N - Birth, Star, Sun-sign? A Saga of its own.

Another page from my diary, August 27, 2004.

July is a very important month for me. Do you know why? I was born on
the 26th of this month. My son had called up from Delhi, his wishes
traversing thousands of kilometers to reach my ears, my eyes getting
moist; feeling his absence, there was so much excitement in his voice.
It was a quiet affair, good food but nothing very special. With the
addition of a year age is moving ahead and for me this advancement
collaborates with maturity. Being born in the later part of July, my
sun sign is Leo.

Everyday before I leave my bed in the morning, it is my usual practice
to open my palms, set my look at the stretch of the lines running
through this soft part, I believe, in these lines my life story is
written. But the secret is I don't believe in palm readers. I kiss my
palms, run them over my face and fold my hands, say a few words in my
mind ? God please help me to do the right things and carry out my
duties.

Problems have got the habit of piling up in the life. Sorting them out
is not that easy. Problems like to eat away time and still linger in
life's courtyard to come back and pile up again may not be in its
earlier form but in a different fashion. What a hell of a problem I
have been facing with my computer. This small friendly monitor suddenly
began to shrink and put up a total blank black face before me. I had to
sit for days for the technical help and now I can see bright smile on
the face of this stupid thing. I am happy to be back again to write
this journal after a long gap.

No one is interested in the past. The present has a great role to play
in life. And the future ? speaking on this it has so much to do with
fortune tellers. Here steps in the importance of the recording of ?
time, day, date, month and year of the birth of a child to draw the
lines of a horoscope. In India people believe in horoscopes, a small
map, read by an astrologer to predict the events of life. I think
everyone believes in luck. Luck can be favourable and unfavourable.
Having traveled so many years of my life, I can compare luck to a game
of Snake and Ladder, moving up and down the rungs. Having the system of
arranged marriages in this country, many parents feel the horoscopes of
the groom and bride should match. Reason: parents feel rest assured the
couple will lead a happy married life although it has been said,
'Marriages are made in heaven'. Now computers can read horoscopes. If
future could be read accurately by man or machine, the face of the
world would have been something different.

Talking of sun sign, the weekly Star forecast columns in newspapers and
magazines draw my attention. Something good under my sun sign gives me
relief, and the reverse, keeps haunting my thoughts for a day or two.
From the twelve different sun signs, every individual has the influence
of a sun sign, but what, one has to work hard in life to achieve the
goal and not sit back and lounge.

We are so much used to bright sunshine in this part of the world. The
sky has been pissing continuously for days, setting in a gloomy
atmosphere with those heavy grey clouds hovering overhead. Can't hang
out the clothes to dry in the sun, want to stay within the four walls
to avoid the splatter of the muddy spray while moving about in the
streets. Mosquitoes are a happy lot having found their breeding place
in the stagnant water collected in places where the earth has been
scooped up. Malaria getting a chance to spread because of mosquito
bites. We earthly humans never satisfied with anything. If the rains
don't come on time we blame them. If they come down incessantly we want
them to move away. India's peasant community depends mostly on the
rains for a good harvest. Being an agricultural country, a good monsoon
is a must for a good harvest.

The best way to enjoy rainy days is ? eat different kind of pakoras,
cheese pakora, onion pakora, cauliflower pakora, potato pakora, mixed
vegetable pakora ? variety unlimited, and a cup of hot tea to go with
it. Samosas, parathas and even hot puri sabzi is mouth smacking. Puffed
rice mixed with fried peanuts, chopped onion, chopped coriander, sliced
boiled potatoes, chopped green chilli and a few drops of mustard oil
makes a tasty mix for this season.

Today the rains are kind enough to stay away from my life. From my room
I can see ?the stars have started popping out their heads, twinkling
brightly in the sky. Day has drowned in the western horizon with the
sun. The moon, she looks so beautiful in her silvery garb high up in
the sky. If I would have been in my youthful days with a boyfriend
beside me sitting under the star lit sky ? I don't want to relate as
this thought gives me a shudder.