BHAYYA, THODA KADIPATTA DHALO




“When you’re angry and frustrated, what comes out?
Whatever it is, it’s a good indication of what you’re made of.”

H. Jackson Brown
Curry leaves – we called them ‘Bevu soppu’ in Kannada – went in every dish prepared in our li’l South-Indian village, Mangalore. Well, almost in every dish! So, just as each house had a Tulsi plant in the front yard, the back yard of every house in our village had a curry leaves plant. Soon, the plant would grow up into quite a big tree. I remember having one in our own back yard. It had grown huge. Some from the neighbourhood, who did not have a curry leaves plant at home, would come to our house. And we gladly and generously let them take away whatever quantity they wished to take. Each one took almost a branch!

But, that’s how it was… Giving away a branch of the curry leaves plant was believed to be a ‘good karma’. So, when the beneficiary of this good karma dropped a few curry leaves while cooking, the aroma invariably reached our home… and we would feel happy about it!

Now, here in Mumbai, I have lived for over four decades. It makes me feel not only nostalgic, but also intrigued, to see how curry leaves are given away by every sabziwala – no matter how poor he is – just free of charge… “Bhayya, thoda kadipatta dhalo!”




Today, for a strange reason, I found myself becoming a curry leaf and complaining: “How I wish I wasn’t a curry leaf! I hate to see people treating me so cheap… and taking me for granted! Even the grass and the dry leaves have a price… and I am tossed away just like that!”

Well, fortunately, my life as a curry leaf – rather the state of frustration – was short-lived. I knew my value and how sought-after and valuable I was. The only thing I had to remind myself about me was the matchless gift I was endowed with: being priceless!





So, I went back to celebrate my life as a curry leaf – unique and priceless!

I smile, every time I hear, “Bhayya, thoda kadipatta dhalo”!


GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: 1. english.matrubhumi.com 2. www.pixels.com

Video: Dare to Do Motivation


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUTHU KODI KAWARI HADA

Image
Pic.; Ashwin Mohta M y Hindi was always bad. It still is. One reason for this was, that they introduced Hindi for us only in 6 th standard. Or, was it in 8 th ? I don’t remember… I only remember struggling to write and read… leave alone speak! But, I loved Hindi movies, and, strangely, I could understand the dialogues and the lyrics of the songs… I used to sing those songs (of course when no one was around me!) as if I was the lyricist… One of the songs was a very funny one. ‘Muthu Kodi Kawari Hada’. It was from Mehmood’s super-hit comedy – ‘Do Phool’. I was a 15-year-old high-school boy when I had heard that song (not watched the movie). I could grasp the meaning of two words – ‘Muthu Kodi’… which meant ‘Give kiss’… But, what ‘Kawari Hada’ meant, I have no clue till date! It was just like ‘Why this kolaveri di’... Yes, why ask? Simply enjoy the beats… And, the beats are great… The rest... Who cares? Really! So, whatever bit of Hi
Read more

"HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS NOT A FAIRY-TALE... IT IS A CHOICE"

Image
“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone… It has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” – Ursula K. Le Guin,  The Lathe of Heaven T welve years ago, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married, the world began to hail the couple as ‘Brangelina’. It became a fashion for couples around us to call themselves so… Norbert and Teresa renamed them as ‘Noresa’…  Amol and Vishaka baptized their relationship as ‘Amoshka’… and, Salman and Nargis became ‘Salgis’! I and my wife, too, got tempted to re-christian our matrimonial relationship as ‘Germa’... That is, Gerald and Anima, to be precise! B efore I proceed any further, let me make it very clear, here… that, I have no business to judge on the break-up of Brad Pitt and Angelina’ Jolie’s marriage. I have no inclination to go into why, how, what when etc behind it… The couple ‘chose’ to split. And, it’s their choice… Only they know how good or bad… how joyful or painful that
Read more

SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND

Image
“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty. I laugh when I hear that people go on pilgrimage to find God.” - Kabir T here is a universal human weakness – and it dates back to the days of fallen civilizations – and it is: to place people on pedestal and trying to be smothered by them, feel loved and protected in their company… worship them as mentors, heroes,  gurus, Mahagurus and Satgurus… Make these mortals larger-than-life cut-outs, worship them as flawless, pure and give one’s all… And, then, ‘take’ everything from them blindly as divine… Give everything to them blindly… Eventually, what happens is:  one more dangerous bondage… What was supposed to free you now becomes a new prison… It’s sad to see this happen! T his room, where I am writing this Post, has no image of any deity. I have no image of any Guru or Master around me… My question is: “Am I not able to feel close to Almighty God?  How does it matter
Read more
THE WILD, WAYSIDE FLOWERS
There is, always, something extra-ordinary in the wild, wayside flowers...