Archive for the 'People I admire' Category
There’s this one lady whom I admire a lot. She was a family friend, a well known state official and the Principal of my school when I was in Class XII. I dont know her very well but I do respect her because she just commands it from every person sitting across the room. She was one of the first few ladies I knew to wear her hair really short and look classy in it.
She’s extremely out spoken, calls a spade exactly one and doesnt care for anyone else’s opinions. Almost everyone was afraid of her, including me and we did not want to cross her path when she was in a bad mood, come what may. She used to make fun of her quiet, timid husband and crack jokes about how he once deserted her and the baby when there was an earthquake and ran out of the house, not caring for anyone else.
Her underlings were especially afraid of her sharp tongue and I suspect most people didnt like the way she spoke to them although none would have dared say a word against her. She was a stickler for discipline and could not bear to see one toe out of line where school matters were considered.
I once met her after I started working and we talked about her newborn grandchild, my career decisions and the memorable schooldays we spent together. The person I thought to be a real scary lady was now an indulgent granny, although still sharp witted and funny which I did not know before.
It seems once a particularly sycophant lady began praising her outfit nauseatingly during a party and said - My deay lady, you have the best taste in clothes. To which she clasped her hands and replied sweetly: Oh, you know I’ve been this way since I was a child.
The more I think of her, the more I think I’m like her in some ways. I’ve picked up a few pointers from her especially about the gender blender issue. Now what I need to do is get a short hair cut when I grow old and I’m all set.
There is this old gentleman who’s the chowkidar of the Institute I work in. He’s a taciturn, helpful fellow who’s Omnipresent in my opinion. Almost anyone and everyone needs him for one thing or the other and he’s always there carrying out whatever instruction has been freshly issued to him. He’s the first person I see when I reach the Institute and the last one on my way out at the end of the day.
Not only does he carry out his duties during the working days, he is also there whenever the occasional packages are dropped off during holidays and vacations. Sometimes I wonder what we would all do if he wasnt there in the first place.
He gifted me a plant when I was moving to my new house and used to unfailingly bring me my tea every morning at 11 am sharp, that is before the Institute decided we had enough of free tea and should henceforth get our cuppa coffee from the vending machine.
I like the way his face breaks into a toothy grin whenever we share a joke; the wrinkles on his face accentuating the years which took a toll on him. I admire his perseverance and his dedication to doing his job the best possible way he can. I am yet to take a leaf out of his book for the better though.
Happy 60th Independance Day to Pakistan.
Today’s also my late father’s birthday. I remember me & my brother singing him Happy birthday to you as he cut his birthday cake with tears in his eyes about 7 or 8 years back. Truly a remarkable man and he lives on in my memory.
I was in my second year of college when my best pal invited me to a trip to her house in Cochin. So both of us made a five hour journey all the way from Calicut to her place to be greeted very warmly by her wonderful mum, Amma. Looking back, I cant help but wonder what a Super Mom she really is. She’s a doctor by profession and an amazing cook who used to feed us dosas, idlis, puttus, appams and what not at breakfast! Yumm…. Now this is a really big deal since now that I’m also working, I can only manage to provide bread & eggs for breakfast. Thats why I really appreciate her culinary skills & time management especially at rush hour!
Amma is also a very good driver not to mention an excellent mom. I remember her taking us & the girls to Weekender and other places for shopping trips which we simply enjoyed. She drove us all over MG Road in Cochin and I remember thinking Wow! I’m sure there are few moms who’ll indulge their kids (and their friends) so much!
When our trip finally did get over, she drove us to the railway station and packed us a big bundle of marble cake and biryani for lunch. I still remember her clearly standing at the station waving us off, looking so pretty in her sari. What a Complete Woman!
A few years later, when I finished college and got back home, the first thing I demanded my dad was that I wanted to learn how to drive the car. He pointed me to a driving school and paid my fees following which I finally learnt how to drive and there’s been no looking back ever since.
Four years later, here I am today - I believe I am an experienced enough driver, excluding one memory of a terrible crash but yeah, you live and you learn. These days, when I drive my car to office, I cant help but remember Amma who undoubtably inspired me to get driving. Hats off to her and I love her as much for being my real-life idol 
My friend, Grace is the epitome of all that is blessed in the world today. Not only funny, caring and awesome, she is also religious & spiritual (although I dont know the difference between the two myself) I have known no other person who accepts people for what they are and doesnt judge them in the first 5 minutes that she meets them.
She’s warm, full of life and always has a positive attitude to life. She can look at adversity in the eye & tell it, Bring it on! I admire her courage to be single at 35 and say the Lord is my Shephard…I shall not fear. Makes me also less afraid to some extent.
One of the few role models in my life I can upto and admire. She’s a gem of a woman and the apple of my eye. She’s what I call Amazing.
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