My nephew has been at it again. He would not let me sleep until I tell him a story about a vegetable. One such exercise is here for you to read.
Miss Carrot had a peculiar problem in her right eye. Whenever she got excited it would start blinking. She developed this habit while playing with her cousins- the Radish family. She wanted to tease her cousin that she winked the best and very soon it became a habit that was hard to leave. Her mom Mrs. Carrot scolded her daughter for starting off this crazy habit as it would be hard for her to find suitors. She spoke to Mr. Carrot and he nodded gravely. He said, “Mrs. Carrot, the sooner you got our daughter’s habit off, the better because in a week’s time, I have asked the Mr. Beetroot’s son, the most eligible and handsome Mr. Beetroot Junior to visit us. If everything goes alright and if both Miss
Carrot and Mr. Beetroot Junior like each other then the wedding would have to be fixed in a month’s time.”
Miss Carrot heard this conversation between her parents and naturally she got excited for the most eligible and handsome lad of the land was visiting them and there! There!, sure enough her right eye started blinking. She ran to the mirror to stop it with her hand, but the poor eye blinked as fast as her heart beat.
Mrs. Carrot came into her room and was horrified to see her daughter’s eye fluttering like a bird. She dragged Miss Carrot to the doctor. “Please doctor, I have some thing terrible in my daughter’s eye”, she said. The doctor assured the mother that everything will be alright and then he took her inside the
examination room. He peered into the daughter’s left eye. Now Miss Carrot was alarmed at the equipment the doctor was using to see her eye. Immediately, the right eye started fluttering. The doctor being a young bachelor was amazed at the young girl’s forwardness. He was taken aback and he continued to peer into her left eye. Miss Carrot could take no more. First the doctor seemed mad and was looking at the wrong eye and here her eye was doing its trick again. She ran out screaming, “I do not want to see any doctor. I will be fine, I will be fine” and ran out into the street. Her mother, Mrs. Carrot
glared at the doctor and followed her daughter.
Now Miss Carrot wanted to marry the eligible Mr. Beetroot. She decided that she will hold her eye steady and practice it so that it would stop winking. So she got up early everyday and held her winking eye with both hands until it started watering. Then she would wipe her eye and start all over again. She did this at least 3 to 4 times everyday until it became normal and she could talk to anyone and everyone without winking.
The big day arrived. Mr. Beetroot Junior looked handsome in his grey suit and walked up to Miss Carrot’s house with his father. He smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Carrot warmly and moved inside. Miss Carrot turned a deep orange color and shook hands with Mr. Beetroot. “He looks so handsome”, she thought.
Mr. Beetroot looked deeply into Miss Carrot’s eyes and thought, “What lovely eyes she has”. Miss Carrot could not stop her excitement any more. Her eye which was alright a few minutes ago started winking and Mr. Beetroot loved it. He thought, “I have never seen a girl like her. She has already fallen in love me “and his voice was gruff when he answered his father. “Yes, I like her. I would like to marry her”.
The two families shook hands with each other and decided to meet up again to fix the engagement and of course the wedding too.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Mr. Potato's party
My little nephew is very fond of vegetable stories. I have to use all my creativity to create a fun and a naughty story. Read on and see if you like it too.
Mr. White Radish was very proud of himself. He had a long white body and a green plume of leaves on his head. He walked about as if he owned the place. He did not see the little group of bean seeds talking and laughing within themselves. He tripped over them because he was walking with his nose high in the air. Mr. Cabbage laughed when he saw Mr. Radish make a fool of himself. Mr. Cabbage was light green, round and fluffy. Miss Brinjal looked pretty in her purple dress with a green waistcoat. She walked with a grace that could have put everybody to shame. The vegetables of the land of Shakahari were invited to a party at Mr. Potato’s house.
His house was warm and cozy and everybody loved visiting his family. His wife and children were friendly too and shared all their toys with the other children. Mr. Drumstick was lean and tall and he looked down on the potato family. He teased them. “You funny mounds of starch!” he called out to the Potato family. Mrs. Potato heaved her chest with anger and stared at Mr. Potato. When would he ever take charge of the mean Mr. Drumstick?
He was long and slim. “Look at me, tall and slim and full of fiber” he boasted.
Mrs. Cauliflower saw that there was some unpleasantness and wanted to quickly put an end before it turned ugly. “Well, Mr. Drumstick”, she called. “The Potatoes may be full of starch, but they are the ones who add a lot of flavor to anything and everything that is eaten. Of course, you make excellent sambar, Mr. Drumstick, but Mr. Potato is very kind to all of us. He just needs to be with us in any kind of dish and we are full of taste and flavor.”
Mr. Drumstick snorted and moved away. He was not the best here. He wanted to try some other group where he could show off some more.
“Oh! You fat tomatoes!” he called. Mrs. Tomato turned a deeper shade of red and was hurt. How dare Mr. Drumstick insult her like that, she fumed with her fat belly heaving. She would teach him a lesson she decided. “Yes, Mr. Drumstick”, she smiled sweetly at him. Mr. Drumstick came near her and gave her a look from her green top to her tiny shoes sticking out from under her fat belly. He sniggered and said, “How can you people eat so much and remain fat and round all the time?” he asked Mrs. Tomato. Mrs. Tomato wanted to give one tight slap on Mr. Drumstick’s thin cheek, but controlled herself. She politely said, “The same way that you remain lean and tall all the time, Mr. Drumstick.”
Mr. Drumstick beamed with pleasure. He was very proud that he looked tall and lean. Mrs.
Tomato had not forgotten the insult. She wanted to deal with Mr. Drumstick in a way that he would stop his know -it-all attitude forever.
She called all the vegetables for a small game that she quickly organized to help Mr. Potato. All the vegetables- Mr. Radish, Mr. Cabbage, Miss Brinjal, Mr. Turnip, Mr. Beans, Mrs. Cauliflower, Miss Carrot, Miss Cucumber, Mr. Beetroot-gathered in front of Mrs. Tomato and waited for her instructions.
Mrs. Tomato had a small red ball in her hand and said that all the vegetables would have to stand in a circle. The ball would have to be passed around in the circle among all the vegetables while some music was played. The music would be stopped at various intervals and then the vegetable with the ball in hand would have to perform some dance or sing or recite a poem or even enact a scene from a film. All the vegetables were excited to participate in the game.
“Come Mr. Carrot, stand next to me” called Mr. Turnip. “Thanks, but I would like to hold Miss Brinjal’s hand” he whispered to Mr. Turnip. Miss Brinjal smiled from under her eyelashes when Mr. Carrot held her hand. “ Oh, you beautiful lady” said Mr. Carrot. Miss Brinjal turned a deeper purple. Mr. Cabbage held Mrs. Cauliflower’s hand and Mr. Beans held her other hand. Finally they stood in a circle and most of them were more or less the same height but dear Mr. Drumstick stood tall in the circle. He looked down on all the vegetables and had the hateful smile on his face that Mrs. Tomato disliked. The music started and the ball was passed around. Mrs. Tomato stood next to Mr. Drumstick and each time she had to pass the ball to him, she would drop it so he had to bend and pick it. This was repeated at least four or five times and Mr. Drumstick could already feel the pain in one of his nodes. At the next turn, he decided, he would not let Mrs. Tomato do the trick. Mrs. Tomato could see that he was on to her plan. When the chance came, instead of dropping the ball, for which purpose Mr. Drumstick had already started to bend down in anticipation,, she threw it high in the air. At every turn, Mrs. Tomato did the exact opposite of what Mr. Drumstick was anticipating. The effort was soon beginning to make Mr. Drumstick tired.
“Please, Mrs. Tomato, could you pass the ball to me correctly?” he pleaded.
“Why, of course, Mr. Drumstick, if you would stop teasing the other vegetables”, she said proudly.
“I promise, I promise”, wailed Mr. Drumstick, anything to get rid of this back-breaking exercise..
Mrs. Tomato then announced to the whole group of vegetables, “Dear friends, Mr. Drumstick has now understood that just being beautiful outside is not good enough. One needs to be beautiful inside as well. Mr. Cabbage nudged Mr. Radish. Mr. Radish also understood the message. He nodded his head understandingly. Mr. Drumstick looked down and smiled sheepishly.
“I am sorry Mr. Potato for being so rude”, Mr. Drumstick said to Mr. Potato. I will never ever tease you or the others. Each one of us has something good in us. I will respect that and be nice and friendly to all” he said.
Mr. Potato being the warm and friendly type immediately gave him a hug and asked him to join him for a drink together.
The party was full of fun and it lasted till the wee hours of the morning. All of them were happy and thanked Mr. Potato for the nice party.
Mr. White Radish was very proud of himself. He had a long white body and a green plume of leaves on his head. He walked about as if he owned the place. He did not see the little group of bean seeds talking and laughing within themselves. He tripped over them because he was walking with his nose high in the air. Mr. Cabbage laughed when he saw Mr. Radish make a fool of himself. Mr. Cabbage was light green, round and fluffy. Miss Brinjal looked pretty in her purple dress with a green waistcoat. She walked with a grace that could have put everybody to shame. The vegetables of the land of Shakahari were invited to a party at Mr. Potato’s house.
His house was warm and cozy and everybody loved visiting his family. His wife and children were friendly too and shared all their toys with the other children. Mr. Drumstick was lean and tall and he looked down on the potato family. He teased them. “You funny mounds of starch!” he called out to the Potato family. Mrs. Potato heaved her chest with anger and stared at Mr. Potato. When would he ever take charge of the mean Mr. Drumstick?
He was long and slim. “Look at me, tall and slim and full of fiber” he boasted.
Mrs. Cauliflower saw that there was some unpleasantness and wanted to quickly put an end before it turned ugly. “Well, Mr. Drumstick”, she called. “The Potatoes may be full of starch, but they are the ones who add a lot of flavor to anything and everything that is eaten. Of course, you make excellent sambar, Mr. Drumstick, but Mr. Potato is very kind to all of us. He just needs to be with us in any kind of dish and we are full of taste and flavor.”
Mr. Drumstick snorted and moved away. He was not the best here. He wanted to try some other group where he could show off some more.
“Oh! You fat tomatoes!” he called. Mrs. Tomato turned a deeper shade of red and was hurt. How dare Mr. Drumstick insult her like that, she fumed with her fat belly heaving. She would teach him a lesson she decided. “Yes, Mr. Drumstick”, she smiled sweetly at him. Mr. Drumstick came near her and gave her a look from her green top to her tiny shoes sticking out from under her fat belly. He sniggered and said, “How can you people eat so much and remain fat and round all the time?” he asked Mrs. Tomato. Mrs. Tomato wanted to give one tight slap on Mr. Drumstick’s thin cheek, but controlled herself. She politely said, “The same way that you remain lean and tall all the time, Mr. Drumstick.”
Mr. Drumstick beamed with pleasure. He was very proud that he looked tall and lean. Mrs.
Tomato had not forgotten the insult. She wanted to deal with Mr. Drumstick in a way that he would stop his know -it-all attitude forever.
She called all the vegetables for a small game that she quickly organized to help Mr. Potato. All the vegetables- Mr. Radish, Mr. Cabbage, Miss Brinjal, Mr. Turnip, Mr. Beans, Mrs. Cauliflower, Miss Carrot, Miss Cucumber, Mr. Beetroot-gathered in front of Mrs. Tomato and waited for her instructions.
Mrs. Tomato had a small red ball in her hand and said that all the vegetables would have to stand in a circle. The ball would have to be passed around in the circle among all the vegetables while some music was played. The music would be stopped at various intervals and then the vegetable with the ball in hand would have to perform some dance or sing or recite a poem or even enact a scene from a film. All the vegetables were excited to participate in the game.
“Come Mr. Carrot, stand next to me” called Mr. Turnip. “Thanks, but I would like to hold Miss Brinjal’s hand” he whispered to Mr. Turnip. Miss Brinjal smiled from under her eyelashes when Mr. Carrot held her hand. “ Oh, you beautiful lady” said Mr. Carrot. Miss Brinjal turned a deeper purple. Mr. Cabbage held Mrs. Cauliflower’s hand and Mr. Beans held her other hand. Finally they stood in a circle and most of them were more or less the same height but dear Mr. Drumstick stood tall in the circle. He looked down on all the vegetables and had the hateful smile on his face that Mrs. Tomato disliked. The music started and the ball was passed around. Mrs. Tomato stood next to Mr. Drumstick and each time she had to pass the ball to him, she would drop it so he had to bend and pick it. This was repeated at least four or five times and Mr. Drumstick could already feel the pain in one of his nodes. At the next turn, he decided, he would not let Mrs. Tomato do the trick. Mrs. Tomato could see that he was on to her plan. When the chance came, instead of dropping the ball, for which purpose Mr. Drumstick had already started to bend down in anticipation,, she threw it high in the air. At every turn, Mrs. Tomato did the exact opposite of what Mr. Drumstick was anticipating. The effort was soon beginning to make Mr. Drumstick tired.
“Please, Mrs. Tomato, could you pass the ball to me correctly?” he pleaded.
“Why, of course, Mr. Drumstick, if you would stop teasing the other vegetables”, she said proudly.
“I promise, I promise”, wailed Mr. Drumstick, anything to get rid of this back-breaking exercise..
Mrs. Tomato then announced to the whole group of vegetables, “Dear friends, Mr. Drumstick has now understood that just being beautiful outside is not good enough. One needs to be beautiful inside as well. Mr. Cabbage nudged Mr. Radish. Mr. Radish also understood the message. He nodded his head understandingly. Mr. Drumstick looked down and smiled sheepishly.
“I am sorry Mr. Potato for being so rude”, Mr. Drumstick said to Mr. Potato. I will never ever tease you or the others. Each one of us has something good in us. I will respect that and be nice and friendly to all” he said.
Mr. Potato being the warm and friendly type immediately gave him a hug and asked him to join him for a drink together.
The party was full of fun and it lasted till the wee hours of the morning. All of them were happy and thanked Mr. Potato for the nice party.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
How I relate to God
It may seem strange to some when I say that I can relate to God very well. God to some means somebody who is only in a special place of worship and one who has to be prayed to only at that place. While I fully endorse the sanctity of praying in the special place, I would also like to tell you that God is everywhere, at all times in all places. He lives in you, me and in everybody. When I see somebody coming up with an extraordinary idea in a brainstorming session, I marvel at how God brought that idea in that person. When a person plays well, I wonder how God gave that person that kind of ability to play that well. Similarly if somebody sings well, I wonder how God could evoke such a melody in that voice or if somebody plays an instrument well,how could God bring out such an exotic tune etc. Sometimes, it comes out not only through others, but through you also. At that time, you wonder, how did this occur to you. I again say, God is working through you. Just as one great sage said, electricity is one medium, but the gadgets are different, God is the one medium with different human beings as different gadgets. If one sees God in everybody, there would be no room for jealousy,false pride etc. If one is constantly aware of this God , you will be surprised how very random things get organised for you and you are amazed.
For example,I was getting quite upset with my routine job, because I am more of a creative person and love handling creative jobs. I just said, 'God, please help me, can I ever get a creative job? I am sick of these routine jobs.' You will not beleive the next day, I got a call from the creative head of the company to do some creative writing for him. I even said that unless somebody someone takes over my routine stuff, this was not going to happen. He just nodded his head and left it at that and I thought, there goes my creative job. But again, this morning he called me and said that he is making alternate arrangements for my routine job and will be able to take up this creative job now? I am truly amazed. Do you have something extraordinary like this to share? Please send me your stories.
For example,I was getting quite upset with my routine job, because I am more of a creative person and love handling creative jobs. I just said, 'God, please help me, can I ever get a creative job? I am sick of these routine jobs.' You will not beleive the next day, I got a call from the creative head of the company to do some creative writing for him. I even said that unless somebody someone takes over my routine stuff, this was not going to happen. He just nodded his head and left it at that and I thought, there goes my creative job. But again, this morning he called me and said that he is making alternate arrangements for my routine job and will be able to take up this creative job now? I am truly amazed. Do you have something extraordinary like this to share? Please send me your stories.
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Bangalore mail ride
I frequently travel by this night train which leaves Chennai at 11.15p.m and reaches Bangalore East around 4.30 to 4.45 am. It allows me to catch some sleep in the train and wake up early for the next day. I said it allows me to sleep if people around me in the third class Ac compartment would do so. One night a family of three, a mother, a 25 year old son and the father were travelling with me. The train started at 11.15pm alright, and I spread my bed on the lower berth of the train and tried to go to sleep. My dear fellow passengers were not so kind to me. They dragged their suitcases for quite a while to lock them and then when I thought everything was settled,the son and the mother sit in the dark and chat loudly,laughing in between for their silly jokes. Well, if I being nasty, just listen to this- The son teases his grandmother-his mother's mom and says that "Inspite of Granny wearing all the cosmetic creams, she always remained dark.Ha! Ha!" The mother sheepishly grins and then the son qustions his mom loudly again,"Mom do you know the "Detroit of India?" The mom in her half sleep state mumbles something. The son admonishes her saying that she does not know such a simple thing. He then proceeds to explain, "Chennai, in Tamilnadu is the "Detroit" of India, because all the cars are being manufactured in Chennai." The mother again mumbles something sleepily but her aggressive son is still wide awake. Now he gives her some information on some of his classmates. His mother drops in a few hmms and errs and the son goes on and on. I sat up in my berth and tried to show through my body language that they were not allowing me to sleep. But no, they could not take the cues. I summoned up a lot of courage and then I looked straight into the eyes of the son in the dark and I said,"Will you please stop talking, I cannot sleep." Immediately, the son and the mother settled down to sleep and I was thankful that I could get alteast 3 hours of sleep.
My request to all the train passengers is :
1. Please be considerate to the other passengers. You may be going on a picnic, but the others may be travelling because they may have to work or they may be also be sick.
2. If you really need to talk through the night, please talk in low tones so that you do not wake up the others.
3. If you are travelling RAC, it does not give you the right to giggle and chat and stare at the other passengers.
Please make it comfortable for others and for yourself in the train. Learn to be a good passenger.
I meet 'the mother in the train' occasionally in the temple but she glares through me as if I have done a mistake.
I tried to smile at her but she turned her face away. Another case of rudeness. Maybe rudeness is in their genes. Ironically, the same boy had scolded another fellow passenger when he had accidentally dropped his water bottle and the water flowed towards his suitcases. He screamed that the passenger had no manners and that he should have atleast apologized before running out to get another bottle of water. Is it manners to chat loudly in the train when the others are sleeping? Is it manners to turn away from someone when they are trying to be friendly? Perhaps the son should read this and answer.
My request to all the train passengers is :
1. Please be considerate to the other passengers. You may be going on a picnic, but the others may be travelling because they may have to work or they may be also be sick.
2. If you really need to talk through the night, please talk in low tones so that you do not wake up the others.
3. If you are travelling RAC, it does not give you the right to giggle and chat and stare at the other passengers.
Please make it comfortable for others and for yourself in the train. Learn to be a good passenger.
I meet 'the mother in the train' occasionally in the temple but she glares through me as if I have done a mistake.
I tried to smile at her but she turned her face away. Another case of rudeness. Maybe rudeness is in their genes. Ironically, the same boy had scolded another fellow passenger when he had accidentally dropped his water bottle and the water flowed towards his suitcases. He screamed that the passenger had no manners and that he should have atleast apologized before running out to get another bottle of water. Is it manners to chat loudly in the train when the others are sleeping? Is it manners to turn away from someone when they are trying to be friendly? Perhaps the son should read this and answer.
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