(Dec 31, 10:44pm)

Done with all the cooking.. a delicious chicken.. a delicious paneer-capsicum cooked in poppy seeds,..

No delicious is not being used here in blind love with the self.. I bet if you tasted, you wouldn't contradict it..

But God this was crazy.. even with all the preparations in hand.. How would mumma manage all this on the night of 31st.. considering she cooked so many other stuff too.. and without any maid doing the preparation..

I guess the love for your child kindles special talent, special dedication, and unremitting energy to most parents..

It is a good day.. and I am happy..

XXX

The diya is still aglow at the pooja space..

It is adding so much more bliss to my present happy moment..

XXX

(Dec 31, 10:06pm)

Between, I bought a table-top calendar from the old Archies shop, nearby my apartment.. It was also a nice meeting up with the shop owner.. an old, thorough gentleman..

He has known me since my high school days and thinks highly of my family...

Table-top calendars and some other miscellaneous purchases at Archies is a part of my year end buyings..

I really like them... It's a beautiful 12 sheet with nature pictures and good quotes..

XXX

(Dec 31, 7:47pm)

These days I can connect easily to the Goddess again.. I don't know how it is all the same again.. but I'm very happy..

The Goddess had been kind to me all through.. but I felt there was very little communication.. May be the news agency job was too hectic for comfort..

XXX

She's started indicating again, she's there for me always..

And anyway, year ends are a time when you feel the Gods are near.. when the glow of the candle tells you, they are always there...

XXX

(Dec 31, 7:44pm)

Hadn't planned anything for my birthday... but some neighbors indicated they were expecting a get-together..

So yes there is one.. tomorrow evening.. I have ordered coffee and a few varieties of snacks..

The cook spent a good amount of time today... she has prepared a lot of delicacies including my favourite gajar ka halva..

But I need to cook too.. I will be cooking chicken... paneer with capsicum and poppy seeds.. but these will be stored for tomorrow's lunch..

For dinner I will prepare noodles..

Don't think I have to toil too much... all the masalas are ready and all vegetables and all other arrangements have been made by the cook herself..

So, it's going to be like how you see in recipe shows..

Cooking for fun.. plus I'd be watching TV..

XXX

(Dec 31, 7:38pm)

It was generally a good year.. My stint with the IANS earned me many things... big bylines.. ministerial-level contacts.. exposure at MEA..

And of-course, an enhanced pay pack and designation, from where I can bargain for more in my new job..

I am hopeful of starting work again in March.. and I am hopeful some other unfinished business in my home town are settled before that..

XXX

(Dec 31, 12:34am)

Last time I had a beautiful birthday in Kashmir..

My Kashmiri brother, his fiancee and one another friend came over for lunch, after which there was a conversation over coffee at CCD..

Kashmir university, the sprawling venue for the day, was carpeted with snow against the barren chinars...

We had clicked a lot of pictures!

My current DP on facebook, a thumbnail of which you can see on the right of this page, was clicked that day..

XXX

(Dec 31, 12:33am)

It's that time of the year, mumma would be on toes preparing for my birthday..

Which doesn't mean I am lost in reminiscences... and depressed... far from it.. For me memories have always been powerful tools to rekindle positive energies from the past..

Besides, death is immaterial to me when it comes to living a bond as strong as that between a parent and child..

God grants that special power to feel, and breathe every moment, the love of your dead parent.. particularly, when your parent died young..

XXX

I plan my own new year and birthday now... both fall on the same day, between...

S*****z aunty, neighbour and one of mom's trusted friend, had been asking me what was in my mind for my birthday...

I told her I would tell her in a day..

I don't know why, but I do not feel like celebrating this time... so, may be I would invite them over coffee.. in the evening.. and team it with some good snacks..

XXX