So much

Gifts you can give me this holiday season

I would hate for you to be confused about what to buy me this holiday season. So, here is a list:


- A backpack/ handbag

- Shoes/sandals (never enough)

- Earrings (anytime, anyhow, any number)

- Money (I am going on a long trip. You could sponsor a lunch or so)

- Winter Clothes (that includes a whole lot of options, so use your imagination)

- Jewelry (this is a separate point from the earrings, because earrings deserve a separate point)

- Books – Anything else by Malcolm Gladwell other than Blink and by Tim Harford other than The Undercover Economist and others if you feel generous.

- Sunglasses

PS: All gifts make me happy – some more than the others, but ALL GIFTS MAKE ME HAPPY.

Things I want to do at this moment:

Things I want to do at this moment:

- Wear a sari and swirl around

- Eat mushroom and spinach lasagna

- Say a big thank you to my Dad.

Friendship

I thought friendship was nice

But it sucks!

Why should I

Be sick, or troubled or unhappy

For you to consider even looking at me!

I am not a number on your task list

Or an extra to keep you company.

I deserve to have a friend

Because I am here

Trying to be one.

May be friendship is nice

But you just make it suck!

PS: Written for someone from someone else.

This week

The week has been really sweet. Yes, sweet is the word.

I have not been keeping well, so I take a rickshaw to work everyday. Yesterday, the driver charged me Rs. 10 less because he kept me waiting at the Petrol pump while he was getting gas. Today, the rickshawwala charged me Rs. 7 less because I didn't have the change.

The generosity surprised me to no end. So did the smiles that followed.

This week has been really nice, I guess.

Something's wrong

I have not been the best version of myself lately.


I see an aged couple stepping out of the rickshaw below my building. I recognize them as the lovely people who fed me tea when I had gone to their place to get a survey filled. They have several shopping bags with them and they are clearly finding it difficult to carry all of them together.

I am slightly dressy as I am heading out for a party. It troubles me that for that moment when I saw them step out of the rickshaw, all I wanted was, to get that rickshaw, take me to Bandra which is where I was headed. For a mini fraction there, I remember me telling me that I should be helping these sweet old people with their numerous bags. But I didn’t. I just smiled, got into the rickshaw and drove away.

On another day last week, I was boarding the train from Kandivali and a heavy plastic bag hit the back of my arm. I turn to see a woman holding a boy of about four years old in one hand and the bag is another. I DO NOT consider her history or her context which I should have. Instead, as I enter the train, I INTENTIONALLY push her.

I don’t know why I am being so cruel. These incidents are etched in my brain because I DON’T do stuff like this. I DON’T.

But I did.

Bygone

I used to secretly be in love with you
It is hard to believe now,
For time has moved and so have we
But it’s true
I used to be in love with you.