happiness and food

As I type the next few words, I can smell tea brewing from the kitchen. It’s slightly windy outside and I can also hear the wind chimes in the balcony.

Last couple of months have been busy. Work has begun to take up a lot of my time and I am also not able to call it a day. Mostly, I am at my work desk (first from office and then at home) until 9pm. I am constantly telling myself to stop at the right time and not think of addressing everything possible at all times.

Then there is home. Not one but two. There are so many responsibilities. I wonder how I juggle a zillion things between ordering online to having daily meals at two dining tables on a regular basis. It’s true that women carry the burden of taking care of the house and running it. There are days I am proud of myself and then there are days that I am exhausted. I want to sit, stare into nothingness and have a cup of chai.

I miss our conversations. I miss this home. I miss meeting you all. I don’t want to quit. This brings me joy so these conversations should continue.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that crochet is continuing to give me joy. I am making more new stuff and loving the process. From finding a pattern to selecting yarn and then working on the stuff makes me happy. I can’t believe that this year it will be five years of crocheting. You are more than welcome to check out my Instagram handle here and hopefully you will love it as much as I do.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that I have added Georgia to my bucket list. We recently watched a show and I realized how beautiful the country is. With time, I feel that I have so much to see and do and so little time. Over a decade and more back, VT and I wanted a short international stint and even today I wish if we had got that, it would have been great. Now life has so many responsibilities that even leaving Bangalore feels like impossible.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that this year is special. It will be 20 years this June of Engineering. 20 years this December of living in Bangalore. 20 years of finding friendship and sisterhood with GK. Time has just flown somewhere.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that I find quiet time the best for myself. Right now I can hear the Koel and it’s beautiful. I manifest living in the mountains or surrounded by trees. I love the convenience of city life and the quietness and earthiness of nature.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that this year I am walking more than the last year. Some mornings, I get up early and clock 5 kms before I go to office. On my walking path, I see many trees and blooms. We are getting some pre-monsoon showers in Bangalore and the trees look washed and happy-green.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that on one of my long walks, UM and I spotted a huge Sunflower field. It was a joy finding it and getting some pictures. I had never seen one before so like you can imagine, I was very excited. All of them were facing the east and you know why.

If we were having chai together, what would you tell me?

---

Conversations over chai is my take on sharing a bit of life, reflections, learnings and gratitude with you. By now, you all know that chai is my favorite beverage and I hope we get to have chai together one day.

So join me by sharing something that you can and let’s talk.