From Deepa's Desk

"I don't think there is any hospital here. You must have put the wrong location." The driver says calmly.  I stare at him in silent stupefaction. What else could I do when I had put the location on the Ola app, traveled in the auto for quarter of an hour and finally the driver arrives at a dead end somewhere off a highway where a lot of construction work is going on and utters these shocking words?! "There is no hospital here." The driver repeats. I get down and see a security guard sitting outside a construction site. The auto driver tells me to pay. I make the payment, and he leaves me to my fate.  I ask the security guard, then three more, but all of them quote the driver word to word.  I realize two things then.  There is indeed no freaking hospital here. I am at an unknown place far away from home and somewhere around a highway with no vehicles in sight.  It is not yet time to panic… I remind myself. I decide to rely on the mobile and start w...

  Vishu has been my favorite festival right since my childhood. The various rituals associated with this festival make it unique and very, very special. The main ritual is seeing the Vishu kani – the first thing to see when you wake up in the morning. Vishu Kani is an assortment of rice, pulses, coins, notes, jewellery, vegetables and fruits placed in a pattern. A mirror is placed strategically in the center of this assortment, the purpose being that all the objects kept in the Kani are reflected in the mirror. This signifies abundance. An idol or photo of Lord Krishna is usually placed along with the platter of fruits and vegetables. Vishu being the New Year for Keralites, this ritual symbolizes seeing something very auspicious the very first thing in the morning after waking up. This is to set a precedence for the whole year, a hope that every day of the New Year will be blessed and auspicious. My parents would set up the Vishu Kani at night, not allowing me, my sister and ...

I feel blessed to say that I haven't been a stranger to serendipity. Often and unexpectedly, I have been gifted moments of wonder and awe that make me believe in a Higher Power.  Take for instance the picture I have used for this blog. This was taken tonight when I was strolling outside my home after dinner. Actually it all began yesterday. It was the full-moon day and for some reason, I could not go out of the house at all. I lamented late evening that I had missed seeing the pink moon rise immediately after sunset. After dinner, I was strolling as usual on the floor outside my home when I looked up and saw the moon which was pink! The most amazing part is that I never get to see the moon from that end of my home usually. I have to step out of the lane where my building is located to have a view of the moon on most days. That I could see it on a full-moon day especially when I had given up all hopes of seeing it, made the experience much more blissful. Tonight too, I had bee...