You missed me yesterday, right?? Just lie, na?? And say, 'Yesssss!"But I'm not lying when I say I missed you... missed being here. I was in 'Cannes' ( I wish!!!!). Well.... almost. I was chief- guesting at the 'Cannes Experience' organised by ndtv Lumiere, a channel that is trying hard to push good cinema by telecasting award winning films. This was my first visit to the PVR at Phoenix Mills. It may be my last!! I guess the Nariman Point Inox has spoilt me - the easy access and great caramel popcorn are reasons enough to stay loyal. The pvr at Phoenix is near impossible to get to - I got completely lost, and so did my driver. It is most confusing and not even the security guards know what to tell bewildered visitors driving around in circles looking for either an exit or an entry - any route to get the hell out of that maze. You can't drive up to the place. You can't walk in. But you can climb several flights of stairs, reach the terrace and climb down again!!
Yes, there was an extra long red carpet. But nobody on it. Had I known, I might have borrowed one of Aishwarya's Rai's dreadful Cannes' frocks just to keep the tradition going. The film to be screened was last year's Palme D'Or winner - 'The Class'. Sounded promising. But turned out to be an absolute turkey. So mind numbingly boring and 'French', I hated it and left mid-way. Like most Frenchies who talk too much ( and never like regular people!), actors in the movie just could not keep their mouths shut for even a second. No snacks, no dinner. I got home at midnight to eat reheated khaana. But at least the chappatis were fresh, and the ghee (still slurping it!) made them sinfully irresistible. I thought about blogging at that hour, but my husband would have thought 'divorce'. No point. Much as I love you guys, must get a few priorities right. Kyon?
Not that I got much sleep. I was awake most of the night thinking of Sardinia. Why Sardinia? Because I have never been there. But am going! Soon. In fact, I'll be travelling a great deal starting next month... so I must make the most of our time together. Sunday is Mother's Day. Thirteen years after Aie passed away, I can still feel the soft folds of her printed muslin sarees, smell her talc, and see into those pools of trust and innocence - her beautiful eyes. I could have been a far better daughter to her than I was. It is one of my chief and enduring regrets. It was Aie's death anniversary yesterday. I missed her desperately. As I do every single day.
31 comments:
SHOBHA MAM MAIN AAPKA BAHUT BARA FAN HUN. MAM AAP KI HAR POST READ KARTA HUN. THANK U. MAY GOD BLESS U.
SHOBHA MAM AAPKI BOOKS BAHUT MEHANGI HOTI HAIN. ITNE PAISE NAHI HOTE BUY KARNE K LIYE. MAM JALANDHAR MEIN BOOKS RENT PE NAHI MILTI. YAHAAN PE AISA CULTURE NAHI HAIN. THANK U.
MAM AAP BEADS WALI MAALA PEHANTE HO NA.
That is such a tender description of your mother. Bless you and your family.
Yeah Phoenix Mills has always been a nightmare and I love Caramel Popcorn!
Your mother must have been a wonderful woman! :)
Hey missed you & missed you sorely! No seriously I totally did! Could not get my nightly dose of cool & checked & rechecked till about midnight if you had posted anything. Alas not till today.
Your tender evocative expressions of your mother were so so amazing that for someone who has never seen her I almost felt I knew her to some extent. You have the most amazing way with words. Can't imagine life without my Mum & can only imagine how much you miss yours! You know what I am going to be a huge amount nicer to my Mum cause I hope I never feel the way you do. But I guess its natural she feels the same way about my Grandma & though she was an exemplary daughter she wishes she had done more for her mother. Shobhaa I think you. Are probably the same way. I think your Aie would approve of what I am saying.
I didn't end up goin to the phoenix PVR really wanted to check it out but at that time Chandni chowk to china was out & i knew tht wasnt worth watchin!& that wkend i got back to UK.
But i also TRULY love Nariman point Inox.So i would prob go to the PVR once & get back to Inox..:P
& too rite about the Phoenix entrance & exit it sure is like a maze..!
Hell i miss india :(
Yep! Could be a better one to many that Life offered ... a missed opportunity.. I feel the same way... but still, Godervi il vostro viaggio in Sardegna (thanks iGoogle) !!!
Shobhaa,
I will be lying if I said I didn't miss your post. I have recently taken up this new role within my organization which involves a steep learning curve. But peeping into 'Shobhaa's e-katta' has been a ritual now. So, yes I did miss reading your post. :)
I am glad you mentioned about your Aai (I know, that's how I spell it). When I read your marathi book 'selective memory', one character that touched me most and I could co-relate with it was your Aai. The simplicity, the strength that she had, the 'cuticura' powder that she used - I saw all those things in my aaji -grandmother. Unfortunately I wasn't in India when my aaji passed away, so I always carry that hurt with me. I am sure your Aai will be very proud of you and what you have achieved. Wish you a very Happy Mother's Day too !!
AWWW.mothers will always be missed.. no matter how old we get
Hi Shobhaa,
Man!! I am more addicted to your blog than my morning tea. so you bet we missed you. It was so wonderful to read about your mom. i guess its a reality check in way for all of us to make the most of what we have while we have it.And appreciate it. Looks like your one dollop of ghee is really doing you good.
I firmly believe that grief only increases with time! Mothers are the hardest...simpy beacuse they are the best thing to happen to anyone!
Shobha,
You touched me with the wonderful and explicit, soulful description of your Aie.
9th May 09 will be the 8th anniversary of my Beloved Mum.
She was 80plus, and oh to have such Gentle, loving and caring Mothers of yester years. They felt that their Children at even 50plus, having children themselves, were still their Babies.
We have a drastic change now with the present generation Mothers working to make ends meet.
Signs of progress?
No offence intended.
Norman.
Ms.De i believe there is a mild touch of insanity and blind belief to every mother's love...
It what that makes her so special...
Motherly love has no boundaries and inhibitions.
Not always you can see people in absolute pain that’s tearing apart their nerves and so much in eternal happiness, completely satisfied like a mother who has just given birth to her child and is about to pass out. Total love in every sense is divine. Motherly love is in that aspect I think is more than divine. It is incessant.
Nature Ms.De must have had a really good reason for picking out women to carry the essence of our generation inside her. Whatever may be the reason, I think that she has decided it well.
Cheers to mothers and to motherhood.....
(the above is a part of a post defining divinity in my blog)
Ms.De,
Although I can never forget the disaster that Aishwaria had given us during Cannes - I should say that I as much as I look forward to you attires and yummy jewelery at public events - I was a li'l disappointed by your long skirt and long top at the NDTV event :(
But jewelery as usual... thumbs up :)
No one carries chunky pieces as well as you do !!!
WOW turned around is MOM...no words can ever do justice to the description of how one feels towards their MOM....but you came close:)
Must also feel really nice to read a comment from someone in faraway Jalandar saying that he cannot afford your books but can read your blog for free.
After feeling like Sardines in this city Sardinia will be the perfect break. Enjoy!
Yep! Missed you alrite!
About the multiplexes..
Certainly the movie theaters here are larger some even fancier but they sooooo lack the many flavored popcorn and most importantly tea. Coffee is NO substitute for chai!
My fiance enjoys caramel like u... bt i prefer tomato/cheese flavored ones.. have u tried those?
Awww - Happy Mothers Day to you :)
And Sardinia - wow....enjoy your travels!
I'm glad summer is here in California :)
http://www.hamaraphotos.com/photo_-208590.html
Your pics from the PVR visit are posted ere.:)
Take care.
Shobhaa, I have read your book( the one in which you describe in detail about your growing up years) and when reading it, I could feel the love you had for your Aaie,so I am sure she knew how much you felt for her...
Today, she must be so proud of you;of the excellent mother you are to your brood.. she did one helluva good job on you honey.. :)Wish you a very happy mother's day.. I'm sure your gorgeous kids have a treat in store for you!!
Shobs
Baby........miss u ever day...and ths not a lie..........wann giv u a tight hug.....
Love
KRis
Morning,
the greatest fear a person has i think is losing a loved one and once they depart thereare always regrets but being in their lives made them happy and likewise so that is all that needs to be held onto or we would all go mad!
maybe you could have borrowed aishwarya rai's (sorry even though she has married a bachchan she will always be aishwarya rai) pin kheidous floor lenght pink gown she had once worn
Happy Mother's day to you De.
""I thought about blogging at that hour, but my husband would have thought 'divorce'. No point. Much as I love you guys, must get a few priorities right.""
Keep your priorities right!!
yes i miss you ....i login daily to check your post. Have great Mothers DAy!
missed you!!!! I'm addicted!
am really curious.. do u really read any of the comments your addicted fans bestow you with??? if its yes.. well then great!shortly will u find my comments strewn all over your space..just share similar passion for writing..need reciprocation for motivation
Hi Shobha mam , I wonder if u really get the time to read all our comments.But anyway --- We just love U and love to read ur opinionated articles;-).Keep blogging mam and tak care !!!
"I thought about blogging at that hour, but my husband would have thought 'divorce'. No point. Much as I love you guys, must get a few priorities right."
Such problems are universal huh;-(
p.s: But we manage to manage dont we?????
;-D
god bless you mam... thanks for the post...
Work from home India
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