Month: February 2016

Anyone who is familiar with this blog could hardly miss my affinity for Calvin. He is so cute and adorable – who could help but love Calvin? Err – not including Susie and Rosalyn – and perhaps his parents too on most days 😉 But this post isn’t about Calvin but about a close relative of Hobbes who invaded my house the other day. Yes, believe it or not!

There I was busy plotting and planning the shenanigans of kiddie gang when I heard some suspicious noises. Convinced, it was a conspiracy to keep me from unleashing my ramblings on to the unsuspecting public, I determinedly ignored them. I had a deadline to meet and by Toutatis, nothing was going to distract me.

But then that is easier said than done isn’t it.I caught an unfamiliar flash of brown from the corner of my eye. Freezing, I glanced up.

A stripped brown cat (exactly like Hobbes), with its tail right up in the air, was taking a leisurely stroll through the bedroom. I snapped to attention. She didn’t even deign to quicken her pace or spare me a glance. With a haughty air, she simply continued on her inspection and the next instant she disappeared – a bit of her leer did linger 😀

I threw open the windows and doors, went down on my hands and knees but to no avail. I even called in the troops but she had quite simply vanished into thin air.

Convinced she had escaped, I tried to go back to my chores but doubts nagged me – what if she was still around, trapped, hungry thirsty?

Once again, I went down on my hands and knees, hoping, pleading praying for a glimpse of brown. But no luck – I dusted my hands. There was no doubt about it. I was alone in the house. Or was I?

A prickle of unease ran down my spine. Were the rumors true? Was our house really haunted? I had once laughed heartily and scoffed at the ghostly rumors – but I certainly wasn’t laughing any longer. Did I really see a cat or was it a ghost-cat?

Restless and antsy, every few minutes, I would get up to check the rooms for any signs of the cat or ghost till I was quite exhausted and frazzled. We had to go out in the evening; it was late by the time we returned and I had completely forgotten about the feline visitation. Famished, I lay the table and pulled at my chair.

I frowned – it seemed to resist my pull. Was it heavier than usual or was my imagination working overtime? I glanced down. Peeping out from under the tablecloth was a distinct brown stick. I felt like a bear – albeit a mama bear. Goldilocks had chosen my chair from 6 other chairs!

Instant evacuation was ordered and implemented – doors and windows barred – except one which was left open for Goldilocks. Poor kitty was frozen stiff with fear; she had to be roused from her catatonic state with shouts and gentle pokes and prods to her seat. After an initial natural reluctance to discard her safe house, better sense prevailed – two nimble leaps and she was gone.

Not quite sure who was more relieved – us as we finally got on with our dinner or Goldilocks as she broke her fast on an unwary rat or two. Phew, that was quite an adventure wasn’t it? Well, all’s well that ends well.

Got time to spare for Chapter 36 and Calvin? Before I forget, here’s the Blog Index.

And the thought (actually 2 thoughts) for the day?

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein

In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this. Terry Pratchett

Until next time.

Okay okay fine fine I admit that I am old – err old enough to be called Aunty at least. Yet I hate, simply hate, being called Aunty. I just hate it.Mami, Chachi, Tai, Dadi, Nani, Biji 😉 anything but Aunty!

Why? No idea just one of those inexplicable things, I guess. And the funny thing is, the older I grow, greater the irritation and that’s putting it rather mildly. It (see I don’t even dare say/write the word) sets my teeth on edge and grates on my nerves, just like the odd piece of chalk on a blackboard.

I was all of 23 when I got married and the day I got married, I became an Aunty – never mind that till the day before I had been mistaken for a class 9 student. What is with this trend in India that regardless of age, all married girls are aunties? But there was no getting away from it – Aunty I became, and Aunty I remain, much to my disgust.

Maybe it’s time to look within, find the cause and achieve freedom from this all-consuming destructive emotion? Could the inordinate angst be rooted in a dark, horrifying, best forgotten, incident that occurred decades ago?

Early one morning I tiptoed around the darkened bedroom, trying to get ready for college without waking my two-year old son. Some sixth sense that his mum was up to no good, made him restless. I wavered. I yearned to cuddle and soothe him. But as I cast reflexive glance at the clock, I froze . Yikes! Just five minutes before the last chartered bus left for college. I gave few quick strokes to my hair, hastily pasted a bindi on the forehead, grabbed the bag of books, whispered a goodbye to my mother-in-law and dashed out. I caught the bus running. I squeezed my way in, grabbed the hand rail and attempted to catch my breath. Firmly, squelching down on guilty feelings of having abandoned my baby, I tried to savor my victory as a student.

“Aunty,” a heavy voice boomed over my head. Instantly, annoyance and irritation replaced all other emotions. I turned to the speaker – a young man, possibly older than I was. That was it!  I looked at him icily and drew my lips in a thin sneer even as I gloated, it was time to cleanse my soul with the most apt retort possible,  “Yes Uncleji?”

But he beat me to it. “Aunty, there’s a bindi stuck above your right eye.”

The carefully crafted icy sneer dissolved into open-mouthed consternation as waves of embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Mumbling incoherently, I turned away and surreptitiously fingered my face for the offending dot. Sheer will power, grit and determination (and the fact that the bus was jam-packed) gave me the strength to continue to stand there for the rest of the interminable ride to college.

They say confession is good for the soul and after being an Agony Aunt (which by the way is way better than an Agony Aunty) for so many years, I thought it was time I unburdened myself.

Phew! I am still shuddering as I recall the incident. How about a few comforting words? Maybe share your most embarrassing moment – make me feel I am not alone. Come on now – you couldn’t possibly be thinking of disappointing your favorite Aunty (eeks!) would you? 😉

Oops before I forget, here’s Chapter 35 and Calvin (isn’t he hilarious?) and the Blog Index

Quote for the day

You can imagine my embarrassment when I killed the wrong guy:-Joe Valachi

Have a super day all of you!

What’s up friends? For some time there has been an overdose of gyan (and stress in Rajaniland – just have a look at Chapter 31 ) don’t you think?

Anyway, I think it’s time we all took a chill pill and relaxed a bit. And look what I found – a treasure trove of answer sheets of children giving a history test. I have put some of my favorites from this list here (though it is tough to choose!) but do check out the link below – it’s definitely worth a look. And a word of caution – read each word/line carefully

•  …certain areas of the dessert are cultivated by irritation.
• The Bible is full of interesting caricatures.
• Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 500 wives and 500 porcupines.
• Without the Greeks, we wouldn’t have history.  They also had myths. A myth is a female moth.
• Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock.

And I will die of an overdose of laughter Best you read the rest from the original priceless collection of Student Bloopers

Nothing like exams (or posting day) to bring out the creativity

Have a look at what Calvin and Hobbes are up to…

I wish you all a very good day with these words of wisdom by Mark Twain: “The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”

And just in case you are new and want to browse through the blog, here’s the Index to guide you.

Now you have no excuses  – have fun 😉