Ms. Meritta - hereafter a beautiful memory.....

It was the early 80's and the debut of a 20 something anglo indian teacher with a charming disposition gifted with musical talent into the classrooms of a boys school was the harbinger of many a beautiful days to come. 

She taught history, english and also lead the school choir. She was soft spoken, beautiful with short curls and never considered a cane as an accessory. I was part of the choir and also took private guitar lessons on weekends. She was dating her fiancee those days whom we all thought was a terrible mistake. 

A year or two later in one of the catechisim class, Ms Zeta (her mom and our teacher too - credited to be the first in tangasseri to ride a bike) asked us to pray for her and her family to get rid of a devil thats entered her house.  The previous night i heard the commotion in her house as i was a house boarder in the neighbouring house. The Devil left their home and the mom and daughter lead a lonely life.

I rarely heard about her in the last 2 decades..during which she lost her marriage, mom and a glimmer of hope to live. Cancer was at her doorstep with only an empathetic neighbour for support. I share my grief of a lovely teacher who passed away  - overwhelmed to know that she was composed in her last days to have had the courage to make advance arrangements for her funeral (including stitching her burial gown) knowing fully well she was alone in a world while waiting for her last day...! 

Acknowledgement for pics: Balu and Noushad

Artistic Yoga - Looking for flat abs....look no further!

It took a few days for my Concierge Service agent to locate a 'Yoga' centre here in Kuwait. The centre offered 'Artistic Yoga' and ran 3 sessions a week. Day one was a big suprise. It was 60 minutes of hard labour that required physical strength, flexibility, stamina, balance and agility - not to mention the litres of sweat that rained.

Little did I know that Artistic yoga was poles away from the traditional form of Yoga. Bharath Thakur the founder of 'Artistic Yoga' has creatively blended ancient yogic techniques (asanas, pranayam, bandhas, kriyas & mudras) with modern cardiovascular-training intended to achieve dramatic results in body-toning and weight loss - abs in particular.

There is soothing music in the background while you toil your body. But at the end of the session you leave each class feeling re-charged, yet calmer...tranquil within.

Looking for flat abs....look no further!

Hannah Montana and the pink dreams....

 She is 6 years old and hates her classical dance classes but loves bollywood dance numbers. So the 1 hour dance class is split into 30 minutes of classical lessons followed by a bollywood bonus in the 2nd half. Apart from pickig up an art, the 1 hour of prespiration is also intended to free her from the seemingly harmless comment 'she is on the healthier side'.  

She adores 'hannah montana'. Why? 'because she is a pop star!'
So? 'she is rocking!' she said with her eyes wide open fluttering over rows of 'hannah montana' branded frocks, jackets and accessories - all of them PINK. All her class mates have 'HM' branded clothes or school bags. She managed to get the 'HM' clothes this time with a promise for a school bag during next visit.

Its not something new that kids want to be like grown ups. But these rows of branded pink sequenced dreams for sale is a highway to that pseudo-adulthood. A few rows across, women (housewives, mothers, aunts, professionals) were drifting through flowery prints - to restore the lost girly days.