WINE, CAKE AND SOUL FRIENDS-THE BEST XMAS EVER

Fabian Cuffley, or Fabian uncle as i call him, showed up in his trademark Ray-Bans, monkey cap and a sleeveless jacket. With his 3/4th pajama and a strong smell of cigarette hovering on him, he was carrying two boxes of cake and two bottles of wine. He wished us a merry Xmas, and prayed for my dad and family. He praised dad as a good human being and a great cook and teacher.

I could not help but notice the warmth and love that was present in that moment. Fabian uncle is the guy one would remember when Loyal World first opened. He wore a crisp white shirt and tie, and with his round head would hover across the racks. He has known dad for a long time, and they have become good friends. Through his heart attack and dad's cancer, they have been there for each other. Fabian uncle, with his stories and choice of words, sends us into peels of laughter.

But, what surprises me is that their friendship has been forged without Facebook, e-mail, Wattsapp or even text messages. They talk briefly on the phone from time to time, but when they do meet, they talk for hours. This is something i'm glad to have inherited from dad. 

I envy my aunts and uncles. Yes, they have dabbled in Facebook and the maximum they have done to reconnect is to "poke", rather than send a friend request. But the friendships they have forged in their teens and twenties are still strong. Even if they haven't called each other in months or seen each other in years, whenever they meet, its like they met just yesterday. One would wonder if they had been friends for lifetimes, or Siamese twins joined at the hip at birth. They laugh, they giggle, they hug; sometimes you would pass them off as well dressed lunatics.

But isn't that the beauty of it? A friendship that is not based on whether you hit the 'like', 'comment', or 'share'; it doesn't matter if you did not reply to a text or did not speak for hours on the phone. These bonds truly stand the test of time. Its no longer the other person's caste, gender, belief, differences, mistakes; you transcend all that and become soul friends. You are happy just being there with him or her, and don't give two hoots to what the world comments on your relationship. To you, and your buddy, its one of the best things that could ever happen in life, finding a soul friend.

And so this Christmas, i wish you and your soul friend(s) the best of times and hope your bond strengthens and deepens. And if you haven't found your soul friend yet, I pray to Santa that he packages one for you. All you need to do is to keep an open heart. Your gift might be waiting for you right around the corner.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MRS. MEETY'S BRA AND PANTIES

Along the Mysore-Bangalore Highway, there is hardly a signboard or billboard in English which is not tarred in black by the Kannada chauvinists. There is an exception to this. It's an ad for a lingerie store. It reads 'Mrs. Meety's Bra and Panties'.

No one has dared to interfere with that board. Come to think of it, no one has ever questioned the display on lingerie stores. Pictures, mannequins, half mannequins or just busts are proudly displayed outside. Kids, grandpas' and men whose marriage anniversary has crossed seven years, all take a long loving look at it. It symbolizes Paradise Lost. The women of course, frown upon the men, as they walk into these stores.

One of the most famous lingerie stores in Mysore is located right in front of a temple. Another well known brand is located in the vicinity of a girl's college. They all have Mrs. Meety's collection. Victoria's secret is no longer a secret. The lingerie business is booming. And Mrs. Meety is the Queenbee.

No one knows who Mrs. Meety is. Or was it a spelling mistake, supposed to read 'Meaty'. But she seems to design some of the best, sexiest, lacy and racy lingerie ever know to women, and men. The men are more than happy to foot the bill. Marriage is the price you pay for free sex, goes the saying. Mrs. Meety seems to have made this her business mantra. She knows what works and what doesn't, both in the store and in between the sheets.

I wonder, what does Mrs.Meety's husband think of all this? Does he approve of her profession? Or has she kept it a secret, leading a double life of sorts? Where did she get the inspiration to start this? What is her real name? What does she look like? Angelina or Ugly Betty? 

Her real identity remains a secret. Yet, she has been a beacon of inspiration for thousands of women. She has given them self respect, identity and a reason to be proud of their sexuality. Whether you've hit menopause or your assets are going South, you need not be ashamed. Mrs. Meety is your soul friend.

Maybe its better that we never know her identity. Heroes, or Heroine in this case, are worshiped because we hardly know anything about them, and they know everything about us. Three cheers to you Mrs. Meety!