The Living and the Dying

While on our return journey, one whole bunch of elderly people boarded at Udupi. Two of them, a couple and the oldest of the lot were in our compartment and the others in the next. While initially helping out with 'our' couple with their luggage and stuff, people in the other compartment hardly even came to look at them otherwise, busying themselves eating stuff and talking all the time. Our couple seemed reserved and we minded our business as well, except for helping them out with their berths, bedsheets and a goodnight.

Morning is when we conversed and while the lady was cheerful enough, the old man almost cried. They are in their eighties and while they have almost perfect health, so many in their next generations were suffering from ill-health and some had even passed away. Nothing that we said could make the old man happy about living a long life. I almost said that it was my dream to live like him till eighty but kept quiet.

RR has put down the papers and while I should be happy for him, it'll be a big loss for me. We are birds of same feather and I won't know who to talk certain things to if he'll not be there. Just the other day I was thinking about people I care about in the office and he is one of them and I hope some negotiations work out and he stays. But I also know he's been unhappy for quite some time now and it's unfair to be going on like that.

Being Normal

Me : Anu, what do you want to become when you grow up?
Anu : Nothing special, Aayi. I want to become a normal woman. I just want to become a mother like you.
Baba : But Ani, you wanted to become a teacher, no?
Anu : (Animated) Yes, I want to become the strictest teacher in the world!

Shifting the Load

Major camaraderie between the siblings and I suspect it's to do with some change in Rishi's attitude. Anu suddenly announced the other day, "Aayi, ANNa is being very kind to me these days. So I love him the most in this house. Sorry, Aayi!". As if I have a choice. But being her favourite person is not easy so I'm not envying Rishi at all.

Many of our revealing conversations happen while we lie down waiting for her to sleep. Rishi's best friend is ST whose sister LT is in Anu's class. Rishi was thrilled that they would be a pair too but at the moment the two girls are sworn enemies. Anu was all furious that LT was such a bad person and she said the only solace was that she was a girl and she didn't have to marry LT!

The Inseparable Gang

I was telling Anu today that she should be smiling, happy and healthy. She had a ready answer. "I will be happy but on one condition, Aayi. Nobody should make me sad!".

Battered

And almost taking a pledge never to attend a wedding ceremony unless we know in advance where we will stay. We stayed at a pathetic place for two days and I can't believe it's run by my uncle! I don't think he's stepped into any of the rooms in ages. I mean, I hope not because it gives him at least some excuse.

Only one good part of that meaningless stay was that we all got hooked to chess, including Anu.

Roller Coaster Rides

Just when we thought we'd had enough of weddings, we are going to attend one more. But the journey has been a dampner in more ways than one. It's been raining ever since morning and our train is stuck at Mangalore for more than an hour. And as it happens usually, all our eyes turn towards Rishi who has to defend his love for trains yet again...

We are going to visit BR and family at Manipal and the men seem very excited.