The F(L)AKE Story!!

In fondest memory of my Grandfather (Ajja), I write this sweet little incident which I, my sister (Akka) and Dad (Appa) shared.

The most treasured things in life are found in a treasure box called Memories. The more we enjoy life, the more we fight, the more we forgive, the more we love and laugh, the more we learn lessons, the only thing we are creating are priceless memories.

It was a usual day for the rest of them at home, but for me and Akka it was something special because our guardian angel Ajja was at home. Our beloved Ajja was our Guide, Guru and a protector from scolding’s of my parents, which was obvious because of our naughtiness.

When Ajja was around, it was like being with a walking and talking Santa. He was grandchildren’s favourite as he got us whatever we asked for and he also made sure that my parents get us what we asked for. As we are 80s kids, we did not desire for something huge. Huge meaning, a phone/ tab/ laptop, etc. But our demand was something simple. Simple for us, but for our parents it was something very new.

We were blessed to watch colour television. The ad pops up on the TV; me and Akka open our mouth wide and watch this ad of KELLOGG’S CORN FLAKES. The flakes are poured into a classic china, the cut fruits, honey and the milk made it look so yummy that we could not close our wide open mouth till the next ad started.

We knew which God’s doors to knock when it came to get new stuffs or what we wanted. We asked Ajja to order Appa to get the corn flakes right away. As Ajja was in a very respectable position, Appa had to buy us what we wanted.

Appa called me and Akka into the room, where Ajja couldn’t hear us and warned us about buying corn flakes. There was this common rule at home, which we all followed sincerely “No wasting Food”. Appa was very strict about it and he was very sure that we were not accustomed to this kind of food. As he always said when we were about to waste food, He told in a thick voice, “If you don’t finish what I get you, I will tie the food to your ear”. Ah! Who cares, all we had in mind was mouth-watering corn flakes.

After listening to both the parties, our beloved Judge Ajja passed the ordinance saying “treat my grandchildren with a bowl of corn flakes which looks just like the one which comes on TV”. As we had won the case after fighting very hard for our rightful bowl of corn flakes, the only thing which was awaited was to eat and finish off the bowl full of yummy looking corn flakes.

That’s it! Cornflakes bought- Check, Milk poured-Check, Honey Mixed- Check, Cut fruits for the dressing-Check. Appa made it look so yummy. He brought three bowls of cornflakes, one for the judge, one each for the plaintiff’s. Indeed “don’t go by the looks”. Yes, we were trapped.

First spoon of cornflakes goes into our mouth and we see each other’s face and say--- was it for this we fought so much? Yeah, we were Idli, Vada and Masal Dosa people and not at all Corn flakes people. Appa was so damn right.

Assuming all the consequences we might face if at all we waste the food, I and Akka slowly vanished from the Dining area and slipped near the attic to throw the yummiest looking food. As we were about to throw, a thick voice shouts out our names, we panic, we fall down from the attic, started to run thinking it was Appa who caught us. Realising our mistake, we turn back to apologies, the next thing we see is, person standing behind us was not Appa and Guess what? It was Ajja who was about to ask us to throw his bowl of cornflakes as well with a disgusting look on his face. We finish our act in a hurry.

Hush! Me, Akka and Ajja were so relieved that Appa did not notice us while we did what we shouldn’t have done.

We all went to Appa and sincerely apologised for pleading him to get cornflakes and we all shared a healthy laugh together. Appa was happy that his kids and his Father-in-law would never pester him again with things like this and cheerfully slipped into his work.

The next thing we see on TV is “CHOCOS ad with yummy chocolate flakes falling into a bowl of milk”…. Of course, you know what happens next!!

Signing off with my favourite quote--“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure”… Miss you Ajja.

Merry Christmas and happy holiday’s folks… Have fun and go look for your Santa.

 

Ranju…

I am the way I am!

Every creature is beautiful, you just need right vision to see it!

This post is for all those who have gone through the phase which I have been. Here, “I” is “We” who have suffered this sudden pain which is hard to forget.

We all love asking questions, don’t we?

• Curious questions asked by your kid.
• Romantic--will you?
• Those comforting lines from your family. These are treasured for life.

At the very point, there are those questions which bother us, which haunt us for life, which makes you burst out of anger.

Questioning myself about few things which I had been through, I started sipping my coffee while I awaited my friend’s arrival. It all started when I overheard someone describe me to someone else on a call saying, don’t you know that ugly and plump one?

Why am I labelled so? Instead, why can’t I be described as “one with a beautiful smile, one who is selfless, one who is entertaining? Is it the liberty I have given or is it about that person who doesn’t have a right vision to see me in a good way? Negative comments on physical appearance is none of anybody’s business, until they have gone through the pain what a mother has suffered while bringing her bundle of joy to this world. Lots of questions struck me hard, hit me straight to heart and thoughts started rolling down. Of course, I cannot expect everyone to think the way I do, but this incident for sure enlightened me to treat and see other person in the same way I want to get treated.

We cannot judge a book by its cover and a person by their looks. A short person was once a successful prime mister of India, A stout person is a dance choreographer, A person without a leg climbed Mount Everest. There are many such living legends amongst us, still we end up forgetting and start judging.

Everyone is fighting a battle which we never know. A person with a crippled hand would have served his family so hard that he is in that state today. One who looks dark would have burnt herself in the scorching sun to feed her family. One who looks overweight could actually be a person who eats less than a child and could be in a severe medical condition. We are considered beautiful the day when we start understanding minor issues of a suffering soul.

Back to my last sip of coffee and off my thinking cap, I see a lovely smile flaunt at me and he calls me- “Hey Beautiful, sorry for making you wait.” Then I realised, okay… my partner in crime is no different than I am, in the way we think. He was expecting a shout back from me for making me wait, instead the situation made me melt for the kind of attitude he had in treating me or anyone for that matter.

Concluding my thought with this meaningful quote “People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did But people will never forget how you made them feel.”-- Maya Angelou

I am the way I am, I love the way I am!

PS: Penning mine and my best friend Manjula’s thoughts in this post. Hope the justice is made. Thanks for asking me to write this.

Ranju... 

A heartfelt Thank you!

Probably a day in my life which I can’t dare to forget.

I was all geared up to hit office. An emergency call comes and I say oh! Okay, I will be there.

Nothing is important when the matter is life. Isn’t it?

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The call was from the hospital. Not to worry, nothing happened to me or anyone I know. But, yes! It was an emergency.

I rushed to the hospital, went straight into the concerned department, they made the basic tests on me and the next moment I was on the hospital bed.

Again, thanks for your concern. I was all fine J

The nurse comes with a syringe, a packet and a ball which was smiling. The syringe was big enough to hold the amount of water you drink in a day. Exaggerating! Ya, that’s right… I’m good at it.

Seconds later, I had a little prick and this is the only prick I can tolerate from someone unknown to me. I enjoyed every bit of what I was doing. The smiling ball in my hand was constantly smiling at me and I guess, it was telling, Good job girl!

The alarm beeps and the packet was collected. It was an enthralling experience. Normally, it’s not good to see blood. It’s assumed that something is wrong to someone. But, we should also give a thought about the same blood which can save a life.

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Coming back to what actually happened. Early in the morning the call I received was for a blood donation for an 8 year old girl’s heart surgery.

I was sad with the almighty, why he had to make that little one go through knives and scissors and what not? At this age. Accepting the fact, I just rushed to the hospital to play my role which could save a life in a while.

I had just finished donating blood. The parents of the kid were so happy to find a person who could save their little ones heart. Trusting in god was all they had and it’s always true that, if you help someone, the next person to help you when you are in need, is not really hard to find.

Many things were going on in my little head, how would she look like? What would she be in future? Would she also be that special someone when there is a need?

Carrying a bag of thoughts, I finished my formalities with the hospital and left to work.

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Few weeks later, the hospital calls me. They say there is someone who wants to talk to you. I was shocked. I did not want to hear any bad news. Thanks to the good lord, he did not give me what I didn’t wanted to hear.

It was the parents of the girl on the call and they were happy to inform about their daughter. She was back to normal after the surgery. Ah! That was the moment which told me—hey look, your blood is flowing in someone else’s body aswell.

Next thing I hear is a sweet Thank you, you saved my life from the girl herself. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

Controlling my emotions, I told myself—Thank you god, you have shown me a way to give a gift called life though I am not a doctor. Thanks to all those who are working towards this noble cause.

PS: Inspired by a true incident which happened to me and my husband recently.

Donate Blood, Save a life!