October 14, 2014

Another Morning!

The alarm buzzed at 6:15 am. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and yanked my plantar fasciitis foot to avoid the shooting pain that crept occasionally. I walked to turn the kitchen light on with half-closed eyes.
I switched off the fan mechanically like a robot. Brushed my teeth and stepped into the kitchen for making lunch boxes for that day.

As I take out the chapati dough from the fridge, a thought passes my mind.

A dear friend is moving out of her marriage. Thousands of miles away, I am helpless.

I boil milk for my daughter; in a steel vessel. They say microwave is not good for health.

Another Ebola case in my city. Poor girl. All of twenty-six. She was doing her duty after all.

Salad is packed for the husband.

A  friend was happy last week as he was getting married. 

While I look for the Garlic croutons in the pantry. I realized. His wedding got canceled.

I pulled a small lump of dough from the big one. Rolled it in my palms.

One mom I knew came to help her daughter. She walked away due to some differences.

I pressed the ball of dough on the wooden plate. Rolling the palak paratha for son's lunch.

That mom's sister once said to my mom, your daughters are not worth the dust of her kids' feet.

Some kind of pride rose in my heart. Things come back in circles. The same kid that fought with her mother now. Whose dust on shoes I am not equal to?

I smeared a pinch of ghee on the palak paratha. Let it stay soft till lunch.

A couple married for 22 years fell apart. They have been falling apart. I just watched. Helpless. A part of my heart ached. Silently.

Lunches are packed and I run to shower. Warm Water hits my face.

Cyclones in my homeland. Homes shattered. No electricity. No water. Warm Water? Are you mocking? What can I do to help?

I grabbed the half glass of milk and flushed it down my daughter's throat. Changed her clothes and made her braids. Lean like her.

Apply your moisturizer. Instruction passed. For the millionth time in ten years. He is not picking up on his English vocab yet. Waiting for his clinical evaluation results. 

Come, let's go. I pull her along with me to the car. I lock the main door. 

The cold breeze of a fall morning hits us. We smiled at each other. Amma, I am not late, right? Yes, you are. A little bit. NO..I am not! 

Nothing stops!

I leave the house another morning. Perplexed!


Image Courtesy: Galleryhip.com

40 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you my dear. I hope not to disappear again. If you hadn't pushed me; the thoughts would have bottled up in my head forever. I owe you for that.

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  2. చాలా బాగా రాశారండీ..మీ పోస్ట్స్ చదువుతుంటే ఒక్కోసారి నన్ను నేను తరచి చూసుకుంటున్నట్లు అనిపిస్తుంది...I really love the way you express things..యెస్ nothing stops :)

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    1. Thank you Nagini...ee madhya chala chikaku ga untundi....kaani enni ayina, emi ayina edi aagadu kada :)

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  3. Enjoyed this morning with you, Latha! Loved the way you have expressed the various thoughts that passed through your mind as you went about your chores!

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    1. It has been too much Shilpa. I just had to let it out to free myself. Where else can I rant? :) Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for reading, my dear.

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  4. ah! A post after such a long time!!

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    1. I know....:) I hope to write without long breaks :)

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  5. Much awaited post !!! Loved it dear!!!! I like the wit amidst ur serious flow of gazi bizi thoughts!!!! Glad u have a channel to let out your thoughts/feelings :) ......

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    1. Hahaha....thank you so much akka. Yeah....too much going on and my mind is over flowing..I had to let this out. True, a good outlet for me. :)

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  6. Somehow ur post left me yearning. Maybe bcoz both of us have been anxious for the well being of our loved ones back home
    Nice post Latha, very poetic

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    1. Awww...thank you Bhagya. I know what you are saying. Staying so far away from home, there are many times we can do nothing but watch as silent spectators. Glad to see your comment after such a long time.

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  7. Happy to have you back again Latha,i missed you.And i thoroughly enjoyed reading all the details of your morning.

    It is true,so many thoughts flit through our mind as we do our daily chores.You narrated them beautifully!

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    1. I am really touched by all your warm welcomes, aunty. You know it feels so good when someone says, they missed you. It is such a warm lovely feeling. :) These days every morning has become more or less the same..so, I had to let the thoughts out. Thank you for reading.

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  8. The chain of thoughts....this was a beautiful read.

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  9. I want to hug you for writing this beautiful post.

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    1. Many hugs back to you, my dear. I got your comment three times. That showed how much you liked it :P Three more hugs to you.

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  10. I want to hug you for writing this beautiful post.

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  11. So much and so little time. And the million thoughts that sway in between.

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    1. Exactly, Saru. Some days I wish I had more energy to do more things. I feel helpless and that leaves me drained.

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  12. You have had a lot on your plate, Latha. Warm hugs. Good to hear your thoughts.

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    1. Warm hugs, my dear. That was the morning you pinged to check on me :) Yes, lately I am having too much on my plate. No, I think that's how it has always been.

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  13. You spoke my mind, Ashwini. Yes, see all of the above has happened and yet we survive. Not that we don't, but we just cannot do anything about some things. And above all, it feels so distressed not being able to do anything.

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  14. Latha....thanks to you first for posting your comment on my blog...I am sure you know why....otherwise...I would never know you blog...silent killer you are...:) Very sweet writings...I can learn so much from you as a new "bee" :)

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    1. Welcome here....hahah silent killer aite aslau comment pettanu kada...anyway, always here whenever you need...feel free to ask me anything..will be more than glad to help you from the little I know :)

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  15. Latha lovely writing as always but yes the heart pains when you get the bad news and feel you cannot do much!Wishing you and your family a lovely festive season:)

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    1. You are so right, Rahul sir. And this helplessness increases by day. Wishing your family also a very happy festive season! :)

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  16. The highlight of this post is that I could feel your heartache. Yes, nothing stops. But some heartbreaks, some losses and some goodbyes hurt a lot. Beautiful post.

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    1. There cannot be a better comment to the person who writes than the reader feeling the emotions. Thank you, my dear. Yes, that's the irony of life...nothing stops.

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  17. I think we have to go through the heartache sometimes to enjoy and appreciate the blessings when they come.

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    1. May be you are right. Right now, I really value and appreciate all that I have. Counting my blessings :)

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  18. Lovely post. And plantar fasciitis troubles you too? Take care.

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    1. Thank you Shail. Good to see you after a long time :) Yeah, I feel better now after the steroid injection the doc gave me.

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  19. That feeling when we can't help but feel helpless for all the sad things happening around. Such a beautiful post!

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  20. Mind...alas keeps working nonstop as soon as the eyes are open...lol

    good, bad and the ugly thoughts surface immaterial of the distances.

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    1. So true Ruchira...sometimes, it doesn't rest even when the eyes are closed :) Welcome here...:)

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