Say 'NO' to plastic

I was already late, 16 bags, carefully crafted by my cousin sat in my cupboard for over a month now, I had to implement my plan. I got out of bed, made breakfast and got ready in a jiffy. My heart beat skipped as I reached the store - M.K Retail.
Without any hesitation, I reached the first man coming out of the store and asked him if he would answer a questionnaire for me.


Name
Email ID (to contact them if I do something in the future)

1. Do u know the environmental disaster caused by plastic?

Yes No

2. What does plastic do?
a) Kill animals, sea creatures after they eat the plastics along with the food in it
b) Emit toxins when burned
c) Release harmful gases when buried
d) All the above

3. What do we do?
a) Recycle - very expensive
b) Reuse - not practical
c) BAN

He answered my plastic awareness questionnaire, I had jotted down on one-side used paper from Siddharth's office.
"Name and email is optional, I'll use the email to inform you if I am doing something in the future," I clarified. As my first respondent finished with the questionnaire, I spoke to him about the ill effects of plastic; then meekly pulled out a jute bag with, "Would you like to buy a bag?". "No, some other time," and he walked away.
I went to my next respondent. Another middle aged man, reached the last question and looked up, "BAN? Not possible. Plastic has got into our lives." Sad as the observation / fact was, I positively told him that plastic has been successfully banned in some places and how making a small shopping bag change, can save animals living with us in our society.
A couple walked away, saying they are busy while others wanted to finish their shopping first. As the sun rose to the centre of our universe, many women made their way to the store and I got more respondents. A young lady smiled and said, "I'll buy one for your enthu." Oh yeah, I need that. She bought a huge jute bag and another cute, tiny one; one you'll like to gift someone. My first Rs 100, glad, my heart sped up a bit.
A couple walking out with Marie biscuit and toothbrush; agreed with my cause; with the woman saying, "I know about plastic. I am a teacher, I need to highlight this." "Will you buy a small bag?" "Of course," her husband came forth and actually exchanged the cloth bag with the plastic one he had just got. Smile!

I got talking with my people I met and eagerly told them how I avoid plastic in what ever form it comes. "I started composting to avoid throwing garbage in plastic bags, that's how the cows find them. I also use very few diapers for my baby, only for long outings." As they say, leading by example."
Women then asked me, how I managed the nights without diapers. "Numerous in-between checks", I smile. "Even I didn't use diapers for my child," the teacher added.

"I am an advocate," she paused with a cynical look, and removed a cloth bag from her purse, "I carry a cloth bag always but just lazy and sometimes not sufficient," as she already had 3 plastic bags in her trolley.

A beautiful woman in her forties, walked passed hurriedly but took time to answer my questionnaire. "Oh, I am into it too. I compost my kitchen waste." Oh the joy of meeting like minded people.

To another one:
"Oh, I have cloth bags at home"
"So you'll use your bag the next time you come shopping?"

As I reached my 15th questionnaire, I contemplated going home to bake my much delayed cake! Just then I saw a young boy looking at me as he walked with his parents to the car. Parents had a plastic bag each with just bought goodies. What better catch than a young guy blushing away? He ticked the questionnaire and slowly looked up. "Would you like to buy a small bag?" "No, maybe some other time." "A small one, you can gift it to someone," I pushed showing a bright pink one. "It's fashionable." "I'll take the this one," taking a yellow and brown one." another Rs 100 and I skipped my way home, happy , very happy.

Hope you are carrying your CLOTH BAG today!!!

Baby, Clothes, Stroll and more

I never thought I would find attainment in my homemaker’s role. From the usual everyday dal to the lip –smacking Jerk Chicken, I find my happiness in everyday things. I might miss my 7pm episode of ‘Friends’, but not checking recipes online. Is this change or just a phase?
Change brought about by the most important person in my life – my daughter. Eight months back, I just wanted to know how the ‘mother of all biological procedure’ will happen with me and today, I am engrossed in my domestic life; like I never was anything other than a stay-at-home mom.
Career etc seems alien to me now and all I can think of is the water for my baby’s bath and what’s cooking and what ought to be cooking for the next meal.
But the glam lifestyle attracts me still and I am always ready with a chic attire. Actually, I think I have made more time for it as my outings are limited and I might as well do them in style. Not to forget my curler for all those curls I wanted to get years ago. Spaghetti top and trendy jeans, low heels, no make up but an eye-catching stole for sure. So motherhood has surely seen me inventing; not re-inventing as I was never here before.
Today, I would rather re-organise my cupboards, spring clean, try a hand at baking (which is alien to me as sushi is to Kamala ben), crochet and not think about my career graph and life goals. I would rather entertain guests than laze away my afternoons. But hey, my afternoons were booked with one more important thing – washing clothes!!! Yes, you read it right. I absolutely love to wash my clothes. With my bai suddenly missing from action and loads of laundry waiting in soaked buckets; I could only get to washing them as I had fretted and complained about all the other chores. This only just needed to be done. Amen!
So there I was, juggling baby with cooking, one morning after my husband left for office. As the day began to unfold, baby got tired and decided to sleep. But I knew no sleep, my mind raced to the waiting clothes and I tip-toed into the bathroom. Scrub, scrub...rinse rinse; another rinse in Dettol and I heard my baby’s call. I rushed before she could be fully awake and as she slept, my wet toes took me back to finish the drying session. I took my wet clothes, squeezed the excess water and enjoyed the breeze as I put them on the clothes line. Gayatri aunty from the next building came by at her balcony and we chatted about her daughter's first born, Ganesh Chaturi and the missing bais again.
Happy, I’m done. My baby smiles in her sleep, sweetly, innocently; let life remain like this one movement. But there those eyes pop up and it's time for baby's evening stroll in the park.
'Papu, papu', the garden aaji calls out, mali nods happily, baby smiles at kids on the swings and I return home after two flights of stairs - back to my abode!!! Phew!!!! Tired? What's that?
Tomorrow's another day, another set of anxieties. But I am ready, I am fine; having the best sleep after a laborious day.

Of husbands and tomato soups

Blue lilies, calm sea, a dog at my heels; I look around and see no one and am happy. Yes happy! Trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, goes my door bell and I wake up. Wake up only to turn around and pull my blanket over my head again... another day!
“Ondu tea maadi”, I hear my husband. Need to get up and drink it for him, scan the newspaper for him and share his thoughts on the latest news bite for him. I lean back into the sofa I thought would, fit into our hall and into our lives and give me happiness. As I lean back, I remember it’s breakfast time (for him).
Marriage, they say is difficult but I think it’s difficult to understand. What makes you happy? What burdens you? What keeps you going?
I return from office after a joke and a meeting; one deadline and loads of work. I enter my abode with carrots, capsicum, mushrooms, fruits and vanila ice cream. As my macroni boils and I cut my capsicum and mushroom; the thoughts from morning return to me. But they are all too unknown now. What was I thinking? This is my life and I love it. Veggies are done, tomato sauce is yummy, now to add the wonderful ingredient – cheese!!! Yes, I love cooking and I lovely life! Smile.
Chaos, redefined. No system problems, no editorial deadlines, no meetings scheduled... this is home. Baby crying for a stroll, NDTV news bursting into the living area, friends calling on the cell, hubby trying to make sense of it all – oh my delicious palak paneer just got burnt – Ouch!
Ok, all settled. Dinners done all I need now is a pillow; but would love to trade it for a pedicure, soft music – possible you think? Now? But I want it on a yatch. Oh yeah!
So I reach my pillow and lights go off, Amen!!! I think of Edison, Thomas Edison.
I still can’t make sense. Shopping with hubby. Sexy top for me, manly watch for you. Curtains for kiddy room, crystals for decor. Matching shoes for me, handful of romantic candles for us and a teddy for childhood sake. I’m done, I’m happy. I am a homemaker.
I wake up next morning, and type out my life to a friend – everything ok, everything fine!!!