ಜುಟ್ಟಿನ ಹಿಂದೆ

ನನ್ನ ಹೆಂಡತಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾಳಿಗೆ ಐದು ತಿಂಗಳಿನಿಂದ ಒಂದೇ ಚಿಂತೆ - ನನ್ನ ಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಜುಟ್ಟು ಯಾವಾಗ ಹಾಕುವುದೆಂದು ? ಪ್ರತಿ ದಿನ ಅವಳ ಸ್ನಾನ ಆದ ನಂತರ, ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ನಿನ್ನ ತಲೆಗೂದಲು ಯಾವಾಗ ಉದ್ದ ಬೆಳೆಯುವುದು, ನಾನು ಯಾವಾಗ ನಿನಗೆ ಜುಟ್ಟು ಹಾಕುವುದು, ನೀನು ಹೂವು ಯಾವಾಗ ಮುಡಿಯುವುದು .... ಹೀಗೆ ಜುಟ್ಟಿನ ಹಿಂದೆ ಒಂದರ ಹಿಂದೆ ಒಂದು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ. 

೨೦೧೪ ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ  ೨೨, ಅವಳ ಕನಸು ನನಸಾಯಿತು. ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಗೆ ಚೋಟುದ್ದ ಜುಟ್ಟು ಹಾಕಿ (ಬಲು ಸಾಹಸ ಪಟ್ಟು) ಒಂದು ಗುಲಾಬಿಯನ್ನು ಮುಡಿಸಿ, ಅಬ್ಬ ಎಂದು ಸಂತೋಷ ಪಟ್ಟಳು ವಿದ್ಯಾ.

ಈ ಕಡೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ತನ್ನ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಜುಟ್ಟನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ತೋರಿಸಿ, ಹಿಗ್ಗಿ ನಲಿದು, ನವಿಲಿನಂತೆ ಗರ್ವದಿಂದ ಜಿಗಿದು ಕುಣಿದಾಡಿದಳು. ಇನ್ನು ಜುಟ್ಟಿನಿಂದ ಜಡೆಯ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ...............

Indicator Peak in Chrome

Riding to the center of the city though within 10kms from My Home can be hectic with the traffic halts every 100mts. Finally decided on venturing out on the RE accessories shopping. Shopped at Sandhya & Fixwell on J.C. Road for the following and for a few more have to head out this week.

- Clutch Cable 90/-
- Accelerator Cable 180/-
- Pilot Lamp Bulbs 10/-
- Indicator Peak in Chrome 140/-
- Air Filter 130/-
- Oil Filter 30/-

like this view of the Peaks while riding :)

Teaching Courage - the Grand Father way

The only way to overcome fear is to face it. This was my Father's mantra for my Sister & I. AND for sure He wanted the legacy of No Fear to pass on to the next generation as well. Every opportunity is well utilized since Her birth. When She was struggling to sit, She would fall, we would watch but offer no help. She learned to sit on Her own in a day. She wanted to stand & fell down in doing so for two days. Again, we watched but offered no help. She took the first baby steps & we watched Her fall, rise to Her feet & walk everywhere.

She often hurts Her head against the low lying cot, the chair & we just ignore. There were instances when She would fall & we would rush to Her help & precisely when She would start crying. However, when we ignored, She would rise, rub the head & continue playing. When She started to climb the stairs we were worried about Her safety, but watching Her little hands hold the grills tight, We knew She would be careful. Two days ago, in excitement to greet my neighbor, She jumped and fell down two stairs with a good bump on Her forehead. I was quick to lift Her and rub the forehead & Her cry lasted for a few seconds. When I told this to Her Grand Father, His response was "She will not jump the next time". She was 12months old when I took Her alone without any support on my bike & today She confidently sits on the bike & even stands on the Activa & roams around with Her Grand Father.

This photograph was taken at Hebbale (Her Great Grand Father's birth place) where river Hemavathi flows in full might. Saakshi was 11 & 1/2 months old. She played in the river with Her Grand Father for a good hour & as we were taught, we knew if She was enjoying, nothing to worry about Her health.

Thanks Dad for teaching courage the practical way & in days to come Saakshi would be proud of the lessons taught !

200th Blog Post

The first blog post dates back to October 8th 2006. Thanks to my dear friend Sridhar who introduced me to the blogspot. Which began only as a photo capture slowly grew to capturing moments, stories, fantasies & more. Proud that I have 200 posts!.

There have been daily posts, months without any and some terrible ones. Looking back is joyous irrespective of the sentiments. I regret not capturing so much more which I could have :(

As my profile reads, sure hope to leave a history when I finally leave...........

New Memories - Cubbon Park

Cubbon Park for all Bangaloreans brings some memory or the other. For me it is still the giant wheel, the toy train & the playground.

We took Saakshi to enjoy the toy train but that was closed for the day. However, that did not stop Her from having fun. She learned how to play bubbles, ran around the trees & the lawn. Walked & walked, played with the gas balloon & the highlight for me was the way She chased the pigeons & learned how to release bubbles.

Saakshi learning the Bubbles

Vidya demonstrated the bubbles and in one go Saakshi had learnt. We enjoyed Her play till She was bored of it.

Saakshi trying to feed the pigeons

We reached the pigeons feeding area where there were hundreds of them. Saakshi waited a moment to see what they were doing & in that excitement She ran towards them & they flew away.
As soon as they came back, She was cautiously taking slow steps towards them, but they kept jumping a step away. She ran around chasing them for a while and then She slowly picked up the grains from the floor to Her hand and walked towards the pigeons. Though none of them came to feed off Her hand, I was amazed at how Her brain worked. For me who was hiding behind a tree with the camera, it all looked so well planned. She saw them feeding on the grains & it struck Her that if I hold the grains in my hands, they would come to me.

This is the best learning technique - observe, understand, reflect & act. Thanks Dear for teaching me new things everyday!

AT&T Jamboree'13

Saakshi enjoying on the floor with Tangerine

Thanks to AT&T for hosting the Annual Family Day. Feels great to celebrate the joy of working for a Company with your family. The event was named Jamboree and it was fun unlimited.

Games for kids, jolly rides, face painting, caricature artists, family portraits, RJ's to host the show, entertainment programs by leading artists and delicious food.

 The event began with the mob music, one of its kind experience. Every chair had a musical instrument and you could pick the one of your choice. The host who was at the center of the audience would then conduct the play. First he would ask all those who had the drums to play, then the ones with the tangerine and then both. It was a melody by design.

Saakshi, my Daughter picked the tangerine, played to Her hearts content, danced till Her legs dropped, made new friends and for us, it was a memorable evening!

a Photo a Day theme

As crazy as the thoughts get, it gets that much harder when you sit down to ink. The sudden gush of thoughts erases the words out of your brain and if you had a mirror to look into, you know how your face would look. Hence I have been thinking a better way to keep posting everyday is with the help of a photograph. Every photograph has an emotion, a meaning, a tale to tell & the best way to bring them alive is to write about them...

Why am i waiting ?

with Sridhar

This photograph dates back to 2006. We came by bus from Murudeshwar to Kundapur soon after breakfast. The view on both sides of the road was mesmerizing. And to favor the journey, our bus from Kundapur to Bangalore was scheduled later in the evening. Having watched the rivers, the sea & greenery all around, we decided to walk the 14 kilometer stretch from Kundapur to Maravanthe. Maravanthe is the heaven on earth where the river Souparnika meets the Arabian Sea. We walked enjoying every moment though there were moments when we lost our breath. It was indeed worth every step, the view of the mighty ocean & the singing river can only be experienced. We were so thrilled, amazed & proud of the moment that we dozed off for an hour or so in the nearby coconut groove.

This photograph taken with the sun above our heads, the smiles with the burnt face tells me life is about decisions you make. Had we not decided to take this walk, we probably would not have this record of a 14 kilometer walkathon in our lives. I am yet to break this record of mine. I simply should decide ?

Skanda & Saakshi

Skanda & Saakshi

When this photograph was taken Saakshi was 5months old. The moment She sees Him, it's smiles & laughter unlimited. She would crawl upto Him, try to hold His hands, touch His head and as you can see in this photograph, both are so happy in each others presence. Skanda would call Her Putti and She would go where ever He went. She would make sounds like trying to tell Him something. She would rains kisses on His cheeks repeatedly. She is different when Skanda is around.


I always relate this to the DNA. I love Him more than anything else in the world and it's definitely a blessing to have a Daughter who loves Him more than I do. You don't teach the essence of blood relations, it's passed on genetically. Now She is 15months old & as soon as She sees my Sister Ramya, the first words out of Her mouth are "ANNA" (brother). I feel blessed - Om Sai Ram!


When She is alone at home, the moment I say Saakshi look Skanda has come, She rushes to the door with the broad smile. Even when I show His photograph on my cellphone, She smiles, cheers up and calls "ANNA". Sometimes She picks up the phone and holds it to Her ear and walks talking loudly (though the words are not clear), I can sense from Her reaction that She may be trying to reach Her brother Skanda.

I shall cherish these moments of togetherness, their smile, laughter, joy & play.

Squeaking Noise from the Rear Wheel

While on a routine cleaning session, heard a squeaking noise from the rear wheel. It would occur at one point both when the wheel was rotated clockwise & anti-clockwise. I could bear with it as the noise was low, however, thought of investigating further.

On reaching the Mechanic Shop, we discussed about the recent changes done, whether the Bullet met with an accident, could it be a tight chain or some foreign material stuck in the rear wheel assembly. The only way to find out was to eliminate the reasons one after another:

• Recent Change - was the new rear sprocket & chain
• Met with an accident - NO
• Tight Chain - NO, the slackness was right with the links straight & no bends
• Foreign Material - found none on dismantling the wheel

On careful observation, we noticed that the sprocket had rubbed against a part of the wheel hub leaving behind a trail in the form of an arc ~ 2 inches in length. So it was the new sprocket causing the squeaking noise.

Two ways to fix this, file the extra casting on the sprocket or insert a thin spacer between the brake shoe & the wheel. Since he did not have a flat file, inserted a spacer & the problem resolved.

I have to keep in the mind the spacer when I remove the wheel again.



 

Life is but a Race Horse

Unique We are

Being Born or Being Born to die but what a race ahead to win. No one wants to be a failure yet we give up hopes, dreams to be shattered by time & a winning race lost. How I wish I raced for myself, the true myself? Often than not, we fail even before the race begins, not that you were any weaker but the thought of your enemy being stronger. Weakness is Death & certain it is. We train & train, for, one day we know we will be tested in mind, body & soul. We do what we believe is the best, we give everything we have, I run like it is my last race & there I stand to be judged. The long years of training takes a toll, the merciless riders & their whips, the cheering crowd who then spell a curse & at the end of the hard days labor, I retire to the lonely stable & dine alone. Don't you want to see me running alone ? like I do in my dreams, cheer & make merry that I'm still running & never let you notice the torn shoe at my feet. I beg, not to sell me to a butcher, nor in my old age be the beast of burden... remember the fine horse that I once was, the innocence of whom the world stole away. You threw challenges higher with every day. I was running to live & yes! I lived to run free. What you are is your destiny but why compare? Life is unique & let it be. I want to run, not a race but a run for joy, I seek no glory nor promise you of one, let us live in joy, share the joy & die in joy of being there to shed a tear when you leave & return from the grave with the joy of being born to witness a life so beautiful !

Longest City Drive - Alto

I don't own a car yet (may be soon). Had to attend this family occasion & then a house warming, stretching between two corners of the city & reluctantly decided on driving My Brother-in-Law's car, the Alto. Not that I'm not confident but the apprehension of not being a regular city driver.

Started off from BTM & reached the first destination on West of Cord road. From there to Hennur via the outer ring road & back to BTM. The first couple of gradients were challenging with the half clutch drive but then got easier. The greatest challenge was through the packed streets of Russel Market & Shivajinagar. I had an inch space on all sides & had to be careful of not rolling back beyond that inch or accelerating beyond the inch at the front while holding the steering steady.

This drive without any assistance from the navigator has definitely helped Me overcome the apprehension :)

put Her to sleep

Had read about the feeling of putting a baby to sleep, but had only one opportunity earlier to do so. It was my Dear nephew Skanda who fell asleep on my shoulders. It was bliss and was longing for that feeling for a real long time. The wish was fulfilled by my Daughter.

She was 15days old when this photograph was taken. After Her bath & feeding, I held Her in my arms for Her to burp. She fell asleep on my shoulder and the joy was so immense that even I fell asleep. It was only two hours later that we woke up. Her tender skin, Her tiny clasp and slow breathing, cuddling to my chest - couldn't ask more of life.

She is 16months old and more than I do, She enjoys sleeping clinging to my chest. She wakes up with a smile and with Her sweet words "Appa"and the sweetest kiss, we both are off to play.