Mosquitoes' Ghosts

There were several reports in the news papers about the new species of animals that found, this year. I also found a new species of insects on Sunday-25-10-2009. When I was sitting at the window I saw something flaky in mass in the air near the plants. I thought initially that it was the usual habit of people, who live in the upper floors, throwing something. After cleaning the rice or wheat they would throw the waste carelessly through the windows. Strands of fallen hair will come straight in to our room with the wind. I have to pick up their hair and throw it into our dustbin instead of throwing it outside. Old habits die hard.

When the flaky things didn’t settle to the ground even after a few minutes I took a closer look and realized it was some kinds of insects and seen flying up and down only in a vertical motion. It looked like our flaky dry skin that comes off in winter. I tried to catch them with a transparent plastic bag, but I couldn’t get a single one. Though tiny those are cunning to evade the trap and strong enough to withstand the wind. It is dangerous than mosquitoes or any other insects. They can enter straight into our nostrils, eyes or ears. The insects were flying there about two hours then disappeared. But I didn’t have time to chase them. I named it ‘mosquitoes’ ghosts.’ But these ghost mosquitoes appear in the morning, not at night. They might be appearing only in some particular season like winged ants on the onset of monsoon.

Why animal lovers worry about the extinction of some species. When one species becomes extinct another one emerges from the soil. The other day I saw a baby centipede about half inch length. I picked it up and thrown outside. If the baby is 6 inch in length what would be the length of adult centipede? I see centipedes of about 2-3 inches often. A large number of millipedes are seen crawling around the house. A few years ago they were only in black. Now it is seen in different pattern and colour—black and yellow like Mumbai’s taxis—yellow on top and black on the sides.

Soil is full of life, but only in the upper crust. I think there is no life in the deep soil. Because of the four elements the upper crust remains humid. Humidity is needed for life to take place.

PS: Today when I checked the plastic bag thoroughly I could get a fossil of the insect. But I don’t know whether it is the same thing I got. It is too tiny to distinguish.

Stressful Diwali

Diwali is over. We say Happy Diwali just for a formality. It is not going to be a Happy Diwali for everybody. What would be a Diwali for beggars or blind people who cannot see the light of the universe? You can see people (milkman, postman, sweeper) at your service will be suddenly turn nice towards you even if they will be nasty at other times. The reason—Baksheesh or what else? Gas cylinderwaalas would ask for baksheesh even after two months. You have to please them as you perform pujas to please Goddess Mahalakshmi. If you are reluctant to give anything, be ready to take gaaliyan. Diwala follows Diwali.

Every year I have to celebrate a tension-filled Diwali. Some problems would coincide to make it worse. See, how a rodent came in between us to spoil my diwali this year. I have grown a medicinal plant separately on the window-sill. My husband takes care of other plants. Two days before Diwali I found the plant’s one of the stem cut off. It was healthy with full of green leaves. I got annoyed and asked my husband about it. He behaved as if he was not even aware of it. That irked me even more. I claimed that only he would do it since there was nobody at home. I have reason to suspect him because the stem was missing without leaving a leaf behind and he would do something to irritate me often. He got angry and started fighting with me and went sulky for a day. The matter did not finish there. Next day in the morning we fought over it again. By the morning he was calmed down and said quietly that he had not done it. Yet I couldn’t trust him. I told him to say it before God to know whether it is a lie. He said it again calmly that he had not done it. Then we checked the plant together. The plant was found almost destroyed and the soil dug out. Soon I realized the culprit is rat. Who would think a rodent can do such a clueless theft? Rats were not a menace to me till then. I was not aware the rats eat such plants. It might have chewed on the plant when it didn’t get anything to eat, or does it need medicine for some ailment? I felt guilty of accusing my husband for no reason and apologized.

Last year also we fought on the day of amavaasya then the next day I saw a raw of light in my life in the morning and Goddess Mahalakshmi entered in to our home when I got a silver coin as a gift. Since this happens every year I have to believe in superstition. According to the lunar dates Hindu festivals have been celebrating. Most festivals fall on Amavaasya or Poornima or close to the days of it. Hence, festivals could be troublesome. I have noticed even animals and birds fight on those days. October is the worst month for my husband and the dark phase is not favourable for me too. That’s why we have fight on those days. And my relatives are not in a good mood this year. Only God knows whether it will be a Happy or stressful Diwali next year.

Wrong, Wrong, Quite Wrong

Candy-gobbling kids grow into violent adults—

London: Willy Wonka would be horrified. Children who eat too much candy may be more likely to be arrested for violent behavior as adults, new research suggests—this is a first paragraph of TOI report.

I don’t believe in these findings. Not all candy-gobbling kids will become goblins. If some adults are violent they might be violent in childhood too. All children are not innocent as they say. One’s personality development can be analyzed right in childhood. Such aggressive, manipulative children will get what they want by throwing tantrums. Often their parents have to fulfill their whims when it becomes unbearable.

I have a sweet tooth. I would go for the dinner when I was a child only with the intention to fill my stomach with lots of kheer. I would make a lot of sweet meat in my younger days. Still like to eat sweets. But I am not violent. I believe in non-violence. I am sweet as sugar. I was a quite, obedient child. But I have to fight with my husband. It is because he is too spicy. Sugar and spice combination is not good. Spices match with salt. Often spicy food eating people are seen more violent.

Actually sweets are beneficial for children, especially for the hyperactive ones. Since sugar is a natural sedative, it will lessen their hyperactivity as they get sleepy. At the same time it is not harmful to the brain as other sedatives. Chocolates may not be good because of the ingredients, colours and preservative that use to make them, but sugar is not harmful. Children should be allowed to eat chocolates only after a good meal. Eating chocolates before meals will spoil the appetite. Most children like to eat chocolates. It is a natural desire of the body system at the time of growth. Daily intake of sweets in small amount will not be harmful unless they are genetically diabetic. They will grow tall and strong like sugarcane. Home-made sweets are better for children. But they are reluctant to eat them because home-made sweets are not attractive. TV ads make them mad. They want try out every new brand available in the market.


Johnny, Johnny, Yes, papa
Eating sugar, no, papa
Telling lies, no, papa
Open your mouth, ha, ha, ha