I have reached that place in life which is in common analogy considered to be ‘Downhill’. I have not much clue about why it is called so, since I never even considered my life as an uphill. There was nothing too tiresome about the life led up to now… it has been an amazing journey and am sure the rest of it will be as beautiful. Only I wish some moments lasted longer… forever!
It was a life with very small desires and wants, but had sweet nothings galore. Relations were simple and linear; all get togethers led to a game of Ludo or Monopoly; everyone had loads of family time; mummy was young, beautiful and super energetic; daddy was the strongest of all and always around; sights and smells were distinct to announce the seasons… neem leaves fried with brinjals and potatoes, mango pickles and plucking amlacki fruits heralded summers, coolants and sherbets that mother made were the best my tongue has tasted till date… winters were dotted with aromas of gajar ka halwa and green peas kachori that wafted out of the kitchen, hot cup of chocolate and cakes that ma baked…the entire calendar had three long vacations and every one of them helped make a new photo album, new family videos and loads of newer memories.
The silence of the after-noons were only occasionally broken by the sifting and de-chaffing of wheat that ma would be busy with or her occasional rolling of the sewing machine deftly stitching a new frock for me… with all the men of the house snoring after a nice soul soothing lunch of bhaat, dal, aaloo posto and eleesh maach curry… 
New clothes were bought only during durga puja, kali puja and birthday and if ever we happened to get something earlier, they were all stored away in an iron trunk just so we never wore them before the festivals. New shoes were bought just before the new session began in school and life was perfect.
We never wanted more, never needed more… there were hardly any restaurant eat outs, or movies in a theater, or fancy malls and shopping sprees… everything was defined by an occasion, a reason, a season… Life was more about loads of golpo or gup-shups in the family living room, an energetic drive towards making the future, conversations were san puns and everything just came with a big dollop of love…
How then can that part of life be an uphill walk? Life back then of so many days now just sums up all in the bat of an eyelid… and it is this long and short of it all that makes me want to stop everything in time. Pause it all… to this time … here and now…to the perfect pretty picture.
Over_the_hills_and_far_away_by_webby85
The Perfect Pretty Picture
Somewhere in the beyond, life beckons at me
I stand somewhere far
Watch my family and smile
There I am, with my parents
My brothers…
All in the pink of health and wellness
The sunlight comes in through the window
And brightens up their faces
I look outside and see myself standing a bit far away
I beckon to myself to come in and join the family
But I say, no, some other time
I did not want to go in
I wanted to cherish those pictures
Pictures of my family in the best of health and happiness
In the prime of youth and energy
That is my favourite picture!
The sky is gorgeous outside
Colours playing havoc
And birds flying homewards
The trees dancing in merriment
As the wind caresses them in the evening light
I stand there, far away
And my heart lets out a prayer
Wishing in my hearts
May this picture always remain!
No, I am not dreaming
No, these are not my memories
This is true
Somewhere far away
In a land beyond
We are all living
The same of us
But life there is untouched
And undisturbed
There is no one rushing out to work
There is no pain and sadness
Happy events are not marred by tears
And cheers not interrupted by anger
Where laughter and giggles rule the day
And dreams come true
Sans fear of hurdles
But I do not go there often
Lest I may carry the blues of this world
And ruin the picture so divine
So pure
So I stay back
Here
Carry on with the mundane
And let me be there in peace
With my family and friends
With all those I love
Just the way I want it to be
The perfect pretty picture!
They call it ingenious little pieces of art… I think they are beautiful…. Knicknacks go a long way in telling us that small is beautiful. All my life I have been collecting knicknacks wherever I went, be it wooden dolls or dagger shaped key chains, wind chimes or vases, masks or puppets. What wowed me was the thought, the idea, the design and creativity that went behind it.The everyday craftsmen whose deft hands work effortlessly to turn out a perfect design from an inconsequential bottle, wood piece or even straws and candy sticks. Kaarukriti is a space where I display some of my creations. "Best out of Waste" is something that I adhere to and in the hopes of making this small world a little more pretty. And while some may go beyond the usual definition of knicknacks, I would still like to call them so. Welcome to Kaarukriti.
It was very nice . A small feeling that was expressed in a neat way. Keep up the gud work.
Rajesh
excellent work Maddy. I always have loved the way you write. Always a Fan.
Thanks Mels… that means a lot
I enjoyed this snapshot of your life.
)
Thanks Mark
Cheers