May!!!

After three months of rising temperatures, her favourite month had arrived. It was like none other, for it marked the end of the summer and the beginning of the monsoon.

During the day, the temperature went up, characterized by clear blue skies.

It also marked the end of the Mango season. She disagreed! Her favourite variety of mangoes arrived to the market in this month...

Most importantly, it was vacation time! She woke up in the morning and went to the balcony to look at the mango trees, drooping down due to the weight of the fruits.

She got ready and went to the market to get somethings to munch. She was pooped out due to the scorching sun.
"One tender coconut, please!"- she said and scanned the entire pile for the bigger and better looking one.
"How much?" - she asked and the vendor replied - "12 rupeez, meedam"...
"12 rupeez eh! Too expensive. The vendor in the next street was selling it for 10 Rs."
and she started walking away.. As she did, he called " meedam, come meedam! The prices have gone up, but for you, I'll sell it for 10 Rs. only."
She smiled and went back to his push cart. This bargaining tactic always worked.
She stood under the shade of the African Tulip tree and re-hydrated herself.
She got home, had lunch and took her favourite place next to the window to sky-gaze.

Savouring the sweet taste of a mango, she watched the rays of the scorching sun slowly being shielded by clouds. The clear blue sky was turning into a very pretty carpet of clouds. More clouds gathered becoming darker by the minute. Her face lit up with a smile. She went to the terrace and sat on the floor, feeling the gentle breeze and looking at the sky.
Just then, the first drop of rain fell on her face... She smiled again...
Within a matter of seconds, it was pouring cats and dogs.
The earth completely cool again and fresh air all around, till the next day... The cool evenings would call for coffee / tea, outdoors..
Her favourite month, the month of May, was what she'd look forward to all year round.
The sun, the tender coconut, the mangoes, the pre-monsoon showers and the cool evenings...

When a nightmare comes true...

She had always had things her way... She liked her space and freedom...

Until, one day, when she woke up to find a stranger in her room. She was quite shocked.
"Could this be an alien?" - she thought to herself. She was uncomfortable in her own room.

"Home" is supposed to be a comforting word, most often. However, for her, it wasn't. She was forced to share her room with a stranger.

The difference is, when one is given the choice of whom to live with, one makes an additional effort to compromise and share. But, when its imposed, no compromises - what-so-ever. The peaceful and comforting atmosphere is lost.

She was a sadist. She wanted to torture the stranger and force the person to leave her alone.
"Get the hell out of my room!!!!"

However, she would control these strong urges as she always believed - "what goes around, comes around!"

In her room, she is like a caged animal. Not able to express herself and not free...
She is so happy when the stranger isn't home..

So ironic - "Feel at home, but caged!"

Smile Please

A long hectic day...
They are tired and low...

"Ah! Its been such a tiring day. The weather is so gloomy as well... We need some life...
We need chocolates!"

"Mmm... We are so happy now! In this part of the world, we need 'chocolates' to feel happy."
Everyone's smiling and full of life again!

"We need chocolates to feel happy!"

It was a dull afternoon. She was lost in random thoughts - thinking being one of her favourite time passes. She was a dreamer, blankly staring outside the window.
Suddenly, there was this feeling - a very familiar feeling. Very spontaneously and subconsciously, she walked towards the window and closed her eyes, letting her other senses experience the feeling. The feeling of happiness.

Yes! It had arrived. The monsoon had arrived. She stood at the window taking in the smell of the the earth as the first few drops of rain caressed it. It was a torrential downpour. She stood still, enjoying the fine spray of water on her face, through the window. The coconut trees in the neighbourhood were also celebrating - swaying to the music of the rain.

Background Music: http://www.rainymood.com/

She went to her balcony and watched the big mango tree which looked hazy due to the heavy downpour. As the intensity of the rain decreased, she watched the streams in her neighbourhood. The streams of fresh water - rain water!
The trees and plants had been washed. With no dust on them, their colour - shades of green - looked so fresh and alive.
The lush urban greenery against the gray sky - what an amazing combination of colours. The gentle sound of water dripping down from the leaves and the squirrels slowly coming out of hiding... Ah! She couldn't help smiling. The feeling of happiness from deep inside brought a glow on her face...

It was so real and alive!
Unlike the west with its picture perfect scenery, her land looked so real and natural. Despite low population densities and pollution levels, the western scenery looked very artificial! There was something missing -
"Life!!!"

Identity

Our perspectives are always subject to change. We believe in certain things very strongly at some point of time, and later, might contradict ourselves. What doesn't change is our search for identity during both growing up years and as adults.

Being in a foreign land, I have become more sure of myself than before. I know what my roots are. I know where I come from. My culture, tradition, language, etc. During my teenage, I hated the fact that I had to attend functions and family gatherings during weekends. I din't like the people. They always sounded so 'traditional.' My parents were a little strict with me. They never let me go to pubs, discos and the likes till the last year of college. The want to be more 'Western' was very strong. It was the 'in-thing.'
(Of course, I was very rebellious and did whatever I wanted to).

Today, someone said, "we Europeans haven't had to make that choice, as we are the 'western culture', but people from traditional societies must be given a choice. The choice between their culture and the western culture. they should be allowed to choose what they want."

Why should we choose which culture we want? Should there be a choice at all? Isn't the answer obvious?

In the past 3-4 years, I have come to love my people. I have come to appreciate the importance of tradition, culture, history, society, etc. We can never deny the fact that we are a part of the society. We live and interact with these people. Our traditions (most Indian traditions) are quite scientific. We are bound to nature, people and the all mighty, through these traditions and culture.

Now, that I'm an adult and in a different country, I am free to go to as many parties as I want to. I feel bored after and hour or two. The culture is very different. People do not want to talk and contemplate on matters far, far away...
In the 'western world,' I've become what I rebelled against - "Traditional." I feel the connection with my land and people more than ever.

My experiences as a kid in a developing country, a rebellious teenager who blindly aped the west and now, as a woman, strongly connected to my roots; have made me what I am.

I miss subtle things like the enchanting smell of the earth when the first few drops of rain fall on it, the music of the monsoons, the sounds of squirrels, the street wenders yelling, the natural greenery all around, the aroma of the diversity in food, the sun, etc...

All native and traditional cultures, I guess, have had to face this dilemma. Only time can tell what choices individuals make and how it effects the tradition.
The big question is,
"Will our tradition and culture survive?"
"Will our kids be as mature as us and choose our culture?"