Eggs Florentine (Wednesday's Breakfast)

So, just like that, the LoML decided to take baby and mommy out for breakfast (okay, it wasn't just like that, it involved mommy getting up early to bathe and dress earlier than usual)- armed with little R's maid- we set off. Indigo Deli is right around the corner and soon we were sipping fresh orange juice- that is, till little R decided she wanted some 'juice' herself.

Casually pretending she didn't know how to suck from a straw she took a big gulp from the glass, and spat out the whole mouthful. Maybe it was too much for her, or she didn't like the tanginess but her new white Laura frock had a nice orange stain despite rubbing it off with wipes.

Eggs- she wasn't too interested in- she'd had her own scrambled one at home. But jam- yes- being a true carrier of my genes, yes- completely loved the strawberry jam.

And, for some strange reason, keeps referring to all mealtimes as 'dinnah'.

Little Ms Propah, aren't we?

Puri-Alu (Tuesday's Breakfast)

Tuesdays are no- non- veg days in our house. This means no egg for breakfast and no chicken for dinner. After having exhausted all the five available veg breakfasts (there are twenty five options but only five which are eaten by both baby and daddy) we have found our peace with the ubiquitous Puri-Alu.

I come from the land of Nathu's and Madhurima- where kaddu, puri, Alu are staple breakfast diet.

So, after having taught our probably eighth cook in ten years- the correct way to make the just-tangy-yet-not-spicy-for-baby- Alu and scrumptious kaddu accompanied with crisp fluffy puris, the best way to enjoy this delectable breakfast is with spicy mango achar and sweet adrak tea!

Ooh. How rustic and how very delicious!

Exam fever!

It's March and I'm struck with exam fever (ok, assignment fever). In order to get through my first year, I have to write up a few questions- which- a decade back would've been a cakewalk but now seem a Herculean task.

The anxiety, coupled with the fact that I haven't really studied all nine plays - and I don't have enough time to study them in detail has only compounded the issue.

Doing all this, along with running a house, supervising my helps and ensuring that baby is eating and learning well- not to forget taking care of my own health - getting up early and going for a brisk half hour walk - leaves me dead by end of day.

And then, tomorrow is another day!

A Real Bookshop

While studying for my Masters degree in English Literature, I was forced to go scrounging through half a dozen bookshops in this city (courtesy IGNOU and the near-impossibility of finding those texts).

And so, yesterday I stepped into a real book shop after maybe 15 years.  It was a forgotten but much cherished world which brought back a strong dose of sepia tinted memories.

The rows of books, lined up neatly on the shelves according to subject- and books spilling onto the floor in piles- and some on twirling stands- and a few in the glass display case- were enough to transport me to my own school days. 

Minoo, Dinshaw & Co. was the preferred bookstore for our school. Located centrally in Hazratganj, it was a long, long store, extending well into different sections and a store-room (where the prized best books were kept- the ones no one read except perhaps a few of my friends and me). I still remember the face of the two cashiers- the ones who probably owned the shop- the ones who created neat labelled bundles of texts and exercise books according to the class- and the ones who knew where each edition of any possible book was kept. 

I loved that shop. They also sold a few stationery items and primarily books. The smell which engulfed you as soon as you stepped inside- the perfume of knowledge, combined with a generous helping of geography (so many authors across the world under one roof), the old-worldness of history... it was, to put it succinctly- awesome.

Now I have an iPad and a flipkart to buy me books. The dank scent of those unread books- mixed with the minty new smell- has been replaced by a flat screen showing me at least fifty options and prompting me to buy now. 

And I was a trifle sad, that in the end, I had to purchase my texts through flipkart. 

Lifelong Affliction!

Last night, little R was most uncomfortable - kept waking up every couple of hours - which was odd since she's been a very disciplined baby since she was six months old and sleeps right through the night. We should've guessed. I passed on my cold to her and what started as a little runny dot soon developed into a little continuous river. It's been her third brush with cold in the nineteen months of her existence (she favours an upset tummy more - like her mum!) so naturally she's irritated.

However, the point of this post is- that despite sleeping just an hour in the early morning and nursing a  cold, sore throat (so bad that my entire back hurts when I cough) myself, I got the energy to run R through her morning milk, breakfast, bath, lunch and subsequent nap with play- without feeling out of sorts. The exact feeling I had when she was a month old and nurse every couple of hours around the clock and stay awake till 4 am. 

Guess this sleeplessness is a lifelong affliction! 

And then there are some...

- Whose role is just to provide for the family, be an ideal for listening and implementing strange advice (which may be outdated but who cares, as far as advice is concerned only two things work- it's freely available and impervious of time) and generally not open their mouths to all forms of injustice.

- The world thrives on hypocrisy. It is too frail to accept truth and as long as one lies, all are happy.

- Does it take too much for a kind word or a small gesture to an 'outsider' who has been part of your family for ten years now?

- Daughters in law will remain just that. Tied and gagged by the law and never replace daughters.

- Your mother knows you best. Even when you haven't spoken/ told her that you're suffering from fever and neglect, an SMS asking if all is well will mysteriously appear in your phone. The umbilical cord never gets cut.

- Sisters are the best listeners.

The permanence of Now

When I was a couple of years younger, I had long term vision and a single minded objective. Once that goal was reached, I find myself often wondering why I am so fixated on the concept of the permanence of Now. Everything assumes gigantic proportions in the Now and it's difficult for me to think that this problematic now will ease itself off in some time. 

I do, of course, still have long term vision and immediate goals but sometimes I'm pulled down by this Now.

What do I do?