Precious Pearls

I was happy to get my most favourite dress back. A small blot that had played a spoilsport with my white kurta drove me to my wit’s end. God knows from where the stain came but it just refused to go. What a stubborn spirit! It withstood the strongest and the costliest of the detergents. With ‘heavy’ heart, I accepted that I might not be able to wear it again. Finally I ran into something, which not only helped the stain vanish but also added shine to my kurta . The magic stuff was bought from a roadside vendor. I generally refrain from roadside shopping but I had resolved to find the stain removers no matter where it dwelt. I got it on a handcart. I didn’t expect it to work but it surprised me. It was a breaking story among my friends and family. Many started borrowing it from me and everyone wore a smile after using it. One day, I observed a spot in my house. After spending so much on high-end tiles the blot was bothering us. Who would like to spoil the show of a spanking house...

‘Who is your best friend?’ The question posed by one of my friends made me a bit inquisitive. I’ve so many friends. When I said I couldn’t name any of them as the best, she didn’t look convinced. According to her, there had to be one. But yes, people do label friendships as good, better and best. What do they keep in mind while being friends with someone? Do they go analysing? Do they expect something in return? The e-world and social networking seem to have compounded the issue. I often pull my cousin’s leg, who boasts of having innumerable friends (It’s a different story when the situation demands, none turns up!). Every time we meet, she introduces me to a new face. That face could be a college friend, a tuition friend, a hostel friend and even a friend ‘just like that’! The list doesn’t end here. She has specific friends for specific place and time. Those who accompany her to movies are different than those who join her in eateries. The ones who help in studies are ‘sacred’....

It was an unusual day when I had a lot of spare time. The gap between my two assignments was nearly three-and-a-half hours. It wasn’t wise to go to office and return. As my vehicle was given for servicing, those couple of hours appeared even longer. Little did I know that killing time could be so challenging. However, the ‘test’ turned out to be an interesting one. The location I had to go was some 10 kms off and I decided to walk part of the distance. Familiar roads and localities somehow appeared different. Observing things carefully, I realised our social set-up was a strange mix of mindsets and economic strata. A towering structure next to a crumbling wada, a plush bungalow in a dingy lane, a swanky complex amid cramped shops…people live like this too…I was getting upset looking at some dilapidated buildings. Still veterans sitting in the balconies of those houses looked calm. The busy road was a connecting ground for people haling from different walks of life. A lady with a...