Pregnancy is a beautiful thing...!!!

Pregnancy can be a tough time; I am extremely lucky to say, that on the contrary, it was a very enjoyable and a memorable time for me, so much so, that it is impossible for me to describe it.

We were in Belgium when I became pregnant. Far away from family and friends, there was nobody to help us out, yet we pulled it off pretty fine.
SS was just fantastic. He supported me on every step and turn and in everything I wished.Without his valuable support and cooperation I don't think I could have had such a nice time; but even greater than his help and support was the complete faith which he had in me; he trusted me completely and fully, allowing me to do whatever I wanted, never questioning me or even doubting me that I might be wrong.
In the first trimester, when pregnancy hormones made me too weak, sleepy, lethargic, breadthless and unable to stand smells of any kind, he promptly took charge of the kitchen despite knowing nothing about cooking. He handled office and kitchen simultaneously making up hilarious parodies on the spot to fit any situation we were in. I fell in love with him deeper than ever before.
He took such good care of me; preparing fresh fruit juice for me straight after returning from office, washing the utensils and cleaning up the kitchen till it would be almost midnight, stocking up on food, milk and grocery every 3-4 day though normally he hates this kind of shopping, serving me milk and breakfast by my bedside, tenderly helping me every time I sat down, stood up, or settled down in bed and even put on my socks and shoes when I became too big to bend down.
Buying bunches of romantically beautiful roses and tulips every weekend, going to Amsterdam Central to eat falafal which we loved, taking a walk round the block or in the glitzy shopping mall or beside the picturesque canal in the chilly afternoons and evenings, enjoying beer and dinner in seductive candle light, listening to surinami FM radio while going to sleep .... are just some of the sweetest memories of those times when we two were so close together fully engrossed with the thoughts of the little baby we were going to have.
I spent my entire time in reading, studying, internet surfing and often strolling in the mall below till it was time for SS to come home from office. I collected a wide data on my present state and learnt all the medically recommended genuine do's and don'ts of pregnancy. It was
so wonderful to find out what was happening with me inside and out and the reason why it was happening; even more wonderful was to discover the nature's amazing sequence step by step in which the baby was forming inside.
Throughout the nine months, I continued wearing pretty Ts, jeans, tracks and sports shoes flaunting my bump as few women can dream of doing if in India because here it is considered extremely vulgar and shameless. After the first trimester was over, I had become my usual
healthy and energetic self and could accomplish all the house chores without much difficulty.
Finally HN arrived into this world blinking in surprise at so many lights, sounds and people around him so utterly different from the dark,quiet and solitary world he had come from. Now he is nine months old and we have never ceased to wonder at nature's miracles which directs and guides such a tiny creature making him master skills like rolling, standing crawling or speaking instinctively. It is truly nature's supreme miracle and should be enjoyed and marveled at instead of passing it by silently without getting to know it just as a spider passes by a chest of treasure.
I know it is easier for me to say so because I had SS who is the best husband in the world and because I happened to be at a place where generally, people consider it as the luckiest, happiest, nicest and most beautiful thing in the world; they regard it as an honor to bring a new life into this world and both father and mother equally participate in this process right from attending Ultra sound sessions and pregnancy classes together to witnessing the birth of the baby and feeding, diapering or bathing him.

Pregnancy is so differently handled here in India...!
Leaving aside the majority which lives in rural areas and is illiterate, the urban population which is both educated and well-to-do is barely better than rustics in this regard.
The father considers his main job is to impregnate his woman; he then assigns her to the care of relatives and forgets all about it carrying on with his work as usual; often the woman is sent to her parent's place to spend the entire term.Those who do keep near their wives at this time,
bear all the discomforts and changes in her with a bored indifference. Pregnancy and everything that this word entails, holds nothing unusual for them; after all, women have been getting pregnant ever since they were created so what's the big deal in it? They are only interested in the finished product.
The woman on the other hand is reduced to spend the most beautiful time of her life in complete ignorance. She is subjected to wearing drab oversized clothes to hide her bump, listening to and practicing centuries old anecdotes of older ladies in her family and friends' circle, confined to stay indoors as much as possible and the highlight of her state is only in indulging in mega eating and resting, that is, if she is lucky enough to have a good family otherwise often the story goes that she has to toil hard even in this state because nobody not even her husband has the least sympathy with her.

There is such a colossus ignorance in people here regarding such a wonderful and vital thing which is pathetic. The more so because despite a lot of advancement, education, medical facilities and available littreture on the topic, people not only lack authentic knowledge on this
subject but display a total absence of curiosity to know and a desire to learn and so prefer to be happily guided by age old ridiculous old wives tales and techniques. The gynecologists behave like a mothers-in-law and mothers-in-laws like gynecs.
(Well, leave about pregnancy, most do not know even simple human anatomy. A lady in my relations, unfortunately,died after suddenly experiencing pain in her chest region; she was 8 or 9 months pregnant. Till date, the family believes she died because the baby inside had climbed up towards her heart which caused it to stop. Similarly, many people ( here in India), believe that a pregnant lady should eat a lot of butter specially in the 9th month as it will make the baby slide out of the birth canal smoothly.)

Pregnancy is a wonderful state. Its each and every week is full of marvelous wonders. Its a miracle how just a cluster of cells multiply and become a miniature human being. Its a unique experience to feel a living creature moving, kicking, hiccuping and somersaulting inside your body. Despite the numerous discomforts of the state, there is an undeniable joy and thrill in it which can never or rarely if ever be compared to anything else; what's more, these joys and thrills and wonders are not just for the mother alone- they are also for the father to be. Its such a shame that so many people here treat pregnancy as an ordinary trivial affair and pass it by without enjoying or admiring it. Like animals, they just enter this state and come out of it.
Ignorance is something always to be pitied but nowhere more so than here...!

I Love CMS..!!

People generally regard teaching as a low paying, non status, unimportant, easily aquired, niggardly, lustre lack job. Given the choice, nobody would choose it while those who are already in it are usually because of some constraint. Ask them why they are here you will get
pretty reasons, none stating they are here because they specifically chose it. Ask them if they like the job. "Nope." is the prompt answer. Such is the mindset of most people here.

I was a class xi student when I started teaching; I had the same mindset described above and the purpose to do so was to earn pocket money and become independent. Within a month, I discovered I was cut out for this job.I joined a small primary school. Despite extreme work pressure, dirty politics, unfair administration, popular work escape culture, unavailabel resources, air tight mismanagement and a bird-cage like work atmosphere I was thoroughly enjoying my work much to the amazement and dismay of all others.
And then I joined CMS - the most unusual school in the world.

CMS is a Guinness Book of World Record holder for having maximum number of students in a single city ; it has 22 branches and a whopping 30,000 students.
Well, this was all I knew when I joined it as a Pre primary teacher; and before the first week was out I had fallen head over heels in love with it.
The school premises was so beautiful and spotlessly clean all around inside as well as out. The red carpetted marble Pre Primary gallery flanked on both sides with huge children's activity boards, the increadibly lively and colorful classrooms, huge green playground bordered on all sides with flags of all countries fluttering gracefully, the luxuriently lit beautiful auditorium... everything about this school was a picture of perfection.
The classroom and the prayer assembly became especially close to my heart. All classrooms were prettily and faultlessly furnished according to nursery style, having all montessori apparatus, developmental toys, personal care articles and plenty of picture story books. We had plastic mats which children knew how to spread on floor and settle down to play, a tiny wiper and dustpan and brush which they loved to use to learn cleaning up themselves, a tray with a jug and glass to learn serving, pouring and handling activities, a mirror and a comb to tidy themselves, huge display boards having lots of themed educational picture charts and the birthday section where children's names were put with their birth dates.

I loved my class. It was the most endearing place for me. Being with children was like being with God. It drove all personal thoughts and emotions out of my mind. I enjoyed the pure and innocent company of children where even the shadow of any evil is out of question. My class
was my whole world and the school became my second home. I actually used to feel sorry when it was time for me to go home.
The prayer Assembly used to be the highlight of my day. It used to be a half hour long affair where under the supervision and guidence of music and dance teacher, the children learnt to sing nursery rhymes, prayer songs, dance, deliver school pledge, exercise etc accompnied with
beautiful music. I could almost feel myself getting connected with God at the time those prayer songs were sung.The feeling was so overwhelming that tears would start in my eyes and goose bumps rose. For me, even today, Rupali the dance/music teacher and Sanjeev the music teacher who played the casio, are the best singers/musicians in the world.
Although many would consider it an overstatement, for me its plain, stark, naked truth. I have visited many prominent religious places in India like varanasi, Mathura, Gokul, Ayodhya, Tirupati, Meenakshi etc but I have never come across that utter peace, serenity, spirituality,
divinity and above all presence of God which seemed to overflow in those prayer assemblies.

I was divinely happy and incredibly contented there.This school offered me a huge platform to exercise all the talents I possessed. By nature I am an artistic and a creative person. I loved to decorate my class, paint, sketch, organise and conduct cultural activities, elocution, dramatics etc. etc. Many felt convinced I was trying to impress authorities; they had no idea I was merely pleasing myself and the creative urge within me.
It was funny to see how I was mostly regarded with admiration, a bit of envy and even threat. But nobody, simply nobody quite understood my love for school or my love for teaching.
I run into people from all walks of life and from all age groups and almost all of them regard it boringly funny of me. They can't imagine how can anyone love teaching of all things..!
Till date I have not met with anyone whose passion for teaching or work matches mine.

Almost four years have passed now. I have got married and have a baby less than a year old. I live in a different city. I am now a full time stay at home mom. I remain busy 24x7; yet, I have been unable to forget my incredible, incomparable CMS in any possible way. It continues to haunt me in memories and dreams and it appears will always do so. Sometimes when I am alone with my baby I find myself singing those nostalgic nursery rhymes and songs to him which I used to sing in those prayer assemblies.
I mean to start working as soon as my baby is a bit older but Alas ! I can never hope to get another school like CMS again.

I love CMS.

Things I absolutely love and absolutely hate.

Big happiness often lies in small things....

Some things I absolutely love

My camera

My laptop

High heel black shoes/ long black boots

sports shoes

tight jeans

short tight black skirts and minis

black overcoats

motor biking ( those super sexy scooters for ladies...! )

biking,riding,walking or travelling in light drizzle

cycling by riverside or country lanes

cuddling round in my fur blanket

frothy coffee in a large mug

coca cola

lying curled up in blanket on a comfy sofa

running up the stairs

playing silly pranks on unsuspecting people

bhelpuri

cottage cheese

lychee ice cream

soups and pickles

my favourite books

classic poetries(like Shakespeare, Wordsworth)

short stories by premchand

watching Sherlock Holmes( my first love...!)

Opening music of Sherlock Holmes TV serial

dark clouds or heavily clouded sky

pelting rain or light drizzling

thunder sound and lightening

moon playing hide and seek with clouds

starlit sky with no moon

natural scenery especially mountain scenery and rivers

autumn leaves

winter snow

dense fog

music rhythm / beats in a song

animal babies especially kittens and pups

candles especially colored ones or burning through coloured glass)

busy shopping centers

tastefully decorated houses.

modern furniture

mirrors

decorative plants

beautiful and heavy curtains, net curtains

decorative lights

candlelight dinners

getting gifts

beautiful crockery

carpets / carpeted floors

glitzy shopping malls

quick witty sense of humor

humorous people

today's hinglish type of speaking using raw phrases and terms ( hardly sophisticated but very endearing)

wise quotes

researching a new topic which is interesting to me

History especially British and French history

Geography

Things I absolutely hate:-   

bright sunlight
messy, disorderly rooms.
AC
mopeds
films on underworld
circus or people performing tricks
magicians
direct sunlight in rooms
heavy jewellery (or too many jewellery items on a person) in fact any jewellery other then rings,bracelets and earrings
heavily adorned brides
heavily attired grooms with some stupid looking head dress and riding on horseback.
too much wind (that blows away yr clothes and hair and make u feel cold despite sweaters)
shabby dirty cars or bikes
improper pronounciation
gossiping women
badly dressed babies and children
homes decorated in bad taste
parties of all kinds but most especially B'day and kitty parties
people who tell u to take off yr shoes outside before entering their house.
badly served dishes
badly worn sari
eating with fingers
my current lanlord
doctors who delight in prescribing unnecessary medicine
government officials who dont work
all politicians,their speeches,their very appearance on tv or newspaper ( in short,everything related to them)
watching TV
TV serials, most reality shows
many news channels and their news readers( they caw harshly and appear like vultures tearing flesh to me)
bad photo shooting( photo composition)
weird superstitions/opinions and advices
disorganised kitchens and homes
ostentasious weddings, b'day parties, anniversaries
b'day parties for babies and children
adult style of fashion for kids eg low neck sexy sort of dress for a 4 year old girl
jewellary and makeup on babies and children
barbie dolls
parents who allow their baby/child to remain naked in front of guests
parents who over pamper their children
women who constantly talk about their husbands, children, recipes and TV serials
snobbish people
people with low intelligence or no humor
people who show off their money, status, knowledge or attitude.
visiting temples due to the dirtiness, noise, crowd and clearly bad behaviour of devotees/management staff(in tirupati staff pandits were taking bribe; loads of cowdung, flies and ciggerettes in chamunda devi mandir etc etc)
loud sounding crackers
throwing colours on holi

My Landlord is so sickening...!!!

Really, my landlord is getting too much on my nerves. He is such a miser....!

Although an affluent man, drawing more than 60 thousand per month as rent, several thousands as his monthly pension and his son and daughter- in- law in US drawing hefty salaries, I wonder why he still lives like a poor man who counts his every penny.
His huge 3 story house in a posh area in Pune is no better than a village house. His kitchens are horribly made. Whatever articles get broken or out of use, he uses them to furnish his rental apartments and then charges huge amounts of money as rent from them; and when they further break down on use, he tells the tenants it is their duty to get them repaired. Broken pressure cooker that doesn't whistle at all, knives that have forgotten they were ever made to cut, spoons which have become sharpened from regular scrubbing , they actually cut your mouth when you put them in, cracked ceramic cups, mixers with loose lids, pans with handles missing, you name it and its there. He has arranged for one kitchen amongst 3 separate apartments. This kitchen has a 3 burner gas stove whose one burner does not function properly. There are limited utensils and of course all partially working ones. There is only one tiny open kitchen shelf where the three tenants have to keep their monthly provisions, even things like milk, eggs, butter etc which often serve as delicious dinner for stray cats in the night. So, can you can even imagine the sight and condition of it where 3 people have to cook food together or one after the other with such limited or bad resources? To top it all, he has provided no aquaguard for pure drinking water, no refrigerator, no washing machine and no electric iron so that he can save electricity and money on buying these appliances. In our 2 room apartment there are only two power plug sockets and they are so lose that keeping the plug stay in is a big problem.. Now how am I supposed to charge 2 mobiles and a laptop plus keep the internet cable plugged in all the time?
The sofa set in the hall present the ideal specimen of his miserliness. He has kept a thick ply board on their seats and has kept another thin sofa seat on top of the ply to prevent the actual sofa from spoiling ...as if he wants them intact for his next life as well !
I had been thinking this was the height when something else happened to set new standards to his stinginess.
I have mentioned earlier that his son lives and works in US. He has a small child of just one and half years. They were on a visit to India for 15 days after a long gap of more than 3 years. One might think his heart would have been overflowing with love to see his son and grandson after such a long time but it was far from that. He continuously quarreled with them for petty things like running the geyser for more than 10 minutes, became too angry with them and stopped speaking to them even to the little adorable grandson and then finally started demanding money outright for all the expenses he was running into due to their stay in his house. I heard, he even refused to provide his jeep to them which they needed to visit the wife's parents in the same city so they had to go by an auto. They got so fed up in the end that declaring they would never again visit him, left for US, 3 days before their scheduled departure.
I have heard, his daughter who stays in the same city often comes here to stay when her husband goes away on tours; he makes her too pay for her stay in his house.

Up till now, I had merely been regarding this man as extremely irritating but the episode of his son has produced a strange mixture of pity and hatred in my heart for him. He must be sick in his mind to treat his children in such a hideous manner. What does he think he is gaining by saving so much and estranging his own son and his dear family? Is it just his miserliness or something greater than that?

I wish fervently that may his house get burgled one night and all his hoarded money get stolen; I know, he has told me that a year ago someone hacked his son's account here in India and withdrew 5 lakhs. I am really overjoyed...! He truly deserves this.

There are people who just don't know how to live properly. Money is not the question. It is possible to live comfortably even if you do not have a lot of money and same way it is possible to live uncomfortably even if you have a lot of money. My landlord precisely falls in the latter category. I am actually feeling sorry for him; poor fellow ! he thinks himself wise by having saved so much money and spending it so judiciously but he doesn't know that he is in fact a very poor man - far poorer than a laborer or a rickshaw puller who strives in sweat and blood to keep their family members happy and smiling.
This man is sick...!