्याचा पंप चालू करणारा एक नेपाळी माणूस शिडी घेऊन तिथपर्यंत चढला आणि त्याने तिला खेचून खाली काढले. बापरे! इतका जीव खाली वर सगळ्यांचा! काही विचारू नका. इतकी लोक जमा झाली होती आजूबाजूला, रस्त्यावर! वेलणकरांची मांजर चांगलीच फेमस झाली होती. नंतर एकदा कधीतरी ती जवळ जवळ १ आठवडा गायब होती. आम्ही तिला खूप शोधलं, आजू बाजूला सांगून ठेवलं. सगळे ओळखत होतेच आमच्या कबरीला. मस्त काळी पांढरी मऊ केस आणि हिरवे डोळे असलेले आमची कबरी! ती काही केल्या सापडेना. मी तर खूप निराश झाले. लक्ष लागत नव्हतं कशातच. एकदा खेळत असताना शेजारच्या बिल्डिंग मध्ये कुठून तरी तिचा आवाज आला. मी तिला हाक मारली. तर बिचारी ती धावत पळत, गळ्यात दोरी बांधलेली, माझ्यावर उडीच मारली तिने. मी तिला पटकन कुशीत घेतले. ती शांत झाली. धाप लागली होती तिला. कितीतरी दिवस उपाशी होती कि काय कोणास ठाऊक, रोड झाली होती. मी तिला घरी नेलं, घरी सगळे तिला बघून खुश. तिला दूध दिलं आणि मग ती झोपली. मग बरेच दिवस ती बाहेर जायला घाबरायची. मग नंतर जाऊ लागली. ती असताना कधीही उंदीर, झुरळ किंवा इतर काहीही घराकडे फिरकले नाही. 

ती आमच्या घरातला एक घटक होती, आमच्या कुटुंबाचा एक भाग. मग काही वर्षांनी बिल्डिंग च्या दुरुस्तीचं काम निघालं. तेव्हा कोणीतरी तिला परत उचलून नेलं आणि मग ती काही परत आली नाही. तेव्हा पासून मी ठरवलं परत मांजर पाळायची नाही. नंतर मी ही अभ्यासात बिझी झाले आणि मांजर हा विषय माझ्यासाठी संपला.

मला मांजरीची भीती वाटत नाही, किंवा काहींना वाटतो तसं तिरस्कार ही वाटत नाही. मी मांजरींना खूप जवळून पाहिलं आहे. त्यामुळे मला त्यांच्याबाद्ल नेहमीच आपुलकी वाटते. बंगलोर ला ही यायची एक बाल्कनी मध्ये. तिला ही दूध द्यायचो मी आणि तनय. नंतर मग आम्ही जर्मनी ला आलो, इकडे काही शक्य नाही मांजर पाळणं. बरेच सोपस्कार  आहेत इकडे, इन्शुरन्स वैगैरे करावा लागतो.

डोंबिवली ला परत आता एक मांजर येऊ लागलं आहे हे ऐकून मला खूप बरं वाटलं. आई बाबा अगदी मनापासून तिचं करतात. तिच्यावर लक्ष ठेऊन असतात. तिची काळजी करतात, वेळेत नाही आली तर! जुन्या त्या सगळल्या आठवणी परत डोळ्यासमोरून गेल्या. त्यांच्या मुळे मला भावंडं नाहीत ह्याचा मला कधीच वाईट वाटलं नाही. त्यांची मोट्ठी बहीण म्हणूनच मी त्यांची काळजी घेतली आणि त्यांना लळा लावला. त्या सगळ्या मांजरींना माझा धन्यवाद. तुमच्यामुळे ही भूतदया शिकले आणि माझा बालपण समृद्ध झालं!    

 

Uncomplicated!

After the lockdown worldwide owing to the Corona pandemic, everyone is trying to cope up with the new way of life. Kids couldn't go out to play, adults couldn't go to their workplace daily, going out on vacation became a distant dream, leave alone going shopping groceries became difficult. In Germany, it was comparatively better than anywhere else in the world, and the kids here could play with each other in the open areas after the infection curve came down. My son has a lot of friends, mostly from his school, and he spent time playing with them and talking to them about the online games on Playstation 4 like Minecraft and things which I do not understand at all!

Being at home gave me a chance to observe my son very closely during these 4 months. He is growing up by leap and bounds in the way he talks, thinks, and acts. How are boys wired to think and feel? This topic always intrigues me! Relationships, friendships, my family has always been very dear to me. But I see a very different response to all these things from my son. He is just 8, but it is interesting to listen to him talk many times. My detailed questions are usually responded with one word! Then I have to dig down deep and ask another set of questions to which he may or might not choose to answer!

He had a very close friend called Nick in the new school that he joined in January this year. They almost hung out every day after school, too, after quickly finishing the homework. T went to his house to play every day at 3 pm. They played till 6 pm and then came over to our house. Till 7, they played at our house, and many times, Nick had dinner at our home, sometimes bread, sometimes some Indian stuff. They almost seemed inseparable. They went to school together and came back together. I was reminded of "Jai and Veeru" from Sholay! But during the lockdown, something changed, and they saw less and less of each other. I asked T the reason, and he just plainly replied he has other friends to play with and doesn't want to play with Nick. I think they had a fight and didn't resolve the matter then and there. The issue got carried on for many days, and till the time I called Nick's mom (who is also my friend over tea at home, they didn't see each other's faces! Tanay didn't miss him at all!? Nick didn't miss Tanay either! That's the way usually kids function, I think. When they met again after a long gap, they played and talked with each other as if nothing had happened between them. Now they play with common friends together, but not like earlier, where they both were inseparable.

I wondered, would it be so simple with girls? Their dynamics, their emotions are completely different. There is jealousy if a best friend plays with someone else or if a girl doesn't get the necessary attention from her best friend. But with boys, either it is subtle, and they don't show it, or it doesn't register in their heads at all that! They are happy with anyone who plays with them, need not be a close or best friend, I guess. Recently, T made friends with one boy who was on a visit to his grandmother for summer vacations. He stayed here earlier but later shifted to his parents. So the other boys from T's school knew him, and he also became a good friend of T. All the boys regularly went to the friend's place to swim as there was a big swimming pool inside the house. The grandmother was gracious enough to welcome a bunch of boys every single day. When it was time for that friend to leave and go back to his parents, I suggested Tanay give me a small little thing as a "Thank You" because he let him in his life and in his home. But this boy was not convinced. No one else was thanking that friend, why should I, was his question. We had a tough time making him understand, and with great difficulty, he became ready to give him a packet of chips and a bar of chocolate! They lovingly said goodbye to each other, and that's it. No more mention of him again after he left!

I sometimes feel it's good that T doesn't get emotionally involved with people and situations. He can move on in life quickly and adjust to new circumstances very easily. But on the other side, I feel that the emotional connection is very essential to be humane, to feel, to love, to hate, to express. If there are no emotions, life would be so dry for him as an adult. But as I said, boys are equipped with a different set of genes altogether, and their response to things and situations is going to be very different from how girls would respond. But one thing I realized that boys are uncomplicated. It's either this or that for them, either black or white, no third side or thought.

I can't expect the same warmth and love I have for my friends and family from him as well. He is a different person, an individual with his own mind. I need to learn to accept it and adjust to it! It's a learning process for me as well! 

A fan's tribute to SSR

Your last movie, Dil Bechara released yesterday on the OTT platform!

Your last movie!? Really?

I am still in two minds! I am not sure if I should watch the movie, which I know for sure is an emotional ride and a tear-jerker! I cried the last time when I watched you die in "Kai Po Che." I knew you aren't around in person anymore, then why did I cry watching you die in that movie? The movie Kedarnath has the same ending where you die, and I am sure the film that released yesterday would also be having the same end, of you, dying with a big smile on your face. The songs of your last movie are the right tribute to you, I feel. A. R. Rahman is a magician who has done full justice to the album, and I can't stop listening to the music in a loop and imagining your smiling face in all those numbers!

Like millions of your fans, I am not still able to come to terms with your departure, your sudden departure from this world. You had so much potential, so much love, so much talent. You had the humility and a thirst for learning new things. You had so many plans to make this world a better place, do something big in the craft that you really loved to the core, and wanted to be the best in whatever you did!

After your death, people have gone crazy. Your fans are not able to accept that you committed suicide. Many smell a foul play in your departure, and they want a thorough investigation of your death. Many people have resorted to making videos of your life, your friends, your enemies, your movies, etc. People are talking to each other about your goodness, your charm, your dedication towards life, and personal growth. A few fans are contacting people (dealing with paranormal things) and asking to have sessions with your departed soul!? They want an answer, just like I do. They want to know the reason behind your exit. An exit that no one had imagined when they met you in person or watched your movies in theatres. Many questions are surrounding your death, and no one really knows if there would be any answers available to them. We all know that nothing is going to bring you back. That smile is never going to return. That twinkle in your eyes is never going to be there again. We are never going to watch you in movies, exploring different themes, and achieving unparalleled success. We should now accept that you had only those many breaths on this earth and that much time to give your fans and your loved ones.

I think you have become more popular after your death, which is actually an unfortunate thing. No one really talked to you or wanted to know how you were doing when you were alive. You had no friends, no real friends to fall back on. You were the lone star who was standing strong amidst dark clouds and dark nights. And now you have become a star yourself. How does it feel to look down? How does it feel to see a war raged after your death?

I pray for your peace. I pray for your soul to achieve the next stage for which it left the earth. I thank you for making our lives bright by your movies and your acts. I thank you for taking the risk to swim against the tide.

I hope the truth will be out, sooner or later.

I hope you will get justice.

I hope we all will get justice.

Dedicating this song to you, dear Sushant.

Tum Na hue mere to kya

Your admirer and your fan

XYZ

A wake-up call

The thought doesn't leave me

that a bright soul ended it's journey so abruptly

without a proper goodbye

but definitely with lot of things that remained unheard and unsaid

What he went through

could possibly be never known

He had so much potential

He was such a genuine soul

His sudden departure

leaves everyone in shock

Disbelief, anger and tears 

loom large

Did we fail as a society

to nurture that soul?

Did we fail as human beings

to understand his loneliness and pushed him too far?

Let's look around 

and help someone like him

Let's make a difference

and help others to fight demons in their heads

Let's talk, let's listen,

Let's be open and above all

Let's be humane.

Suicide is the not an answer to Depression!

Waking up to a dull and gloomy grey Sunday morning, the news of one of my favorite actors gone away from the world struck me very hard. He was an all-rounder. He was an avid reader, interested in astronomy, a health freak. Coming from a small town, he had carved a niche in Bollywood, which was dominated by the Khans. He started with the famous television serial, became a huge hit, and then entered Bollywood. He chose movies carefully, not getting into a stereotype role. I had watched a few of his films and had a lot of regard as a fan. He had let the viewers a sneak peek in his home for a program done by Asian Paints. The house was so tastefully done and looked so cozy and comfortable! Every corner of his house showed his genuine interest in small things and showed his eye for beauty. The outside world had no idea of what was raging in his head. No one was really aware of the tough times he was really going through! Similarly, I was lost for a day or two when Robin Williams, the greatest Hollywood actor, committed suicide! I couldn't come to terms that a person like him would take such a drastic step in ending his life, who was loved by millions of people!

A person always has two lives, I think. One which he shows on his face and the other that he really feels and lives! When we see other people smiling and happy, we assume that they are leading a happy life, with no problems whatsoever. But who doesn't have troubles and difficulties? Everyone has challenges in life, big and small. But the way we deal with it is significant. Some people have an inner strength to go through the various challenges life throws at them with great success. Take our grandparent's generation. They have lived the most adverse life, but none of the people I knew had committed suicide. Is the new generation getting weaker and weaker? Are they not able to hear a no? Or are they succumbing quickly to pressures? There might be some people who can't express the fear and anxiety they have inside them and get engulfed in their own shells. They need to come out and seek help. It is crucial to accept in the first place that they need help. Many of us shrug away the very mention of the word "depression." It is still considered a taboo in our society, and many women I know have problems, but they are not ready to accept and seek help. They are trapped in their houses, just doing household chores, taking only that as their identity. Talking and sharing helps to a large extent. Even medications help depressed people to get back to the track. Important is that they should have self-belief and a little patience. The family members should understand and support the individual too.

In a fast-paced life like today, man is getting lonelier and lonelier. He is connected to all the screens that he possibly has in his house. But the connection with the inner self is lost. It is essential to be connected to oneself. Inner peace is hard to achieve nowadays in the hustle-bustle of life, and one is confused as to what one really wants! It's very essential to have good company, good genuine relationships with friends and family. It does require an effort to invest in human relations, and at the end of the day, living people are the ones who really help us come out of the deep abyss in case we need help. The technology pushes us too far, I believe, and the human touch will only and always rescue us!

This is a wake-up call to all of us! Talk to your friends, family members, relatives. Make them feel loved and welcome. We never know what actually they all are going through. Let us help each other in completely eradicating this dreadful disorder called Depression. Let's keep in touch with the human side in us, and let's stay in touch with one another!

वाचन रंजन - एक नवीन प्रयत्न

मला लहानपणापासूनच गोष्टी ऐकायला आणि सांगायला खूप आवडतात. कोणाला आवडत नाहीत? सगळ्यांनाच आवडतात! पुस्तक उघडून किंवा हल्ली किंडल उघडून पटकन कोणते ही पुस्तक वाचता येते. पुस्तकांच्या किमती हि हल्ली कमी झाल्या आहेत. डिजिटल पुस्तके हल्ली खूपच स्वस्त दरात उपलब्ध आहेत. सहा महिन्यांसाठी एक रक्कम भरून अमेझॉन वर किंडल अनलिमिटेड ह्या सदराखाली तुम्ही बरीच पुस्तक मोफत वाचू शकता. हा एवढा खटाटोप नको असेल तर ग्रंथालय हा दुसरा पर्याय. पण हल्ली वेळ असतो कोणाला तिकडे जाऊन, पुस्तक शोधून ती घरी आणून वाचायला? बरं ज्यांना वेळ असतो, त्यांना पुस्तक आवडतंच असं नाही. कंटाळा येतो बऱ्याच जणांना वाचायला बसलं की. आपल्याला सगळ्यांनाच माहित आहे वाचन केल्याचे काय काय फायदे आहेत. ते मी इथे परत नमूद करते:

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-benefits-reading-why-you-should-read-everyday.html

तुम्ही म्हणाल बघा परत वाचायला सांगत्ये, त्याचाच तर कंटाळा आहे ना, त्यावर काय उपाय? गोष्टी तर आवडतात आम्हाला पण आम्हाला कोण सांगणार आता गोष्टी? लहान नाही राहिलो आम्ही काही! लहान मुलांनाच फक्त गोष्टी आवडतात असं कोण म्हणतं? मोट्ठ्यांना ही आवडतात गोष्टी, पण असं काय उपलब्ध आहे मोठ्यांसाठी? जिथे गोष्टी ऐकता येतील? कुठेही कधीही?

ह्याच्यातून जन्म झाला वाचन रंजन चा. वाचन रंजन मध्ये मी आणि काही मैत्रिणीनी मिळून अभिवाचन करायचं ठरवलं. मला खरं तर सुद्धा मूर्ती, रस्किन बॉण्ड ह्यांच्या गोष्टी वाचायच्या होत्या. पण जरा संशोधन केल्यानंतर कळलं की ते खूपच कठीण आहे आणि त्रासदायक सुद्धा! प्रत्येक लेखकाची परवानगी घेतली पाहिजे आणि प्रकाशकांची सुद्धा! एवढा वेळ नव्हता आणि एवढा खटाटोप करून त्यांची परवानगी मिळेलच ह्याची काही शाश्वती नव्हती. मग माझ्या डोक्यात आणखीन एक कल्पना आली. नवीन, होतकरू, परिचयाचे लेखक आहेतच की ज्यांना त्यांच्या गोष्टी इतरांपर्यंत पोचलेल्या आवडतील. असे लेखक जे अगदी सुद्धा मूर्ती किंवा रस्किन बॉण्ड सारखे नसतील, पण त्यांच्यात ही प्रतिभा असेल, एक गोष्ट सांगायची कळकळ असेल! आम्ही आमच्या अश्या काही मित्र, मैत्रिनींना पाचारण केले आणि त्यांना ही कल्पना फारच आवडली. त्यांनी पटापट त्यांच्या गोष्टी आम्हाला पाठवल्या. मग आम्ही गोष्टींची, लेखांची एक यादी बनवली आणि आता आमच्याकडे जवळ जवळ एक वर्ष पुरतील एवढा गोष्टींचा खजिना आहे! आम्ही तर शुक्रवारी एक गोष्ट प्रकाशित करतो, आता पर्यंत आम्ही दोन गोष्टी प्रकाशित केल्या आहेत. आमच्या टीम मधल्या दोन जणी, अनघा महाजन आणि पद्मा दाबके ह्यांनी त्या दोन गोष्टींचे अभिवाचन केले आहे. महिन्याला पाच गोष्टी तरी प्रकाशित करू असा आमचा निर्धार आहे.


वाचन रंजन ला भरगोस प्रतिसाद मिळेल अशी आमची अशा आहे.  इतरांना आनंद मिळावा आणि नवीन लेखकांना ओळख आणि प्रोत्साहन मिळावं हाच आमचा हेतू आहे ह्यामागे. गोष्टींवर असलेले आमचे प्रेम हे इतरांपर्यंत पोचावे हाच आमचा प्रयत्न. लहान, मोठे, तरुण, म्हातारे सगळ्यांसाठीच असणार आहेत गोष्टी.

तुम्ही ही आजच ह्या चॅनेल चे सभासद व्हा, गोष्टी ऐका, आनंद घ्या, आनंद दुसऱ्यांना ही वाटा, स्वस्थ रहा, मस्त घरबसल्या गोष्टी ऐका!

चॅनेल ची लिंक इथे देत आहे

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdxlKDWnowjFG5p8pc3cHtg

गिरगाव आणि ती

गिरगाव आणि ती

आज सकाळी दुपारच्या जेवणासाठी तोंडली चिरताना तिची आठवण झाली. तारखेकडे सहज लक्ष गेले तेव्हा जाणवलं की तिला जाऊन आज बरोबर एक महिना झाला सुद्धा. तिच्यासारख्या काचऱ्या काही मला जमत नाहीत. मलाच काय कोणालाही जमत नाहीत, जमणारही नाहीत. भेंडीच्या भाजीचं ही तसच. इतकं बारीक चिरायला कसं काय जमायचं कोणास ठाऊक? आणि चव वर्षानुवर्षे तशीच. आंबेमोहोर भाताचा वास आणि गरम गरम आमटी हे माझ्या तिच्याकडच्या सुट्टीत असलेला हायपॉईंट. आणि चिवडा इतकं चविष्ट असायचा की किती ही खाल्ला तरी कमीच पडायचा मला. मे महिन्यात आंब्याच्या पेट्या घेऊन भय्ये यायचे गिरगाव च्या चाळीत. तेव्हा शेजारची शोभा बेन आणि ही तासंतास त्याच्याशी घासाघीस घालत बसायच्या आणि शेवटी एकदाचा भाव झाला की दोन पेट्या ठेऊन जायचा तो. मग काय आमची चंगळ. आमरस, पन्ह, मँगो मिल्कशेक, मँगो केक, आंबा वडी एक ना दोन असा रतिबच लागायचा. मग कधी राणीच्या बागेची सफर, कधी म्हातारीचा बूट, कधी मत्सालय, कधी चौपाटी, तिकडे भेळ पुरी, घोड्या गाडीत बसून केलेली धम्माल नेहमीच लक्षात राहील. सुट्टीत एक तरी मराठी किंवा हिंदी चित्रपट पाहायला जायचोच सगळे. गणपती मध्ये तर चाळीत नुसती धम्माल. १० दिवस विविध कार्यक्रम, स्पर्धा, खाऊ, पंगती, रांगोळ्या, प्रसाद काही विचारू नका. चाळीतले ते आयुष्य किती समृद्ध होते! खोल्या लहान होत्या, पण मनाची दारं सतत उघडी असायची. तिकडे सगळे मजेत आनंदात एकत्र राहायचे. तिकडे गेले की मी एक वेगळेच आयुष्य जगायचे.

मी भानावर आले.

कसे पळतायत नुसते दिवस. काल परवाच तिला भेटले होते असं वाटतंय. डिसेंबर २०१९ मध्ये गेले होते भारतात तेव्हाची गोष्ट ही खरी पण काल परवाच घडल्यासारखी वाटत्ये. तनय ला घेऊन तिला भेटायला गेले. ३-४ तास थांबलो, तिच्याशी गप्पा मारल्या. तिचा दिनक्रम ठरलेला असायचा. सकाळी उठून आधी पहिलं वर्तमानपत्रातलं शब्दकोडे सोडवूनच ती इतर काही करायची. वयाच्या नौवदीला पोचलेल्या तिला शब्द पटकन आठवायचे पण इतर गोष्टी आता हळू हळू विसरत चालली होती. तिच्या मुलीला ती तिची मोट्ठी बहीण अक्का म्हणून संबोधू लागली होती. तिची मोट्ठी बहीण कधीच सोडून गेली होती तिला, पण का कोणास ठाऊक ती तिला अक्का म्हणूनच हाक मारत तिच्याशी तसाच वागत होती. दोन बायका होत्या तिच्या सोबत कायम. त्यांच्या बरोबर ती खुश असायची. बायका ही अगदी प्रेमाने करायच्या तिचं. दान धर्म, अध्यात्म ह्यात तिला खूपच रस होता.

तिने दोन मुलांना एकटीने वाढवलं. त्या काळात सिंगल मदर ही संकल्पना नव्हतीच. पण तरीही हिम्मतीने तिने सगळं निभावलं. नोकरी केली, घर चालवलं, दोन्ही मुलांना चांगलं शिकवलं, मोठ्ठं केलं, चांगले संस्कार केले, लग्न करून दिली. त्यानंतर तिच्या भाचीबरोबर युरोप ला जायचा योग आला. तिथे ही तिने तिच्या भाचीच्या मुलीला, म्हणजे तिच्या नातीला सांभाळून, तिला गोष्टी सांगत, तिचं सगळं करत तिला लळा लावला. तिच्या भाच्यांना आणि पुतण्यांना ती खूप आवडायची. त्यांच्याकडे नेहमी रहायला जायची. त्यांनी ही काकू, मावशी आवडायची आलेली. गप्पा होयच्या, मदत होयची. तिला टापटिपीची पहिल्या पासून सवय. साड्या ही मस्त असायच्या तिच्या. छान फ्लोरल रंग असायचे. तिला पाहून प्रसन्न वाटेल कोणाला ही. आणि कायम एक स्मितहास्य. माझ्यावर तिचं खूपच जीव होता, का नसेल, मोठ्या मुलीची पहिली आणि शेवटची मुलगी होते मी. तिचं प्रोमोशन झाला होता माझ्यामुळे आजी ह्या पदावर.

तिला वाचण्याची खूप आवड होती. ती अगदी लहान मुलांपासून ते मोठ्या माणसापर्यंत सगळ्यांशी मस्त गप्पा मारू शकायची. तिची एकच इच्छा होती. मरण सहज यावा, जास्त वेदना न होता ह्या जगाचा निरोप घ्यावा. तिने तिचं आयुष्य भरभरून जगलं होता. खूप चढ उतार पाहिले होते, पण त्यामुळे तिची सकारात्मक वृत्ती कधीही बदलली नाही. ती अबाधितच राहिली. तिने इतरांना भरपूर मदत केली, प्रेम केलं. ह्या सगळ्याचा परिणाम म्हणूनच की काय तिच्या रामाने तिला जास्ती दिवस खितपत पडू न देता २७.०४.२०२० रोजी आपल्याकडे बोलवून घेतलं.

आता गिरगाव मधलं ते आजोळ नाही, आणि ती आजी ही नाही.

उरल्या आहेत त्या फक्त तिच्या गोड़ आठवणी, तिने सांगितलेल्या गोष्टी, तिने केलेला खाऊ आणि तिने कळत नकळत दिलेले संस्कार, धडाडी, जिद्द, प्रेमळपणा, स्वछता ह्यातले धडे.

आजी, तुझ्या आठवणी कायमच माझ्या मनात राहतील, मी आजी होईपर्यंत आणि त्या नंतर ही.

Love thy plants

We have a daily ritual in the evening where my mother-in-law takes the practice of Geeta Adhyaay (lesson) from my son and then narrates a story to him. This happens via WhatsApp Video call almost every day. Yesterday she recounted a story to him, and I was also nearby and happened to listen to it. I was so moved by it that I decided to write about it on my blog. It also brought tears to my eyes, and then in the evening, I happened to see a program on television about an old man who had a similar experience as described by my mother-in-law in her story. And that was a sign again, two times, I had heard about the same emotion and sentiment. How can this be?

Puzzle solving

It will be a month soon that the schools and offices and shops are closed owing to the Corona pandemic. Everyone has the same routine of getting up, having 3 meals a day, watching TV or surfing the internet, and sleeping. A few activities like baking, writing, reading, sketching, going for a short walk in the fresh air may be the activities for the few privileged ones. Still, for an average woman, it's just cooking, cleaning, and answering many questions. The man of the house is busy working on the home office model, and his help can hardly be anticipated in this new scenario.

Urja - Do not hide your light, let it shine!

If one is open to new things and if one has a passion for doing something and keeping oneself busy, life always gives you chances and opportunities to make the best of it. A similar opportunity knocked on my door, and I decided to grab it with both my hands. What exactly is the title of my blog post today, and what does Urja mean? Urja means energy, your inner light, that deep voice within which guides you to do good things to keep you happy. And that's precisely the name of our new venture, which I have started with my friend, Sarwari. It's a platform for women where we encourage and motivate them to come out of their houses and do something for themselves. I will tell you more about it as to how did we reach here and what brought Sarwari and me together in this.

Circle of life

Drawing and painting was never my forte, at least I had thought that for me. I had assumed that I was no good in this beautiful branch of Arts. There are many negative blocks in my head, and this was one of them until I decided to let go of my fears of not being able to do it or being good at it. Anagha Mahajan, my friend from Stuttgart, is a hobby painter and she is damn good at it. She is very humble and doesn't agree that she is outstanding at this art. But I consider her to be one of the budding talents in Stuttgart. She has done many exhibitions, workshops for small kids. She has recently ventured into drawing Mandalas. And that's precisely the title of my blog post, which in my view, the meaning of Mandala is.

Corona go, go corona

Everyone is at home, I am sure. Corona has managed it to slow us down, to teach us mindfulness, to enjoy the day to day routine things that were quite boring in the modern, fast-paced life. We are doing our bit to save us and others from getting the Coronavirus. India is in lockdown for 21 days, and if you observe carefully, social media is abuzz with different ideas and things that people are doing in this compulsory lockdown. Various authors are offering free story reading sessions to kids; many people are keeping themselves busy with cooking, painting, reading, and entertaining the kids.

Stay calm and fight the Corona virus!

Corona Virus has brought the whole mankind to a standstill. It has held the entire world to its ransom. From the time it was first discovered in Wuhan, China, it has claimed many lives and has literally terrorized people. Many countries are in a lockdown state, and the movement is restricted. Social gatherings are a far-off dream now. No one knows how long it will last and how long will this phase go. Every country is trying it's best to cope up with the crisis and making all the arrangements to slow down it's spread. Europe has been grappled with it too, and desperate measures are taken to curb the spread in every possible way. The schools are closed in the town, where I stay in Germany. My husband is instructed to work from home, and the institute where I teach is closed down too. Till 19th April, we all are home. We had to devise tricks and tips to keep ourselves engaged and not bang our heads against the walls out of sheer boredom.

Stop, think and act - Cook healthy, eat healthy!

I have been practicing Intermittent Fasting since July 2016, and it has given me tremendous benefits. I no longer crave food throughout the day, and I am very conscious about what I put in my mouth. I don't buy fruit juices or packaged items loaded with sugar from the supermarket. I see to it that I cook every day at home with whatever resources are available to me in Germany. I am a vegetarian, and whenever I go out traveling within Europe, the options available are cheese, vegetables, and salads. I enjoy them now as under no circumstances would I ever eat the meat that is abundantly available here without any problems. It's easy to pick up unhealthy and packaged meals from the supermarket. It saves time and energy. But what about the quality of the food that you are eating?

Doctor, you too?

This year it didn't snow at all in Karlsruhe. The winter didn't seem like it in South Germany this year. The temperatures were pleasant, and it was 20 degrees last Sunday! It's not that I am complaining! I am happy when it's not very cold, but the rate at which the climate is changing everywhere in the world is quite alarming. It creates an imbalance in nature, in people's health too! And this is often the season where most of the people fall sick. T was no exception as well. His friend had come for a stayover, on the weekend and he had a cold. Before that friend left and we knew it, T had it too!

The predicament

After coming to Karlsruhe, I got time to do things that I never did in India, e.g., learn cycling and swimming. I enrolled in a swim course, and it was there where I met S for the first time. We were members of an informal WhatsApp group of Indian women in Karlsruhe, but we never had the opportunity to meet each other before. S seemed a quiet girl in the beginning, but later after spending time with each other, we became good friends.

Mere ghar aayi ek nanhi pari

When my close friend M broke the news that she is expecting, I was overjoyed. I so wanted it to be a girl, and yes god and the baby listened to all our prayers, and a baby girl decided to enter the life of my close friend and her husband. The extended family of friends and relatives was eclectic too. On 26th January 2020, a baby shower took place, and on that occasion, I wrote a letter to the baby who will come into this world in 2 months. The would-be mother and the father and all her friends and relatives loved the concept. I was quite emotional when I penned this letter and even more nervous when I read out to the audience there. Read the letter here and let me know how you like it!

A sister's letter to her estranged brother

Dear K,

Yesterday it was your 26th birthday. How time flies! I remember taking you in my arms as a newborn, and my joy knew no bounds that day. I had become Tai, an elder sister, and was ready to take on the full responsibility of this title. Your tiny hands and legs and that toothless smile made my heart sing. You were my brother. I was going to take you under my wings. I was going to tell you stories, dress you up, take you to play. I didn't spare a single moment of seeing you. Though I stayed far away, I came to see you every time I could, sometimes directly from the college for a weekend or sometimes during holidays for a longer time. We loved each other so much. You shared everything with me as you grew up and started going to school. I was present for every special day in your school, be it elocution competition or your annual day. We went to Chowpatty to play in the sand and eat Bhel puri. We also rode on horses there. We went to our favorite restaurants to eat our favorite "butter chicken," sometimes dosa, sometimes to Mcdonalds. We saw so many kids movies together, ate popcorn, and laughed so much together. It was such a lovely time, I tell you!

A new beginning

The year 2020 started with a bang. I flew back to Germany to a new area and a new house and a new routine on the first day of this year. T was with me and bags full of love and stuff, back from Mumbai. It was a freezing evening, and due to the delay of the Air India flight, our whole schedule got upset, and we reached Karlsruhe in the evening at 7:30 pm. There wasn't a single taxi on the Karlsruhe central station, and our friends, Monika and Harshal, rushed to our help. Harshal picked us up from the train station and took us home. Monika had cooked the tastiest meals as always, and I felt so much at home. They both accompanied us back and brought our stuff to the new house. God shows his presence in such people and their selfless help.

The Air India experience

As I have already mentioned in my previous posts that I was in India for 3 weeks, it is but obvious that we flew with some airlines there. And which one did we choose this time? It was, of course, Air India, the national carrier of India. Due to last-minute booking, the cheapest option available was only available with Air India. And due to it, we had to wind up from the old house in Karlsruhe on 9th December itself. We flew on the 10th, and the return tickets were on 1st January. We had to miss T's school for two weeks. He was not very happy with it, but we had no choice. We had obtained special permission from the school on its letterhead, lest we would be questioned at the border control. But the officer there didn't take cognizance of the fact that a 7-year-old was with us. We didn't have to show the letter. We went to Frankfurt airport well in advance, and our flight was scheduled to depart at 4:30 pm.

The Similie

On my 3 week trip to India, I couldn't help but notice the different buildings in the 3 cities that I visited. Pune, Bangalore, and Mumbai are different cities with different vibrancy, yet they all are so similar. Similar because of the people, the inhabitants there. A few random thoughts that came to my mind about the people living in houses, apartments, and buildings! Have tried to create a parallel world of people with the homes they live in!

Goodbye 2019

The month of December was very crazy. I didn't realize how the month started and how it ended. It has been very hectic, and I didn't realize how time just flew, and our tenure ended in the first house in Karlsruhe, and it was time to move to a new home and start a new life. Our tenure in Germany got extended, and I looked forward to another exciting phase and a beautiful new year 2020.