A Guru in the Sky

“Have you got some green chillies?” the gentleman sitting next to me in the airplane asked the air hostess. 

“No, sir!” she replied, a little amazed at the strange request. 

We were travelling home by business class this month owing to certain circumstances and did not have to pay the air fare. This gentleman was no ordinary person. When he started chatting to me I gathered that he was a cardiologist who treated royalty. 

They say that when the time is right, the guru appears. This gentleman answered a few questions that I had always wanted to ask a doctor. He also told me a few things that I had never heard before. Here is the list I made to sum up what he said:

-          A simple humble family is a blessing. Stay close.
-          Hug people. Don’t simply text or call.
-          Eat green chillies.
-          Drink (moderately).
-          Exercise.
-          Don’t harbor deceit.
-          Share your grief.
-          Eat less as you grow older.

A Step Back in Omani Time

On a watch on display in the main building at the Bait al Zubair museum in Muscat, time had stopped at 10 O’Clock.

There were also other things which appeared to have stopped in mid-movement. Finely dressed men, women, and children seemed to await a wedding ceremony. Apart from these elegant statues, there were some paintings by the Indian artist Vasant Telpote which depicted groups of Omani men and women.

We learnt a few new things about the Omani traditional dress. The intricate folding of the Msarr or the men’s turbans denoted the origin of wearer. The men also wore kohl to protect their eyes from the harsh rays of the desert sun. They carried kohl in a silver container called Al Mkahil which they tucked into their belts.  The Thob/ Buthail women’s dresses are shorter in the front and trailing in the back probably to wipe away the women’s footprints in the sand. In one of the glass boxes, was a display of uniquely shaped silver rings for each of the five fingers. The children wore amulets made from animal teeth, claws, wood, horn, and glass which protected them from the evil eye.

The museum has a good collection of Omani artefacts that spans a few centuries. In one gallery, there are hand-held shields made from the hides of rhinos and hippos, among firearms and swords. In another, there is a large display of musical instruments, whereas yet another has cooking pots and pans.

Abu Backer,a supervisor, informed us that this museum is housed in the family home of the Zubair family and in 1999 it received His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ Award for Architectural Excellence.

Miniature replicas of the Rustaq fort, the Tower of the Nizwa fort, Quriyat and Jabrin Castles give an idea of the grandeur of Omani architecture. On the first floor, there is a historic collection of coins and stamps and a unique collection of manuscripts dating from the 16^th century.

The garden outside the main building has a barasti (palm frond) hut, a falaj (ancient water distribution system), a souq area, a boat display, and a miniature Omani village.

The Bait Al Dalaleel near the Omani village is a carefully restored old Omani house which brings to life the vernacular architecture in Oman. It shows how the Omanis lived a century ago. The half-moon-shaped steps of the majlis lead to a cosy sitting arrangement. The grandfather clock makes the visitor step back in time as one walks through low doors and comes across a variety of old-worldly common household objects – a big rectangular radio, crystal vials of pink, blue, orange, and red which hold perfumes, a large blue and white ceramic plate plastered into the wall, day light filtering through gaps in the closed wooden window panes.

In the bedroom, the bed canopy has peacock and flower motifs. The same motifs are also on the picture of a young man in military uniform. There is a sewing machine with the brand name ‘Peacock’. Beside the wooden storage cupboard is an antique coal iron with a wooden handle.

The front door of the old house leads directly into the modern-day coffee shop of the museum. The warm aroma of tea and coffee immediately brought us back to the present time. We looked at our watches to find that it was nearly time for our bus to leave for PDO Camp again. 

(This post was also published in Outpost Muscat Newsletter, Nov-Dec 2015.)

A New Toy

 "That's my dream car" said Harshal.
"That's my dream car" said Priya.
"That's my dream car" said Moons.

That was my husband's dream car for a lifetime.
A lifetime doesn't last forever, does it?
So a week ago, we decided to buy a pre-owned Mini Cooper convertible when we got a deal which was as good as a steal.

I called my mum the next day.
"Mum, we have a new car. It is called Mini."
"Minnie?" she asked, "Like Mickey's friend in the cartoons?"
"Oh yes!" I said.

My young nephew asked, "New?"
"No" I said, "Pre-loved by someone, but in good condition."
"Pre-loved always better" he said.

Man, Woman, and the Cat

In a tribal village in India there lived a newly married couple. 
The wife’s name was Suma and the husband’s name was Vasu. 

Both Suma and Vasu had built their hut together. They had decided that like other families in the village, the husband would go to work on the farm and earn money while the wife would stay at home and do household work. Suma and Vasu had agreed that whatever money Vasu earned would be shared equally by them both. They kept their leather money pouch tucked behind a loose brick in the wall.

A kitten named Mani also lived with them. Mani was a special cat because she knew human languages. When Vasu went to work, she would talk to Suma.

One day, Suma noticed that two of the mud pots that she used for cooking had cracked.   

That evening when Vasu came home, she said,

“Vasu, we need to buy two new mud pots.”

“How many pots do we have?” asked Vasu.

“We had six but two are cracked” answered Suma.

“Well, then, my dear, I am sure you can cook in the remaining four pots. The money we save can be kept for our future children” said Vasu.

Suma agreed with him and somehow managed to cook in four pots.

The next week, Vasu decided that he wanted to put up a wooden fence around their house.

“Suma, I want to put up a fence around the house to protect it so we will have to buy some strong wood.”

Suma brought out their money pouch and gave him the money. When he left, Mani meowed, 
“When he wants money he takes it, when you wanted it, you couldn’t.”

Suma hushed her and said it was for a good reason. 

One night Suma couldn’t sleep because the bed made creaking sounds. In the morning, she saw that one of its legs was broken.

“Vasu, let’s get a new bed. This one is broken and I cannot sleep at night” she said to her husband.

Vasu examined the broken leg of the bed and said,

“Listen, my dear, I can easily fix this leg with some nails. The money we save can be kept for our future children.”
Vasu fixed the bed with nails but it still creaked. 

The next week, Vasu saw that some of his gardening tools had rusted. He told Suma that he wanted some new tools. Suma brought out their money pouch and gave him the money. When he left, Mani meowed, 
“When he wants money he takes it, when you wanted it, you couldn’t.”

Suma hushed her and said it was for a good reason. 

The next month, while fetching water from the stream, Suma’s saree brushed against a thorny bush and tore.

“Vasu, I need a new saree. See this one is torn” she said.

“My dear, you are an excellent seamstress. I know you can easily patch it up and it will be good as new. The money we save can be kept for our future children.” said Vasu. 

Then one day, Vasu saw that the shirts of the other workers on the farm were better than his. In order to make a good impression on his employers and the other workers, he needed a new shirt.

“Suma, all the other workers have nice crisp shirts. Mine is old and faded. If I buy a new one, it will make me look smarter and I may even get a promotion” said Vasu.

Suma brought out their money pouch and gave him the money. When he left, Mani meowed, 
“When he wants money he takes it, when you wanted it, you couldn’t.”

Suma hushed her and said it was for a good reason. 

The next year, Suma’s parents sent a message that they were going to visit her because they had not seen her for a long time.

Suma said to Vasu, 
“My parents are visiting soon. We will have to buy two new pots, a new bed, and a new saree for me.”

Vasu replied, 
“My darling, you have been managing very well cooking in the four good pots that we have. And what is the need for another bed when your parents will be staying only for a few days? We can spread a cosy mattress for them on the floor. You look beautiful as ever in that old saree. Just think – the money we save can be kept for our future children.”

Suma was unhappy but she kept quiet. She told her parents that she would pay them a visit instead. 

The next month, it was Vasu’s parents who sent a message that they would be visiting on their way to a pilgrimage.

“Suma, my dear” said Vasu excitedly, “We need to make proper arrangements for my parents. Do we have enough pots and plates? I think it’s time to get some new furniture and nice clothes for both of us. Please get our money pouch and let us see how much money we have.”

Suma did not get the money pouch. She looked at Mani and Mani looked back at her meaningfully.

Suma stood with her hands on her hips. 

“Vasu” she said in a strong voice “Every time you wanted money, I gave it to you. But every time, I wanted money, you said that if we save the money we can keep it for our future children. So now onwards, let us keep all our money for our future children and let’s not buy anything.”

“But my parents are visiting” said Vasu.

“Yes, I know” smiled Suma “I will cook for them in the four pots, spread a cosy mattress for them on the floor, wear my patched saree and look as beautiful as ever.”

It was then that Vasu realised his mistake. He and Suma went shopping together to buy the things they needed.

Mani cozily curled up in the bed with the broken leg. 

(Picture courtesy: Google images)

Shaila, the Dressmaker

During the last monsoon, on our visit to Vasai, I came across a remarkably successful lady.
I had gone to order some dresses for my mother-in-law when I met the famous Shaila Tailor. Her shop was full of colourful fabrics and dresses, baby frocks, and suncoats on hangers. While I talked to her, five ladies selected fabric and waited for their turn. It was a busy time in the shop although it was a weekday morning.

From a very young age, Shaila had a passion for dressmaking.
On the insistence of her family, she did her graduation and also did a physical education teacher's training. But she didn't have any interest in teaching.

Her sister, who is five years her senior, had given her a sewing machine. On the machine Shaila made dresses for her neighbours. She had dressmaking orders right after she finished high school. She had done a short term course in tailoring as a teenager and was hooked to this hobby for life.

After marriage, her husband, Vinay, supported her hobby which made her a small entrepreneur of sorts. A few years later, they faced hard times because the TV company where Vinay worked showed signs of closing down. They also had a small grocery shop in the village but they had a family to support and the income was not enough.

Shaila decided to open a tailoring shop in the grocery shop. Vinay, as always, encouraged her enthusiasm. As the years went by, her business expanded and the tailoring shop completely took over the grocery shop. With a bank loan, Shaila and Vinay had the courage to approach a wholesale fabric supplier in Ahmedabad.With hardwork and good decisions, their business continued to grow.

Presently Shaila and Vinay stay in a two-story house which they have built near the shop. The lower floor of the house is used as a store and workshop. The assistants and tailors who are employed there have a separate entry gate and a creche for their babies. Besides this little shop, they have also rented another shop near the town center.

Vinay says, "All this has happened because of Shaila's hard work and the constant smile that never leaves her face."

While I talk to Shaila and Vinay, their 8 year-old son, Aryan, serves me a glass of water on a tray which he neatly balances. Then he tidies up the room. Simply remarkable!