Aahaa Chennai

Behold nature in a mysterious, breathtaking mode. Holding tight... will not let go. Can you guess why? Affinity for a fellow being.

Back then, there were just a few of us. I could relax. There was absolutely no feeling of being hemmed in. In recent times... the crowd has swelled. Sometimes it seems like I've been submerged. My freedom is gone. Thanks to my inner resilience I've waded through that. And now I can proudly say, I've learned to adjust gracefully and live with my counterparts.

Oh no! The periodic assessment is on. You may not see it but I sense... an invisible tremble of fear. Let's begin. Colour combination- 100% As per the rule book- 100% Appearance- 100% Variety- 100% Growth- 100% Value for money- 100% Gathering eyeballs- 100% Hey! Look below. What about my performance? Tenacity-100% Cheeriness-100% Spunkiness- 100% Fighting spirit- 100% Improvement shown -  100% Individuality-  100% Creative bent- 100% Thank goodness! The evaluation is done with. I salute you for the encouraging words. A secret news. The icing on the cake... Braving the odds - 200%

A shade of stunning yellowish green stands out amidst the other usual tints of green, refreshing glazed eyes looking dead tired, caught in the heat and dust, after hours spent gazing at lit up digital screens. No doubt you'll exclaim I look healthy and strong but I will fare even better when I am given space to grow. Coz its true and I emphasize it again and again... I do have the potential to grow.

Fluttery, dancing, sprightly butterflies make me sigh... How time flies! From... blowing balloons which go 'pop' in an instant to flying those 'I-simply-refuse-to-fly' kites. From... days filled with moulding unshapely mud pies, messy sessions of finger painting, crazily 'curious' days... amassing golden leaves and seeds, creating sticky artwork that leaves adults in tears. From... whispering  funny secrets, splashing water amidst squeals, presenting pouting pink lips thanks to licking lollipops, jumping upon sand castles while collecting seashells, discovering a 'bear shaped' cloud, talking nonsense to the beaming stars while beckoning a cheery moon. From... yearning for claps while preening as  'dressed up' grandma before a sly 'winking' mirror, holding sway as a stern teacher over a class of errant pupils... dad being enrolled as one or simply trying out mum's dresses as a wannabe fasionis...

I've been looking for a more challenging moment when I'll be pushed to my limits and here it is. The level is no doubt high but I will try my best. Let it not be said... I did not try hard enough.

Ah! A momentous day. The new visitor has arrived. Hidden amidst the foliage, away from the heat, the very curious butterflies, those noisy squirrels running about, the 'all surveying" clever crow, the 'cannot-escape-us' ants clammy hands eager to pluck, lil' fingers wanting to cosset, the new visitor to the garden lies in wait. It is time for the revelation. Ah! A unique one indeed. Hello! Look below. I helped create this visitor. Usually, I would be an empty pack lying alongside thousands of  such discards filling up the trash bins.

A surfeit of lemons stare from the basket. The outcome, inevitably, glasses of refreshing lemon juice, grandma's red or yellow pickle a tangy drip drip added to stews, dals, rice, plus lemons distributed to one and all. Looking thankfully at my lemon plant, I notice a difference. Leaves gathered together, almost like being stitched. Upon closer look... a crisis situation. The trouble maker arrives, his troops follow. The result...in a word...SCARY The gathering gets busier. Decision is made - ravaging troops to scatter all over the garden. The lionhearted lemon plant stands incredibly brave, knowing help will arrive. Has weathered many a storm, a jumble of ups and downs. High up in the sky above, the dark clouds holding sway, seem to have melted away.

Upon sighting the lonely soul words slip out... sturdy looking, can survive rough conditions, and  carry on for years. Come rain or shine, it'll always be there, dull but dependable, and even those marauding insects shy away. An unusual shape that stands out, watch it growing taller, even as the hot sun takes its toll on the more fragile green neighbours. Ah yes! Coming to those negative points. Not appealing to the eye, detracts from the beauty of your beguiling ornamentals, the crooked leaves and thorns makes you want to conceal it. The heart of the matter is... let the positive vibes the positive energy, that positive 'wonderful' feel slip out first. Psst! A secret. With some help, even the 'negative' becomes positively... blooming. Cheers!👏

Deftly tucked away, far from the endless honking, smoke spewing vehicles, dust, crowds, plucking hands and nibbling teeth, I am feeling zippy, despite crouching on the edge. Just a matter of making do with available resources and  add to this... my sinews are made of sterner stuff! Watch me clinging tight for dear life, while relishing the idea of an element of drama or danger as compared to my brethren, yet cheerily singing a green song... kudos to a survivor. See me happily engaged in watching  curious eyes moving upward, gazing, lil' hands pointing wondering how... I  am enjoying an 'exalted' moment. Coo,coo! The pigeon cleaning his feathers on the nearby windowsill cooes in agreement.

You'll no find no desks here. Neither a blackboard nor a smartboard. No chalk or duster but nevertheless call it a quaint classroom, teeming with unexpected surprises. Fellow classmates are the bold butterflies, the bellicose bees, curious squirrels, talkative birds and hardworking ants. From tender buds to exquisitely crafted flowers, to the beginnings of wee fruits, to  lil' fruits proudly growing up, to exciting bunches of lemony delights, to a hidden giant nudged out gently a 'LESSON' unfolds. Nature has thrown open  the doors of her glorious classroom. Uff! A hot day. The gentle sea breeze laughs as she swings by.

A busy life I lead, scouring the streetside trash bins, searching for bits of food among the crushed cartons, a hotchpotch of plastic waste, miscellaneous rubbish and the inevitably dumped empty plastic bottles. Having tasted remains of sambhar, pizza, noodles, a gooey concoction of mixed up, leftover and sometimes spoilt food, my head aching from sighting and segregating  food from the overflowing bin, from dredging out thrown away food from knotted plastic carrybags, I am finally sated. Watch me relish wholesome home cooked food. Caw Caw! Next item on my agenda... to polish my beak.

The pages were filled with sketches of arches reflecting contemporary and traditional styles plus an eclectic mix but to none to match what stood out in a patch of green. A whisper floated through the breeze. I may be maimed, ravaged, torn, pummelled by forces beyond me but here I am, a hardy survivor. Step under this arch... You'll know what it means to be a TREE.

I am sad coz it's not a fair world. Those fat mangoes get all the likes. Hidden amidst the foliage, hanging on for dear life, unnoticed yet by ravenous crows and scampering squirrels, three perfectly sculpted, unusual summer delights lie in waiting. Vitamins plus minerals, loads of antioxidants, chock full of energy, you name it, we have it. A  many seeded, uniquely flavoured, often sidelined treat from nature's treasury, we seek your attention.      Get your 'CA'  now. Drown your tastebuds in CA milkshake. CA? That's my new moniker, CA for Custard Apple, so that folks out there take notice. Looking forward to moving high up the rungs from being a lowly cousin of the royal apple.

The word 'reluctance' was etched on the face. Would the now terrified teeth so used to munching on soft pizzas,  jelabis and Mysore paks withstand the hardness? The lens zooms back to aeons ago, when the smell of jaggery syrup would waft over the gate. At the right consistency, it was combined with roasted peanuts and patted into balls. The tempting array of rounds on the plate would disappear within minutes. The chewy noise meant the teeth were  kept busy. The crunching and grinding would rasp upon your ears. Imagine! Twin benefit in one stroke. Mighty Iron  plus Power Protein. The lil' ones would roll it, throw it, enjoy leap n'catch. A long line of ants anticipating delicious tidbits would arrive  marching. Tucked into your palm or inside small packets deep in your handbag these energy filled rounds seem to say... 'C'mon, hurry up and get me!'

Don't need chocolates or cakes or biscuits or chips or vada pavs, even samosas, pizzas, ice creams or burgers. Am willing to give up treats, parties, even my... 'can't-part-with'  smartphone. I solemnly promise to do my homework, stop arguing, lazing around, eat spinach, brush my teeth twice a day, trim my nails, observe hygiene. Someone broadcast it aloud. A fervent plea to my Maker. Get rid of those... mean, monstrous, militant, mighty, ever multiplying mosquitoes. We are getting weaker. They are growing bigger or better still... change them into trees.

What is he waiting for? A soul of patience, his gaze scans the scene ahead surveying every inch. Hello! It's really frustrating. The seat is rough and prickly. I've been waiting for well over an hour. Where is he? The befuddled banana seller with his 'so-easy-to-raid' cart. Hmm! If only I had a smartphone like yours with this and that, I could see hundreds of images of perfect photogenic plantains. I am hoping,desperately, this would satisfy my craving a wee one percent. I am still here, dreaming of biting into tasty chunks of plantains, dropping the peels off one by one, swinging gaily from branch to branch tossing some bits high up into the air, a masterly strategy, to avoid cunning troops planning a clever 'snatch them all'.

The pile of twigs grew. Fallen from the neem tree as also the gooseberry tree, tied tight with a piece of jute string, kids simply loved it. Toddlers swept the floors in a game of fun with grandma panting for breath trying to sweep away her aches and pains. Someone came up with a better idea. Fallen coconut fronds were dried. The leafy part was skimmed off with sharp knives, an art by itself. Arranged according to length the twigs were tied into brooms, considered very handy, also rated the best. by another generation. With life turning busier, its 'sorry' no time to  seek out those  coconut twig brooms. Finding a replacement when twigs turned brittle became an unwanted chore. Enter the fashionable bright plastic brooms in a range of colours. Quite the rage, they could even match with the bathroom decor! However... Mr. Crow busy with constuction work, building a dream nest is none too happy. He is being denied his ...

The smell draws you in, reminding you of  forgotten train journeys and long distance bus trips. The rising steam from the white and fluffy rounds makes your hands itch, eager to finish it off But.. Wait. This must be done in style. Aha! Now it's 'makeup' time. In a while, it'll be  good to eat. Voila! From white see it turn red, thanks to being doused with grandma's special coarsely ground powder mix, a lethal combination, sure to send your tastebuds into a frolicking mode. I am searching the dictionary to find words to describe the collaboration of of roasted lentils and a mix of spices, ground into a powder, a.k.a the Iddli chilli powder, mixed with little oil and smeared onto soft as jasmine iddlis. Wait ...some more, for it to soak. Bite into perfect rounds partnering with cold curd or hot coffee. You're back in the running, with joie de vivre, in your friends circle. Fermented and steamed, these dainty Iddlis have...

Gone is the 'fresh as a daisy' look.😯 The leaves are half dead. The stem feels wrecked . Its stance is wobbly. The very appearance awakens something in you. Impels you, propels you to sprinkle it, pour  it, in fact douse every part that is visible. The effect will be visible soon. Meanwhile take a sip of... from the bottle next to you. Water... Bringing back the happiness, marches on!

The sun's rays are at it again A stroke here, an outline there and the effect is visible. A shadow so perfect, making children run after... chasing it. Alas! It slips away. There is a vivid message too as it looms large... E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E

The taste has you screwing up your eyes trying to figure out the unique flavour. The clues are plenty... Crunchy  with the juice tickling your taste buds. Removed from the back of the vegetable rack, washed and chopped fine, I am soaked in buttermilk to retain my colour I await the dressing. Ah! I can hear the crackle of the seasoning ingredients, a heady mix of fragrances zooming towards me. A touch of mustard and the ever present green chilli enhanced by a dash of curry leaves, stringy bits of mango ginger and a sprinkling of split lentils with busy hands tossing in a spoonful of sprouted green gram and stirring in some turmeric powder. A gentle mixing sans the buttermilk and I turn yellow. While the flavours seep in, I get the benefit of full treatmrnt with the required salt and drops of lemon juice and I must mention I do look pretty with wee bits of coriander leaves tucked in here and there. I land at the table and stand prou...

Walking for ages under the hot sun, your legs stumble and as your eyes desperately dart here and there, searching the landscape  ahead for a  sign of a bench or even a flat stone, nothing is visible as far as your eye travels. You prod on... when you suddenly stop and gape, for nature has done it again. No soft cushions, not even a backrest, not one you can swivel around. A no-frills low seat that lets you rest awhile while you enjoy  the shade above your head. Wait a minute. Looks like somebody who shouldn't be there, someone white and fluttery has spotted it already.

Believe it or not... My day at the office is pretty cool.               No eyes glued to  computers. No deadlines. No brainstorming sessions. No troublesome co workers.             Shh! Just have  to peer here and there for some edible stuff.              

A panorama of differing hues and shades... Trying to decipher the the eye-catching foliage... if it is a shade of vermilion or a touch of pale maroon with the mind wavering between light pink or a mix of yellow, orange and purple, having a closer look and coming to conclude it could be a shade of mahogany or those berry tints with a fresh feel and ultimately settling on russet set off by a tapestry of pleasant green  topped with tints of pale yellow. So many many variations but the point is           we part of the same family.

   Hello! Are you stopping by to stare?                 Seriously, I've given up finding something to eat  in this mess. Looks like I have to start learning 'the new something' doing the rounds these days if I am to fill my tummy. "SEGREGATION" I've heard  that it's a less complicated procedure unlike escaping from the leash. So long, folks! Woof,Woof!

You're desperate. Apart from big gulps of water, a cold towel to wipe your face, ice cold juice or those tempting ice cream prints which stare at you from atop the shop's billboard making you go crazy, you long for an umbrella as you wilt under the heat outdoors. The solution is nearby, beckoning you from high up, if you fancy some cool shade with a bit of fanning  too.                         Waving green and yellow fronds whisper  'welcome' with a cool current of air swishing to and fro leaving you ... 'Hands Free'.

Here I am.           This must rank as the find among this season's cosiest places. A  sort of hidey hole with the the right amount of light, and a soft squishy wetness which keeps my skin cool away from the harsh sunlight. I've  been lounging here as the hours creep past a 'lazing around on a beanie bag' kind of feeling creeping through me as I dart in and out, backtracking fast when those huge wheels arrive alongside a honking noise, hoping to make a move when the coast is clear. Darkness has fallen. The street lights are on. Time to move.. . straight ahead over the grass.                   Take a left turn past the hedge, down a slope, towards the tree just ahead to a brown friend who harbours my lil' ones. Croak!Croak! It's a happy homecoming. No change in my itinerary today!