The Hours that Passed By

My mother visited me in July. One Sunday evening, we planned a drive to Krishnagiri Dam backwaters to watch sunset. We reached our secret spot and enjoyed a beautiful sunset from the hilltop. On our way back, as a custom, we stopped at Krishna inn near Shoolagiri for some tasty Masala dosas. 

On a Tuesday, Amma and I drove to Malur. I had to pay my property tax at the Tashildar's office. After that, we met up with Gowri and Ramesh. After some tasty Raagi mudde for lunch at Malur town, we headed to Gowri's farm house. "Petit à Petit, l'oiseau fait son nid". Gowri's farm is slowly taking shape and is looking amazing, producing a lot of good and healthy food. Amma enjoyed sitting in the balcony and watching the farm as cold breeze swept past us. 

On a Thursday afternoon, Amma and I drove to Surathkal. Since there were a lot of landslides in the western ghats, I took the Coorg route. This route is considerably safer. With one food stop near Kushalnagar, we reached home it was close to 11PM. 

Back home, the school has been keeping me busy. It was a hectic month with exams, corrections and PTMs. It was honestly exhausting and took a toll on my health - School teaching is not just about subjects. A school teacher is responsible to discipline children and make them civilised beings. The more I take my job as a teacher seriously, the more I need to be involved in the lives of my students. And sometimes, it can be stressful  - Mentally and not so much physically. You are dealing with a bunch of problems that so many children are facing and it is impossible to be unaffected by it. However, I have my means to detach as well. 

I took a day off and traveled to Belur one Friday. I picked a beautiful Krishna Idol to sketch and painted it on the spot. Many tourists stopped by to watch me paint and encouraged me. During this session, while observing the sculptures, I came up with a new colour scheme. I could not complete the painting though and it still remains unfinished. I think I like it unfinished. 

Here, I met an old woman called Radha who kept on speaking to me about her life while I was painting. She even took my phone number. She called me once and spoke about her relatives and enquired about my well being. I do not find this abnormal at all. Because, I know that many people in this world seek some patient listeners. 

I also had to take my scooter to Mangalore to get the Fitness certificate done. I decided to ride the scooter till there. I had wanted to do that when I had bought it several years ago. But back then, I wasn't confident. On a Thursday afternoon, I rode the scooter to Mysore first. I spent the night in my sister's house. Next morning, after breakfast, I rode to Mangalore. I stopped at a small cafe in Coorg for brunch. I left the vehicle at my cousin's house in Mangalore and took a bus to Surathkal. I spent two days relaxing at home - jogging and walking by the beach, relishing the delicious food my mother prepared. After a family event at my cousin's house, I returned on Sunday night by bus. 

The last few months had been busy and I stayed away from social media. When your real life in eventful, virtual world looses its importance.