Day 61 of 108

My head is hurting badly. So I will make this quick 

1. Papa is well.

2. Went to the Library Bar at Carter Road with my neighbour. We had a really nice pasta and coffee.

3. Later went to Bandstand with a friend. We returned and I ordered some stuff from Al-Baik. Had heard a lot about it. 

4. Really tried to treat myself gentle.

5. Got through one day with so.much.uncertainty.

Day 60 of 108

 An unending day ended. Or actually not yet. I need to dump a few things and get things sorted. 

Maybe have some hot, sweet tea. But the pleasure will be to see it brewing. 

Anyway, here are a few things that I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well.

2. Went for a nice morning walk.

3. Looked good in my navy blue dress today.

4. Made some headway at work.

5. Feeling very emotional today. First day of periods.

Day 59 of 108

Had a tiring day. It is exhausting.  Treated myself to some tasty apple juice. It is exhausting - the depth of work. I think a little by little, things will settle in. I have ordered a lovely cup of tea. It is fragrant. The hotel mentioned that they stock the best kind of saffron from around the world. So I am having the best kind of chai now. After I type up this post, I will take my tea and go to the settee, sit down, and sip the tea. They have started up the fountain today. There's some music in the background. Someone mentioned that it was saarangi. I heard the word 'saarangi' after so long.

I saw a beautiful, beautiful sunrise above the meadows. And then an hour later, a deep, gorgeous thunderstorm!

Here are all the things that I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well.

2. Made some headway in what I had set out to do.

3. There was some sticky stuff that I wanted to tackle - which I did.

4. Had a good conversation with someone.

5. Am safe.

Day 58 of 108

I am sitting by the window of my hotel suite. They gave me a plush, red one today. I had to move from the aubergine boudoir yesterday. It snowed a little today. A sweet little bird...a partridge maybe? dusted off the snow from its feathers.

I have shut down my laptop and am looking out at this place. Of all the things I would never have imagined...being in Keylong is one of them. A strange, sudden trip.

But next week, we head to the plains.

As they say, Delhi is not far. 

Day 57 of 108

 A day of quiet accomplishments today. Here are a few things that I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well.

2. The sunshine looked beautiful!

3. Had some really tasty meals today.

4. There's a certain beautific joy that fills me up when I finish something tough. And I had that feeling today. 

5. Got to read some interesting things online. 

Day 56 of 108

 Good Lord! The day went by so quick that I did not get a chance to do all that I wanted to. 

To now move on to other things:

1. Papa is well.

2. Lots of occasions to lose my temper but I managed a few things well. If not well, slightly better than before. 

3. Got a haircut today. Really happy with it! Check for Sikandar at the Ten salon in Bandra. I have been going to him for a while now. A few times for haircuts but mostly for detangling hair, some hair spa treatments and the like. (I don't own a comb...in case you needed context as to just what kind of disrepair my hair falls into.) I have always found him to be...wise about my hair. I can't explain. It's not just snip and shampoo. There's a certain acknowledgement of an old code of trust. 

4. Had a tasty croissant with butter and jam.

5. Ended the day with some degree of accomplishment but with a lot of things undone. But maybe that's what we give thanks for today ...unfinished business that keeps us going. 

Day 55 of 108

Have been really scattered today. But I did start something that I intend to be consistent with in the future. I am somewhere getting the feeling that the future is going to steadily get tougher, rougher, and more uncertain. I sometimes do wonder how might I actually get through it with some sanity intact. I don't have the answers. I am not even sure if I have a coherent question. Still I hope that things go well. And if or when the pain does come, it's gentle.

Here are all the things I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well. I went to meet him in Vashi today and he looked pleased. He enjoyed his dosa and mudi with me.

2. I found out about something going on st home that I was not at all happy with. But I did not lose my temper. I soothed myself down and decided to deep breathe through the whole thing. Problem is not resolved. But it's not made worse. And I am just glad that I at least made a brave effort to break a pattern.

3. Almost had an accident on the way back but the auto guy stopped right on time before he collided with a truck. So so grateful for this. Neither of us were hurt. Although I seemed to have locked in the shock a little more. Our auto friend happily got back to flitting about in no time.

4. I got my order of the Fenty beauty gloss bomb sticks. I love them! They actually fill my heart with cheer and hope and a nourished will to live! It's really worth the money! And for vegan products to be this creamy and lovely, they are gorgeous! 

5. Have a home to get to. There's water, electricity, and food.

6. Had the Arabian pudding from Pakeeza. Gosh! It was gorgeous! The layer of bread was drenched in that creamy rabdi-type milk, topped with flakes of almond and pista, and tender sweetness of custard. Yummy in my tummy! 

Day 54 of 108

 Today was an emotionally heavy day. Actually which day isn't. But the heart felt like it had molted lead poured into it. But a day was lived and gone through. Some beauty must have registered in the nervous system to be retrieved later.

Here are all the things I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well. He sounded happy today. Happy and healthy. It was the sweetest sound I heard all day. 

2. Cook is on leave today so my cleaning lady made the food. Her chhole was damn good! Better than my cook's actually. I love chhole. 

3. Went to my friend's house to collect some old newspapers. I had a nice, peaceful couple of hours. He has a nice, peaceful sweet home that looks lit with amber glow when the sun goes down. We had black coffee with sugar and heard the sharp, sweet whistle of some strange bird. There was part in the evening when my friends were watching cricket and I was looking outside the house at the shadows cast by trees...where I felt that this scene could be part of a European film. Life goes by...slowly.  The world spins and in the weird randomness of moving apart and waltzing around, three people share a common pocket of peace. With the occasional birdsong. That's a gift.

4. I ordered for a few things from a neighborhood milk centre called Pakeeza. I love their phirni (which friend cited in point number 3 had introduced me to). But they were out of that. I got their malai lassi, caramel custards, Arabian pudding, and fresh curd. I just had their malai lassi now as I write this. Too good!

5. Managed to go to the gym. 

Day 53 of 108

 Today passed okay. Some sweetness did come my way. And let's see how much living we get to do in the coming weeks. Or even days. 

Here are all the things that I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well. 

2. Ordered tasty benne dosa and podi idli.

3. Had tasty banana pancakes.

4. Had an interesting garlic sandwich. A tad dry but okay.

5. I had a difficult moment with my neighbour. Still counting it as something to be grateful for because it shone light on something that needs to be fixed.

6. Managed to go to the gym today. 

Day 52 of 108

Today was a mixed bag, as far as days go. I got into a mighty salty mood for a bit. But that's in the past. A lot of cloud and storm in the chest area but we will soothe ourselves in a bit. I have so much to do that it is crazy shit. And next month will be a roller-coaster as well.

Anyway a little at a time. Here are all the things I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well.

2. Both cook and cleaning lady came over today.

3. Quite enjoyed my first cup of tea. 

4. Got some clarity at work today.

5. Neighbour came over and we sketched a bit.

Sketches from today:

Day 51 of 108

 Today was a busy day. Mainly meetings. But somewhere a needle moved. Or so I hope. Here are a few things that I am grateful for:

1. Papa is well.

2. A friend came over to meet me and he gave me soorma and a lovely bottle of attar. It's lovely and fresh.

3.  Enjoyed rice and daal. 

4. Woke up earlier today.

5. Enjoyed my outfit. 

Picture references from Pinterest.