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LOVE IN A BOTTLE…

He poured some in the glass and glugged. He obviously hadn’t shaved in weeks. Probably hadn’t bathed either.  What is it with men, moods and chin hair? I wondered what women did when they were in a bit of a bother? Grew their nails and ignored their laundry? He hit me again. Harder this time. Staring at me with those wide brooding eyes. Mean one this fellow. But there was a sorrow in those mean eyes I hadn’t noticed. Like a lost dying star in a bright nebula. The bartender shot him a dirty look. Sitting at the back all these weeks, I’d noticed all the different types of drunks who walked into Mikey’s Bar. There were mostly four types I realized – the mean ones, the braggarts, the quiet ones and the singers. This one though, he was different. Mikey didn’t know what to make of this one. No one else did either. He was like a wolf in a pack of dogs. Lone; lonely maybe. But not out hunting.   He hit me again and again. Putting me down at last with a harsh sound
Recent posts

THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES

Like every other middle class kid of the 60s and 70s, I was socialized and normalized at par for the time. There were some broad rules : Children were to be seen, not heard. Unfailing politeness, discipline and above all obedience, were the greatest virtues of a child. An obedient moron who routinely failed class, was preferable to a rebellious genius.  With age, sons were allowed some liberties because they would soon be men and fathers themselves. Daughters were required to be maintained in situ condition - pure, virginal and foolish - till the next family took over their burden.  But India is vast country with a ridiculously wide spectrum of cultures and priveleges. Within these broad parameters, experiences varied depending on the region or state you were born in, the caste one belonged to, the food we ate, the profession and status of our parents and the languages or even dialects you spoke. This was the age before the internet, when you couldn't get by merely through memes an

I Hate (Young) Doctors

I hate doctors. Almost as much as I hate Sushi. They tell me you can get used to Sushi in time. But in my 20 year long and unfortunately regular interaction with doctors, I haven’t learnt to stomach them. Believe me, it isn't for the lack of trying. When you're in the hospital as much as I've been - you want  them to be on your side.  The list of litanies is long but my chief complaint is their ignorance.  Ever met a neurologist with epilepsy? Or a psychiatrist with bipolar disorder? Or a surgeon who’s had a hand and leg removed?  I haven’t. I'm sure there are some out there. (Gynaecologists who've had kids would qualify) But not many. So they can make the diagnosis, they can prescribe the pills but do they know what it really feels like?  No sir. So it’s – “You have a stomach ache? Take a pain killer and bugger off home.” Often followed by, “Your appendix ruptured after you got home? Oops, sorry. I didn't know you had an appendix. N

Fil's House

Straight lines with rounded edges The study with long windows Never Never Land For my son and Max the dog For more

A House for Fil

It began as a house we decided to build because the landlord doubled the rent. We couldn’t afford one in the city so we went to the suburbs. Strictly speaking, we went to the boon dogs. Beyond a village on the outskirts, where an adventurous realtor decided to set up a gated community. He’d set up the tarred roads. Divided the plots. Put up the street lights and parks. Except there was no gate and no community. By the time I finished building the house 5 years later, the gated community was acres of empty green space and for someone like me, the best of all things--- a neighbor-free haven. It was also a whole bunch of other things I hadn’t thought it would end up being. The house began as an idea for a small space - 800 square feet no more. Two rooms – one for me and my husband and one for my daughter; a library where my son would sleep behind the partition; and a long living-cum dining where we would spend most of our time. By the time I finished building, the 340