Did we say it was a Monday?

Champa, our maid, simply ordered us to remain seated in the bed so that she can mop the floor without all of us flopping around. I do not know if maids elsewhere have the same habit of either talking to themselves or addressing someone throughout the process of their sweeping and mopping. In India, they do. Particularly if you have hired a Bengali housemaid, DBS comes as part of the package, whether you asked for it or not (for the uninitiated, DBS is Daily Broadcasting Service that doles out essentially unconnected news, randomized depending on the mood of the broadcaster, and aired whether listeners are tuned in or out). Today the broadcast was about mothering children in the 'modern, tech savvy world'.

And, as is perhaps typical of every mother, she complained about her fourteen year old son's addiction to smart phones. 'Chapat, chapat (indicating the key pad beeps his phone makes), chapat , chapat, all the time'.

'You know, he kept asking me every five minutes "mom, has it become alright?" throughout the other day when his phone had some glitch and I had given it for servicing. Till it came back, every five minutes it was "mom, mom and mom". Now that it is back, for the past two days, mom simply doesn't exist'.

The half hearted way in which she made the complaint brought smiles on our face. It was wonderful to feel the pride that her son was tech savvy and the 'loss' of attention he gave her before the smart phone arrived perfectly balanced in her tone. But that was not all.

Addressing my niece sitting on the edge of the bed, Champa continued.

'Look at my daughters. Twenty four hours (round the clock) it is cartoons and more cartoons on the TV. It is as though movies and other soap opera do not exist. Walking into my own house, do you know how I feel? As though I am a cartoon myself.'

I just couldn't stop myself. My niece was actually trying to avoid Champa's gaze. Giggling happily at the niece's cost, I told  Champa that she should repeat the last dialogue to my niece's mom.

'Why?'

'Because you are telling this to a person whose mom feels exactly the same way you feel about cartoons on TV' I said.

'Ooi, maa' she exclaimed the way only a Bengali can. 'Look at who I am complaining to'.

By then, the entire household was laughing. Can you ask for a better start on a Monday, I wonder.

World Cup is not just about football....

“Let their feet rule your heart” proclaimed the headlines in Time of India. Yes, the World Cup in Sao Paulo literally kicked off to run amuck in our heart. Scolari’s expressive antics, Neymar’s impressive two goals, Oscar’s dream run to give Brazil its third goal – every single one of them made you dance on your feet. Marcelo’s OG (own goal)…produced guffas in the stadium and his naïve looks after the even and the goal keeper’s understanding pat on his back will remain one of the memorable and humorous incidents in World Cup 2014.

But what actually touched my heart most happened 10182 miles away to the east of Sao Paulo. Lt Gen Chatudom Titahsiri, Head of the army run Channel 5 in Thailand said “Happiness for the whole country is more important than money” after the military junta ruling Thailand decided to broadcast World Cup matches free of charge!!

Years before, a friend of mine taught me a valuable lesson “when you love someone or something, show it in small deeds. Osho, one of the most profound intellects to have walked this earth also said that it is passion that defines your thirst for truth, not renunciation. The person who wrote the headlines in Times of India and the Thai general both have just proved this right. When you give your heart to what you seek, you receive two bounties: first, you live; second, you achieve.

Do not forget to switch off the drudgery of your life when you can and watch World Cup 2014. It is not just football. It has many wonderful lessons for life. Happy watching and happy living!!!