Happiness is…

… a hearty meal, happily enjoyed with family. Yes, the family dinner that I was talking about here happened last Saturday and was thoroughly enjoyed with everyone. Chhole, phulka rotis and pooris, puliyogare, curd rice, potato chips and chana sundal were on the menu, along with fruit custard for dinner. The extended family met up after a long, long time, and it was a nice change for everyone.

… staying over at Amma’s place with the OH for a while, just for a change.

… discovering a mouth organ in the house by chance and falling in love with it instantly, playing on it every now and then. No, I don’t know how to play the organ, though I wish I could, but I do love playing it. I don’t know if the sounds I emit by doing so are melodious or not, but they don’t sound harsh on the ear. Plus, it is good exercise for my lungs.

… being invited by Amma’s neighbour to her rambling old house to pick ari nellikkai right off a huge tree in their garden. They have a secret-garden-type garden that is full of plants and surprises.  I would LOVE to live in such a house!

… mom-made ari nellikkai thokku, made from the said picked-straight-off-the-tree ari nellikkai.

… a beautifully written memoir full of warmth and humour, like Shoba Narayan’s Monsoon Diary. I have Smitha to thank for the recommendation. 🙂

… discovering Whatsapp and getting in touch with some long-lost friends. It feels so good to be in touch again. 🙂

… feeding an extremely hungry and thirsty cow at the gates of Amma’s house. The cow was constantly mooing outside the house, and seemed to be looking for either food or water, very tired. Amma and I gave it gallons of water and some food, and it devoured everything. So soul-satisfying!

… the sharing of books and e-books with friends, and hearing their happy squeals.

… losing myself in the fine chopping of vegetables and cooking them, converting it into a therapy of sorts.

… watching the world go by, reading, sitting on the staircase at Amma’s house. I have lived in a flat for so long that just sitting on the stairs of a ground-level home feels like bliss!

… devouring the first mango of the season with the OH.

… jasmine flowers blooming.

What has been keeping you happy, of late?