Friends-Episode 3

Just got off from an abrupt call with N1. Due to online classes and assignments, it is difficult for her to have the cell phone for herself. We could not have a lengthy and proper conversation like we used to have.

Since this is a Friendship Day month I thought of continuing the Friendship series which I had started a year or so ago.

I joined a new school for my fifth standard at Ammamma's place. For the first one week I was in section A only to be transferred to section B. I don't exactly remember how we first met. I should probably ask N1 next time when we talk.

In no time we were best friends. We started going around together. She was my giggling, gossiping, and playing mate at school. We even formed a formidable group against the bullies. Who says children's life is easy? We were into groupism from the tender age of 10. Otherwise it was hard to survive the school politics. I digress.

She was a frequent visitor to my home and I to hers. There were many instances where we have gone to beach without any adult supervision oblivious to the elders. We had our own dance troupe to choreograph to. Since we were inseparable it was easy to find us in the school campus.

For high school she moved to another city. That did not stop our relationship. We continued communicating through letters, and meet whenever she visited her parents. I attended her wedding, and that was the last contact. Both of us got busy in our own life. I've tried making contacts through social medial without any luck. Most women change their name after marriage, so did she. There is no way I could remember her husband's name. Since I knew all her siblings' name I tried that as well. Three years ago I was able to track her brother on FB. I messaged with my number and info. I just cannot assume him to remember his sister's friend of another era. Within two days I got a call from her. The feeling was ecstatic. Both of us were talking, laughing, and pausing simultaneously. Looks like she was trying to search me as well all these years. I was touched when she said 'I was searching with your birthday'. It never occurred to me to try that method. 

She was surprised to know I had a choice marriage. She reminded me of my equal rights activism, which I had forgotten completely. She just assumed my feminism amounting to man hating. The conversation was walking down the memory lane. Many moments which had slipped my mind were brought back by her prodding. And few others that I had to jog her memory to. 

Being a mother to three beautiful children she fails to understand my childfree status, but quick to add that I was different from the rest since the beginning. Now we talk frequently whenever we find time. And try to be in constant touch through WhatsApp. Nothing much has changed between us. We both carry that innocence of childhood in our heart.

Happy Friendship day

The Month That Was July-2020

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July was not any different from June. The Covid-19 situation still continues. Number of cases in the city, state as well as country has increased. The death toll has reached 30,000. For our vast population the mortality seems minuscule. Only loved ones know the pain when there is death in the family. Government, bureaucrats, and people show lack of apathy. I can understand the plight of people who are out there to earn livelihood. What about others who loiter around without any reasons? It is hard to stay put in one place all the time and we have been doing it from the past five months. This is where civic sense and responsibility comes. We may not get infected. Even if we may survive because of youth and stamina. What if we become asymptomatic carriers to pass on the germ to others? Hubby and I make sure to turn down all the invitations from family and friends alike to hang out as most of them have small children or aged parents. Cousin M1 visited and that girl is more paranoid than I ever was. And for the unknown she has been in isolation for the last five months.

Our life continued staying at home, social distancing, wearing masks while going out for essentials, sanitizing, and glaring at people when they come too close to our comfort. My favourite quote for anyone who cares to listen is "Just because you have forgotten pandemic does not mean that pandemic has forgotten you".

The reading journey continued with five books this month. They are Queenie-Candice Carty Williams; Overdue Life of Amy Byler-Kelly Harms; Where the Crawdads Sing-Delia Owens; The Guest List-Lucy Foley; Sex and Vanity-Kevin Kwan. I was hoping to see the screen adaptation of 'Where the Crawdads sing" while reading, and to my delight Reese Witherspoon will be producing the film and it is in pre-production.

We had watched total 17 movies and they are; The Monuments Men (English) Vettah (Malayalam), Anveshanam (Malayalam), Beverly Hills Cops 1 (English), Beverly Hills Cop 2 (English), Beverly Hills Cop 3 (English), Memories (Malayalam), Mamangam (Malayalam), Spencer Confidential (English), Murder Mystery (English), 6 Underground (English), French Biriyani (Kannada), Law (Kannada), Gentleman (Kannada), Blood Shot (English), Shakuntala Devi (Hindi), HIT (Telugu).

We had watched good numbers of TV shows too. They are "Out of Love, Hostages, Bose:Dead or Alive, She, Test Case, TVS Pitcher.

I couldn't spend much time gardening this month. Still the plants are not complaining. I'm rethinking about planting tomatoes and chilies. I knew they are going to take four months to harvest. When all the micro-greens gives me a week to 10 days'supply, waiting for tomatoes and chilies seems longer. And they take lot of space too. We were thinking about creating more vertical space to accommodation few more plants. The search for that one particular stand is on. Our stint in the kitchen continued as well. 

Despite all these I miss traveling terribly. Any future travel seems bleak this year. Our friends constantly ask us how we are coping with the situation as most of them knew our passion for travel. We just say we are bidding our time. We (us, family and friends) consider ourselves fortunate if we could sail hurt through this pandemic. I might sound like an obsessive paranoid, which I'm about the Covid-19. 

July has been kind. How was yours?