thecoolreena

Here I was in this small little hospital with my beeji. I was barely 20 years old and trying to take care of my sick beeji who was admitted because she had fever. It was pitch dark and it must have been  2-2:30  at night and I was awake thinking about her. I had always thought that beeji is very strong. She never falls sick- no fever, hypertension or diabetes and was very proud of her. And now she got fever which didn't leave her for 3 days at 83 years of age. At this time when it was pitch dark, I could hear the sound of some patients snoring, distressing sounds of the very sick patients and their relatives and the chirping alarms and the nurses chatting. I could see my beeji's body shivering with fever which I brought to the notice of the nurse and she administered a medicine which I prayed should help her to sleep. It was a very small hospital and there was no place for the relative to rest or sleep. I was sitting on the floor next to beeji holding her hand. Af...

Fashion changes every day...and so does the moon!! When I was little, there was this “Banjara” dress which was in fashion. My parents bought this white and red “Banjara” dress which had a red “Ghagra” and white blouse to it. It had a lot of mirror work on it. This used to be my favorite outfit when I was little -around 10 years old!!! I used to carry the chunari on my head and keep spinning watching my “ghagra” move with me.... And then there was a night of celebrations- “the moonlight party”. My friends and elder friends (we were the “chillar” party) were told that we will have a potluck party. Then, we will play Antakshari, dumb charades and also share jokes. It sounded like a lot of fun to me and I pleaded with my mom that she allows me to go to this party. This party was to be held under the moonlight in the big courtyard that the houses collectively had. We were planning to stay awake till 12 and then have the nectar “the Amrit”. I told my mom about the “the Amrit” and a...

Another Dusshera again.... Time to burn a Raavan once again!!! Here I was dressed in my light green color frock, 8 years old, jumping with a group of 10-15 friends. We were just jumping from one house to another. My aim was to cover as many neighbors houses as possible and to give the “sona” to everyone -the green gold( leaves of Apta tree). Not worried that my dress was all muddy, the body was sweaty, hair in a mess, smelling like a pig holding the green gold with dirty hands. But “looks” were not important,”feelings” were..... I remember holding just 3-4 leaves in my hand and worried about them. And in the time when we moved from one house to another, I would break every single leaf into 4-7 smaller pieces so that I could give it to everyone. And we all would say “Shubh Dusshera” and take blessings from elders. And while giving the small part of the apta leaf, a silent prayer would go into the universe asking for happiness and prosperity for the family. We were so i...

You know when I was very little, I was made to believe by people around me that we were just middle class or so called poor people. I grew up thinking that everyone gets everything in life except me . No one made me believe that but still that's how I grew up. Finally reached my twenties and completed my studies still feeling that "We were poor and everyone gets what they want but I don't. Others are fortunate and I am not"!!! And now when I look back at those years, I see them being so so so rich. I feel that I was bathing in all the richness of the world. Completely soaked and marinated in the richness of unconditional love by my parents, relatives and grandma(my beeji). I don't even know how to measure the love that I received - in kilos, litres, or may be light years .... don't know but it was infinite. It is like mom asking a small child " how much do you love me ?" And the child stretches his arms as far as possible and says ...