Darjeeling

A simple story between two sisters and an opportunist and how the two sisters make the best of themselves and their environment.

My most favorite character in this book was Aloka- the elder sis who is always generous to forgive the shortcoming of everyone around her, but doesn’t get the best she deserves. The way she transforms herself from a “beautiful daughter” to the “newspaper columnist” is what made me to finish reading this story.I have never visited Darjeeling but it is simply beautiful in the words of the author.

The book had a lots of tit bits about brewing a good cup of tea.I make myself a cup of tea every morning though I suck in making tea :(

Lessons from people around

Param told me a real life story he heard recently from an old man. Here it is.

The old man and his wife had been to their son's place for 3 week Christmas holiday. They had real good time and it was surprisingly one nice holiday with least arguments between them. But before they could return back home, one early morning, his wife passed away

And to quote the old man, "I thought I'll be the first one to go as I thought she has better chance of taking care of herself .But things did not happen that way. On that fateful day when she was taken to hospital, I made a promise to her in my heart that I'll take care of myself as she would have and I will not let my health go bad".

I believe telling something like above to a group of people is setting a good example of how one would love his wife from the bottom of heart. I was moved by what happened and it made me think a lot about marriage & expressing our love to our loved ones when they are still with us. A husband and wife will always have arguments no matter how long they have been together. But letting the anger from these quarrels and arguments stay in our hearts at the end of the day doesn't make sense.

Also before I came to Uncle Sam's land, I did not have much idea about westerners and and their values for family & relationships. But these last two years have influenced my opinion on their values a lot. Their sense of togetherness and respect in family system seems a little different from what we have back in our place, but still commendable in its own way.

In families back home, it’s not common for husband/wife to express their affection to each in words that would set an example for kids/others to emulate (just my opinion).Isn't it good to express your affection to your loved ones in front of your kids (words/action) once in a while and set a good example for kids to emulate?

Life on the refrigerator door

I recently read this book " Life on the refrigerator door"



This is a book about the notes exchanged between a mother and a daughter...on the refrigerator door !

I thought I'll read few pages before going to sleep, but as I read a few pages, the book got into me and I had to finish it ..

A simple story, yet so touchy at the end. Though I could not appreciate some of the subjects discussed as notes between the mother and daughter in the story, this is one of the good stories I have read in recent times...:)

Check it out when you go to library next time.