In Vacant or in Pensive Mood

Growing up is a huge responsibility. When we were children, we were just waiting to grow up and go to work! We thought that life was easier for our parents and the other adults we knew because they had no homework to worry about when they got back from work. We associated school to torture when we compared them with our childish imaginations of adult life. And, although some of us did say that we wanted to become doctors or teachers when we grew up, the span of our imaginations could not be limited to those few words put into our heads by adults. Take, for example, what my little sister used to say she wanted to be when she grew up; “Haaayah” , her version of Aayah , a name we use for maids who clean, and help the teachers in the kindergarten. She also used to claim that her Haayah was her best friend! My little cousin once said he wanted to be a lorry (truck) driver. What simple, uncomplicated wishes they were, very unlike the clichéd aspirations we were expected to possess.

There was a phase in my life when I had been fascinated by the idea of having a big brother. I didn't have one myself, but just hearing people talk of their big brothers and the sweet things they did made me wish I had one too. Soon enough, my wish was granted. A second cousin I had hardly spoken to before, but had met many times during my vacations in Kerala, landed in my city to study engineering. Although I was wary of it in the beginning, I was able to accept him as my brother and enjoy the sisterly pampering he offered. I realised that you don't necessarily have to be siblings to be a big brother and a baby sister! Wonderfully enough, this realisation brought me some more big brothers. They pampered me, and filled my life with a certain happiness that compared to nothing I had felt before. I fed my hunger for affection with all the chocolates they bought me. Well, I LOVED it! I started looking up to my brothers for almost everything. When it came to some important deci

You know what the biggest curse to a writer is? Not having enough time to write! Having to live so many different roles in life that are apparently more important than writing for one’s pleasure, especially when the muses are at work. Take my case, for instance. My primary role, currently, is that of a student. And like all students, I have a lot of academic work on the top of my priority list, whether I like it or not. Whether or not writing is my passion, I need to put my assignments first in line. Here’s a situation I go through pretty often. It is about 8:00 pm, and I am just getting back from college, after a hard day. I have assignments on my mind, and tests that I need to prepare for. I am trying to plan out the few hours left in front of me before I have to start on a 2-hour journey back to college early the next morning. I have to stay up the whole night, I decide. There is no way I’m sleeping tonight! Worried thoughts haunt my mind, and I’m feeling pretty beat up already.