Variety by TRIOS

 The opinion given here is my own idea without any political angle to it. This is just an attempt to get an explanation of why these things are happening, based on observation and press reports. I do not have any supporting data, reports nor have I done in-depth study of the issues. Looks like there is some force in Mumbai with a definite hidden agenda… When one looks around, one finds some forces that make things which are good, running nicely, things we are used to and like using, shops, products, institutions, etc. being methodically shut down or shifted. Conditions in Mumbai are made difficult due to which, factories, industries, businesses are shifting to neighbouring conducive environment like Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Surat, etc. Two big conglomerates are currently operating in Mumbai and one can see them getting stronger… One such case I would highlight is regarding an orphanage where I go to spend some quality time with the children. Let us call it Balakashram. Some of the ch...

  This time I thought I’ll do a book review ….   I stumbled upon this book absolutely by accident and as I started reading I wondered how was it possible that I had not read a single book by this author. There seems to be a series of books, this being 22 nd . How uninformed could I be. And I pride myself as a reader! M C Beaton, born Marion Gibbons (née Chesney) was a  Scottish  writer of  romance  and  mystery  novels, whose career as a published author began in 1979. She wrote numerous successful historical romance novels under a form of her maiden name, Marion Chesney, including the "Travelling Matchmaker" and "Daughters of Mannerling" series. Using the pseudonym M. C. Beaton, she also wrote many popular  mystery novels , most notably the  Agatha Raisin  and  Hamish Macbeth  mystery series. Both of these book series have been adapted for TV, Wikipedia tells me.   She died on December 30, 2...

  Ravindra’s expression was priceless! What’s this woman saying! Is she in her senses! Enid Blyton! She’s going to read Enid Blyton at her age! Did I hear right! I must have misunderstood. Various emotions were reflected on his face each vying for a place. “Taking it for your grandchildren?” He wanted to reassure himself. A seventy-year old and reading Enid Blyton. He simply could not assimilate this. We were making a list pf books to start a library for the children mainly. We, meaning, SAHAS [Spreading Aid Health And Smile] Foundation. A tiny NGO started by 7 friends. When the next Enid Blyton made an appearance I was ecstatic and he beyond being surprised. I had found these two books and was overjoyed. Leena, kept smiling. Trying not to add to the poor guy’s confusion. I knew though she was equally excited about the books. It was more than two hours by the time the four of us decided to call it a day. All the time he had that bewildered expression. He tried...

        I  am a retired banker. While in service  I used my brain as my memory bank. Before leaving for work   in the morning list of things to be done come flashing before the eyes one by one. By evening before leaving work the things done would automatically get deleted and and the remaining forwarded for the next day. After retirement my memory bank is almost blank. Even if I try to put things there, while trying to get the tasks done hardly I can remember a thing or two. While working I was told many times by my bosses and colleagues that I should keep a check list which I did not take seriously. Now even with the check list I am not able to remember the things .      Yesterday I went shopping with a list in my bag with my daughter-in-law specifically telling me to get milk. On the way I met an old friend and went for a walk talking with her all the time telling her I have to take some things from the market. We went to the mark...

    Can you imagine an 87-year old man and his 80-year old sister fighting over an ordinary cloth shopping bag? That's exactly what happened four years ago in Sept. 2020. These two persons are my Father in-law (FIL) and his younger sister, our Aatya. We were at my Sister in-law (SIL)'s new house. While leaving, Aatya suddenly saw the bag in my FIL's hand and pounced on it saying "my bag, my bag, give it". My FIL immediately pulled it back saying " No, No it is mine... I brought it from home ". Both kept shouting at each other, getting hyper and there was a small tug of wars. The scene was most hilarious. Then we all intervened and my SIL showed Aatya another bag " This is your bag, Aatya, you brought this bag with you today " she said. Aatya agreed and in the meanwhile, my FIL seized the opportunity to keep the disputed bag inside away from Aatya's sight. Now both my FIL as well as Aatya...

  “Didi, today, I’ve realized what this generation gap really is!”   said Nilanjana laughingly. This was after having spent half an hour trying to get Pakhi (11), her daughter and Shilpi (45) her relation-wise niece to change out of their salty, wet clothes full of sand. Nilanjana was 40 years old. Technically, I am her sister-in-law, though I’m older than her Mother. Shilpi, though her senior in age, is a generation ahead. And there by hangs a tale ….. We had all been on the RORO to Mandwa and then driven down to Kihim Beach I think. It was evening by the time we reached Kihim and Pakhi was all set to get into the sea. Equally enthu about this was Shilpi. She made a pretense of rolling up her pants and both had a gala time playing in the sea. We had to travel all the way back to Mumbai; hadn’t carried change of clothing so didn’t want to get wet. I was dreading the drive back to the jetty; it was getting dark and driving with headlights glaring into my eyes gave me naus...