I am her!

It was a beautiful morning.  The sun was all mellow when she woke up to the familiar scent of incense sticks.  By now, she knew it was half-past six and her Aajoba (grandfather) had finished his morning chores and pooja.  She quickly got dressed and headed out to greet her Aaji (grandmother) in the balcony, where she would be watering her plants.  She loved to see her Aaji in the mornings.  The way she caressed each plant with love, the way she talked to them and waited for them to respond, it was delightful!  Just then her Aajoba came in and thumped her on the back. "Suprabhat", he said, "it's pretty late and time for breakfast.  Go get yourself cleaned and come to the dining table!".  She grinned at him, hugged them both and ran in for the daily routine.  

It was almost more than an hour now when she finally was seated at the table eagerly waiting for breakfast.  Her Aajoba had something special for her today.  Maggi!  Every child's dream back then, Maggi was essentially a pack of instant noodles which was strictly forbidden at home.  Her Aajoba would make it only once in all the days she stayed with them and that too in his special way!  He diced tomatoes and onions so perfectly thin yet not too small.  One could taste their presence but never feel the need to brush them off their teeth.  The flavours were a perfect combination of sweet, sour, salty and bitter- a perfect savoury dish!  She relished it, Oh, how much she loved him at that moment!  

As breakfast ended it was time for her most favourite part of the day- spending time in the terrace.  She loved it there.  It was a paradise.  The vivid colours of the sky, flocks of pigeons and sparrows soaring around, the cuckoo singing melodiously, the rare sightings of an eagle with his wings spread out- it was the ideal place for brooding over thoughts!  She would contemplate, muse, reflect, ruminate and most importantly dream!  It felt like meditation.  

She reminisced about the small life lessons she learned as her eyes would sparkle with wonder.  Every incident in her life was teaching her so much.  As she pondered over the morning breakfast and the dreamy taste of Aajoba’s Maggi, she realised that it was just two extra ingredients that had done the trick!  Two small additions and Maggi was no longer the one she knew. It was special.  It was Aajoba’s Maggi!  How wonderful was that!  Was life so too?  Were small changes in habits, thoughts and actions capable of remarkable things?  She smiled to herself.  Maybe that was just what Aajoba was thinking when he made her that dish!  Her eyes twinkled with joy.  

She was so fond of the terrace.  Here she could be with her own thoughts.  Here she was truly free cerebrating.  Here she dreamt of mountains, farms, and vineyards.  She thought of magic and enchanting pursuits.  The thought of her family and loved ones would get a smile on her face.  It was this very place where she wrote her first poems and scribbled her first stories.  This was the place where it all began, and this is my story.  I am her!