Growing up with Anay

As happy and excited 'would-be' parents we would often talk about how our lives would change forever and for good after the arrival of our first baby. About how his or her presence would influence our every plan, decision and more so our lives in a million ways. Its been four months since we welcomed our handsome baby boy Anay into our world. As a mother, every single minute of these four months, Anay & I have been around each other. I sometimes wonder what he must be thinking of me??!! As to why this lady just never seems to vanish! ;-)

There I was, not very long ago, holding a newborn in my arms, cuddling and smiling as Abhijit took some candid first few pics of the mother-son duo, answering and replying to umpteen wishes from relatives, friends and acquaintances and simultaneously navigating a new reality :)

The first month seemed the longest. And the toughest. If Anay could comprehend and express then, am sure he would  agree to this. It was as though the two of us were suddenly thrown onto a speeding boat and were asked to take charge. We were sort of strangers. He knew nothing about me. And I could only guess things about his needs.  Life revolved only around feeds, burps, sleep and poops. Both his and mine. Nothing on earth seemed more important than that precious burp from a happy tummy. And nothing could ever be worse than the horrendous infant colic. We lost track of the world this month. Atleast I did!

As he raced towards his second month, I only wished he learnt to burp on his own. He was growing fast and I just about managed to keep pace with his wit, skills and demands. This month he started to coo and smirk. For any mother, this is an experience. And what a marvellous one! My day& night cycle had gone for a toss by now. Even my cerebrum had given up. But as I type this today I realise that its prolly the only phase in life which you thoroughly, thoroughly enjoy even while you are half dead and full mad.

In no time, we were in the milestone month. Yayyy!! The smirks transformed into smiles. The 'who the hell is she' stare in to a beautiful bond. :) We actually started to have play-times. My presence genuinely brought in a shy smile on Anay's chubby face. And yes, we began to sleep more in the nights like most  other humans.

The first day anxiety of being a new mommy has tamed down. By now I have understood his biologic clock a little more. I am more prepared to take care of him. I am also more eager to spend  time with him. Anay also seems to be very very happy in the company of his stunted mother. We celebrated his fourth month birthday by bringing him a tiny rocking chair- his first level of independence.

Im still navigating a new reality. I think I will always continue to. But just that our boat is a lot more steady now. :-)

Every relationship needs time to grow. And I am living this truth of life. :)
Cheers!

Yog(A)ddiction

My first sort-of rendezvous with this old and established hindu form of mind and body exercise was quite a ‘yog-a-yog’- just one of the many ‘by chance’ events of my happy life.

A friend and physiotherapist, who casually dropped in home to meet my mother in law, has managed to hook me to something   I had preferred to stay ignorant about all these years. Somehow, I always took up to liking a particular form of exercise or physical activity, only  if it made me  sweat a bucket  and lose some significant pounds on that ‘reality-check’ scale. Sitting in a verandah doing some acrobatics never motivated me enough to give it a try. More so when yoga is a practice that is inseparable from ‘meditation’.  Because  I am yet to fully discover the  strengths of meditation.

However, I did enroll myself for a yoga class only because my friend so highly recommended  it to me. Thanks for that, Ketki. The 5:45am session  seemed most suitable. When I woke up on day one to get ready for the class, I remember muttering to my husband  “I don’t think I will be continuing with this. Its crazy. Too early to wake up”.

But quite surprisingly, when  I was back after my first day at yoga, I knew I am not going to quit this one! You wanna know why? Like all the trending ‘Five reasons and ten reasons’ links, here are my ‘High Five’ :)

ONE is , it does make me ‘sweat’!! Sweat while I stretch, and stretch and twist, and twist and turn, and turn and bend, and then  I sweat some more.

TWO is, while I attempted  to do all of this with my minimally flexible body, I realized that I was better today than what I was the previous day. When you see your body respond to your efforts, it pushes you to stay stretched until the last count is heard. There’s visible improvement and hence motivation to better yourself.

THREE is I never knew that all through these years, I made a mess of my breathing. Did it harm me in any way? May be. May be not.  Until last month I panted for breath after speeding up through the 100 steps of the hill behind our house.  I am more comfortable now. Because I don’t hold my breath anymore. I consciously practice the ‘inhale and exhale’ cycle while climbing. Yes, we all tend to unconsciously  hold our breath while we do heavy workouts. Never realized? You may want to go for a run!

FOUR is I have never been so pepped up about waking up at 5am without any external source of motivation or compulsion. I enjoy my seven minutes of walk in the quiet dark of dawn. I love doing my yoga as I hear the birds chirp on trees far away.  Its more rejuvenating than a hot cup of coffee with a book over a luxury holiday. All the verandah acrobatics make sense now J

And FIVE is I love my ‘no-non sense’ yoga instructor. Meditation and philosophy is sprinkled in just apt amounts .She knows when ‘not’ to be easy. Rest of the times don’t matter.

That  feeling when all  your body muscles and tendons ache in the night as you prepare to sleep, definitely adds up to the satisfaction quotient of the day.  Am sure that happens after any rigorous workout. But yoga doesn’t show any overplay of a set of muscles over others like in running, tennis etc.  Its more like swimming.  A balanced form of exercise because every action is so beautifully and intentionally co-ordinated with breathing.

 I  am not new to working out. And yet I am also more than used to being in the  X or XL  category of physique. I do not know if yoga can bring down the X by a couple of alphabets. But, it already makes me feel like the fittest and hottest creature around. J  I see that I am not too concerned about the ‘weight’ anymore. Its more about fitness and ‘flexibility’- a  word that was missing from my workout regimen  so far.

Reason enough to love and continue it, I say!

So all of you, who’ve chosen to stay away from Yoga, this is one addiction you’ll never regret having. Its worth indulging.

So, DoYouYoga????.... Not yet??....

May be its about time!

Cooking it up!

After my SSC (class X) exams, I enrolled myself  for a 3 day cooking class. Chinese cuisine was on the menu. This was suggested by a friend's mother who always saw me  try some tid.bits of  food. I wasn't very happy with the idea of going for a cooking class with ladies much older than me. Also,  at a time when most of my friends were planning of exotic holidays and talking about joining aerobics and dance schools and such supposedly cool stuff. But good food, different cuisines,  developing new tastes and cooking in general,  has always brought in a 'twinkle in my eyes' :) So I decided to give this class a try.

This was at the chef's home with 7-8 aunties who had enrolled with me. We were given printed notes of the recipes to be finished that day. We followed our chef step-by-step until it was all ready to share and eat. :-) When I was home after my first day of class, I remember my mother being more excited than me, to know how it all went on. To tell you the least, I was thrilled that evening!!!!  I told my mom that night, that I've done a lot of aerobics and swimming in my school days  (and I really have), and I am anyways good at dancing ;-). So I might as well learn some cooking since I have always had a liking towards it. And on the roll I went. With mughlai following Chinese. Then some cakes.. muffins.. n jellies, then ice creams,  assorted evening snacks and the great indian desserts! Whoa!!! I had such a blast those vacations!!! :) And I still have all of those printed notes!!! Yes! I carried them along to my in-laws place when I moved from Mumbai to Hubli after marriage.

Starting with only breakfast session of cooking and then a lil bit of helping my mum in law with dinner (which was as I did my Masters simultaneously), I took up to cooking like never before! Sunday brunches and festival lunches.... or just routine everyday food. I have been at it, day after day, for five years now! And I can safely say, that am the happiest when am cooking  (up) stuff  ;))

 In love and addicted to it. Yes, I also love dentistry :) And however silly it may sound, but along with my clinic, I sincerely wish to have my own little bakery which will be open only on Sundays!:)) I hope I do, someday.

Its lovely how small, innocent likings can change to hobbies or pass times and someday into beautiful dreams ! :)
Leaving you with some pics of what I have been upto off late :) Smakelijk!

Cheers!





 

Impeccable I am today!

Am in a state of delirium.... delirium of joy i would say. In a situation that's not routine, not normal but it has that tinge of victory and unprecedented joy!

I have too much to tell the world.... too many experiences to share..... too many emotions to display.... too many reactions to handle..... ruthless in your eyes maybe.... yet in my mind- a worthy winner!
I have sort of always been a person who attaches too much importance to people around me. By this i mean our society. I don't like it when someone dislikes me and neither am i comfortable hating people. Quite genuinely. Too much of interrogation can be allergic! And its tough when your thrown in a situation where everyone around you, you know, will look at you with pity and raised eyebrows! And ready with innumerable and idiotic questions! Nah! no relationship issues or problems with in-laws or family. Am super lucky and happy on that front! :)

 But yes, this issue is novel! Am on my way to having the last laugh!! :-) And this time people and reactions and tags don't matter! Why?? Because am in a state of delirium..... delirium of joy! :))

Cheers!

Motherhood

Now before you all roll your eyes and pop up questions, allow me to say... "not yet!". :) When?? Wait and watch! ;-)

Talking about motherhood, there is no greater joy for a woman than being a mother. From the point of conceiving.. to the joy of feeding your child and ofcourse everything that follows, its such a brilliant experience, I hear :) What is this one thing, if there ever is, that separates this bond of motherhood/ parenthood from all other relationships that exist today? Probably the sense of  'belonging to yourself'' or being a part of you that's born as an angel. :) And when one is deprieved of a part of this experience of giving birth, but can still have their biological child, should they be seen or labelled as 'selfish', 'mean' and 'heartless'?

I write this today because something that I read about surrogacy has disturbed me. Having 'n'th child through surrogacy etc etc. is a different issue altogether that am not discussing here.
To choose to not have a child and to be unable to have one due to medical/ congenital problems, are two different worlds!!!  Nobody goes in for surrogacy without a sensible reason best known to the individuals involved. We have no business there.  Nobody is 'using' the other! They rent-a-womb from someone who has volunteered to do so! And she has her reasons for doing it! Some write for money, some dance for money, you and I do many other 'sophisticated'  things to earn our money but the surrogate mother is the nicest of us all......... she gives her womb for money and more than that, a chance to someone like you to experience motherhood. And if you wonder how can a lady whose given birth to someone, give away that child to another woman? That's because she knows that the child doesn't belong to her! The baby is genetically and biologically not hers!

Surrogacy or surrogate pregnancy is not cruel and unethical as it is unfortunately made to sound! Foul play exists everywhere. There are many who advocate 'adoption' to surrogacy. Adoption is equally beautiful. Adopt, if you want to. Even when you are  able to conceive and give birth to a healthy baby. You need not be infertile to adopt!! Adoption is more humane they say. Then why go through nine months of excitement and exhaustion? Adopt instead!! But we don't! Because everyone  wants to first have their 'own biologic' child, right? You can have it naturally. Some can't. And so they opt for surrogacy.  Taking away a kidney from one healthy man and transplanting it to someone needy, is fair! But renting a womb as in surrogacy for valid reasons,  is not!
Such a ridiculous society we are!!!

Motherhood is a blessing. But more so, to put it simply, its pure joy! Theres nothing, absolutely nothing wrong in experiencing it with the help of a miracle called 'surrogacy'! :) I believe so. Its sad if you don't.

Cheers to science and those  incredible minds... you've given many a chance to experience this joy!


 

Love is blind, they say! ;-)

I grew up watching him fling up his arms to some divas of hindi cinema.... and always wished to be in their shoes ;). I've smiled at his trademark smirks and whistled and screamed and blushed see him show up on screen. :)) I've sobbed see him die and laughed watch him do some of the most stupid things. Hes made romance so picture perfect  and heroes shedding tears on screen so believeable.

When a  father lets go his daughter saying "Jaa,  je le apni zindagi" , Ah! who wouldn't want such a scene in their real life romance?? :)
When shiffon sarees were a 'must' in every woman's  wardrobe and soon to be parents wished to name  their sons Raj, Rahul, and Aryan..... he has managed to woo a zillion people and continues to bowl me over time and again!! ;-)

Thank you Shah Rukh Khan for entertaining! Pure entertainment!! Mindless?? May be, but I don't really care as long as am out of the theatre, smiling!  You may not be the most handsome man around, but I've never found anyone look as good  as you in a black tee, army pants and boots! :)))
Thank you for an escape from reality that has had love, colours, dreams and creativity in plenty. Thank you for being brave and passionate about your kind of cinema because I've loved watching it. Amongst the perfectionists, the Bachchans and Kapoors, thank you for taking me into a world so full of sheer drama, insanity and entertainment!

 Tomorrow if you ever decide to make a day- long movie, count me in! Undivided attention, even without batting an eyelid.... I will be there!! :-)
Cheers to a movie star!! :)

 

Strange(r) ConnectioN

A handful of people. A handful of places. Are enough to dramatize our lives through the young and old phases. We live in a confined world, we really do! And, nothing wrong with that, is also equally true! I can't possibly befriend the whole wide world! Although, i wish too!

There are, however, some characters that occupy an interesting part of your mind and memory. Like Jai and Radha of 'Sholay' ..... they barely spoke to each other, yet their bond grew :-)

Every morning my car takes a certain route to go to college and return. And what once caught my attention has now become something that i wait to see. There is this tapri or a pint-sized house of a gentleman! Gentleman, because i see him as an unpretentious old man.
I have been seeing him almost every single morning and evening for the last 2 years or so. And the same holds true with him i believe. We've never spoken to each other, i've never stopped there to eat any of the meals i see him cook, i don't even know his name! But a look at him even on the most stressful of days manages to bring a smile on my pretty face ;) Strange, isn't it? And however amusing this may sound but yes, I've always had a soft corner for the 'edentulous' ajoba's and ajji's I've known. ;)

He owns a beedi shop where he even serves hot tea and wadas to the limited crowd that visits him. I see him cut onions, i see him wash utensils on chilly mornings, i see him make and serve breakfast to people half his age, i even see him patiently wait for some customer who can add to his daily wage but, i've never so far seen the lack of enthusiasm or a hint of regret on his wrinkled face. :) He stays alone, or may be his family is far away. But this ajoba inspires me every single day!

Some do what they love, some love what they do. I don't know which of these holds true for you, but ajoba, you teach me to do what i chose/have to do with enthusiasm and honesty that will make me proud of what i do!

I will sooner or later, have a chat with him over chai and wadas.... but for now,
Cheers to this strange(r) connection.... in you i see modesty!