A storehouse of memories

Most ancestral houses in Kerala have an open courtyard which essentially gives the house its unique stature. This open courtyard is always built with either four, eight or sixteen pillars surrounding it. Thus was born the name Naalukettu ( Naalu is the number four in Malayalam ) Ettukettu (Ettu is the number eight in Malayalam) or Pathinaaru Kettu ( Pathinaaru is the number sixteen in Malayalam). Whether it likes it or not , this courtyard is a partaker to many important and unimportant events of the house. Be it a wedding, a demise , a family get together, a dance performance by the women or a game of hide and seek amongst the children. It clearly preceeeds in importance compared to the other sections of the house.

Such Naalukettu houses are many in number in Kerala though many a time, they do not live long enough to narrate their stories to the future generations. When owners can no longer bear the burden of maintaining these large houses, they are usually sold off to private parties. They in turn renovate them and convert them into boutiques or coffee shops to attract the tourists.

It is in one such Naalukettu where my father and all his siblings were born. It is also the house where his mother and all her siblings were born. I do not know the year it was built, but I sure know it dates back to the 1930s. I remember it from the time we moved into my hometown.

Whenever I set foot inside, memories automatically rush in. Those were the days when all of us cousins would huddle around one of the pillars of the courtyard to listen to the stories of the eldest grandmother. Even the youngest of the uncles loved to boast about his adventures as a teenager and we would listen, totally awestruck. When it rained, each of us would try to outdo the other with our paper boats. There was a small room in the house which was used by my grand uncle and right above his room was the attic. We would empty numerous Cutticura powder tins on our faces, smear our eyes with my aunt’s kaajal pencil and hide in the attic. The sole aim was to scare the poor soul. He used to get livid every time. “Naashangal” he would mutter under his breath! One day our plan backfired and we were locked inside the attic for two hours. To everyone’s amazement, we brats explored every corner of the attic to discover old books, expensive artifacts and abandoned photographs. We became self proclaimed heroes!

Even after many years, this house is still a class apart from the numerous houses and apartments that have sprung up on all four sides. There are no permanent residents apart from the caretaker. Yet, it is amazing how this Naalukettu continues to boast of its acquired lineage and magnificence. The photographs of the our grand fathers and great grand fathers still adorn the walls, unscathed by the sands of time.

Though relationships may have strained, this house continues to bring us together on all happy and not so happy occasions. After all, this is where it all began.

Good Job Airtel!

Customer Care is maybe not such an over rated word, is it???

Heck! No matter what anyone says. I am truly impressed with Airtel's gesture of sending their most valuable customers a personalized table calendar. I happen to come across one of these given to my colleague, Maya George. Gifts such as these truly stand out and leave an impression. It makes you smile each time you look at it. I remember making one of these for my parents for their 25th Wedding Anniversary. My folks were thrilled. Though the year was 2008, my mother still keeps it and likes showing it off!









It is indeed a great way of saying Thank You for choosing us. Also, if you ask me, this is yet another way of putting creativity into good use.


Vodafone, U listening ?:-)

I Like Bangalore ??

I reached here in June 2007,... almost three years and counting... Ok, so maybe I am not in love with the city, nor do I hate it! These are definitely some of the things which I love about this city ( atleast of what I know about it :P)

1. The WEATHER ( It is AWESOME!)
2. Koramangala ( The place I stay - its so self sufficient, you dont need to really go anywhere else, be it shopping, eating out, pub, books, alcohol, movies, gym, coffee.. you name it!)
3. The Volvo buses ( Makes travel so conveniant, affordable and comfortable)
4. Commercial Street ( Here is where I go if I have run out of options at Koramangala, Narayan Jewellers being my favourite silver jewellery store)
5. Koshys ( My favourite restaurant on St Marks Road)
6. Chemistry ( My favourite garmet store in Indira Nagar)
7. Its so much closer to home.(Touchwood)I am sure there are atleast 50 buses running daily from Bangalore to Cochin and back.
8. Blossoms ( My favouire book store on Church Street)
9. Alochol is quite cheap :P ( not that I drink that much...)
10.The WEATHER..... Sigh!

2009 - A year that flew by!

Before I begin my first post for this year...Here's wishing everyone.....

Happy Happy 2010!:)

When I look back at 2009 :-

1. Moved into a great job
2. Had some very very bitter fights with A, but all for the better(GOD has been kind)
3. Mine and A's relationship became official :)
4. Moved out of a PG into an independent house and again back into a PG (Yeah! Sigh!)
5. One of my closest friends got married. God Bless the couple.
6. My sister got into a good design school. Her hardwork really paid off! :)
7. Made a trip to Mumbai. Had a blast!
8. Lost touch with a close friend, but now things are better.
9. Spent a lot of time with family, much more than I used to.
10.My best friend had a baby girl :) Awwww...shes such a cutie.

It has been a truly testing year, and I learnt quite a lot. and I still believe that I am Blessed :D

Thanks to everyone who has been part of this one great year!!and for the others with whom I may have lost touch with....2010 will be different! Cheeeerrss!!

Keep Smiling!

It happened to me..

For starters I had a great weekend in Chennai, as usual.
The best part about the weekend - I missed my bus back to Bangalore.

And there I was sulking because the three day hectic weekend unfortunately had to end on a sunday night when I was scheduled to leave at 10: 30 pm. As luck would have it, I was totally exhausted and thoroughly "pooped out" after several walks on the beach, visits to meet family and friends, eating out and the works.

I decide to take a nap at 10:00 pm for "ten minutes", and ofcourse after a much deserved "power nap" there I am sitting up wide awake all ready to leave, but at 11:00pm!!
I shout at A, " What the F... its 11:00 pm". As calm as calm can be, he asks me to relax, its too late now.
I stare at him in disbelief. "But .....??"
I knew he would try his best to ensure that I reach somehow. We rush out. I grab my jacket, scarf, shoes and run to the car.
A drives in full speed. In fifteen mins, we reach. Just as he pulls in to the office of the supposed travels, a Volvo passes.
" I hope that one is not yours" says A
I rush to ask the first person I see from their office, " Bangalore... Volvo....?"
He is indeed thrilled to inform me " oh.. madame? sit No 16 ahhh?? Window seat ahh?? Bus ippothan poyachu"
Bloody hell.
I run back to the car. A tells me we will chase the bus, though we both knew that it had gone far head. Thats the thing with these Volvos I realize. We try to chase it, but it had gone completely out of sight.
A says " No point now, its ok, you can go tommorrow"
I immediately think of what to tell my boss. I must say he should be proud of me.
We get back home. I rush to log onto IRCTC for a train ticket. But the damned site is down - "service unavailable" . crap!
A says, with his usual sheepish grin " Let me take a photo, please"
I am disappointed, upset, angry, ashamed and also telling myself " its no big deal". Yes, I am sure that would have made a good photograph.
After many failed attempts trying to book a ticket on IRCTC and KPN, A tells me the best option would be to take the earliest flight the next day. We argue over the money involved.
After a while I painfully realize there is no other option.
And of course.. I am on this goddam plane now! Pah!
Yes, this did happen to me. ME.