Those small things in life mean a lot.

All I want is ….. a cotton candy!

I never realised how much I wanted a cotton candy until I licked one the other day. It was sticky and delicious as it was meant to be. I love cotton candy or ‘peechumithai’ as it is called in Telugu but my age, weight and my profession kept me away from this beautiful, sweet, sticky piece of fluff for many years.

A small child looks cute and fetching licking a big pink ball of fluff. Imagine a plump middle aged woman with a prominent waistline licking a cotton candy! Even my best friends would admit that it does conjure rather comical images. For years I kept away from candy floss telling myself I had enough “buddhikebaal” of my own.

But all this changed last month. I went to a fund raising food carnival. There were endless rows of food stalls. Biriyanis, Rolls, DahiWadas, Chaats and Kebabs of all sizes and colours enticed people with their aromas, while Pizzas and Burritos in their desi avatars lured people with their fillings and toppings. My attention was caught by a wooden stand full of pink packets: COTTON CANDY and I made a beeline for it

I patiently waited for my turn at the end of a long line. Kids obviously have the right of way on a cotton candy stall. The candy floss seller thought I was buying it for my grandchild and I couldn’t help giggling when I saw his jaw literally drop as he saw me licking the sublime sweet!It was blissful- the sweet sticking to my tongue and the tip of my nose- Life was indeed beautiful!

Think about it- what gives you the greatest joy? Hot ginger tea (brewed by someone else) on a cold rainy afternoon? I love tea and anytime of the day is teatime for me. On my birthday last year, the gift I loved and appreciated most was a tea basket with teas of various flavours. Tea tastes so much better when I don’t have to brew it myself. There is no joy which can compare with a cup of tea when reading my favourite author’s latest best seller. Not even a ViratKohli century-that would rank second best, I guess

My “cotton- candy” moment was an epiphany. I realized that in chasing my big dreams of starting my own English institute, authoring an online course and writing that long overdue novel, I wasn’t enjoying the small things in life.

I have often drooled at a pani -puri stall but hesitated to pop in a few of the crispy tangy puris for fear of being laughed at by my students. Admit it- one can’t eatpani-puris and look like a dignified martinet at the same time. But after my cotton candy moment, I realized that I have a life outside the classroom. My students wouldn’t bother about what I ate as long as I taught well in class. That realization has made me happier and also heavier by a few kilos as every time I pass a pani puri stall , I stop and pop in a few of the divine crispies, spilling a bit of the sweet and sour juice on my saree.

My latest craze is Bollywood dancing. I have to confess that I have a love-hate relationship with Bollywood song and dance. I love old film songs of Mohd Rafi, TalatMehmood, Manna Dey and Mahendra Kapoor. But I have to also admit that except for a few Shammi Kapoor numbers, one can’t really dance to old songs. For that you need the new generation’s beat. So as I am shaking a leg to “ dhinkachika”, “ locha eulfat” and “ chaar bottle vodka”, my earlier disdain for modern film music has given way to a reluctant respect. I am sure it will turn to admiration if I manage to shed a few pounds and inches.

Then I will find myself humming these lines...

Sugar candy and tea

Hindi music and melody

And the moves that it brings,

These are a few of my favourite things…

Savitri Krishnamurty