Posted in tradition, tagged balakumaran, mangalsutra, tamil thali, thali, wedding ring on November 29, 2007 | 16 Comments »
I don’t wear it around my neck always.
Why? maamis ask.
Why not?I retort.
But you are married, no?
At times, in a fit of pique, I let that go unanswered, indicating as living in sin.
For myself I ‘ve tried excuses:
*I don’t wear it after a fashion-Illai, I hardly follow trends
* Villains on the street might snatch my chain- Perhaps
*My [...]
Posted in travel, tagged singapore, kuruvi, aeroplane, flight, singapore shoppe on November 27, 2007 | 28 Comments »
Midnight. Anna International Airport, Chennai. Even if the lights go out, you can identify the terminal for the Singapore flight.Just gravitate towards the point that sounds most like a Pattukottai Azhagiri or a Periyar bus stand. The dialect is colourfully rustic Tamil. The conversation pertains to small town concerns. The place even smells like a town [...]
Posted in maamis, tagged women drivers, PTC, madras, chennai bus rides, car, durga chandrashekar on November 25, 2007 | 12 Comments »
When I was considered old enough to take the public bus transport to school, Amma found a kind teacher, a neighbour, to chaperone me on the ride to school and back.
Each afternoon a wiry lungi- clad man would swing on a bicycle, grazing us and mumble: ”Oi, semma kattai!” and other obscenities. One day Mandavelli maami retorted:”Poda, [...]
Posted in men, tagged madras, marriage, orkut, quick gun murugan on November 23, 2007 | 5 Comments »
In London, Renuka would be part of them ladettes-those hard drinking, highly driven, successful career women, past mid-thirties, who enjoy life, but can’t seem to hold down a man. What do they call them in Madras? The Mylapore maamis call her,”Romba kettava“. The South Madras chicks sneer, “Left on the shelf ya”. I like to hold their hands.
“Have you tried?” [...]
