The sweet and spicy and strong sense of Pears soap filling up the bathroom after Mama has taken a bath
The sounds of ‘Om Bhoorbhuva Swaha‘ reverberating through the house every evening
The sight of the little oil lamp in brass burning away quietly in a corner of the kitchen platform
A pang in the heart at seeing the grandparents leading a vision-less life
A new nickname of ‘Ammaloo’
Bottles of Bovonto, ginger beer, omam water and panneer soda for the OH
The OH’s favourite inji mittai
Memories of licking up bowl after bowl of home-made vegetable kofta, ice cream and paal poli
The early-morning sounds of birds chattering in the bushes outside the house
That beautiful yellow saree that I had always dreamt of
Home-made baadaam burfee
The sound of dosas being made on the pan almost every morning, and the smell of onions cooking over them
The joy of filter coffee made from fresh decoction
Murukku, Anjaneyar vadai and plantain chips from Grand Sweets
Memories of Patti and Thatha fussing over me, enquiring whether I have taken a bath or gone on my morning walk
A lot of photographs that will make sense to no one but the OH and me
Hand-made kastoori manjal soap
The thrill of morning walks in a city that is relatively new to me
Packets of Cavin’s milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla and butterscotch flavours
Gopuram kumkum, which has priceless memories attached to it
777 citron pickle
Tiny bottles of pachai kalpooram
Packets of mor molagai, thalir vadaam and sundekkai vatthal
A pretty pavazham necklace, an advance birthday gift for myself
The Girl Next Door 
your post reverberates the good time you had in Madras 🙂
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@Dreamzandclouds
It was bittersweet, actually. 🙂
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Your description of my hometoen. So beautiful. Even though i am not a frquent travellwr to that place. i did smile at some of the words. as someone said, chennai is a city, adras is a feelimg.
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@Sitara Srinivas
‘Chennai is a city, Madras is a feeling’ – so true! I love those words. 🙂
I am glad the post brought back some fond memories for you.
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Oh yes. I love the picture/art that’s going around now!
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@Laavanya
What art?
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This one : https://twitter.com/thayir_saadham/status/428212567895310336/photo/1
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@Laavanya
Oh, okay! 🙂
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TGND, I feel for your grandparents. We really have a lot to learn from them…. the way they still dote on their grandkids, that enthusiasm to cook something special.. We are all very lucky. I hope I can do 20% of what they or our parents do in so many aspects.
Your list is tantalizing! I haven’t ever been to Chennai except during transit. So all I have purchased from Chennai are books from the Higgin Bothams at the airport 😛 I must must go there sometime 🙂
I am not aware of some of the thingsy ou have mentioned like Gopuram kumkum or Cavin’s milk packets.. 😦 Must set it right soon! But yes, I looooooooooove citron pickle! 🙂 And kastoori manjal soap sounds so heavenly too 🙂
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@Kismitoffeebar
Yes, we do have a lot to learn from our grandparents! Actually, both my grandparents can’t see – so they don’t cook. It is my mama who cooks all that delicious food! 🙂 Thatha and Patti did fuss over me and pamper me, though. 🙂
I am not very aware of all that Madras has to offer, either. I am still learning about the place.
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This makes me a sad-smiley faced dopey girl reading it.
Ohman, I really really miss those Cavin’s dabbas.
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@Laavanya
I had my first taste of Cavin in the Shatabdi we took to reach Madras. I had to buy some more of those little dabbas once I reached there. I knew the OH would love them! 🙂
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Lovely post 🙂
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@Freakyveggie
Thank you so much! 🙂
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All the things that dont really cost anything-are truely priceless… lovely…
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@Lifeslittletwists
Thank you, Lifeslittletwists! 🙂
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Badaam burfee…wow 😀
I have always loved Madras, it has something new to offer me every time I go there. The most immediate change I feel as soon as I get off the train or await for my bus is how different the city smells…I can never get that smell in Bangalore 🙂
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@Visha
I didn’t notice the smell of Madras. 🙂
The city does have something new to offer me too, every time I visit. I am still new to it, though.
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Bah I am just jealous of all that stuff you got…hope Grandparents arent finding it too difficult rey..
loved that name ‘Ammaloo’ :):)
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@R’s Mom
Actually, the grandparents are indeed finding life very difficult. Patti cannot see at all, and Thatha can see through one eye only. My Mama is unmarried – he has quit his job to take care of both of them full-time. 😦
Thank you!
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“Like” button somehow is always deactivated for me here. I would have liked this post a 100 times 🙂 I am so overwhelmed with a lot of feelings that, I am finding it hard to write it here 🙂 I am so glad you enjoyed your stay in Madras – a place which is really really close to me and the one I consider home and beyond 🙂
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@Greenboochi
Madras is a city relatively unknown to me, of which I haven’t explored much. I understand that the city has a lot more to offer, but I haven’t had a chance to check out all of them yet. Hopefully, will do so soon. 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
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Sounds so lovely!!
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@Paatiamma
Thank you so much, Paatiamma! 🙂
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