Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Waiting...

Waiting. Waiting to Exhale. Waiting. Waiting for Godot.

Well not really. I was simply waiting outside a gynecologist’s clinic, waiting for my sister-in-law and mother to come out, marveling at the number of pregnant, big-bellied women emerging from the seemingly cool interiors of the clinic. Quite eerie really – suddenly had this image of a dozen-odd women in labour screaming blue murder at their husbands for getting them into this position (I hear that does actually happen; it’s not just an urban myth, contrary to what I used to think)…and then remembered that quote by a radical feminist (Adrienne Rich, wasn't it?) who said that giving birth to a child is like shitting a pumpkin! (sic) *Giggles convulsively*

Cutting away from that, I’m going to indulge in some flashback – weekend was nice. Quite nice. Lazy Saturday, spent browsing my book of foreign phrases. Sunday, I spent with new friend, getting my ‘brain picked’ and talking myself hoarse. After a very interesting lunch (ahem), we went to the University where I fell in love with this place – there’s a crater kind of a depression in which monsoon water has stagnated, a few odd-weeds have sprouted and a charming watch-tower kind of a construction stands – nice and peaceful and oddly romantic. I was charmed. Totally. Some more conversation. And then I met my folks and we went for Chinese – decent fare at the Chinese Room. For a change I dragged my father away from his beloved Whispering Bamboos at the Blue D! :-) Nice day it was...

Was thinking later that night and I marveled at how many male friends I have today who I consider good friends – they aren’t mere acquaintances. They are people I share some of my deepest thoughts with, who are clued into my mood swings and craziness and form that core group of people who are my strength. Whoever said that you can’t be good friends (and just that) with someone of the opposite sex?

Haven’t been reading much that last few months and it’s starting to trouble me. The last book I read and devoured was The Handmaid’s Tale – since then I’ve started on several, but not gotten beyond the first 20 pages or so. Hmm...must fix this new malady. *Coughs*…once I’m over this nasty cough. For now it’s early to bed and late to rise for this dainty little creature ;-)

PS. I forgot to mention one movie that I saw at PIFF – Ben’s Biography. Nice it was. A funny yet serious movie about Ben who suffers from several hang-ups due to a rather traumatic childhood – a satire on conscientious bringing-up of children to make them into ultra talented/successful adults, on psychiatry, on academicians, on the Israeli army etc etc.

12 comments:

livinghigh said...

sounds like a lovely weekend - complete with artificial pool and all! ;-)
read ure chocaholic maxims and hafta say that they were pretty cool! ;-)
PS: and yes, I agree with abt what u said abt gals n guy frnds.

Prati said...

Hii Geets! Interesting post! Hmm..Chinese food....slurp slurp!
Well....I totally go with you on the aspect of relating well with guys...infact my best friends whom I can turn to..cry out and have philo talks are guys and I've had an amazing friendship with my friend for the past 12 years....:)have a nice week!

Parth said...

Waiting for Godot. That's a nice one. I don't want to hear the word 'relaxed' for a few days. I am anything but that, given my work load right now :-( Friends of opposite sex are better than those of your own: interesting debate issue, care for a detailed post on that?

Ami Titash said...

hmmm...seems like a nice day. good for you. :)

btw, just a thought on a line in there

"...and form that core group of people who are my strength. ..."

methinks people usually are our biggest weakness not strength. The ones we love/like are the ones we should be afraid of the most, since they weild power over us to hurt us.

If we were attracted to none and dependent on none for our happiness and strength, imagine what immense power and independence we would have.

But we err, and to err, as they say, is human. :)

Paddy said...

>my mood swings and craziness and form that core group >of people who are my strength

Hmmm..You know you are lucky if you imagine the probability of that happening :)


[Titash]
>If we were attracted to none and dependent on none for >our happiness and strength, imagine what immense power >and independence we would have.

Intersting viewpoint.Just to offer an orthogonal (not neccesarily contradictory) perspective consider the statement of William of Baskerville from Umberto Eco's Name of The Rose (Or Sean Connery in the movie by same name)

"How peaceful life would be without love. How safe, how tranquil... and how dull." :)

livinghigh said...

i see uve taken a hiatus, girl. :-) hurry back, hurry back.

G Shrivastava said...

Hola ppl,
Parth I just might take up that suggestion for a post...would genrate quite a decent amount of thinking and conversation me thinks! :-) thanks dude!

Rahul - yeah hiatus it is...away in Bglr for a quick, snatched visit to the Garden city, a break from the monotonity of life in Pune and some time with cousins and aunts/uncles...Will be back in action next week. Still have to read your story....can't wait to do that! Glad you noticed my silence and chose to comment on it! :-)

Titash and Paddy - keep that discussion flowing. Infact Paddy : thanks for replying to Monsieur Titash!

Pincushion said...

a nice cocoon of family life here :), enjoy !
...interesting point, can opposite sexes be ''just'' friends ?? hmmm..I guess it works for some and doesn't for some, eh ?!!
Have fun ;)

. : A : . said...

"Waiting for Godot." Been a long time since I heard that line.

Experiences like the gynecologist’s clinic one you had are sometimes so min opening, especially if you have not 'been there before'.

Did that strike off the Joyce Stevens quote? You were talking about Adrienne Rich in your post?

Unknown said...

Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett a fellow francophile you would say
The question is when does Godot arrive or did he arrive

Well having The Handmaid’s Tale as your last read book is scary really . I remember jumping on the next book I could find.

Vladimir: Well, shall we go?
Estragon: Yes, let's go.

They do not move

G Shrivastava said...

::A:: - Well now that you mention it, the two quotes do seem to be connected - but that didn't occur to me when I posted the Joyce Stevens quote. I'd read it else where and simply had to post it on my blog! I guess having studied Feminism as a paper as a part of my B.A (Lit) has some influence on what I read, think and perceive...

Akshay - Ok I have to dig out my copy of WFG and read it again...specially Lucky's long monologue...have you seen the play by any chance? I believe Tom Alter and co did a fabulous job!

G Shrivastava said...

Hi Anju - thanks for dropping by! And for that quote - hadn't heard that one - made me stop there for a moment and think! ;-)