Animal husbandry

My mom is the dudette. She cycles to work in a sari (she's a doctor), swims 40 laps everyday, teaches my maid servant's 13-year old daughter history, and says and does the most outrageous things.

Recently, she attended the local Mahila Mandal (Women's Club) meeting where the women were giving each other household tips. One said that ginger when dried in the sun is easier to cut. Another offered tips on how to prevent your eyes from watering while cutting onions. When my mom's turn arrived, she began.

"When you have had a tiring day at work, make some tea and sit down at the dining table with your husband. After narrating to him the tough day you have endured, get up and limp towards the kitchen. Bemoan the fact that you have to now wash vessels and cook dinner. Your husband will follow you and offer to help you with the dishes. Gladly accept this. Then start cutting the vegetables. When he has almost finished with the washing, grab hold of a couple of onions and rue the fact that your eyes are soon going to water. He will then offer to help you with the onions!" And so on.

This incident reminded me of my history teacher in school, who had a great sense of humour. Once, he was talking to us about the changing roles of men and women in Indian society. How women now work and how men are expected to help with the housework. Animal husbandry is what he called it!

Guide

A couple of months back, I went to Mahabaleshwar (a beautiful hill station in Maharashtra) with friends. Since we were only doing a weekend trip, we decided to do the ST Bus Darshan, thus saving both money and time. I was a little apprehensive about the rather touristy, not-so-cool ride we had gotten ourselves into. But one look at my guide and I knew that all my fears were unfounded!


Our guide was a replica of the great Dev Anand. He hero-worshipped him so much that he even called himself Dev Anand!

The next 2 hours were pure, unadulterated entertainment.


This is our wonderful first shtop. Enjoy the beauty of the nature in full glory. Yahan aapke liye 1 min photography, 14 min baaki.


Yeh hain Echo Point. Yahan mein jo bhi chillaatha hun, waapas full speed aa jata hain. Dekho. Lights...lllliggghhttts, Sound...sssooundd, Camera...caammeerra, Action...acccttioon, OK Packup...ook ppackuuppp. Let's go!


Angrezi mein blue eyes, brown hair waali ladki ko Kates bulathe hain, isiliye is jagah ka naam hain Kates Point! Titanic ke liye ship nahi chahiye, bas yahan apna haath phyla karo aur mazaa le lo!


Yeh hain, Aurthor (Arthur+Author) Seat Point. Yahan pe Col. Arthur aake poems likhtha tha, isiliye iska naam. Abhi itni sunder dikhthi hain. Par June se October tak yahan itna fog hota hain ki yeh point aapka computer jaise hang ho jata hain!

Boy, Dev Anand was without a shadow of doubt the best tourist guide I have ever had. The rest of Mahabaleshwar was fun too. Nice quaint town with amazing food and views. And the usual dose of typos that are a part of every 'sight-seeing' trip in India!