Bhavana penned

“What do you want for your birthday?” he asked “A smartphone” I replied to him. Kiran rolled his eyes again as we had had this discussion for about four or five times during this year. Each time we had had this discussion, Kiran had opened my eyes to the ‘fact’ that a smartphone was a waste of time and money. In fact several times during our debates, he had pronounced that smartphone was a waste not just for myself, but for both of us. This had brought tears to my eyes with thoughts of ‘togetherness’. So he asked this question this week as my birthday was just a few days away. When he got the same answer from me, he said "All right, how about this? Check the smartphones your friends have, try them and then tell me if you still wish to buy one?" So, I told my saga to my friend and she said she wanted to take a look at my mobile first. She took a look at my mobile (a Sony Ericsson W20i) and gave a peal of laughter. I was waiting for her to subside with great ...

Find Part 1 here My newly found uncle became quite close to us and we started to visit each other during festivals and functions and so on. My uncle speaks a lot and and my family was silent lot and used to just smile and nod to whatever he used to say. My aunt is a sweet lady and very soft spoken and also used to pull my uncle's leg sometimes which used to give me quite a laugh! My uncle had also introduced me to one of the famous singer in Mysore Dr. R. N Srilatha with whom I started to learn senior lessons in carnatic music. So whenever I used to visit my uncle and aunt, my job was to sing for them. I was more than happy to do so... During one festival day (cannot remember which festival it was) We had visited my uncle and aunt's home (they had invited us) and for that day I had finished my part of singing for them and was watching some program on television. Then there was a knock on the door and I went to open it and when I opened, I froze literally. The...

My first serious crush was not on Shah Rukh Khan from then block buster “Baazigar” and “DDLJ” nor it was on Salman Khan of “Maine pyar kiya” fame. But it was on this man from one of the > then famous music album<  called “Gori Naal Ishq ko mitta” Yes, it was Jas Arora. W hen I saw him for the first time I was literally "crushed". I cannot remember cursing anybody more than Malaika Arora.  Ah!! his dimpled smile, his piercing eyes hit me hard on my head and else where :-) But my teenage heart ache was not for Jas Arora. Wait I am coming there.. My father had found a job in Mysore as a General Manager in a  Capacitor  producing factory and we shifted to Mysore when I was just 10 year old. Rest of my father's side family were in Bangalore itself. During my 12th year, I had joined Mysore's famous high school called Marimallappa's High school (hoping I would get a state rank in my 10th standard, this hope then I did not realize ...

Life until I met him,  was so stagnant.. So routine it was, Was without any purpose. Or, I felt it so! “Survive” was the mantra of my life. Work, home, work, home Was the usual routine. Was tired of the world and everything, It was a time when, young people, as young as I was; at that time Were all excited to live their lives. But for me it was a dull mechanical life. Tried to make friends, made successfully some, At the place I was working for a living. I wanted to find a love of my life all by myself, and many boys I came across, All disappointed me! Some how or the other. Some seemed mysterious and never opened up, some silly, some had other ideas. I wasn't the one who would fall for such men. Life had given me enough lessons. I was tired again, felt I will never find love of my life at all! I had decided, I will never marry, ever.. Then, I met this sunshine, He came to my life as a first breeze of spring, li...

On 28-Jul-2011, Kiran had dined with Czech Author. July is the Month of Authors Readings is the biggest Czech literary festival. It has been taking place annually since the year 2000. The event is organized and managed by the publishing house and cultural agency “Větrné mlýny“ (www.vetrnemlyny.cz). The festival traditionally takes place throughout the summer holidays. Czech Newspaper collaborates with this festival and asks question to the public and whoever are selected with correct answer, they get a chance to dine with one of the author. This way Kiran got chance to dine with Czech Author Tereza Brdečková. This was published on the Czech News paper “ Dněs“ on 29th Jul 2011 edition. Here are some photos: -- --Kiran with the Czech Author

After suffering from fever and body pain, I decided to go our doctor. So I started my journey along with Kiran of course to the doctor clinic in that miserable freezing weather. When we reached the clinic it was unusually deserted. So we felt ourselves very lucky that we will be the only one to be treated by our doctor. When we reached the door to knock it, I told Kiran that there is a note that today is a holiday. Ah what a good timing. So I was bit upset. So I started complaining (have got used to the Central European’s habit of complaining for anything and everything under sun) Me: How can doctor take leave? What about her patients? Kiran: Bhavana, doctor is also a human, so maybe she had some urgent work or something. Me: Oh yes, hmm..ok. Then I planned to go to post office to pick my registered post for which a note was left by the post man/woman since we did not pick it up at that moment. Fortunately the tram had a stop on the way to the Post office. I went into the ...

I know there were several kinds’ phobias but I wasn’t sure if I had any of them. I used to get scared of wooden bridges especially during the bicycles rides and feel giddy when I used to look down from a several storied balcony. I also sometimes get nightmares of falling down from a staircase and then I would wake up with a start. Even then I did not get a clue. But then there is this one incidence (2 years ago) which made me decide that I am true acrophobic. We have this habit of hiking anywhere and everywhere its inviting. Once we went hiking on a Moravian (South part of Czech Republic) mountain. We hiked to the top most part of the mountain and heard from a local that there is this tower about 30 meters high which we can climb and behold breathtaking views. We were excited by this offer and followed the direction to find this tower. We had to climb the mountain a little bit to reach this. We atlast reached this tower and Kiran was all excited. But I could not believe a ...

"Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced -- even a proverb is no proverb to you till your life has illustrated it." -- John Keats • Smile always. This is because humans from the time of evolution tend to connect with those who are pleasant in nature and when we smile it erases all the unanswered questions about a person (even if it is sometimes pretence). It is quite evolutionary that people feel comfortable with those who are smiling all the time than those who are frowning... • There is no point in losing temper for small and unwanted conversations. Losing temper only makes us lose the stand of what we wanted to convey. • Will no longer take online communities seriously (this is my personal opinion). This is because if you want to be friends with somebody, it is better to be friends in person (go to café with them or get together and speak your heart out) than through these virtual connections. We humans are social animals, so it only makes sense...

ಪಾಶ್ಚಿಮಾತ್ಯ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರಾದರು ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಸಸ್ಯಹಾರಿಗಳೆಂದುಕೊಂಡರೆ , ಅವರು ಹಾಲು ಹಾಗು ಮೊಸರನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವರ ಅಡಿಗೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ “ ಸೋಯಾ ” ದಂತಹ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಬಳಸುತ್ತಾರೆ ಹಾಗೂ ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು “ vegetarians” ಬದಲಾಗಿ “vegans” ಎಂದು ಕರೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇಚ್ಚಿಸುತ್ತರೆ. ಇಂಥಹ ಜನಗಳ ಪೈಕಿ ಮುಕ್ಕಾಲು ಭಾಗದ ಜನರು “Buddhists” ಗಳು ಇನ್ನು ಕೆಲವರು “ ಹರೇ ರಾಮ ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ” ISKCON ಗುಂಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ “ voluntary” ಕೆಲಸಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವವರು (ಹೌದು! ಇಲ್ಲೂ ISKCON ಗುಂಪುಗಳಿವೆ). ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ Czech Republic ಬೀದಿ ಬೀದಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ “ ಹರೇ ರಾಮ ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ” ಗುಂಪಿನವರನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಈ ಗುಂಪುಗಳು ಭಜನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಈ ಗುಂಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಡುವವರು ಭಾರತೀಯರೇನಲ್ಲ ಆದ್ರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಜನರೇ. ಈ ಪೈಕಿಯ ಜನರು, “tea house” ಎಂಬ ಜಾಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕಳೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಈ “tea house” ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ “chai” ಗಳು ದೊರೆಯುತ್ತವೆ. ಆದ್ರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿನ “chai” ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶದ “chai” ಯಂತಲ್ಲ. ಪಾಶ್ಚಿಮಾತ್ಯ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ “chai” ಎಂದರೆ ಒಂದು ಕಪ್ ಬಿಸಿನೀರಿಗೆ, ಕೈಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಗಿಡಮೂಲಿಕೆಗಳನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹಾಕಿ ಕುದಿಸಿ ಕುಡಿಯುವುದೆಂದು. ಇದು ಅವರಿಗೆ “chai” . ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಡೊ ಮಸಲಾ chai ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗೋದು ಬಹಳ ಅಪರೂಪ. ಇಂಥಹ “tea house” ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಗುಡುಗುಡಿಯನ...

Once upon a time in 1991, me and my brother were returning home after school. I was about 10 years old and my brother 4 year old. He used to always hold my hand and walk along with me (like a good boy!!) listening to whatever I had to blabber (such an angel he was; even now he is). I always wanted to look like a responsible sister who can handle any situations (Such adorable days those were…). We then saw a man who was walking towards us from the opposite direction on the same footpath (we were told in our school that good children walk only on the footpath). This man’s looks were intimidating. His head was shaven off, he had a heavy moustache (almost like Veerappan’s) and face full of acne. My mother always used to tell me that looks does not necessarily define a person’s attitude. So I sort of tried to look as brave as I could. But my toddler brother did not feel the same I guess because his hand’s grip tightened. I understood that he was panicking. I wanted to console my...

I have heard of several stories about women being mistreated by men in several cultures across the globe, I have also seen few women harassed by men and society and also seen women who have a submissive attitude in the society. I have also seen women who prefer to be dominated by men and society. True, this thought is subjective. I used to always think when will humankind see a peaceful free society across the globe with both men and women living harmoniously in equality? Then yesterday, I happen to see a wild life program which showed how male animals dominates the females in order to make sure that, only their genes are passed on to the next generation. There will be barbaric fights between two males in order to own entire group of females. Species like Lions, even go to an extent where certain males even kill other male’s offspring’s to make sure the competitor’s genes are finished off. Some chimps’ males even try to rape his sister in order to pass his gene. They do not even bo...

Being a tropical humanbeing, I have always enjoyed the monsoon season for many reasons. For me, monsoon brings freshness into my life. The sound of thunderstorms gives me goosebumps instead of shocks and scares. To me thunderstorms means way for rain. This happened all the time when I was in India. After thunderstorms, no matter what the amount of rain it poured, the after feel was very significant. For a period of nearly three years, I had missed thunderstorms in Czech Republic until this year. Even if I will not be in a state of preparing hot bondas and bajjis during these excellent times, because here in Czech republic and very unfortunately for me, there will be thunderstorms when I am at office, so by the time I reach home, the rainfall will be over along with the happy feeling. This year- 2009, I could even hear thunderbolts. I was in office when this happened and I could see the scared faces of my collegueges at office, men felt excited while women, had scary faces. I was just c...

I was going through the headlines in "Telegraph" which said "I think I’m becoming my mother-in-law ". I just started relating myself with this today. Long time ago ( just 3.5 years) when I got married, I was staying with my in-laws as Kiran had to return back to Czech Republic. I was waiting for my VISA to join him there as I was going on Work permit. In the span of 2005 March to 2006 May, I had mixed kind of experiences with my in-laws. Since I was from different family values( from a very strict,very silent, very conservative and very orthodox), I used to find most of what my Mother-in-law used to say, very very interesting. My Mother-in-law had a very good sense of Humour, which I used to like a lot. Most of her jokes used to have a tinge of sarcasm in them. She used to say that Kiran (my one and only husband and her one and only son) used to watch BBC like crazy, and that he used to listen to it until midgnight when he was young ( dont forget that time ther...