Rio Moments

2016 Rio Olympics is almost done! And though I have mostly followed India's trail, I do remember a few other moments which I want to cherish for ever!

The most defining moments have been the girls, India's daughters of course! Dipa, going  where no Indian has been before and almost winning a medal. I cried for her, she missed a medal by a whisker. 4 years from now I do want to see a more determined her!

And Sakshi Malik as she ended the medal drought for India and made all of us proud!

Last but not the least PV Sindhu, the fighter. She did everything but at the end of the day it was the better player who won the day but she was no loser. She will go down our history books as the first silver medalist in Badminton.

I don't want to forget the commendable efforts of Datty Bhokanal. Dattu Baban Bhokanal missed out on a semi-final berth by six seconds in the men’s singles sculls at the Rio Olympics, but the experience of being on the biggest stage has helped him identify the plan for ever.

The image of Kirsten Armstrong with her son made me feel that yes if you believe you can do it.

Rafaela Silva winning the gold in Judo, the first for her country must have made it all so special for her. Four years ago, Silva was the victim of sickening racist abuse on social media after she was disqualified from the London Games for a borderline illegal leg-grab

And Simon Biles  girl with all her modesty won my heart! Her smile is so infectious!

And the Singapore boy Joseph Schooling who beat Phelps is one of  my most favorite Olympic moment. "It isn't every day you come face to face with your childhood idol - and defeat him at the Olympics."

And I don't even want to count the total medals Phelps has accumulated!

And Usain Bolt, a very Happy Birthday to you! You will live forever! Triple Triple!

Dipa Karmakar - We are so proud of you!

Girl you rock! To see you qualify for Olympics was a joy, to see you reach the finals was a great joy and to see you perform was to see determination, grit personified, a moment of pride! I loved it, I cried and my eyes are still moist into the morning.

You have out performed the likes of Sania and Saina; they were experienced and had the world to their side but they had that passion missing. One complained that there was an injury and the other is bothered about the next Olympics. I would rather not see you there, Mirza!

Dipa, coming from Tripura has it all. Her face lightens, her eyes smile and she knows what is needed. She is already talking of winning a Gold in 2020. She did it with all the limited resources and the nation knows. Only the authorities should know, prepare her and reward her.

I am so proud, so so proud. Proud of a North Eastern! Proud of a small town girl!

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high...

The Wait for that one medal

It's  Day 9 and no sight of  a single medal for the Indian contingent. The hopes, the dreams seem to be shattering each day. Each day I wait and each day there is a disappointing end. How much I had hoped for Sania-Rohan pair to reach the mixed doubles finals but that did not happen. My brother was kidding at me saying, "C'mon they are playing Venus Williams". Well I was still hopeful! And now I can wait only for the bronze, and not sure that will happen or not. Sania Mirza, you disappointed us big time.

Dipa Karmakar plays today and I sure love the determination on her face, her body language is sincere but the competition is tough. Tonight will tell the story but girl you have won our hearts.

Deepika Kumari, that confused soul, you have some bright side to your game but again you are a disappointment again. And to add to that you are arrogant. Bombayla Devi on the other hand has shown lots of promise. True she could not make it but we do wish she gets the opportunity and the means to take it forward from here.

Lalita Babar has shown some courage and we will wait to see how you fare.

I just read somewhere that Babita Kumar is on her road to recovery following a Zika virus scare. We wish her well.

The other disappointments are in the form of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa.These girls, to me, are more glamour and show then determination. They lost matches they could have won.

I have not forgotten to wish P V Sindhu. Wish she shows some fight.

Last but not the least, Saina Nehwal, we hope she hold on to her nerve. I was not convinced with her first win however may be that was just starting problem.

All the Best Dipa, Saina, Sindhu, Babita and Lalita.

A girl's dream

Worries of a Girl

I want to worry not....
Of my passing birthdays
Of my careless tresses
Of the creases in my skirt

I want to effortlessly...
Smile without reason
Cry when I am sad
Sleep when I am tired
Love more than I am loved

I want to...
Let my hair fly without bothering about where the comb is
Let my hands and feet tap when I am happy
Let myself soak in the rain and the sea

I want to live, even after I am gone

Our first hero

So, every building has pillars for support, so does every house has its support system which is strong and reliable. So much that we have relied on Dad for everything, from decision making to taking bold steps. He is the doctor of the family, he is the ones who gets the daily vegetable marketing done and at times decides on which dish to be cooked.

With time however, with age however, some of the physical strength diminishes. It's painful too see him limp a little while his mental strength makes him run. That scene almost brings a tear to the eye,

It's he who we look forward to when our noses run, when our eyes are watery or our throats itch but when the pain in his leg makes him run from here to there for that one magic dose which will kill the pain, it almost brings a tear to the eye.

He has been practical, he knows the cycle of life, he knows people come and go, he knows certain relationships are for some season while some relations will last a life time, But when I see him remembering our old dog, Bruno, when I see him hide his tears, it almost brings a tear to the eye.

I just want to hide that tear of mine now, and try to him a smile.

No Father's day gift, No Daughter's day gift, just stay by my side, Baba, always!

Mother's Day

I would hardly ever know what all I imbibed from her but surely values must be one of them. And some of her looks I guess! The quiet she that my mother is, must be very surprised to see a loud incarnation of her in me. She must hate it when I shout, being the quiet person she is! I have hardly ever seen her raise her voice, except for the occasional anger or dissatisfaction. She took on all the responsibilities of a wife, a daughter-in-law and a mother. She has been the most loved sibling among her brothers and sisters and she continues to be a sweet heart. She is like a child too, occasionally marveling at the purse or shoe I buy and wanting one for herself. She would say no to new stuff however there is a child in her that wants it too.

I don't even know if I live up to her expectations, if she wants anything from me or I can ever understand and make her happy the way she would love to be.

I didn't get any gifts for her on Mother's day, I don't know what she would love but I want to stay at home and make her feel that I am not so busy today. I don't think she cares what day it is today and neither should we as everyday we live is simply dedicated to our mothers.

What's in a child?

So, here it goes, when you know a kid is coming to your family...the expectations, the fears, the excitement, the nervousness all come in one package.

Well, even before the kid arrives there is speculation around the sex of the kid, and in India, in some parts of India, to be more accurate, a boy is preferred. So much so that it becomes a topic of discussion in your neighbor's home, between their children and some of it which you get to hear about when they visit you.

We have had no such expectations at home and we welcomed the arrival of my niece with so much affection as we did for the first child. When my elder niece was born, we had a child in the family after a long time and we all had tears of joy. The nurses quite did not understand why we were so happy as they had never seen a family express so much happiness when a girl is born.

And now when my second niece, we are all happy. But back at the hospital someone was consoling us and saying it's ok, these days girls are same as boys. Oh my God, that person even thought that we were upset and came out with some free advice. Bless us heavens!

Then there was another lady who told my sis in law why she had not taken some special medicines so as to conceive a boy! God bless again that soul!

We are happy otherwise, by God's grace we have a cupboard full of the elder's clothes and they will all be reused. Super saver the younger one is! We love you!