Thank you God

The year 2012 has been a wonderful year – very relaxed and peaceful. I slipped into my new way of life so comfortably almost effortlessly. Did quite a lot of travelling, so many short trips. Made few trips to Mumbai and Chennai to attend functions, weddings and other events; attended Mannargudi Garudasevai in March, made a trip to Ooty with Maheshwary just to experience the ride in the mountain train; went to Rameshwaram with Ramraj and family.

Friends and family members visited me at frequent intervals; made many new friends from all avenues – residents of our Home, patients from Ayurveda Hospital (from India and abroad), from visit to the shopping centers and temples and among the rural people in the neighbourhood.

My friend Dhanam introduced me to her friend The Reddys whose house has become my home away from home. I consider myself lucky to have made friends among my fellow residents, like Kanchana, Pudhukotai Lakshmi, Shantharam and Lakshmi Rajappa, who have been such a source of joy and inspiration for me. I have Mathaji of Vidya Peetam from across the road, somebody I can always approach for sharing my thoughts on any subject. I have made friends with people like Maria Galagan from USA and Geetha Varma through my contact with the Ayurveda Hospital. I feel at home having coffee with Manikkam, a rural woman in our neighbourhood. I feel safe having a taxi driver on call like Prakash, to pick me up at any time of day or night, who also serves as my guide and resource person for various needs.

I saw only two movies in the theater in Coimbatore the whole of last year, both Hindi movies – Barfi and English Vinglish. I saw ‘Life of Pi’ in Mumbai. Liked them all very much. 

I read quite a few books during the year, but most of them were rereads. Among them were Bill Bryson’s The Lost Continent, Erma Bombeck’s Family, Harper Lee’s To kill  a mocking bird, Paulo Coelho’s Alchemist, Hemingway’s Old man and the sea. I also read a Jayakanthan’s Tamil novel of the 60’s. Each one I enjoyed fresh. Read a few self-help books, Vedanta books and lots of magazines too. 

I have downloaded a number of Sanskrit slokas (and also the lyrics) I am familiar with / learnt in my childhood / taught by my grandfather. I enjoy listening to them and chanting along. I have also downloaded a few popular carnatic devotional songs by famous artists and identified links to listen to religious discourses. I enjoy listening to them any time of the day. These activities keep me motivated and engaged.

The last month of the year has been exceptional. I went through a 14-day Ayurvedic detox programme, which I have wanted to do for over 25 years. It was a luxury I indulged in. it was fun and satisfying. I came out fit and healthy.

The last programme of the year was the grand finale - a holiday at Wayanad with Ramraj and his friends with their families. I travelled from Coimbatore to Mysore by bus and joined Ramraj and group at Mysore for the journey to Wayanad. It was an amazing holiday. Interacting with people 30 years younger than me, revealed to me who I am and what I am capable of doing. I enjoyed every bit of it. I congratulate myself for taking the risk to go out with so many total strangers.

I usually say I am lucky to have such a wonderful year. But now after having been exposed to so many Vedanta lessons by Lakshmi Rajappa and Mathaji, I feel God has been extremely kind to me. I have never asked him for any favours. I have never even imagined that I would one day be enjoying a lifestyle like this. My total acceptance of whatever He has in store for me has given me the best life I could never have thought of on my own.

Thank you God.

A Sunday morning expedition

06.01.2013

Last night I went out with my friend Lakshmi to do various things. We also did some shopping at Reliance super market. I bought a few things for other residents in our Home. While sorting things out this morning I found the ½ litre of sesame oil priced at Rs. 127. I felt it was too high. The last time I bought, I remember it to be something just over Rs.80. I checked the MRP price in the pack and it said Rs.119. The price could have gone up since then but I couldn’t accept Reliance charging me over the MRP. I checked the price of all the other items and found they were all charged at the MRP. And at the end of the totaling it had a ‘savings at this purchase’ as Rs.10. I couldn’t understand where that savings came from when I have been over charged. My friend Lakshmi too had bought the same item and she too has been charged the same, and over and above that in her package the banana she bought wasn’t there and she was billed for that. I got her bill and the packet of oil too.

I decided to go over and complain. The day was good with overcast sky and cool. After breakfast and after hanging out the clothes to dry, I walked towards the bus stop to catch the 9 a.m. bus to town. It is a half a km. walk to the bus stop. Half way down my taxi driver Prakash, who happened to be there on a different assignment, pulled up and gave me a ride to the bus stop. So, I was a bit early at the bus stop, but as luck would have it the bus too came 5 minutes early. I got a window seat. Everything worked just so.

Got off at my destination and walked towards the shop. It was still pretty early in the day and being Sunday not many shops were open. I bought a magazine at the roadside shop. At Reliance at met the Manager just near the entrance and explained to him that I have come to return the items as I have been over charged for it. He said it is the system fault and they get the programme from Bombay. He was willing to take back and if I wanted I could buy something in exchange. I refused to buy anything else and asked for refund. He offered the bananas, but as they were over-ripe I refused that too. And he had no explanation for the ‘savings’ I have had in choosing to buy in that shop. I told him to complain to the management with copy to me.

I still had to buy the oil for Leela mami. I went further looking for a local grocery store. I found an excellent one – Bharath stores. The shop was chock-a-block full of things, well stacked and brightly lit. I was impressed. 

While waiting to be served, I found some items of purchase on the counter and noticed the Munchies’ Lemon Puff cookies, my favourite Sri Lankan cookie. Just then I saw the young man standing next to it waiting to get the bill made. I started the conversation with him with the cookies being my favourite too, introduced ourselves and carried on talking as if we knew each other longer than just the few minutes. It was so very comfortable. He gave me his business card and I promised to keep in touch. 

As I walked back towards the bus stop, I didn’t resist the temptation to stop at the ice cream parlour and indulge myself to have a scoop of ‘fig and honey’ ice cream, with honey and roasted almond topping. I had to wait for nearly half an hour for my bus but it didn’t bother me in any way as it was still pretty early in the day. 

Travelling by bus, I was happily lost in thoughts of all the happenings of the morning. My interaction with the young man reminded me of my own sons living so far away and I missed them very much which brought tears into my eyes. But that too made me feel happy as I was being in touch with my own emotions which I usually suppress or negate.

And surprise surprise, as I got off at the Mangarai bus stop my taxi driver Prakash was there with his jeep ready to pick me up and drop me at my Home. He was on the lookout for me on his way to his home and just guessed I may be coming back by that bus at that time.

What was the purpose of my morning expedition? 

To complain about being over-charged Rs. 8, I spent Rs.22 for the bus and 3 hours of my time. Was it worth it?  

May be not if I think very rationally. But all the other things that happened along the way made it so worthwhile. 

I shared my happiness with my friend, fellow resident Shantharam, who has such an endearing way of ‘envying’ me my good luck with honest, heartfelt good wishes, and blessings. It made my day.