Anecdotes from life #5

Hiiiii again..... it's been a while (as always).

But here is an experience from many, that has found a few words :)

I had enrolled for an Art class a few months ago. It was supposed to make you "feel art" more than the verbs of it like drawing or sketching or colouring. 

So this Art class was situated in South Bombay (So-Bo). So you now automatically know that it was very expensive. You also automatically know that it was chic, niche, different and specially curated for it's patrons ;)

But I had heard a lot of good things about this class and a few of my friends were sending their kids here too, so I presumed that novices like me would be trained to find good potential.

Of course I was in no illusion that I was going to become the next Picasso - but maybe an elite version of Majnu bhai nevertheless ;) ;)

Before my first session here, I received a detailed message from the Teacher's assistant listing all the items necessary for class. It came with a So-Bo caveat - buy everything from a particular shop and of particular brands only, because, just imagine learning to draw with Natraj pencils when there's Faber-Castell and Staedtler!!! I was far too invested with the fees itself anyway, so obviously I had to dig in deep and invest more. 

I went to this shop and gave them the elite list. It was far too regular for them, they had been preparing this list for the students of this class for ages. So they just whipped out a pre-packed bag and whooped up a crazy bill. In my 40 odd years, the only expensive piece of stationery I ever owned was an ink pen worth 489/- from a shop in Bhutan!!! This was a bill almost close to 5 digits. You can only imagine how I felt standing in that shop. I could momentarily even picture the mixed look of shock, disapproval, disbelief, disappointment and fury on my father's face if he ever found out about this (omg that moment is here too!!) But, as I said earlier, I was deeply entrenched by this time to back out. So I apologized to Appa mentally and decided to move on. I also rationalised the use of all this stationery by my son and that kinda trumped everything. I was finally feeling good about my choices. 

With everything as mentioned on the Assistant's list and instructions, I landed up at class. 

We were 5 new students in this batch, all ladies and all from So-Bo only, ok….tee heeee :)

I too belonged I thought, but only slightly. Everyone was dressed like they were attending an English wedding, only designer hats were missing. I was dressed in a kurta. One of the students mistook me for an elderly student's chaperon for a bit too. By the time she realised her mistake, neither of us were embarrassed, because, come on, kurta ??!!! 

After the initial introductions, the Teacher started with laying out the process - we would all copy a piece of drawing that she would show us and then she would assess our levels; based on which she would then formulate a plan for the rest of the sessions, that, in her words, "would help break open our shackles of un-imagination" !!! 

To be honest, she spoke so passionately that I actually felt a little bit excited about breaking these goddamned shackles.

The drawing was that of a crow filling up the pot with stones! Ahhh, the classic!! She said we shouldn't conform to the standard and instead let our minds interpret it in different ways, while copying…..!

We started with vigour.

At this time, I was just brimming with unlimited creativity. So I decided that my crow would be blue and the stones would be diamonds. You do see how amazing this is, right!

We were soon done. 90 minutes flew by like the crow.

It was a strange first session but it was one with so much promise naa - like I love these "eclectic" experiences and this one was thriving in it .... Hehehehe. No one spoke much with me in the class because, kurta; but that made it easier for me to observe them and judge without guilt ;) ;)

Anyway, a week later we received a message from the Assistant saying the lesson plan would first be discussed in the class and THEN shared with us on email. The secrecy and the level of clearance here sure made me feel like a very highly rated spy (as a child, I used to nurture dreams of being a decorated, amazing, next level awesome spy, amongst many other things. Who knew God was listening!!)

So we get to class two.

The Teacher had laid out all our drawings on the table. She joined her palms and prayed quietly for 5 full minutes. Why? No one will ever know the answer to this!

The other ladies joined her in this ritual. I prayed too, but for different reasons altogether concerning my safety. 

At last, she opened her eyes. She said she would tell us what Art is and what we need to do to "embrace art". But this conversation was aimed at being private. Because Art means different things to different people. The ladies were nodding. I was unaware. 

But anyway, one by one the students were called in for this private tête-à-tête. 

My turn was obviously at the end but it was finally my turn to get my honours ... Wink wink. I walked in holding my drawing. The Teacher was waiting for me with 2 glasses of chia-lemon smoothie! Because, why not! 

Then, we proceeded to have a conversation which, you will find out at the end, was the reason for me becoming the Artist I am today :) :)

Here goes…..

Teacher: Art is real. Art is yours. Art is what you feel in your heART. Art is expression. Art just exists. Art is a fact. No Art is ever right and No Art is ever wrong. Art just is!!!!!

Me - mindblown and almost shivering: Wow!!! That is incredible!!

Teacher: But, darling, here, in your drawing, it's all wrong, sweetheart! This isn't what I meant by interpretation of Art!

And that, Ladies and Gentleman, is how I became probably the only Artist on this Earth, bearing a So-Bo stamp, that has actually converted an "No Art is ever wrong" to a full, complete and total “This Art is WRONG!!!!

Anecdotes from life #4

I am here, yet again after a big gap from my previous post. Don’t ask me why there is always so much gap between posts - I really have no idea. But I convince myself every time with the fact that I show up, even if irregularly. Hehehehe. So, here it is …. Another blog post :) This time too, like earlier times, a few stories from every day life.

Over the last year, I have needed a fair bit of physiotherapy for my back and neck. I have been very diligent about it. So I have been at the clinic almost thrice and sometimes even 5 times a week. Now you already know that I have made friends here, right :) I have realised that many a times, I force my friendship on unsuspecting people, who don’t know they are being befriended. My goodness, that almost sounds like I’m in some unsavoury, fraudulent business of conning people. But anyway, so, I have made friends there. 

My friends there include the physiotherapist herself, who, by the way, is a very spunky and amazing person. Her various assistants are my friends. Her patients are my friends. Of which, one old aunty, who comes every day at the same time, is my favourite. She comes to the clinic everyday clutching a small dabba with some snack for the physiotherapist. She makes most of these items herself and will always get one small portion for the clinic. She quietly does her exercise routine with a little help sometimes from the asst, but mostly on her own. The physio magnanimously shares this dabba with everyone and all of us get a chance to be a bit fortunate to take a small bite of life like this! :) This makes aunty very happy, especially our loud praises for her. She will giggle and offer a tip or two about how she made the dish extra special. Her eyes light up every time like a beaming flashlight at such an instance. Aunty’s passion for cooking is so intense that even when she’s exercising she’s thinking and discussing what her next item should be and what unique twist she would give it, to make it extra awesome :). It makes you realise that passion for anything in life can fire you up, no matter at what age, time, life stage or place you are in :)

Over the last year, I have also taken part in lot of volunteering activities in my son’s school. I absolutely and thoroughly enjoy it. I enjoy being with the kids and teachers and helping with activities. I enjoyed one such activity a bit more than others this year. It was an ophthalmology camp for preprimary kids. Everyone had to line up, cover one eye at a time and read the alphabets in different sizes. It was smooth. Not ;) It was hilarious. The rules had to be told to each child multiple times and yet the child would do something different. It was hilariously cute. 

One kid was terribly smart - he stood in the queue patiently and memorised all the alphabets. But the doc was seasoned, he knew to identify such extra smart little cuties and changed the order of identifying the alphabets - all hell broke loose and heavy tears followed. Then there was this sweet little girl who said she doesn’t talk to strangers and went ahead and identified all the alphabets in her Teacher’s ears only. It was a very fun camp. Most kids covered both their eyes at the same time and said they couldn’t see at all :) The sheer innocence and honesty of these kids made all of us feel very warm and fuzzy :) One of the kids was extremely happy to get his eyes checked - he clapped and did a little dance too. Inspired by him, many kids who followed also clapped and were shaking hands and sharing high fives! :) Such encounters with kids make you realise that you need very little to be genuinely joyful and happy in life na! :)

Over the last year, I have of course also visited a lot of restaurants in and around Mumbai. At one particular fast-food restaurant that I have frequented a lot more than others, is a middle-aged gentleman who does both things - taking food orders as well as serving. I have noticed him slog throughout the time he’s there. I have visited this restaurant enough times to safely conclude that he’s their star employee. He listens to his customers intently, offers genuinely helpful suggestions, is prompt and attentive and wears a smile throughout. He’s also quite jovial and friendly with the other staff. 

Many times, they all encounter rude, entitled customers, but this gentleman deals with them softly yet sternly. There have been errant kids dropping glassware, old uncles and aunties who have dropped numerous spoons and cutleries, youngsters ordering too much and then asking for takeaways amidst crowded tables, etc etc. He’s always on top of everything, managing and taking along his colleagues too. He’s honest with accidental extra monies and lavish tips as well. And it all boils down to him being a kind, genuine and hardworking person. Over many small chats, I have figured that he has a very big family back in an Indian village and he is the sole earning member; and that he is doing his best in the city. You and I, both, know how difficult it is to make ends meet in a city like Mumbai. Despite all the struggles, he hasn’t let go off his kindness and honesty. He has even managed to send one of his children to an engineering college for post grad studies. Such people make you realise that hardwork, patience and kindness are pillars of a society doing well and thriving, isn’t it!

As I wind up this almost preachy, LinkedIn-type post, I hope I have been able to share my learning about how sometimes, mundane every day instances hide cherished stories with big lessons of life. 

If yes, then yayyyy! If no, then wait till I befriend you without your knowledge and force such lessons upon you ;) Haha :)