In America

  Vijesh came with his black beard, in a black checked hoody and jeans. As soon as I saw him, I knew what to do with the packet of holi powder I was carrying. I walked over to him and he quietly said .. "I don't like powder.." Manu and Gafoor were walking to him with the same plan. Surprisingly, even Manu did not dare put powder on Vijesh.  A quiet power.  Nimmy did not dare either. Gafoor would not. I would not. Stalemate. Perhaps the most dramatic moments on the ground. Kids did not dare either. Stephen Nedumpally aura. Even my parents were not spared holi colors.  Vijesh distracted the miscreants by offering to take their photos, and escaped unspecked.   My dad who had been in Nasik HAL commented that he has never seen such an extensive and lively holi celebration in such a huge ground setting even there.

 We got into taut conversation as soon as Deepak and me bade goodbye to Riyaz and Deepak's IISC friend in San Ramon. Deepak was looking into my eyes and talking about his family history and his razor sharp analytical brain was placing lots of pieces of information into the car. Our ideologies are different, and we both know that very well, and yet I loved how Deepak poured his heart and brain out. I did not know whether to look back at him or to focus on the road as he kept talking to me with unwavering eye contact.    The conversation was cut short as we reached my home. The vegetarian lunch was a novelty to me.   I used to talk about how 5.1 speakers giving sound from the back is a low hanging fruit that cinema enthusiasts like us should tap into. Demoed that.     On the drive back, the discussion was about religion, individuality, and Ayn Rand.  The conversations continued to be taut. Deepak is a great speaker and I enjoyed listening to hi...

 8:00 AM - The hyundai santa fe rolled off the lot.  Gas price would be a little high in the corral hollow gas station. One hastle less, a few dollars less, the van turned in.  While I fill gas, Divya walked into the store to get water. I followed and bought our sandwiches. Equipped with gas, food and water.  The music had started with the recent single "Run it up! by Hanumankind. To make the listen a little more palatable, I switched to Lata Mangeshkar classics. My father advised that such sleepy songs are unwise for driving. Switched to A R Rahman's Kadhalikku Neramillai.  A litte into the drive, I felt hungry, and we decided to have sandwiches and finish up the breakfast. The burger that I got was not great tasting. I thought I had taken the wrong call to buy these from the gas station, but others liked their sandwiches.  Divya unwrapped the first sandwich for me. I ate half of it, and was driving slowly. Midway she offered the other better tasting sandw...

 I brought the six costco chairs, and called Abhi. Abhi came out from the hall with another neighbor, and they took the chairs in. I returned with family - the seats were empty mostly. Abhi was like - looks like we are going to miss people, and not chairs. Looked like the event might be underwhelming - no worries -  the initiative and intention is great, full support and a little less stress of performance.    Noticed Girish - sat next to him, and listened to his audiophile adventures. While these conversations were going on, the hall had all filled up. Abhi came over, and asked us to coordinate with NB on how to start the karaoke. I told him to start the mp3 while I start the video on the phone at the same time, a technique that had worked out on an earlier stage event.     Abhi and Meenakshi took over the compering with easy expertise. The viby, fun language that had come out in the whatsapp instagram messages introducing the artists esta...

 Today at 10:00 AM, we arrived on time for the equal access tour of the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo State Park. Equal access just means that instead of doing the 3 mile loop of walking, we would have a van drive us close to the boardwalk, and then we walk on the boardwalk and observe the elephant seals.  The volunteer guide in the van was a seasoned amazing story teller. Every word that falls off his lips is dense in information and insights. The elephant seals have one hell of a turbulent raw story to tell behind their sleepy exterior. The alpha male maintains a harem of females. Rest of the males do not ever get a chance, and even the alpha males have a very short intense period where it can go with twenty five plus females or so, and then he is done as well.       These sleepy looking elephant seals swim for seven thousand miles or so,  on a feeding frenzy while in the water. This is to put on weight and give himself a better chance at being the alp...

 I am notorious for how little regard I give to birthday celebrations and the like... and yet.. My time of birth was almost here, and I was yet to get cake.  Divya was in a call with friends. I thought I will take the kids and get the cake. To my dismay, Kittu would not accompany me. Niya was not going to let me go alone, and we drove to the Cold Stone creamery for the third time this month. We had some quality time - I tried to liberate her from the daunting rat race that she is supposed to enter soon.  The hall was already decorated with the party decor that was done for Kittu's birthday. Why not? I covered the billiards table with the table tops, Achchan and Amma rearranged the balloons from Kittu's birthday that were lying on the floor. Amma told me to put on the jubba that Amma and Achchan had brought in from India this visit.   Cake cutting, family selfies, the works. My parents were here when Kittu was born. That was eleven years back. That was the last time t...