Cobalt and Umber and Ultramarine

Cobalt and Umber and Ultramarine
Ivory, Black and Emerald Green
What shall I paint to give pleasure to you
"Paint for me something, utterly new"

I have painted you Tigers in Crimson and White
"The Colors were good, and you painted them alright
Now paint me a Country where nobody goes
and Paint me the people whom nobody knows"

Courtesy: (Poem in the 5th Standard Textbook, which I still remember faintly)

Breaking the Padma Spell

Padma was the most desired thing for me during my prime. I used to shout atop Mountains, crevasses, cliffs her sacred name, like a verse "Padma, Padma". She would reiterate by shouting back her name "Padma, Padma", which would eventually fade out. People told me that it was the echo. But, I knew that it wasn't an echo, it was my beloved calling back to me making me feel her omnipresence.
During rainy days & snowy nights; I missed her in my blanket so bad. I was lonely without her. I loved Padma, she was the Girl in my dreams. I searched for her in every nook & corner of the world, but couldn't find her. She died being the girl of my dreams.
Now since I am 60 I am at all liberty to confess my seduction towards Padma. Today I am going to open the Pandora's Box (Padma's Closet) & reveal all the secrets related to Padma. Padma a cold blooded homo-sapien, a commoner as you & me. She is no royalty; she is as blood & flesh as you & me. Padma term was coined by me for the ilk of all typical Southie girls in Bangalore.

Features:
1. Hair: Smeared with oil; neatly tied; & a Gajra clinging onto it
2. Skin: Dark skinned; no white = no black - bloody confusing brown
3. Face: High on features; nil makeup; traces of talcum powder - or maybe even Atta
4. Eyes: Traces of Kajal; even darker than the Dark knight (oopsy night)
5. Neck: Gold Jewellery covering it; A pendant pendant swaying from one side to another
6. Below Neck: Arrggghhhh Forget about it (Flatron TV's)
7. Typical Figure: 30-28-40 (Breast Waist Hips) - Her figure may give Kim Kadarshian a run for her money - All thanks to the Chawal chawal & more chawal
8. Legs: Skinny akin P.T. Usha's Legs
9. Feet: Let’s not talk about it; Even Krack Cream couldn't fill the crevasses
10. Clothes: Saree; Skirt & Blouse with a Chunni
11. Favorite Colors: Orange with Golden Borden; Brown with Golden Borden; VIBGYOR with Golden Borden; Anything with Golden Borden would do
12. Favorite Dish: Rice with Rasam & Sambar
13. Boyfriends: Nil till date

Characteristics:
1. Strengths: Her Charisma; Dusky Beauty; Rusty Makeup
2. Weaknesses: Craving for Rice; Fairness Creams; Fragrant Oil
3. Motto followed: Simple Living & Highly Freaking
4. Hangs out at: Gardens - (Discs; malls; pubs; etc are a total no no)

Similarities with Ugly Betty:
1. Smelly Body
2. Hairy arm pits
3. Un-waxed hands & legs
4. Her wicked smile
5. Lice infested hair

Fantasies:
1. Wants to see ice (not-rice) once in her life
2. Raise 2-4 kids

Photo Courtesy:
http://tusharanchan.blogspot.com/2010/08/south-indian-girl.html

Marriage & Change Management

1. Fun:
Earlier I used to freak out with friends; now it’s behaving nicely & in a sophisticated way with the wife.
Gone are the days when I was one nasty wolf, now it’s a Chihuahua going around, making no noise.

2. Yearning:
There was always a yearning in the mornings to hold someone tight in the bed, & this yearning has now become a reality.

3. Overcoming my vices:
My vices were never known to me before, more so because everyone used to think high of me; marriage made me mindful of my vices & I am working on to overcome my vices.

4. Carelessness & Negligence:
These are the things of the past. She's a perfectionist & the margin of error in doing things should be 1 part per million

5. Mitochondria Dysfunctioning:
Energy Levels have dropped considerably. Jog of 8kms a year back is now restricted to only 2kms; heavy panting & sweating an add on feature.

6. Kindness & Soft spokeness:
With my friends at times I was mean, but niceties & courtesies have become like the main course of life. Some of my friends even told me "there has been a considerable & commendable change in me post my nuptial"

7. Anger Management:
My worst nightmare is me angry to the core, but I am learning to let go of trivia, & managing my anger & impatience. Practice makes perfect.

8. Sacrifices:
I haven't done any so far. She is the one who has left her family, house, friends, job so as to be with me, for a lifetime & 7 others to come.

9. Compassion Vs Compatibility:
I always was of the view that it is the "Compassion" that keeps a relation ticking; but now I am sure that it is the Compatibility Quotient & Understanding that keeps the relationship ticking.

10. PDA (Public Display of Affection):
Holding Hands in the Park, on the road & where not; Bear Hugs while driving __Censored__ (else I will be censured)

11. Humor Dosage:
She's got a whacky sense of humor that can instill life in anything. It also helps keeps my heart healthy & sets a curve on my otherwise silly face.

12. Indulgence:
Breakfast served & fed - hot & crispy; Evening Tea hotter than she herself is;
Dinner cooked perfectly minus spices & oil, plus retained taste & aroma.
Savours my taste buds everytime

13. De-Stressing:
I am de-stressed at almost all times. Even if I am annoyed with something; I resolve the issue there & then itself, so as not to conflagrate it.Keeps the relation healthy & prevents it from rottening.

14. Freedom Bygone:
Freedom is far bygone. I have to seek permission to go to parties, take consent before doing anything substantial, even if that involves buying groceries. I have to be home on time. I guess freedom is the only thing that has been bartered for other attributes, comforts & conveniences.

15. Living not for yourself, but for others:
Dad once said, "If you live for yourself, what did you live, live for others". Adopting that to make others lively & lift their spirits.

16. Making the two ends meet:
Building our own warm, cozy nest speck by speck.

17. Running home to:
Earlier I didn't have anyone to run home to, but now I can't wait to wind up for the day & go back home to her warm embrace.

18. Soaring Temperatures & Settling Heat:
She has made every effort honestly to settle down with my ilk. She has accepted people the way they are, & in a short span of time. There was riff & raff in the beginning but the dust settled soon. Thank God for giving me such a good life partner.

19. Changing Interests:
Pop & Jazz has given way to Jagjit Singh's Ghazals. Chai waalah's chai has given way to CCD's & Barista's now. Chaprii shopping has given way to shopping at the Malls.

20. No Money No Honey:
Picked up this line from our Tour Guide in Thailand. Credit Card Bills have shot up exponentially, not just to buy honey but butter, bread & jam too. Having a little variety in life is very luscious.