Celebrating life!

  As the sun rises, another Onam comes & I nostaligize an Onam, 23 years ago When my non-Malayali classmates  Traversed the breadth of town In search of a sadhya & was forced to make peace with fried rice, For that was a time when all Malayalis Were busy spending time with their families & at home were floral carpets, swings, Onam music, the awaited homemade sadhya & finally the TV movie with a 100 interrupting ads. Maveli too I suppose must remember those times All too well For today there is home-delivered sadhya with all 27 items & OTT to watch whatever movie whenever  As well as Amazon purchases So that each family member can sit in a corner & forget about connecting this Onam with family Well unless you mean the virtual kind. As Maveli looks at a sadly digital Onam Does he miss those days too when we saw faces not screens? Will his rule ever happen again amidst such virtual chaos? I see him leaving with a sigh Unable to greet his people locke...

  This is the way the world works- cheat lie steal This is what the world wants- falsity acting glamor This is how the world treats the righteous- shun shame isolate  This is how the world treats the corrupt: exalt glorify role model Is it any wonder that we call it kaliyugam ?

  Muntezar & Muntedhar - Such confusing names! Who are you & who is he? Oh! Woe is me! You said you would certainly be A peaceful tenant of mine, but peace I have never known after you reached this house of mine. First the water, then the electricity, Then the air conditioner as well: Every day you would complain till all was well contained. I finally sat in my chair Thinking – it’s all over now. But the phone rings, It’s the immigration officer! “5 years I’ll put you in jail” “But why sir? Why?” “You submitted their documents late.”  “But within 24 hours I did sir!” “No! You were 5 minutes late!  Pay the 50,000 fine or go to jail!” I collapsed. Now I wonder from up in the clouds, Did my wife pay? Or was it my son?

 Nighty dearest, nighty dearest how wonderful art thou! You - the lifeline of every Mallu woman who lived in Kerala and abroad. From bright pink to pitch black there wasn’t a color you didn’t know and every woman cherished secretly the space and freedom with you away from the male roving, prying eye. With enough space to house an elephant too while covering her neck to toe, you would be accompanied by an old, worn, clean, whitish thorthu to hide even the smallest of flaws. But alas! By 2024, you seem to be facing the brink of extinction as globalization brought in replacements: pyjama suits, sleep lingerie, bathrobes and what not. As with everything else – you seem to be phasing out yet with a hint of nostalgia let me tell you Nighty, you will always be mighty!!!