This was Monday and as usual the morning began with the so-called 'Monday blues' feeling. I woke up at 5 am as usual and began to ponder about the chores spread in front of me for the next 12 hours. The first job would be the cooking and packing dabbas for the family. Then, the traffic and then the work place. I put an end at this juncture and entered the kitchen with a big obeisance to the deities residing in my kitchen. One portion of the kitchen which has a separate platform has been assigned to the Gods and Goddesses. After lighting the lamp, dished out the required sabji and kept dal in the pressure cooker. I had lots of coconuts (whole) (courtesy Navrathri visits to friends), so thought of preparing some dish with coconut. Veggies cut ,dal getting ready, coconut getting ready for grinding, preparing masalas for the sabji, rice in the rice cooker - who says women can't multitask.
I could see some of my clothes had entered the drying sector of the washing machine but not performed the action. Immediately, upon checking the power, I found the wire has been plugged off and connected to the microwave which shares the same switch board. Obviously someone in the family forgot to replug. This means another 5 minutes of extra time to be spent on the drying part as I machine dry only 75% and then hang the clothes in the clothesline. Sulking at the extra drying work, switched on the washing machine.Phooof!!!!
The whole house engulfed in darkness. Bare silence for a few minutes and then I could hear one by one calling out as to what had happened. I do not visualise any concern in the call, but the air conditioners in their respective rooms have tripped too. If it had been Chennai, I would have happily opened all the windows for the fresh air to seep in, and that would have given my family few more minutes of the morning sleep. But, in this place, they r all huge glass windows and numerous buildings nearby which would never allow any fresh air to the house during the grim summer mornings.
Now, it struck me that this was the day of disaster and had begun early in the morning. To top it all, the gas solenoid valve is also interconnected and that was the end to that too. The house in darkness and no gadgets working, my head was spinning. For a moment, I did not know where to begin and do what. As the oil lamp was already lit, I tried to figure out for the torch and reached to the main switch board. Scanning at close encounters, I could see the main switch had tripped. Slowly, I brought it back to position and could see all the gadgets back to action. Heaving a sigh of relief, rushed to the kitchen. Already lost precious 15 minutes in all these activities.
Was wondering if I should go ahead with the drying and it took less than a few seconds to say 'NO'. Cooking was in progress and the coconut was ready for grinding and whoops, the blender would not work. The fuse must have given away when the power tripped. Too late to think of another recipe to dish out at this moment. So, it was going to be just dal tadka:):) My thoughts raced to my mother's place and in the same situation, she would have been there at the grinding stone completing the work without a complaint. None of us would have given much concern about the tripping and all the jobs would have been completed as usual except that it would have been my mom's worry to set it right before we return back home, poor she. One never realises the grimness of any situation unless u experience it on a personal level.
The final tamasha was when I began to take the shower. The hot water would not budge in as I waited and waited and waited. It did not take much time to realise that this was another one who had taken casual leave without notice and brrrrrrr the water was cold and it was a real quick bath :):) Now, I realise what it takes my boss to get triggerred, if anyone takes leave without notice, it is bad.
But, with the help from my family members, the day took off and ended pretty decent inspite of the spate of early morning activities.
But, with the help from my family members, the day took off and ended pretty decent inspite of the spate of early morning activities.
It gives me shudders to even think what would happen if all the gadgets failed at the same time. We can manage the dining part with plenty of restaurants ready to cater us, but for washing,cleaning, grinding, storing etc. etc., there is no other alternative. I cannot even faintly opt to do my grinding in the grinding stone or hand wash all my clothes etc etc.
Moral of the story: Do not wait till Monday morning to dry your clothes :):