My Musings on Life, Poetry and Short Stories

While I was visiting the Blog of Ms.Shobhaa De, I accidentally saw the request therein posted by Cocodle web admin to her. It was regarding their initiative to help Under privileged and differently abled children with the revenue generated through on-line search. They are not seeking any donation but only ask us to use their website for on-line search. The URL is cocodle.com . I have made it my Homepae and will always use it for my future searches and I sincerely appeal to all my readers to kindly do so. Let us contribute to a very good cause.

My wife wanted to buy a Washing Machine, during the summer since our children were expected from the states, along with their kids for vacation. As usual, I was given the task of searching for the most economical, efficient and durable machine in the market. I set out looking for the machine in the Internet, carefully sifting the mass of information dumped on me, and shortlisted five items, which were very High Tech and Latest models with funny sounding names.”One Touch – Fuzzy Logic ……..Etc”
Feeling thrilled with my work, I proudly presented my product to my wife for her perusal. She looked at it for a minute and I was not very happy seeing the expression on her face. She looked at me and said,” there is lot of mumbo jumbo here than useful information for selecting a good washing machine”. I hastily assured her that the items were of latest technology and hence the high-tech words used to describe them. Half-heartedly she agreed to have a look at 3 of the items in the neighborhood Super Market.
On reaching the shop, the sales person came running to me and enquired what I would like to see. I was happy that I was the one chosen by him to explain the details about the Machines exhibited there. I asked him for the “One touch – Automatic with Fuzzy Logic” which I had selected from the Internet. He responded with, “Excellent selection, Sir you have chosen the best Model which has the latest Technology in-built.” “The entire process of your washing will be converted into a pleasurable experience without any need for supervision, while the machine performs perfectly producing the cleanest possible wash for the clothes.” I was very impressed and looked at my wife (Read, My selection and it is excellent!). She was intently looking at the Front Panel of the Washing Machine and something told me that whatever she was thinking wasn’t complimentary. She called the assistant and asked him, “If one touch was all that was required what these 4 buttons are doing on the Panel?”. The sales assistant jumped as if he was hit by a bolt of lightening. I knew instantly that she had pulled the right chord while I was swallowing all the mumbo jumbo dished out to me.After checking some pamphlets the assistant mumbled to her about the need for some basic input to the machine like type of clothes, cold or Hot wash etc and tried to convince her that they were necessary even for an “Automatic Washing Machine”
Not convinced, my wife turned away and started looking at other models. Needles to say, after an hour or so she had chosen the most durable, economical and sturdy looking “Manual Machine” for half the price of the Automatic Version shown earlier and obtained an additional 1 Percent cash discount by paying in Cash.
As we were walking out she asked me, “Ram, What you always say about Computers, GIGOLO or something like that…”. I hastily corrected her that it was not GIGOLO but just GIGO.

Driving skills are indeed a blessing, not only to the driver himself but also to others who use the Freeways / Highways. Apart from the poor maintenance of good roadways resulting in lack of proper sign boards to warn against hazards, unexpected potholes in the middle of the road the indiscipline of the drivers add to our woes. Yes, I am talking about those who seldom put their high beams into low beam and have scant respect for the signal. Fortunately the excellent construction methods in USA, like providing a raised divider between the two sides of traffic prevent the headlight beam from hurting the eyes of driver coming from the opposite direction. Also the number of flyovers in USA make driving a pleasure through the vast expanse of the country. The situation in other developing countries, like India is far from satisfactory. I actually detest driving on Highways after sunset. The commercial vehicle traffic begins late in the evening and last till morning making driving a very dangerous exercise. Whenever I planned a trip between the metros in India (Short journeys between 400 to 600 KMs) I used to start Early morning at 5AM so that by the time I hit the freeway it is daylight and complete my driving by 2PM. This way I could relax for the rest of the day after having my Lunch.

This Sunday I decided to visit the Laundromat, Princeton, NJ as I had a fortnight’s clothes to be washed. As the weather was so very bright with excellent sun shine, I set off at 8AM. The washing and drying took around an Hour and a half and I just sat there waiting. While I waited my mind started pondering on a curious thought. How it would be if we also can wash our sins periodically and come out clean. Why cant there be a method to erase all our hatred and avarice and become friendly and humble. Perhaps we may find one such device sooner or later and change the way we live and behave.

When I woke up today morning, I was pleasantly surprised by the weather in Plainsboro, NewJersey! Bright sunshine, just enough chill and excellent weather. My Grand daughter insisted that I take her to the Chocolate Factory at Hershey because she wanted "This-much-Chocolate"(Read it as Hands spread wide apart as a measure of quantity!). I was not particularly keen on going to a Chocolate Factory as the idea did not impress me. However the enthusiasm showed by my little friend was so infectious that I agreed and we rented a Toyota Sienna. We were four adults and 2 kids which forced us to rent a van because with 2 children seats in our Honda sedan , the four of us, adults, did try a lot of jigsaw but could not succeed in devising a seating arrangement for all of us. Mind you, out of this I, my daughter and son are 6 footers! though my wife did more than compensate with her demure physique.
The journey till Philadelphia was uneventful. Once we were nearing the city of Hershey the scenery began to change. I was very happy to see the panoramic view of green meadows on both sides of the road with scattered houses that looked like chocolates. Reaching Hershey we were so hungry that we rushed straight to the food court. With the input of calories we began our tour of the factory and other places. It was indeed an excellent place with very hygienic atmosphere and such a variety of chocolates. I indulged in helping myself to a good quantity ignoring the silent but lethal look on my wife’s face.
By the time we finished the tour and got ready for the return journey, which is a good 130 Mile, I and my grand daughter were so tired that we began to sleep. When my son woke us up on reaching the house it was 8PM and God did we have a good time! I think I enjoyed it more than the little one.

It was the end of February, 1964 in Madras (Now known as Chennai) and the weather was unusually pleasant! In Madras we had only one season, summer, throughout the year and onset of even slightest cool breeze was most welcome. My mother was not feeling well and went to consult our family physician. The doctor broke the news that my mom was pregnant and the baby could be expected around November. This being the fifth one after three sons and a daughter, my mom was a bit shaken. She had a history of Hypertension and Diabetes and was not eager for another child. Having detected, the monthly rituals of check-up and various tests ensued. Despite medications my mom’s Hypertension kept playing hide and seek and was causing worries to the physician. My father had to do the dual role.
Five months rolled by and during August 1964 the problems began to get worse. My mother’s hypertension steadily remained at 160/95 causing tremendous tension to both my Father and the Physician. Remember in 1964 there were hardly any specialty hospitals or any sophisticated diagnostic facilities like today and things were near primitive and we had to go the Government Maternity Hospital, for Delivering a baby. We had not made any arrangements for the hospital because it was still very early. On 31st August my mom got so delirious that she had convulsions and we were very scared. The Doctor who checked her up said it was eclamsia or something which is better avoided during pregnancy. This added more fear to our already sinking hearts. We rushed her to the Hospital and she was admitted in ICU. After 3 days of excellent dedicated efforts of those Angels (Yes that is how the Doctors appeared to us) could bring down her BP but decided that she cannot go through 3 more months for delivery in this condition. They suggested to my father that it was imperative to terminate pregnancy to save her life and anyway 30 odd weeks old fetus is not much of a baby! He agreed and the Doctors performed the Operation.
It was September 1964 when the Doctors called my Dad and informed him that the operation was successful and my mother was safe. We all cried with pleasure and rushed to see her. She was alright and had got back some colour in her cheeks and was on the path of recovery. We thanked GOD for his mercy in saving her from near disaster. It is then the Staff Nurse asked my dad, “Don’t you like to see the Baby!, Sir ?”. It almost shook my Dad. He said, “Baby? Which Baby? Is the Baby alive!?”. She smiled and said, “Well, you better wear the surgeon’s clothes and follow me”. We were given face masks, body gown sterilized, and led to a room which contained a small fish tank like contraption, called Incubator and showed us the tiny spec of life lying there in all its glory. It was so small in size that we could hardly make out its features. The nurse said, “You know your girl has broken the record for the earliest pre-born fully developed infant”. Our eyes were filled with tears and we were just looking at her.
It took 2 more months for the baby to come out of incubator and only for feeds the mother was allowed to hold her in her hands with Her own mouth covered in a mask, lest she infected the baby. This Early Gift of God is today settled in USA with her two kids who are in their teens and a happy family. Strange Indeed are the ways of GOD. Dedicated to the Pre-Born kids Month of November.