Teacher - Teacher

If you are a girl, it is highly likely that growing up, you played "teacher-teacher" with your friends or maybe even with your dolls and toys. My little niece tries to play teacher with me now, and I happily oblige (as long as there's no homework!).

Back in Delhi, my dad had painted a part of the balcony wall with black paint and got me some colourful chalks and a duster. Many evenings, my friends and I would cram into the small balcony to play. I don't think I ever got the chance to play the teacher since I was the youngest among our neighbourhood friends. Silly power play, I say. :) Since Pia and I lived in the same building, we would hang out in the balcony more often, especially after it would get too dark to play outside.

Somehow I never got the idea that a blackboard can be used for something other than teaching, and since I had to be the student even while playing, it didn't attract me that much. Looking back, I wish I had used the blackboard more often. It would have been a fun place to doodle, or play cross and noughts. Maybe I'll do that now, with my colourful markers and whiteboard that I use to make boring grocery lists. Maybe I'll try to play the teacher this time. I promise I won't give homework! :)

Friends like these

The reunion finally happened and I would like to think that my illness served as a catalyst. The procrastination ended and they flew from all across the country and even outside, to spend a weekend together. The six of us, in the same room after nine years! Here's a bad caricature I made to remember the day.

Whether it is friends in Bangalore, or outside, I have been able to always count on them to be there through tough and happy times. I guess I'm blessed in this area too - to have so many dear friends in my life - these are just five of my many precious gems.

Chai chai!!

While every generation feels that kids of the next generation are perhaps more spoilt than they were, I am no exception. But I do feel that we had the most fun when we didn't depend on toys, but let our imagination play the game. I've always had an affinity for tiny, closed spaces and loved to hang out in this little niche in the wall where we used to keep our blankets, quilts and other such things. The higher the better. And when my brother and my friend, Pia, would join the fun, we would act as if we were in a train, taking turns to be the tea vendor, calling out "chai chaiiiiiii!" We all had very funny ways of saying "chai chaiiii" and thinking of how Pia used to say it still makes me smile.

As we grew up, a cupboard took up the space in the niche, but just as well, we were perhaps getting too old for those silly games.

But give me a pile of blankets and razaais in a cramped up space any day - that's where you will find me, with a book or a sketchbook perhaps. I'll still give you the best chai-chaaiii sound. :)