5 years and 10 months old!

It is a pleasent day for work,stroll,drive and much more.For me it is pleasant day to write my mind away.For a long time now,I have been thinking for a while to write about things that will help others and me.
I wrote about money saving,dealing with ex's and about woman safety.So today is a day I talk about

Understanding your 6 year old child



I a 5 year old who is going to be 6 years in another 2 months and there are so many changes that I have noticed in him.Firstly he is growing fast and his mind is not able to cope with things that he is getting to know.Let me give you an example.

1.Recently he asked my mother about her mother.He wanted to know why great grandmother she still alive? valid question.We have always told him and also he read books that say old people die.So his mind was wandering in that frame.My mother and I did not freak out,we had a good laugh and then went on to explain to him."Aku,It is true that every living thing has to perish one day.However,there is no specified time and place for it".So,instead of waiting for her to die,now when she does he will know that her time has come and everyone has to deal with it.

2.Dad was home one day and Aku was tired of seeing the same grandfather.So,he asked my mother to put on her shoes.He wanted to go to the market and exchange my father for a new one!Boy o boy,my mother could have never been happy :P.My dad though was disappointed and wanted to know why his dear grandson was all set to exchange him.Aku's logic was correct,if dad gets a soap from the market and does not like it or it is damage,he goes to the shop and gets a refund or a new one.Aku accompanies dad in most of these trips.that is where he got the idea of "grandad exchange" from!So,this is what I told him. "aku,you can exchange anything you want in life.However sometimes things that are precious like your grandad cannot be exchanged.So,if you have something that you do not like in your grandad,tell him and I am sure he wil change it for you and he can then stay with you and grandma".He thought for a while and then decided he will let my dad live in the house for a while and help him change his bad habits.
*one bad habit - never brings more than 10 chocolates and aku wants more then 100!

3."grandma,when you grow old,who will take care of you"?.mom told him that "my daughter and son-in-law will".aku had a plan,he told mom that when she and dad get old.he will drop them in the creche,just the way we did when aku was young.he will provide them with a lunch box and diaper and toys and will pick them up when he gets back from office.Well we could not argue with that.Kids learn from what they see and this is what he is planning for me and vinod too!

These are the best years of his life and I am glad to be a part of it.It is surprising that more than him,I am the one who is learning new things about life.I am also able to see life through the eyes of a 5 year old and trust me it is beautiful!

It does not heal!

Sethu Vijay Tanikella - Sept 15th 1977 - Oct 15th 2004

He would have turned 32 today,I would have been maybe in Bangalore and would have been anxiously waiting to call and wish hi.Say happy birthday Vijay and love you.I still do,the only difference is that i cannot hear his voice.But,I am sure i can feel his presence.

It has been 5 years since he gave up on his brat sister and took a journey upwards to heaven.I thought the pain would heal with time.But,it does not seem to go away.I now know that the next time i meet someone who lost their loved once never to say "time will heal".

Remember Vijay the day Tinku and you got caught jumping the wall and that too caught by dogs and bites on that butt :).Remember the days when we used to go by rickshaw.you used to get down,make me sit in the rickshaw then pull it up from the end."It felt like see-saw" i said.I still remember the day you got pissed off cause you got to know that I had a crush on that air force office.Oh you made such a hue and dry about it.You refused to let me talk to him or let him come home.That is the day i felt happy,happy cause I knew my brother would always make sure that I get the best and make me learn what is good and what is bad.I just cannot fathom why you left me so early.

We had no time to say goodbye,we had no time to talk about future,we had no time to sit and drink beer and you taking me out on an all paid shopping trip.The day after you left us,i opened your cupboard to find that rakhi i tied,the one which smelt of sandalwood :).I looked through anything and everything that still smelt of you.I yelled when amma gave your trousers and shirts to pavan.I yelled at my self for not being an attentive sister,I yelled at myself for not being able to reach you when you needed me the most.I yelled at myself to discover that you had a life of your own and I did not even bother to care and ask you how it is going on the personal front..

I want you back,I want you back with that stupid towel around you and walking around the whole house in it.I want you so that we could fight and kick each other.I want you to say "deepthi,I am here".I want you to scream at me and yell at me when I do things wrong.I want you to just call and say "just checking".I am selfish and i want you just for the selfish purpose.

Come back love,come back in dreams today,come back as breeze and hug me tight,come back as the harsh sun,come back as the gentle rain,come back as my son,just come back :(

ODE to ONE

Yesterday was one of the toughest days for my mind.It went through a lot in the span of 3 and a half hours.It thought about women who are survivors,women who are fighters,women who die and women who live.It came to a conclusion,I am not sure if it did as yet.However It did say it did.

I was talking to a few women about BREAST CANCER,I was listening to them and the only thought I had was "do i understand"?.I know people who are suffering from it.They have been great influence on me.However, do I really understand what they are going through? then i heard the script written by Viju and that moved me somewhere.It was so beautifully written that anyone can understand on how to support them.That is when i realised that you need not be in their shoes to get to know the effects of CANCER.All you got to do is as Viju said "be on their side".I wanted to write something for all,for every women who fights the battle.Here it is....

ODE to ONE

I was a child,the perfect one.
my hands were pretty and my feet perfect.

I was a girl,the angelic one.
my smile was innocent and my face was delightful.

I was a woman,the charming one.
my body was voluptuous and my bosom was a gifted.

It was a day when i met my fate,
she walked in and whispered with arrogance on her face.

I shuddered,I feared,I died within,
I could not give her what is mine,what is rightfully mine.

She did not wait for answers,she already had the knife,
She cut it not gently,but with passion of a deadly beast.

I cried,I hurt myself,I ventured alone,
I walked the streets of pain and looked for answers in vain.

I saw her sitting on my doorstep when I returned,
I asked her kindly to come inside.

She sat there for a while and looked at me in Silence,
I recognised her as the girl,the one I was.

I asked her why deary you so sad,
she said " i never promised you,you would be imperfect"

Now all you do is cry and say you are imperfect.
Your body is a gift from me to you,treat it like one and love it forever.

No one wrote that one is not good,
the numbers we say out starts from ONE!

ONE is the best and ONE is a boom,
One begins the world and One ends the world.

One rules the heavens and One rules the earth,
One is a gift to cherish till eternity.

I am a woman,the charming one,
My body is voluptuous and my bosom is ONE!

When i think i can(nnot) !

I have never been a person who stayed at home for longer.I thought that I was made to travel the world and see things and do things.Even when i was 8 years old,I walked all the way to ratnadeep in my area and asked them if they needed an entertainer( the owner promptly called my parents and i was whisked back home.)

So today after 30 years and 6 months i am back to square one and staying at home.I tried my hand in various things,from being a call center agent,to a trainer to a business analyst to a writer to a theatre artist and an assistant director.I even tried my hand at hosting a talk show(the producer cut that show and put it in the cupboard)

Now I am a home maker,I sit and home and think what did my gran or my aunts do at home?.I mean my granny sat at home for about 84 years.She never once ventured out on her own and she is still at home.She is quite content with that lifestyle and here I am getting bored out of my mind.I want to do many things,create stories and whip up some great plays or movies.I want to start a Anadanam project and give free food to anyone everyday.I want to write a book in Telugu and also one in English.I want to make movies like Jandhyala and write like Tikkana or our very own Pothana or Gurujada.

The thing I realised is that I am a bit of a Procrastination freak.I keep thinking what should happen today can take a break and happen tomorrow.Is that now plain rubbish?

I know of a lady who worked for my mom,i used to tell her to get rid of her mundane job of working in houses as a maid and start something on her own.Boy she did! she now owns a small vegetable cart and also a shed near my home and tells me" amma thanks to you,i have this". I tell her it is her hard work.

Why am I blogging this to tell myself that "lazy ass get up and get things moving".You need not earn a lot now,however you will be satisfied and make yourself happy!

Iyer Wedding

A Week more for the Wedding aka Kalyanam.I wanted to know about all the scared rituals that take place on the D-Day.This is the first Tamil Iyer wedding for my Telugu Brahmin side,hence the adventure is less discovered.I spoke to my MIL and found out the meaning of few rituals.Here are few or more or less the ones that we follow.

Tamil Iyer Wedding

Wedding in earlier days used ot go on for 5 to 10 days,thankfully the process right now is compacted into 2 days.The Groom wears something called a Vesthi and a Kurta or a silk shirt.The Bride wear the traditional Madisaar also known as the nine yard saree.

Vrutham - The wedding starts with this,we offer prayers to our ancestors and God early in the morning and seek their blessings for the ceremonies ahead.

Maapillai Azhaippu - Music,Nadaswaram and Dancing are and integral part of the ceremony.The Brides family welcomes the Groom and his family into the wedding Mandapam ( for us it is a wee diff,as V is from Coimbatore,we will get the welcome).This Ritual used to take place earlier to let the village know who exactly the Groom and Bride are.


Nischayathartham - Engagement Ceremony,Mantras are chanted by the Hindu Priest,They read out the detals Of the Bride and the Groom,such as Fathers and Grandfathers name,the Village that their Forefather belonged to,their family Gothra.Then they read out the wedding Muhurtham's Date and time.Once everyone is ok and agrees to the wedding the Thamboolam is exchanged along with the rings and the bride and the groom are officially engaged.

Muhurtham (Main wedding) - It is the on the 2nd day,the time is typically between 7 am to 9.30 am or can go up to 11 am.

Kaasi Yatra - An age old ceremony where the Groom decides to take sanyasam (monk hood) for his spiritual journey.He is convinced by the Bride's brother and father to give up sanyasam and take up "grahastham"(family life).The Brides brother will take away the umbrella,the wooden slippers and the kamandalam or the jug with water from his hand give him a set of new clothes and leather footwear and take him to his sister,the bride.

This Ritual will complete when the groom's side carrying the groom and the bride's side carrying the bride on shoulders.Th bride and the groom exchange garlands and proceed to the Swing(Oonjal).The Womenfolk will perform rituals and sing songs to word away any evil eye,while swinging the oonjal.

This is proceeded to the Mandapam,where at teh end the Bride sits on her Father lap and Kanigadhnam takes place.Where the Bride's father offers her hand to the groom.The Groom then ties the Mangalasutram around the brides neck and the elders shower their blessing to the auspicious muhurtham and the ceremony.

Nalangu - This used to take place in olden days as the groom and the bride were young and mostly in teenage and is conducted for entertainment.It is a very integral part of the wedding.

Gruhapravesham - This ceremony is the next day when the Bride is welcomed into the Grooms home.She will lit the Traditional Lamp and become a part of the Grooms Family.

I am looking Forward to enjoy all of the above ceremonies to my Hearts content and Live with the Craze V and the Crazier and Loving Families.





Onjal Seva -

Money,money,money, is not so FUNNY!

* Pic Courtsey Google

It takes a lot to be firm and say to yourself that you will lead a life that is free from the bonds of MONEY.If you listened to my mother and taken her advice,you would be a millionaire by now i.e,if you started saving by 23 and now 30 year old millionaire would have been me.As always i did not take her advice and clearly in no position to advice on MONEY matter.However,it is true that as you grow old,you do become wiser and clear and smart in terms of life,which includes money and economy.

Here are a few points for myself,as I start a new life as a wife soon and also to who ever reads it no matter what age you are at.Life becomes simple to live.Agree that money plays an important part in all our lives.It is not just a necessity,but a major need.This is what I intend to do over the next 2 years.



1.Kill the debt - no matter how much you want to save,it will all go nowhere if you have a debt.So first calculate who much you owe or how much you spend on your debts.We all love that big fat bag or the i love the sofa set in home town.However i am going to wait till i clear my debts to buy any new furniture in the house or even buy a new perfume.If your debt is for a bank loan(home,car,personal) and it is for 1 or 2 years,please forgo the dream sofa.There will be better sofas in market soon and you will love them more than the present one.

Mantra - I will not buy anything that I not necessary till I clear all my debts.

2.Save at least 1000 per month - You have a Bank account where the salary goes right?Now take 1000 out on the 2nd of every month.Put in in another bank,like a recurring deposit.That way in a year you will have enough money.

This is how it works - if you deposit Rs.1000 at the rate of 7% interest for 24 months,you will get back an amount of Rs.25,681.So you have invested.

I believe that recurring is a way for you to just close your eyes and let the bank take the money.At the end of 2 years you will have some saving and you can buy yourself what ever you want or put it bank in the bank.

Mantra - I will save Rs.1000 per month for the next 2 years or more if I can(even if it less then 1000,save,save, save)

3.Cut the Card - If you know how to use a CC then use it otherwise just cut it,Why do you want to pay someone else for the things that you have purchased.(Listen to yourself laugh now).But,trust me and just cut the card.Or make sure you never swipe for more than Rs.1000 per month and make sure you pay that back at the beginning of the month.

Mantra - I will not use the card.period.

4.Expense Sheet - As a kid I used to watch my mothers friend write down every expense at the end of the day.I thought she was a miser,It is just recently, that I realised ,she is in a much better position that anyone and never been a miser.She was the first to buy me the best gifts and chocolates and also fancy her every whim and need.So start a budget sheet and write down what you spend every day.DO IT NOW.

5.It is very easy to read all this and say "YAY I Am GOING TO SAVE".However,make sure you do it at least for 6 months.See if it worked for you.Money is not everything.but when did it hurt to save for a rainy day or even to give yourself that gift or to see a smile when you take you family out for a vacation.please save every month and trust me you will be at peace.

Much love from the "To BE Wife and HOMEMAKER/BAKER/WRITER/CREATIVE GENIUS" :P

One Family to Another

I am sitting in our hall writing this blog post and V is playing what he calls soothing Music!(Progressive house).That too him is smoothing and living with him for 6 months i am kinda getting used to the idea of listening to this.

We share the space with a newly bought Lamp(red color),a couch and a diwan.I love the feeling of home.When I used to visit my friends house over weekends( this was long before I met V),I was tempted to ask her to find me a guy who was opposite to me and lived with me and my ranting.She could not find me a guy,However she did find me a room in her house that was called mine.

The reason for this blog is vary personal,I grew up in a neighborhood,which is crowded with my joint family.not that I mind it.However,sometimes when all you want is to just stare at space and just listen to classic rock. That in my case was very hard.If i was singing aloud my pinni or atha would walk in and ask me if i was loosing it.See for them sitting alone was never done.Even when i am in the loo,i get asked random things like "D,where is that yellow plate or that green dabba filled with bindis".

So I yearned for that personal or private space all my life.Then I moved to other city and i loved the initial days of no one to bother me around.sitting Lazy on a Sunday afternoon,sipping beer and listening to music and reading a book. I did enjoy the phase of no one asking me what I was doing or what I was thinking.However i did miss the chitter chatter of my pinnis,random advice by my mamaya's and also my sweet ammama's pulihora.So I got back o a city close by and started travelling home on weekends.

Now that I am back here for good,I am also going to be a part of another Family soon.i am getting Married in 15 days from today.i will miss the Tanikella and Chilukuri clan and their nuisances.However the god part is that Chandramouli clan is much louder and mixing them my clan is going to be a Party for Life and yes a few adjustment here and there never bothered anyone.