Aahaa Chennai

An enticing view: You start dreaming and counting... 1,2,3,4......12,13... You imagine biting into delicious tangy chunks, relishing a spread of pickles, gulping down the juice, carrying a basketful of  treats. Not all your dreams will come to fruition but some will. Keep dreaming and shaping the path towards the destination.

We are not your pampered, potted, ornamental type yet we do have our pride. We grow anywhere amidst clutter or chaos. Be it rocks, stones, brambles, rubbish or debris, lil' flowery smiles peek out coz we're strong willed, confident, persevering, plus... we always  bounce back from oblivion.

Hello! Meet me in my new avatar. A rustic seating readied just for you. My brand  new coat of paint does draw attention although I do prefer my earlier earthy brown and cheery green hues. Can you hear me singing? 'Those were the days...' I guess my voice is lost in the din of traffic. Know what I am really missing? It's a five letter word. W-A-T-E-R

I've been wanting to do this for a while. After days and weeks of swaying this way and that I've finally done it. Shh! I am busy. Getting to know my neighbours. I sense diverse shades and mixed configurations but the generosity of blooming smiles across the divide makes my day.

After moving here and there, after a lot of stumbles, I've finally arrived. Hear me shouting it aloud, just found my... N-I-C-H-E. A bit of soul searching is  on. My mind is made up. I've decided to stick on here. I foresee a brilliant future marked by richness of growth, scaling greater heights, the prize being...satisfaction.

Some lessons on managing a stuttering startup. Plenty of hiccups enroute... invasive bugs, periods of drought, snail like pace of growth. Riding on a 'no stepping back' theme, personal care continues and the first flecks of light appear. which soon swells into a mind boggling  haul.

The boisterous wind while pushing me down is singing a merry tune... 'chin up, chin up.' My back is bent double. Despite traipsing all over  the sand, my fragile blossom has woken up and nods a wan 'hello'. A supportive  stick would bring back the spring in my step and the pink in my cheeks.

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