Fridge Space

From head to toe. Straight hair left loose, hanging naturally around her shoulders. Eye make up subtle… slight silver dust and kohl. Lipstick also pretty subtle. Silver, not very long, earrings. Black sleeveless kurta without a dupatta. Expensive watch but no fancy jewellery, just a silver bangle. Printed patiala. Black heels. Hmm. Not too flashy but mature and well-dressed. Okay maybe just a bit somber but what the hell. Doctors are serious people. They gotta be sombre. Wait, what about me. Did I look too… flippant? Juvenile? Mental check. Combed hair. Shaved (thank God I remembered to). Blue and green shirt (which my sister called Hawaiian print but I refuse to listen to her. Allen Solly is a mature man’s shop). Khaki pants, suede shoes. Yeah, not too flippant.

Okay, I have to stop thinking so much during a date. She’s pretty, and smart. And bored. Anu sighed. A discreet look at her watch. “Sorry, I was trying to remember if I switched off my laptop before coming. Saves energy you know.” She raised an eyebrow. Okay I’m a bad liar. “Alright, I was actually wondering whether my shirt was too bright for a first date. You’re in black.” A surprised but broad smile. Phew. I made a mental note to thank my mom later. Be yourself, she said. “It’s fine. I was wondering whether I was too…” “Sombre?” “Right!” “You’re not.” “Well it’s just that I lost a patient today. Wasn’t feeling too bright and cheery, you know?” “What kind of doctor are you?” “Surgeon.” “Wow.” “I usually don’t tell guys I barely know. It intimidates them. But you already know I killed a patient today so I can’t be too great a surgeon.” Her eyes clouded over. No more bright smile. “Heyy. I’m sure it happens…” “Yes, but it never gets easier.”

Silence. The food arrived. I watched as she cut her veggies neatly and fed herself. Clear, white teeth. “Why are you single?” Her fork froze in mid-air. Crap. “I’m sorry. I didin’t mean to pry, it just popped out of my mouth. Geez. I’m really bad at this date thing…” “No, it’s refreshing.” Wait. What? “And kind of cute.” A tiny giggle. Whaat? “But no it’s okay. My last boyfriend… he… well… it just suddenly ended.” Looking at my confused expression. “We disagreed a lot. And I needed space.” Hmm. Successful and mature but needs her space. “I’ll try to remember that.” She grinned at me. “Don’t worry, I already like you.” Never mind thanks, I’d fall at my mom’s feet later. Never trust a girl who wears black. Another one of her pearls of wisdom which suddenly came back to me. One which I’d ignore. The woman did lose a patient earlier, she had a right to be sombre. “What about you, Varun” “Huh, what about me?” “Well, why are you single?” “Uh. My wife died a few years ago. I’ve not dated much after that.” “Oh. I’m so sorry. May I ask how?” “Car accident.” Silence. Forks clattering.

The manager came to ask if we liked our food. Then the silence dragged on. “I miss her you know. But I think she’d want me to be happy.” “Yeah, ‘m sure she would.” Silence again. I cleared my throat. “You know. I don’t think I gave her much space either. Calling all the time, text messages, emails if she was away…” Oh hell why did I just say that?! I tried to cover up but before I could say anything, “That’s okay. You seem like a really nice guy.” She mumbled something about a fridge. “Sorry? Didn’t catch that.” “He took up a lot of fridge space.” Uh. Doctor’s lingo? “We lived at my place. Made a mess of my fridge. No space. Sorry. That may seem random. I’m a bit of a clean freak though.” I laughed. I found it funny, her cleaning up after a messy boyfriend and then scrubbing in and saving lives. “So am I. So you need clean space huh. My wife was messy too.” Argh, why was I bringing her up so often. “Sorry. I don’t talk about her very often…” “By all means. If you want to talk about her, you can. Doctor-patient confidentiality,” she smiled. God, what a pretty smile. Stark white against her eyes and black kurta. “Patient? Hmm so you’re going to fix me?” “I can try.” I didn’t realise we were staring into each others’ eyes till I heard the waiter clear his throat. “Ahem. Dessert?” After she ordered coffe, for me, and a massive chocolate brownie for herself (good, she wasn’t shy about eating a lot) we got back to the eye contact. And I started talking. About my wife, my job, my mother, my sister, my life… everything. Her eyes were like a drug which made me talk. Or maybe it was my latté. Either way, she seemed to like it. We paid (went dutch actually, though she insisted on paying for the entire meal) and I dropped her home.

The only time there was silence after an hour of chatting was when I drew up beside her home. “Er. So I’ll give you a call? Maybe we can do this again sometime?” Silence. “Or you give me a call. You know… if you’re interested.” “I really like you Varun. I don’t go around letting guys pay for my meal and drop me home and all that.” Phew. “So great! I’ll call you. maybe even tomorrow.” “Why don’t you come inside. See my place. Have some tea.” Whoa. My hesitance must have been visible. “Sorry. I don’t go around inviting guys home either. If you’re uncomfortable… Call me tomorrow. Or whenever. That would be nice. Good night.” She leaned over and I smelt her scent. It was subtle too. Like the rest of her. But nice. A quick peck on the check and she was gone.

I don’t know how long I sat there. It could have been an hour or a minute. I got out of the car. Walked up four flights of stairs. And knocked.

Footsteps. Then silence, And the door opened a crack. “Varun? Are you okay” “No, Anu I’m not.” She looked half-worried, half-scared. “I don’t go around barging into successful, single, female surgeons’ homes either.” She didn’t say anything. She just smiled. White teeth against a black t shirt this time.

I don’t remember walking in or her shutting the door behind me, locking us out from the rest of the world. I just remember drowning in her eyes again.

* * * *

She wasn’t there in the morning. Emergency surgery. There was a note though. And she’d signed it ‘love, Anu’. She’d said to call her later and that I should let myself out. No food in the house or the fridge, sorry, but a cup of coffee was there which I could re-heat in the microwave. I washed my face, dressed and went for my coffee. And I looked around. She really was a clean-freak. White walls, clean cut wooden furniture, white marble floor. I even looked through her books and music Jazz. And Danielle Steele amidst medical books. I laughed. She surprised me. I decided to take a look at the food she ate. Her fridge door seemed to be stuck but I pried it open. Amd I froze. I think my life may have flashed before my eyes. “Women who wear black. They’re cold, Varun. Be careful.” “He never gave me enough space… He took up a lot of fridge space.” I ran to the kitchen sink to retch my guts out. I don’t know how long I sat there. Images of the sliced up male body in her fridge kept hitting me till I realised I had to get out of there. I got up and realised I’d been sweating and shivering. My clothes were damp. I tried to breathe. But when I heard a key turn in the lock I froze. Footsteps. “Hey! I thought you’d have left by now. Just woke up? Last night must have been pretty tiring for you.” The smile again. Except this time it didn’t seem beautiful. She took her shoes off. “Surgery was great. Didn’t kill him.” She chuckled. “Sliced a man open and put him back together in no time.” I was scared to think she may practise on me next. She saw me frozen. Stiff. Staring at her black shirt. “Yeah. I like black. It suits me.” Oh God. Why were mothers always right. I was going to die.

* * * *

click to enlarge

Graphic copyright: Sanjana Soman


This is for Sunday scribblings.

The best Valentine's Day ode

For others out there who groan at the thought of red hearts, roses and all the mush that Valentine's Day brings with it, here's something which made me laugh.

A maddening day

What do you do when you’re infuriated,
So infuriated you can’t hear yourself think.
When you have so many thoughts in your head,
You can’t find the adjective to describe yourself.
‘‘How was your day?’’
Okay.
Things are always ‘‘okay’’.
But then who asks about your day, pray tell.

What do you do when you realise you made a mistake,
Something which will change your life forever.
When you realise the other person was right, and just out to help you.
Do you push them away and keep lying to yourself?
Or do you right the wrong.
Well, the answer my friend is blowing in the wind.
It’s rather obvious.
‘‘Should is a good word,’’ said a very wise friend of mine.
But humans never do as they should.

‘‘Stop lying to yourself,’’ I told someone a long time ago.
Someone who used to be my friend. She didn’t stop.
‘‘You think too much.’’ Well, yes I do. But who else can I talk to but myself.

I want to be the fish swimming in the pond.
The fish I see twice a day, the fish who relaxes me
When I’m just having the worst day.
Money is over-rated.
Or maybe I just don’t have enough.
I’d rather be the penniless fish.
Living amidst the lotuses and algae.
With no predators around and plenty of food to eat.

I’m a predator. Sometimes.
I’m also the victim.
Does he realise that? Ah no.
Fang’s bark is worse than her bite.
I’m not lying anymore. It’s all very clear.
Crystal.
Clear what should be done.
Done a long time ago.
When she did the same thing.
Follow in her footsteps.
But no. When that part of her life died, she gave it to me.
I’m not strong enough to give away what I inherited.
But I have to learn.

Time is slipping away.
How much longer am I going to take?

What do you do when you have so many thoughts in your head,
You can’t hear yourself think straight.
What do you do when you’re so infuriated with yourself,
You have nobody but yourself to blame.

Stop pushing them away,
They’re only trying to help.
Snort.
Or maybe not.

What do you do when you don’t have time to find a new life?
A life you dream about.
It’s simple, really.
But the simplest things are the hardest to achieve.

Grey’s Anatomy. Strawberries with sugar.
Feeding Tommy.
Clean feet and a warm cup of coffee.
An ink pen with black ink and a sharpened pencil.
Washed hair.
Driving with only music as my companion.
Talking to Priya after weeks.
Getting to go for a show or read a book for free.
Making my mother happy.
Sanjana’s 17 different ways of giggling.
An uncomplicated bear hug.
Simplicity.
Simple joy.

It’s time for me to get my act together.
‘‘I think you deserve more.’’
Don’t we all.

Chronicles of the lazy

Before my blog self-destructs due to negligence...

Some of the stuff I've been writing for work. The more creative stuff will come soon. (hopefully)

Spot the Tumbletots kid

Confident, eager to play and make new friends – a new activity centre works on the seven skills of a child

They have them in Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Bali, Germany, Britain and Singapore. And now Chennai has its own Tumbletots, just for kids. Programmes here – both entertaining and educational – are said to be such fun that kids in the city are jumping out of bed on Saturday mornings and dogging their parents’ footsteps till they’re taken to the centre on Lattice Bridge Road.

With programmes for children between 6 months and 7 years, Tumbletots promises to develop the core personality of your tiny tots, boosting their confidence, improving their motor skills, and helping them interact with new people. Baba, the centre manager, says that most parents who are regulars at the nine-month-old centre, say the same thing – ‘‘My child is very different.’’ When these kids spend their first day in kindergarten, they’re the ones running about, playing and trying to make new friends while the other kids would usually be bawling or clutching at their mothers’ pallus.

How does Tumbletots do this? Their sessions, twice a week, work on improving the seven skills of a child, including logical, linguistic, kinesthetic and other skills, using just exercises, activities and play. ‘‘Talking endlessly to such a young kid is pointless; a child understands best through play and experiences,’’ remarks Baba. Parents of the extremely young toddlers are taught to massage their kids, improve flexibility etc, and the young ones are given a free play session to learn through the sense of touch. The slightly older ones undergo personality development training as well. ‘‘It’s up to the age of seven that our personalities can be moulded and shaped,’’ says Baba. He explains how, through intense one-hour sessions, Tumbletots helps kids overcome stranger anxiety and cope with small losses.

Also, the bright yellow and red walls, interesting looking toys and mats are not there just so your kid can have fun (though that happens as well) – everything here has a purpose.


Save this:
New #48, LB Road
Thiruvanmiyur
64558687


Published: 23 November 2007, Indulge, The Indian Express

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Look Hoo’s here

Encouraging kids to read more, Hippocampus has workshops almost every day

How many kids read books these days, what with their favourite cartoon on the telly all time long? Admit it, there’s nothing easier than handing your child a remote control, when he’s bored. Hippocampus, begun in Bangalore four years ago and in Chennai in 2005, is trying to change this trend. Books, they say, help develop language, speech, and vocabulary. And with over 8000 books on their shelves and in homes across the city, theirs is a venture that really promotes reading when kids are young. History, geography, mythology, Nancy Drew, Secret Seven… you name it, Hippo has them all. Giving your kids a book, reading them to sleep or just spending time with them over a book is time well spent, promises Hippocampus director Chandni Khanna.

Kids come to this centre in Abhiramapuram to play, read, interact, make new friends, and learn new things. From theatre, painting, arts and crafts to simple sessions with a journalist, Hippocampus also conducts various workshops. Kids and parents can look out for something brand new every three months – from storytelling sessions and carnivals to slideshows. And what’s more, you can borrow a couple of books after the workshop is over.

With the centre recently launching a few ‘‘Hoo’s corners’’ across the city – to bring books closer to you – this only gets more interesting. You could open up one in your home too. All you have to do is take a collection of books from Hippocampus and lend it out to members once or twice a week. These corners are to provide access to people who live in various parts of the city, from OMR to Velachery.

Workshops are open to members and non-members, though non-members have to pay for each workshop individually. There are various packages at Hippocampus – to borrow books, multimedia etc and participate in workshops. Membership ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 350 a month. At the workshop tomorrow, your kids can belt out carols at the top of their voices and unleash their artistic skills while decorating Xmas cakes, biscuits and cupcakes.

Save this:
1/E Subbaraya Iyer Avenue,
(off C P Ramsamy Road)
24661544

Published 14 December 2007, Indulge, The Indian Express