Weighty Issues

A few years ago, I chose a rigorous workout plan and almost starved myself, to lose 12 kilograms in three months. So disastrous were the repercussions of my weight loss programme that my body was depleted of several essential nutrients and vitamins, and it was only after nine months of struggle and compensation that I could feel healthy again. During the phase of recuperation, I regained all the weight I had lost and I was back to being my normal, plump self. 

Today, I feel pumped to lose some kilograms once every few weeks, or should I say months. Whether it is getting inspired by someone’s weight loss regime, learning about an exciting workout plan, or just watching the bulge around my stomach increasing, I end up making up my mind to give up chocolates (my biggest weakness) and all things fattening, until I discount a lot of the terms and conditions to make any plan more feasible for my body. After many attempts at losing weight, some successful and some, well, were just relegated to ideas, almost everything I did, apart from my walks, felt forceful. 

I recently decided to completely avoid salt in my food for an entire day in a week, which seemed more like a challenge and less like a chore, and boy, I wonder why this idea evaded me this long. With all the food being the same, I was surprised to see how my body reacted to this change. If you talk about the taste of my food, yes, there were very few compromises. The spices in my food overpowered the taste of my saltless platter, and my body hasn’t reacted better to this technique. 

As I plan to continue with this method of losing weight, I feel responsible towards people around me, especially the youth,in letting them know that every body has a different equilibrium, and it’s best to know what suits your body before you make a decision for your health. And don’t forget, less weight can never classify as a sign of good health.

To my future children

Dear child,

I have never seen you and I don't know where you live, or if you even have any form yet, but it’s 2020 in the world I exist in. I don’t know what the circumstances and the condition of the world be like when you read this, given the rapidly changing global scenario and how the coronavirus pandemic has changed things the world over, but there are a few things I would always want you to know, whether or not I’m around to remind you about them.

Here is a list of some things I would love for you to read, when you think that the world is a cold and harsh place, devoid of pure love.

- You have given me hope way before you were born. You are my constant motivation to strive to make a difference in the world, so that you don’t fall short of inspiration to do the same.

- Just so that you don’t forget how special you are, my parents, and your grandparents, already talk about what you are going to be like, and how they wish to be around to watch you grow up. For some reason, you are already a star in their eyes. Like me, I hope your life becomes enriched with their values and rootedness.

- If my actions fall short, then please hold this as a testimony to the fact that you will find your  biggest cheerleader, admirer and best friend in me.

- Strive to be well-educated over being well-qualified. While your qualification will give you knowledge and a direction to your career, your education will give you wisdom and a direction to your life.

- If, at any point in your life, you find yourself to find a purpose in your life, try and reconnect with your past and where you come from. You would be amazed to know how far you have come.

- Be your own person. Don’t let anyone convince you that you are not enough. It is better to fail while trying to find your own identity, than to ace at being someone you are not.

- As I write this, I have no idea what you are going to turn out to be, or how life treats you, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are here with a purpose. You will matter when it matters the most.

- By the time you get around to understanding why I have written this, a lot of things would have changed. I’d be much older, and I’d have matured by a few decades. If there are times when I let you down or fail to live up to your expectations, then please let it go, like how I did when you were little.

- The world will not always make sense, and it was never supposed to make sense. What really matters is that you don’t give up on your loved ones through challenging times, because, at the end of the day, when the leaves of life start falling, love and faith are the only things which will see you through.

- People talk about success and money being major life goals. Don’t buy into all that. Strive to become a good human being. Money will get you the material goods, but it is your values and the relationships you have, that truly make you rich. And about success, you are already one as long as you stay true to yourself and to those close to you.

- Growing up, my life was blessed with the presence of a special friend, my golden retriever Lucky. He continues to reserve a special place in my heart, and I’m proud that he could influence my life with his selflessness, innocence and overarching love. I hope knowing this helps you bear with my regular mentions of Lucky.                                                                                                                                                                  Lastly, I want to let you know you will always continue to be a big part of why I dream. And if ever you feel the need to be reminded about how powerful you are, then you can find my entire existence waiting to prove it to you. Until we are united, I hope you know you are meant to be with me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Your biggest fan,                                                                                                              Momma

   

 

 

Chickened Out

The other day, it was well past lunch hour when I got to an eatery. Apart from the fact that I hadn’t eaten momos in months, it was one of the first times I was going out to eat since the lockdown. Lord knows how I was starving for hours before I got a table inside the eatery in the middle of a work day. With roughly 20 minutes on hand, I knew the next few moments would have to be spent focusing just on my platter.

 There is something about the sauce that comes with pan-fried momos that I can never get enough of. With four momos down and six more to go, I chomped on the first portion in fewer than four minutes, only focusing on calming the raging volcano in my stomach. It was only after my stomach stopped growling did I acknowledge the taste of what I was eating.

 “I hope you have served me veg momos,” I casually asked the waiter, being assured about my order. The sweat droplets on my forehead quickly trickled down my cheeks, and under my t-shirt, when the waiter, in an equally casual tone, replied saying he had served me non-veg. The food I had just devoured was nothing but chicken momos. “What in the world…!”

I grabbed a tissue, wiped my forehead and mouth, and got up. The waiter looked perplexed not and asked if I wanted the remaining portion of food on my table packed. It wasn't until I spelled out that I had eaten non-veg for the first time in my 27 years of existence, after he took got the order wrong, that he claimed it was me who had asked for chicken momos.

In my head: How could he… gosh? What am I supposed to do now? Does he know how badly he has messed up? Eew… (Eyes closed) Was this my fault? What was the need to eat outside during this pandemic? Why I did not confirm the order before eating? No wonder the inside bit looked weird. It’s okay, stop making this such a big deal. It was an accident. But…

I took a few deep breaths and got myself to think that what had happened couldn't be changed. I reminded the waiter of the blunder her had made, and that what had happened with me was enough for any staunch vegetarian like myself to get offended. Standing at the billing counter, I asked the same waiter to pack a portion of vegetarian momos, in place of the portion I had left uneaten.

 As I was walking away with the packed momos, my eyes fell on the label that sealed the takeaway box, which bore a red mark. I quickly turned around and pointed to the “non-veg” indication, in front of the waiter. Before I could say anything, the man was ready with the same explanation he had previously offered. This time I simply asked him to pack me veg momos, without discussing the ifs and buts.

While I was headed back to my work, I couldn't help but laugh at the sequence of events. I was unsure if it was the waiter who was to blame for the double whammy, or the lack of my being proactive both the times, which led to the disaster. In any case, my heart and apologies go out to the chicken, and every other animal, that was and is made to bear the brunt of human actions in some way or the other. 

What Is Really Uncertain?

2020 has been rather uncertain. That’s overheard now, isn’t it? Be it staying home for long periods of time (I’d rather not use the word “quarantine” anymore), trying to ‘rebuild’ my life, as if someone were reassembling the blocks of a dismantled Lego house, or simply witnessing the war the entire world is collectively waging against COVID-19, holding onto the constants was one way to ensure some stability going into the “new normal”.

I, for one, love my routine and predictability, even if it seems boring at times. I returned to India in the last week of February, with a dozen plans on how to further my career, after an academic stint in London. After what I would call a glorious end to a year of living my dream, with a backpacking trip across Europe, I was back in Mumbai amidst a growing number of coronavirus cases and talks of a complete lockdown. 

Four nationwide lockdowns later, all I did was laugh out of helplessness, as I watched life unfold its plans for the world at large. At a time when nearly 7.8 billion people are riding the wave of disruption, so much so that finding employment is a challenge that looms large for many, I cannot be more grateful to be able to keep going, and find food on my plate every day. At a time when most small businesses are struggling to survive, while many have already shut up shop, letting my future plans and ambitions take a backseat is a small price to pay. While hospital beds remain filled with people fighting coronavirus with their lives, and when doctors are selflessly championing the COVID-19 “rescue operation”, the least I can do is show unwavering gratitude for my life, and pray for the well-being of humanity.

I’m yet to fully come to terms with the new normal, or even begin to anticipate how the coming months will unfold, but the one certainty that has emerged from our pool of uncertainties is that the human species is reaping the effects of its actions. I, for one, think we are deserving of the current circumstances, and I’m afraid there’s more to come, if we continue to ignore nature with the speed at which we currently are. As a species, we can do better with more ‘real’ goals. It’s time we make a choice of collectively uplifting humanity from the realms one-upmanship and become certain about peacefully co-existing with nature.