The Beautiful Transition

My dearest friend, White Diary asked me to take care of her Kadipatta plant (Curry leaves) and other plants till the time she finds larger space to keep them. I was more than happy to take them and keep them on my window grill.

Hungry Caterpillars

After a month, suddenly I noticed there were caterpillars on the plant. Oh My God was my reaction! The Common Mormon. There were three. I missed the first two stages before it became a caterpillar. I kept the plant indoors to not let the birds eat it and kept a close eye on them.


There was too much excitement that WD and me would discuss its process. It was indeed thrilling. Never seen this before. Out of the three caterpillars, one died :( that is when I took the plant and kept it right in front of my eyes! Didn't want to lose the other two.

This is the stage of Pupation. Before it gets into the stage of pupating, the caterpillar stops eating completely. They don't move either. This is when I thought they were probably dead. But they weren't. I touched it a little, it wriggled. I researched a little about their cycle and that was a relief and a beauty. The pupa hung itself, suspended on two silk strings...reminded me of Spider-man! This is also called the Chrysalis. Butterflies do not form cocoons, moths do.

After a week it started turning black, which meant the end of the pupal stage and a butterfly would emerge. Yay! 

Common Mormon Butterfly Emerges :)

                             And here emerges the Beautiful Butterfly and stretches its wings.                                    

Pretty Things!

And there were two. Flying around in the room. I played a lot with them. Held it, let it sit on me, and then I had to let them go out in the open... to fly to freedom, to live and continue the cycle of life!

Research source: http://www.butterflyschool.org/new/meta.html, http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Papilio_polytes/,  blogs, images. 

A moment

The waves, the full moon, lit cigarettes and random conversations.

That was all we needed. Time for ourselves. Time to halt. Time for silence.

There was enough silence to hear each other's thoughts. It was beautiful.

We looked into the dark infinite sea. The reflections of the city lights. 

The waves hitting the shore. A thought each time. 

We wanted to sit there endlessly.

Maybe not talk. Just continue to listen to the sound of the waves.

It was a night that stayed with us, as we walked away.

Freedom for me is...

• Choosing what I want to study.
• Choosing where I want to study.
• Switching jobs when I don't like one.
• Choosing a profession on my own.
• Wearing whatever I want.
• Returning home late night and safe.
• Voicing my opinion to my boss.
• Keeping silent when I don't want to talk.
• Correcting others' mistakes.
• Correcting my mistakes.
• Saving my money.
• Spending my money.
• Making decisions.
• Being the leader.
• Fighting with family, friends, colleagues.
• Riding my bike.
• Traveling and exploring places.
• Sharing and discussing. 
• Penning down thoughts.
• Love whoever I want to.
• Hate whoever I want to.
• To think about marriage whenever I want to.
• Appreciating and criticizing.
• To scream when frustrated.
• To scream when happy.
• To have fun.

What is freedom for you?

शुक्रिया...

• The New Year.
• Willy's wedding, it felt so good to see him so happy and I'm glad I was there to celebrate his happiness.
• Sports day, it was amazing to see the students so excited with the practices and the main day event, they didn't care if they stood last, they just enjoyed the races... however exhausted they were.
• Rajeshri, the sports teacher, for putting up the event all by herself and attending to each and every student keeping in mind their ability. She amazes me.
• The meeting with WD. Pleasant. Sweet. Happy.
• Chinu's Birthday, my adorable student. It was heart melting to see the relationship between he and his mother, he and his father. Non-verbal but can express himself so beautifully. Chinz I love u.
• My registration number, finally got it.
• Jaa, for the friend I can see in her.
• My safety, wherever I travel to, however late I return, with whoever I am with.
• Medical miracles, its great how medicine has progressed and treated people giving them hope to live a better and happy life. From treating chronic illness to infertility.  

31st December 2012 Thank you notes...

Thank You for...

• Family, for being together, however far away. Being there for each other in times of need.
• Friends, for making life fun, beautiful and worth living.
• The work I do, keeps me on my toes day and night... without it I don't know what would I have done.
• My colleagues, who are more like friends, makes a lot of difference when colleagues are like friends, for being warm, understanding and fun.
• My students, who give me happiness each day and show me in their own way, that no matter what, life is indeed beautiful.
• Festivals, Birthdays, Anniversaries, all these celebrations to celebrate togetherness and to bring in a little cheer.
• People who are not amongst us anymore, but have been there for us, with us and will remain in our memories forever.
• The places I've been to, making me realize that there's so much more to learn and experience.
• Prayers and Blessings, from people who wish well for my family and me.
• Gifts, small or big, old or new, the thought that goes into choosing one, keeping in mind my likes and dislikes.

.....2012 however it was, Good, Bad and Ugly.

All set for New Challenges, New Endeavours, New Beginnings that 2013 would bring.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for...

• 2nd saturdays off, having a saturday holiday is so valuable.
• The call from Suzan from Goa, it's amazing how people still remember me even when I've lost touch with them for years.
• Colourful Pens, gifted by pree from Chennai.
• History, the past that has a lot to do with the present and the fascinating stories that are told.

Merci Pour..

• WD, her birthday on the 2nd of July. Spending that time with her after a long, was very peaceful. Waiting for her to come back from her foreign trip and to listen to all her exciting stories.
• Stories, people's life stories...how everyone goes through tough times and rise and fall and rise again...it's beautiful how each one's life is designed differently.
• That call from SBH from the border of China, it made me happy.
• The special BEST bus services when the train drivers went on strike on the 20th of July. Although it took me 5 hours to reach home... I reached safely.
• The company, in the long bus journey- Pree.
• The physical strength and a calm mind in times of high stress.
• My colleagues, for their kindness and concern.
• All the time spent with Heen.
• Pan, for everything. My Superman.
• My students, for all the fun I have with them.

Thank you for:

• Heen coming to India and to Bombay. So much happiness and peace to have her here and the nonstop talking and catching up of the 2 years we've lost.
• Her family really nice to see them healthy and happy.
• The celebration of my principal's birthday, the program set up by one of my co teachers and how the children danced and enjoyed.
• The route from Powai to Goregaon through the Lush Green Aarey. An incredible journey by bus and the rains adding to the beauty. It filled me with so much happiness. It was even a shorter route with no traffic. Fabulous!
• The call from MB and knowing that he is fine.
• 3D movies, it is so real. Watched the Amazing Spiderman...indeed amazing!
• Pree, for discussing the issues of communal disharmony and making me feel a little less upset by saying 'the people with narrow mindsets are inmates of a zoo you just watch them and move on to your business!'

Thank you for:

• Pree, with whom I can be however I want to and have funny, awesome moments at the same time.
• Pree's family, who welcome me and treat me like their own.
• Children, who manage to put a smile on grumpy, frustrated faces too.
• Food, for whoever makes it and makes sure I don't remain hungry.
• The child in the train, who cleaned the compartment and smiled at me when I gave him something to eat although the amount was very little.
• Birthdays, to celebrate life and the people who've been with you making it worth the ride.
• An occupation, to occupy my mind.
• The public transportation, that make efforts to reach me on time to places and safely...how much ever I crib about the price hike.
• The rains...it cooled the city and my mind. :)

Thank you for:

• The physical and mental strength to take care of my dear ones.
• Wisdom for making quick and good decisions.
• Money, for all the things I can buy and can live a decent life and provide support.
• The time alone to rethink over things and rejuvenate myself.
• Friends, who come bring in cheer and leave and will hopefully come again.

Dearest Team Mate

It's amazing how you have handled her in her sickness.

She trusts you...she loves you...she can't do without you.

I know the years you both have spent together hasn't been very pleasant.

But you both stuck by each other.

She feels safe with you.

You are her punching bag.

I know it hurts you but I even know how much you love her.

You care so much.

You are so patient.

You have balanced our lives.

And at the end of everyday you smile.

We have not always got along,

But we've had our share of great times together.

Today we are a team.

And I love being your team mate.

I love you.

I have seldom felt and told you.

But I love you more and I love her too a lot

Things may change.

Time will change it.

But I know we will always be a team.

A family.

Mumbai Special

It has been 20 long years since we have come to India Mumbai :) It has given us peace, prosperity, hope, friends, vision, respect, love, married life, etc. Thanks to this state and our parents who took the decision to get us here and show us a different culture or life to live on the edge. Lots will change... our bond will never... God Bless and happiness to come.

My brother sent this message on the 11th of September. It made me happy.

I have lived and let this place grow into me...with sweet and bitter memories.

20 years... and more to come... Mumbai a home I call.

My Elf :)

Okay, so I had been super busy with my practice teaching n college work. I had to give lessons back to back. The last day of lessons for that particular school, I had to deliver 2 lessons. Got my rough draft approved just the previous day...and my guide told me for homes of animals (that was my lesson) if I could make a model it would be nicer. Damn! Model! 2 lessons! Damn! My lesson plan was to have cut outs of animals n show it on the chart where their homes would be drawn. But yeah I agreed that a model would be more attractive and since my student was ADHD, this would make her pay attention and for a longer period of time. Anyway so, I came home....I was so tired with all the lessons I had during the week.

I got the animals from somewhere. I started cutting the pieces of thermacol that was there at home, cut the cardboard....and my eyes started closing...almost falling I must say. I had to finish this plus I had to write both my lesson plans in fair. The second lesson, I didn't really have to prepare for that except for writing it in fair. So I thought, I'll sleep for sometime it was 23:30 hrs and would wake up by 2:00 hrs. So I slept... and automatically I wake up at 5:20 hrs. I was like shit....my model...fair copies....3 hours left....aaaah! I ran into the room where I was working....and there my model was ready!! Tada.

My father made it for me :) He stayed up all night and just some 45 mins before I woke up he had gone to sleep. I was so happy, I was all smiling...I smiled at him. He said, “I read the content in your rough copy of your lesson that was here. And I know you were tired. I didn’t want to wake you up.” I couldn't stop smiling. It reminded me of the story of the cobbler and the elves who made the shoes for him.

So I only had to write my plans in fair...and I gave my lesson...which was quite good. My student really liked the model and wanted to continue playing with the animals and putting them into their homes even after the lesson got over. So that's that.

My Elf....My Dad- Thank you :)

The little things that make me smile

Just randomly when I check the time on my cell phone and at that time it shows 19:11. Its my birth date.

When I see a street dog sleeping, yawning and stretching all at the same time.

Wondering why is the atm machine saying my card has expired when its written valid up to March 2008... not realizing the month is over.

At home we call Bournvita, Ovaltine.

As soon as I pour water to the plants, the pigeons come to drink from it.

When I outline a kid's palm on paper and the excitement they show.

The balloon walla with big balloons.

The shiny toys sold that fly up in the air. Seen it at the stations and at Juhu beach.

A truck filled with bananas.

Making something for someone and thinking about their reaction.

Waking up early and writing this post.