Reasons I am hopelessly in love with November:
· Because
the month opens with consecutive birthdays of best friends. Much like animated
heroes exuding the golden glow of their superpowers, I exhale all the love out
of my body and rely on the clouds to play the faithful postman. They drift
along and touch the other two points of the huge triangle that our distances
create on the country map. Before the day ends, they come back to me, their
backs bent, with double doses of glee, hugs and smiles. The saying, “love is in
the air”, now makes sense, doesn’t it? :)
· Because
it’s a bye-bye to Kolkata special ghaam and a welcome to three months of
living in an air conditioned city. Also, hello to long lasting blow dry effects.
· Because
there is an unexplainable child like delight in doodling on the fogged up
bathroom mirror. From letters to names to patterns to hijibijis and
finally letting the nose tip replace the fingers. (I think I now know the
reason behind my partially broken nose).
· Because
November marks the birthday of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan. I needn’t say more.
· Because
no other month brings smells as nice as November. The cold concrete soaking up
the early morning sun. Peeled orange skin. Woollens taken out after a year of
hibernation. Boiled vegetables with mayonnaise. Winter care body lotion. The
misty dusty evening breeze. Steam from a bowl of chicken soup. I wish smells
could be recorded and played on loop.
· Because
the handbag has a new guest - Lip Balm. Although, there is an obscene
amount of pleasure in biting those little pieces of skin off your lips, there
is also a huge sense of smugness in wearing your new green apple lip balm and
smacking your lips around like an obnoxious duck.
· Because
it is time to bring out the colourful bundle of scarves. On a trip to Shillong
few years ago, I bought an extremely plump and woolly scarf. Once you wrap it
around yourself, it not only protects the neck but it also gives you the cosy
privilege of dipping your chin and ears into it, much like how you need to sink
yourself if you get caught in Devil’s Snare (Meant only for Harry Potter fans).
The scarf’s purple sister was gifted to someone who made an internship feel
like a much needed vacation.
· Because
the day dreams are all about planning your outfits for the much awaited
weddings. Also because, three girlfriends are celebrating their last maidenhood
November. (P.S. - winter weddings are the best).
· Because
there is nothing as soul warming as cupping your hands around a glass of
cutting chai. We often complain that the One above has no time to look
into our grumbles and He is busy with bigger, more important stuff. Well, maybe
yes. But I’d also like to believe that He definitely had the time to ensure a
glove fit of the glass and our palms. Itni si khushi, itni si hasi?
· Because
the dates 1/11, 2/11, 15/11 & 20/11 prove to me time and again that
Scorpions and Sagittarians are like rum and coke, like sizzler with smoke, like
college and being broke. Okay, I am in lousy rhyming mode. But I love these
blokes. And, they alone bear my pathetic jokes.
· Because
the chilly feeling is directly proportional to the calories added. Be it pork
vindaloo, cheese fondue or chocolate ganache pastry – the weather just calls
for it! And nothing better to hide the eye-catching face of those calories than
an oversized hoodie or the mother’s Kashmiri shawl. November has its
camouflaging benefits, I tell you!
· Because
nothing can cheer you up better than a bright pair of socks (not the boring
ones men wear to work). Pink & peach striped, yellow with green polka dots,
white with a print of blue toy trucks, solid black with a red piping. One can
never be bored of having too many. You know what’s better? You can always
mismatch them! When the back hurts against the office swivel chair and the
desktop screen goes blurry, just take a look at your feet. The left orange will
wink, the right purple will wave and your mouth will take the shape of a ‘D’.
· Because
nothing beats going to sleep with your hands intertwined and knees curled into
your stomach; secure inside the womb of the blanket. Peace, comfort and warmth
till the umbilical cord is broken by the ruthless alarm clock.
· Because
it is the best month to roam the nooks and crannies of New Market/do early
morning photo shoots/devour poori sabji jalebi/make a dark room and
watch movies on the laptop/gorge on fish cutlet and beer/listen to country
music/read Ruskin Bond all over again/rummage through black and white
photographs.
· Because
it marks the beginning of the best time of the year. Like the say, save the
best for the last.
· Because
November also marks the birthday of yours truly and she loves the kisses,
surprises AND presents (Yes, she is greedy. And proud of it too).
As Aunty Acid says, “I can’t get out
of bed. The blankets have accepted me as one of their own and if I leave now I
might lose their trust.”
Happy November Folks!
