Helping the Helpless.

Today afternoon I was walking home for lunch.

That’s when I saw a crow with blood on its beak fly past me and sit on the window of an apartment above.
Soon, one more crow flew past.
As I wondered what was happening, I saw the source of its food. A calf lay injured on the road side. There was a gaping wound on its hind leg. A car must have hit it because it had bruises all over its leg. Crows were scavenging on its open wound. And it was too weak to move and had almost passed out in the pain.
I ran towards the calf to scare off the crows. But they were very adamant. The vendor on the road found this very amusing and was smiling at my pathetic efforts to ‘shoo’ away the predators.
I went around asking who ever came my way if they knew who the calf belonged to. Someone finally pointed out to a narrow street and said it belonged to the lady in the green building. I walked fast and knocked on the door, not wanting to waste another moment, for the wound was getting bigger as the number of crows kept increasing.
"Who is it?” , the lady seemed very angry. Maybe I disturbed her sleep.
“There is a calf in the next street. Is it yours?”
“No, why?”
“Well, its hind leg..."
“Is it hurt?"
“Yes..."
“Are crows scavenging on it?"
“Yes!"
“Ok. You go ahead. I will take care."
I felt like I had been slapped. Either the calf was hers. Or it was not. But she knew that it was hurt and in pain. And she was not bothered. I wished I had the guts to scream at her. I walked back to the calf. Only to scare away another bloody crow.

The calf was very tired and in pain. It looked at me with teary eyes. (Or I felt so). I called my mom for help. Our building was five minutes away. She said she will be there soon. Meanwhile, I stood on patting the calf trying to assure him that I'd be of some help. House flies were feasting on the wound.
Curious people started gathering and looked on. But their curiosity died the moment they learnt it was just a ‘calf’. However, no one offered to help.
Mom came with the first aid kid. True to a nurse!
Water.
Hydrogen peroxide.
Dettol.
Oinment.
Cotton.
She cleaned the wound and nursed it. Meanwhile I kept patting the calf trying to keep it calm. Someone alerted a boy to inform the owners that ‘someone’ was trying to do ‘something’ with their calf.
Meanwhile, the house flies watched on. The crows watched on. So did the people.
We came home hoping the calf would get well soon. I was full of anger and despair.
- At its owners for letting out such helpless souls on the streets, with no food or water. They fed on garbage and other waste from the roads. They were never cared for.
- At the person who hit the calf and dint bother to stop over and help it.
- At the people who just watched on. Who were of no help and yet laughed at others who tried to help.
- At me. For being a non-vegetarian.
I managed to finish my lunch and ran down the street to check on the calf.
It was already on its legs. Trying to walk. He was a fighter. And his quest for life was great.
(Or maybe he knew that if he dint walk soon, he would be on his way to the butchers'.)

Dudu's Corner - II

Prologue: Dudu is my 3 year old niece. 'Dudu's corner' tries to capture a few of her 'words of wisdom'.

Dudu was once touring with her mom and her friends. Being the youngest in the lot, she was the center of attention and her talks made her more sought after. People kept asking her the same questions over and over again, just to hear her talk. One conversation went like this:

Someone: 'Neengey padikkireengala? (Are you studying?)'

Dudu: 'Aama. (Yes)'.

Someone: 'Entha School? (Which school?)'

Dudu: 'Euro Kids'.

Someone: 'Athu engey irukku? (Where is that?)'

Dudu: 'Paatti veettu pakkathillu. (Close to my Grandma's house).'

Someone: 'Paatti veettu pakkathillu engey irukku? (Where exactly is it, close to Grandma's place?'

Dudu: 'Paatti veettu pakkathillu, romba dhooorathillu irukku. (It is close to my paati's house, but a long distance from there).'

Someone: 'Athu engey? Paatti veettu pakkathillu, aana doorathillu? (So where will that be? Close to your Grandma's place but far away?')

To this, Dudu stared back at her. Then she answered with folded arms:

'Euro kids school engey irukkuo, anga thaan Euro kids school irukku!'

(Euro kids school is right where it is!)

Someone: '....!!!'

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Mom & I were visiting Dudu last month. They stay in Coimbatore, which can get real hot in summer. So, while on bed my mom left the first few buttons of her blouse open.

Dudu was heard telling this to my mom, whom she calls 'Sowmi Ammamma' (Sowmi Grandma).

'Sowmi ammamma, buttons pottukkongo! Yaaraachu paatha appuram onnumey panna mudiyaathu!

(Sowmi Grandma, I would suggest you button those up. If someone happens to see, then there's nothing much we can do!)

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My sister and brother-in-law were having the typical 'parents' fight over whom their daughter loves more. Whether it was her mommy or her daddy.

So both of them caught hold of Dudu and asked her in the most pleasant manner,

'Dudammu, Ungallukku yaarey pudikkum? Smi mummya Viji Appava?'

(Dudu, whom do you like more? Smi mummy or Viji daddy?)

Dudu looked at both of them for a moment. An then said,

'Ennakku Sowmi Ammamma'ey thaan pudikkum!'

('I like Sowmi Grandma better!')

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Dudu was being adamant one day and refused to go to school. My sister in a last attempt threatened to call up her teacher and complain. To which Dudu said, she will explain why she did not want to go to school.

My sister smartly dialed me instead and asked me to act like her teacher and instruct her to get to class immediately. I spoke to her in a hoarse voice and commanded,

'Rudra olunga school'kku vanthidu. Illena adichu poduven!'

(Rudra, you better come to school fast. Else I'm coming home to smack you!)'

Dudu blinked for a moment.

We thought the plot was a success.

That's when she gave the phone back to my sister and claimed,

'Ithu teacher kidayaathu. Ithu Geethu aunty, Chennaiyil irunthu pesnanga!'

('This is not my teacher. This is Geethu aunty, from Chennai!')

My Toilet Cleaner

My first attempt at acting.

Disclaimer: Watch at your own risk!

The best response came from Dudu, my 3 yr old niece after watching this TVC,

"Why is that aunty calling 'Geethu' aunty as 'Priya' ???"

We did not have an answer to that.

Tomorrow!

I walked through a garden,

I walked with my dream.

We held hands, together

On your shoulder, I leaned.

We stopped to smell a jasmine

In a rose, you seemed keen

As you placed it in my tresses,

We laughed like lost teens.

My mind wandered free

Across the road and blaring heat

And perched on the window sill

Of the house across the street.

A beautiful angel was fast asleep,

In her cradle with her dreams

And her parents stood beside her,

Lost in an embrace, deep!

Your breath on my neck

And the warmth of your hold

Brought me back to the garden

And I saw your old eyes gleam!

The visiting hour was over

And I had to be returned.

To the green beds and white walls

And the I.V stands, tall and lean.

You promised to meet me tomorrow

And that tomorrow won't be long.

As you walked out through the gate,

I began my wait - for tomorrow to be born.

Happy Raksha Bandan!

Today was Raksha Bandhan. And it slipped my mind.

For those who dint know, Raksha Bandhan is an Indian festival, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is marked by the tying of a Rakhi, or a holy thread, by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her as she presents sweets to her brother. (Courtesy: Wikipedia)

We are 3 kids at home. The eldest being my sister, Smitha whom we call Chechi. Next comes my brother, with whom I share a great bond. His name is Prem Raj, and I fondly call him Unnietta (Unni being his pet name and 'Etta' the Malayalam word for elder brother). I was the youngest and was often pampered to the core.

As kids, we used to fight a lot. Right from the time we opened our sleepy eyes, early in the morning, to the time we shut them tired from fatigue in the night. It was fights always. Fights round the clock.

I remember as kids, we used to have weird games and rules, which each one was bound to follow. For e.g., the first thing we did when we woke up in the morning was to scream "Me third". The next person would say "Me second" and the most unfortunate last one, "Me first". And the first person would have to do everything first, from brushing his/her teeth, to having a bath. While the other two got time to sleep more.

I, being the wicked soul I am even then, always managed to scream "Me third" most often. And just in case I missed and Unniettan managed to call out "Me third" before me and snicker, I would just say "Me Last". That naturally entitled me the right to have shower last (in a family of 5 members). And Unniettan would have to go reluctantly have his bath before me. (I told you I was wicked, dint I?)

Then as we headed for the dining table, we fought over milk and breakfast. Everything would be measured. With our palms. The glass with more milk was passed among us in rounds and rounds, till mommy screamed at us for spilling it all over. For fruit juice, it was vice-versa. Our mother never understood why.

Our prayer sessions were perhaps the only time we bonded. Mom ensured we prayed every evening before the sacred Nilavillakku (lamp). We never found it sacred. It was an obstacle as it always collided with our cartoon timings. Slokas which usually took half an hour to recite used to be done in a span of five minutes and no one could make out if we were chanting in Sanskrit or German. We always backed each other, persuading mom that we sat for over half an hour praying.

Birthdays gave reasons for world wars. I insisted on getting a new dress for everyone else's birthday. The cake was also a reason to fight. The cause: the sugary rose topping (usually one) on the cake. Before long, Dad ensured that each cake had at least 3 or more roses each.

Our play sessions used to be equally bad. We enacted our classroom. I was the teacher always and my siblings the students. I used to hit them with their wooden scale, below their knees and the poor things used to bear it all. Until one day Mom saw their bruises and found out, only to smack me tight. I deserved that.

I remember when we used to buy candies or ice creams, Chechi and Unniettan would devour it on the spot, while I brought them home and stored them. Only to pull it out later and lick it away to glory with them looking on. That ended the day Dad found out and chose to share my ice cream amongst the 3 of them, with me crying and watching on.

I was such a naughty snob. And I had such wonderful siblings.

They cared for me.

Shared with me.

Fed me.

Brought me up.

Loved me.

Raksha Bandan is just another day. To me, I am bonded with my Chechi and Unniettan for life. Even in the many more births to come, I'd prefer to say "Me third" and go in as a younger sister to such lovely siblings.

Refuge

19.01.2003

Drops of salt stayed on

Un-wiped on her hollow cheeks

As if to bear down her overburdened life

With the load of un-shed tears.

Her trembling hands, were weak from work

Her palms felt heavy, as her kids held on

Her chest was filled with love and warmth

Her eyes kept winking, as if to keep away fear.

Her kids - her treasures, how could she preserve

Her only refuge now was her mother's lap

And that was where she headed now

To mark an end to the troubled souls.

She bought them balloons, candy and ice-cream

As they walked towards the welcoming beach

She walked slowly, clinging tiny arms

And soon the salty waters, were licking their feet.

(Found this one hidden away in one of my old diaries. Felt a lil' depressed reading it though).

Dudu's corner

3 year olds can be talkative.

I have a niece, Dudu. She is also 3 years old. And man! She is talkative! Quite humorous too. Have a few classic quotes from her. Sharing a few random ones, I remember.

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You are walking in a forest. A monkey steals your stuff. You have a banana with you. What will you give the monkey to get your things back?
Dudu: "Manda meley randu kottu".

(Rough translation: "2 tight smacks on its head!")

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"Ini engittey school'kku poka sonnein, ingey nadakarathey verey! Naan Karthikeyan koodey odi poyiduvein."

(Rough translation: "If you ever ask me to go to school again, I will elope with Karthikeyan.")

Karthikeyan happens to be her classmate, another 3 year old boy.

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Dudu to her cousin sister Nandu, who blew Dudu's birthday candle "Nee cotton pants pottirukkein, naan thaan pattu paavadai kattiyirukeein. Athanalley naan than candle oothanum"

(Rough translation: "I'm wearing the silk skirt. You are in cotton pants. So I think I should have blown the candles.")

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"I want a RED maapillai" For those who dint understand that, please learn Tamil.

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"I getting up & banana is eating" (Overheard, as soon as she woke up from sleep. Looks like she was craving for bananas. The new school she joined, seems to encourage conversing in English!)

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My friend Priya, was shocked hearing her 3 year old Tarunika, learning the names of months,

"January

February

Mortuary...!"

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My cousin Gayathri was trying to teach a 3 yr old American kid her name.

"Gayathri, G for Gayathri".

The kid, "But I know only G for Gorilla!!"

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Thats all I can remember as of now. However, I am sure there will be loads more to come. Keep reading Dudu's corner! :)