Review - Panchayat Season 1 (Web Series)

As the world is locked down, many of us are privileged enough to have some time for ourselves, finally. Like millions of others my husband and I are surviving by pursuing our hobbies and doing things we otherwise found little time to do. It is during this time that I was recommended to watch a new web series by TVF (The Viral Fever) team called – Panchayat. It is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and available to watch. I have been an ardent fan of good content and TVF has never disappointed me. My husband and I completed the series in one go and are charmed by this novel content, brilliant acting, and the simplicity of the set up. Hence, I decided that a series as wonderful deserves a review.

Cast: Neena Gupta, Raghuvir Yadav, Jitendra Kumar, Chandan Roy, and Faisal Malik.

Directed By: Deepak Kumar Mishra

Screenplay – Chandan Kumar

Verdict: 4.5 stars

Review: The plot opens with Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) whining about not being able to grab a well-paying job like his friend in a city. Instead he has a job as a Panchayat secretary in a remote village of Uttar Pradesh with a humble salary of INR 20,000. Suggested by his friend to take it up as a Swades challennge, Abhishek Tripathi pulls up his socks and starts on his adventure. What follows is a series of rib-tickling thought-provoking encounters that change Abhishek Tripathi in more ways than one. It lets him taste both success and failures with equal sweetness. 

Each episode picks up a theme and does it a great deal of justice. The backdrop is a typical village of India including greener fields, paint peeled government offices, muddy roads, small shanty shops, a hand pump, and palm greasing attitude.  The plot is neither preachy nor does it try hard to impress. The characters grow organically and cleverly convey the message. Several issues are highlighted albeit subtly and wittingly.

Several scenes are brilliantly crafted with an exceptional work of screenplay. Like the scene where the tantrum throwing, wrapped in dowry groom is shut down by Abhishek when the latter calls the former an asshole. Eventually Abhishek apologizes and loses a part of his self-respect. The scene where the Pradhan Pati considers the secretary a good match for his daughter because both belong to the same caste. The scene where the Pradhan (Neena Gupta) does not participate in any administrative responsibility due her lack of interest and education both. She later tries to learn things and starts by learning the national anthem of India. Hilariously a villager with 2 elder daughters and one young son is offended because the government’s slogan for 2 children calls any extra child “bawaseer” – Piles.

There is so much more that Panchayat offers. It offers an outstanding ensemble of actors, quirky dialogues that linger for long, lighthearted humor, and a story so new. Panchayat takes you to your own village through the bhootiya (possessed) pedh (tree), electricity that comes and goes at will, politics over implementation of government policies, and pethas served with a glass of water. It does this with ease. It offers hope, inspiration, and a warmth. Every actor has done justice to their character whether it be Raguvir Yadav as Pardhan Pati or the lead Jitendra Kumar himself as a frustrated urban boy stuck in a rural setting. Neena gupta is great as always but I wish she had more screen time. Two characters that stand out amidst these big names are Chandan Roy as Vikas – helper to the secretary and Faisal Malik as Prahlad – the Deputy Pradhan.  

All in all, Panchayat is a fresh breath of air that has opened new avenues for the makers and their audience alike. It is a must watch.

The trailer is shared below. Link courtesy – Youtube.

(Not) Just Another Saturday!

In a parallel world it is a Saturday. “S” is here for her weekly cleaning while husband and I are busy arguing over who will make breakfast today. “S” smiles and tells us her other job is going well. We talk about her grandson with round cheeks and how he loves dancing. Husband and I resume our argument. “S” picks up her vacuum cleaner and starts cleaning. The usual Saturday.

In this world, none of that happened. “S” won’t see us for the next few weeks because social distancing and all that. Husband and I did not argue instead we decided to go grocery shopping early morning to ditch other potential customers who might arrive later in the day. I was nervous. There was eerie silence on our street. It was not because it was too early in the morning, it has been like that for the past few days. We don’t pet our neighbors’ pets anymore. They might not like it. Instead we do the usual hello from a distance and go about out business. Today was no different.

I have been mentally exhausted and heartbroken with the current situation. There has been such sadness and anger with this situation. So much has been lost. So much is at stake. This tunnel seems too long to end and shows no signs of some light at the end of it. It does not help being away from family either. Although, our friends here have become our family here. I get to call my closest friends’ children my nephew and niece (and they are precious). But with this situation I don’t get to see my friends or extended family. That is not the issue either. Because I know it is for the greater good of everyone, of the country, of mankind. When this ends everything will be back to normal. Perhaps, it is the stress that has been surrounding everyone. High risk parents, financial insecurity, career uncertainty, and no answer to when all of this might potentially end. There is anger, anxiety, and a host of other not so pleasant emotions that I feel so often these days. Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!

My mother says find happiness wherever you are. And when the situation is out of your control, take one step at a time. Do what you can and look at the brighter side. Cliched mom talk. But it helps. It does. Thanks to technology, I get to see my parents regularly. I get to play charades with my niece on facetime. Our nephew and niece here send us funny streaks on snapchat (adorable and cute). I am in touch with friends and extended family on whatsapp, FB, and emails. The weather is getting better and we wake up to birds chirping in our porch. The grass is turning green and greener. Spring is here. We still get to go out for quick walks (while socially distancing from others). Husband has started cooking (this is a big one). Chai times are a leisure with husband. Husband and I are working from home together. I have plenty of time to read my favorite books. My loved ones are healthy. I am healthy and alive. And so much more. 

It does take effort to remind myself of the many blessings I have been showered with. But I am grateful for each one of them. I am grateful for friends and family that have reached out to us to ask if we are doing fine. I am grateful for the I love you’s and I miss you’s I have said and heard in the past few days. I am grateful for the love I have felt these past few weeks. And I am grateful that I have so much. So, I will take each day at a time. For today I am impatient and nervous, but I am also filled with gratitude for every blessing and for the little joys of life.

Beautiful spring day in the North Pole

In a parallel world, its late night on a lazy Saturday. I am happy because tomorrow Mr. Husband will drive me to our favorite neighborhood café for a delicious breakfast. I will get to hug “R and K’s” dog. We will promise each other to catch up over a cup of coffee. The neighborhood cat will be out for a walk. The sky will be clear, and I will play – “Take me home” by John Denver in my head in a loop. Almost heaven…!!

One of those happy moments - Husband and I

Happy Birthday - from the future!

My first post of 2020 is dedicated to my awesome husband. One of the things he wanted as his birthday gift from me was that I get back to writing. I gladly obliged. 

This letter is to the 27 year old "R" I first met and fell in love with! 


Dear R,

As I write this letter to you on your 27th birthday, know that this year your life is going to change,
and it's going to change for good. I am here with some great news for you and some not so good. But I promise, I am here to give you hope. Hope of a bright and happy future. 

This year you will move back to your city, closer to your parents. And you will have a
wonderful job too. There is so much you will learn at this new job and there are going to be challenges. But don't give up, you will sail through. 

Please continue your love for fitness. Do not give it up. You may not realize it now but you will
reap the benefits in the future when you will get busy chasing your dream for programming. It
is this love for fitness that will help you deal with the stress that is to come. Keep that self love going, you will need it soon. 

Your beloved friend "J" will become your Godmother and she will be your biggest
cheerleader and support. Stay in touch with her, respond to that email, and make that phone
call. Tell her how much she means to you. Tell her now. 

As far as catching up is concerned, don't worry about not being able to catch up to the world right now. Not everyone can be as awesome an introvert as you are. Don't let people's opinion of you rob you of your dreams. Be the wonderful boy you are! The one's judging you now, wont even matter in the future. Instead focus on your dreams and chase them, one dream at a time. Take that test, write that code. One day you will make it big and how! 

You will make some wonderful friends around the globe in the future. These friends (some little and some tall) will fill your heart with the joy of their friendship. Learn to let go of what doesn't serve you. This lesson in letting go will help you grow. 

Learn to make Tea, it will come handy in the future. If possible, please learn the difference between cumin and fennel seeds. They DO NOT complement each other. 

Lastly, that girl from Bombay you just met, is the one for you. When the time comes, tell her how you feel for her. She will say yes, I promise. But please do not crack that awful HR joke to her. You will instantly regret it. Work on your listening skills too, she can talk a lot. :)

Keep smiling and keep up with that weird sense of humor. You might not know, but you do have some fan following there. 

For your birthday today and every birthday in the future, I wish you nothing but love, joy, and good health. 

Love, 
your future wife - Khushi

P.S. Go get that salon appointment for your hair, this will be a regular in the future. 

About Last Night - Christmas 2019

Last night was about little bits of happiness,

and large pieces of joy. 

Last night was about mushrooms, and samosas,

and truffles, and macaroons.

Last night was about old traditions,

and learning some new ones.

Last night was about loud laughs,

and some silly jokes.

Last night was about little people,

and them growing up so fast.

Last night was about wonderful thoughts,

and brilliant creative ideas.

Last night was about playing board games,

and about giggling over it.

Last night was about healing,

and reaffirming faith in good health.

Last night was about friends,

and friends who have become family.

Last night was about loved ones far,

and loved ones in our hearts.

Last night was about letters from across the globe,

and loved wrapped in several envelopes.

Last night was about effort and courage,
and about applause for it all. 

Last night was about journals,

and some scribbled notes. 

Last night was about Santa Claus,

and Rudolph with his shiny nose.

Last night was about songs and guitars,

and little budding artists.

Last night was about revisiting memories,

and making new ones.

Last night was about several stories,

and the heart strings they tugged.

Last night was about smiling faces,

and long warm hugs.

Last night was about meeting family,

and making room for friends.

Last night was about the tall Christmas tree,

and everyone who had gathered around it.

Last night was about gratitude,
and thanking life for its blessings.

Last night was about full stomachs,

and fuller hearts.

Photo Credit - Mr. Husband

Recipe of Joy

Recipe of Joy

Nostalgia is an emotion that can wrap around you anytime, anywhere. Couple it with homesickness and you have a perfect recipe for a blog on a snowy winter day. That’s how R and I have for the past few weeks. December tested our patience and hope both. R’s dad’s health wasn’t doing the best and we were biting our nails here on the other side of the globe, hoping he recovers soon. But they say Christmas is a magical time of the year and how! My dad in law started recovering soon after Christmas and ever since has been fit and fine. Thank goodness! All’s well that ends well. Anyway, that story for some other day.

Let’s get back to “Nostalgia”. Ever since we heard of my dad in laws’ illness both of us have been homesick. Now that he is hale and hearty, we are relieved. One thing leads to the other and homesickness led to home, family, and our favorite childhood food. And when one talks of childhood, matters do get out of hand (in a good way). Childhood takes you back to sibling fights, school, friends, lanes that recognize you, people who love you, and food that you love.

Lunch boxes - something every Indian mother is obsessed with. If you have grown up in India in the 90’s you will identify with this. I did not grow up with pizzas and burgers, neither did R. In fact, it only became popular in the last decade or so. Before the advent of cheese pizzas and fries, parathas ruled many kitchens in India along with their counterparts like dosas and idlis and the likes of it. My mother’s simple recipe of “meetha paratha” did the trick for me every time (Indian sweet bread stuffed with either sugar or jaggery). Childhood was easy. Bad grades, meetha paratha. Sibling torture, meetha paratha. Maths homework – meetha paratha. On days when my lunch box had meetha paratha, I felt hungry much before the recess bell rang. R and I got talking about it and we discovered that his childhood revolved around meethi roti (another name for the same paratha that I devoured while growing up). As if that was his answer to life’s problems back then. Hilarious, I thought to myself. We are so alike.

This time around too we decided to cope with homesickness with meetha paratha/meethi roti (or whatever name you would like to call it). Nostalgia took over my house with every bite of it. We laughed at things that once seemed so important. We talked about the pranks we played, the trees we climbed, the friends we made, and the subjects we loved or hated with equal passion. The innocent yet embarrassing questions we threw at our elders. We laughed harder on their (our elders) coping mechanisms to situations when they had no answer to our silly questions. Giggles!  

During one of my calls to my mother I told her how her recipe saved us. She laughed and said it was the easiest thing she could do to make me happy. "Sigh! I knew my sweet tooth has always been my weakness," I joked.

As the day ended and the sweetness of our childhood lingered on our tongue, we wondered how this recipe of joy was lost and forgotten. "It indeed is a recipe of bliss and deserves a special place in the family recipe book for future generations," I winked. R acknowledged it with a grin as we glided in to slumber. Funny, after so many years this unusual recipe was once again our way to trick life’s uncanny snags. Nostalgia is not a bad thing after all.

Photo Credit - Mr. Husband

Dear Nandita

Dear Nandita,

When you first told me I should update my blog little did I know that soon I’d be writing about you. Today our conversations are playing in my head, in a loop. We’ve spent such a good time together in such little time. Funny, isn’t it? But then you left suddenly. You did not give me any warning. Or maybe you did. May be I thought your “I-won’t-ever-give-up” spirit will win again. But one day I woke up and realized that you are not around anymore. I woke up to the harsh reality that I don’t have the luxury of calling you and asking you to meet for a cup of tea. That now when the fire alarm beeps I can no longer find refuge in your house with you. That I can no longer discuss my office worries with you. That I can no longer tell you anything. That I can no longer go on those little picnics at Glendora with you. That I won’t see you anymore. And that my friend has broken my heart in to a million pieces. Your sudden departure has left a void in my heart. Your leaving us has wounded our souls and we will all take a long time to heal. You left us too soon, too soon.

But today I won’t write about all of this. Today I will write about the wonderful person that you were. I will write about how beautifully you celebrated life! I will write about the wonderful time we spent celebrating our little friendship. Today as I take stock of my life I understand that our friendship blossomed over cups of tea (your masala chai will always be my favorite), over random rumblings, over books, over spiritual journeys of people we have known, and sometimes giggling at our childish husbands too. 😊 We were not best friends, or childhood friends, or long times buddies. We were just friends. Friends who were always happy to see each other.

We laughed at stupid things like crazy. Reminds me of the time when these boys brought the huge flask for my “single” cup of tea. They convinced me that they are visionaries and that I must make tea for them henceforth to award them for their “intelligence”. I am still laughing at it Nandita and I know some where you are laughing too. You remember how we smiled when Rakesh cracked horrible PJ’s? I wonder why we never told me how terrible his jokes were! You remember how we laughed like crazy when Harsh imitated that Chinese man drooling over women. Uff!! It was hilarious. You remember how Harsh was sitting like a round laddoo until he convinced us to go to Wonderland with him? Do you remember those funny looking glasses that Harsh and Rakesh picked up? I still have them. 

This is my favourite photo of ours.

In the little time that we had together you taught me so much, Nandita. Your attitude of never giving up is so much to learn from. You’ve taught me to remain positive in the most difficult situations. You’ve taught me to forgive and let go. You’ve taught me to live in the now, in today. You’ve taught me to face difficulties head on. You are the bravest person I have ever known, Nandita. You braved such a disease with your smile. You never complained or whined. You never questioned the pain you went through. And that is how I will always remember you.

You’ve taught me to be grateful, Nandita. So, today I am grateful that we met. Although for very little time our paths crossed and we made memories. Ones that will stay with me for a long time. Our trip to Port Hope will always be my favorite. We had planned so much more but we couldn’t do everything. There is so much more that I need to tell you. There is so much more to do. I have been told that one day we all meet our loved ones on the other side. That gives me hope. I have been told that you are in a much better place and that you were meant for a higher purpose. Shreya told us today that now you have everything you need. I believe her. My dear friend you have embarked on a new journey and I am sure this will be one of peace and love.

The next time I go to Tim Horton’s I will look for you, Nandita. Hoping to see you in that corner sitting on the couch waving at me and telling me how they never have your favorite bagel.

You’ve brightened every life you touched. Saying goodbye to you was the hardest thing I ever did. Be happy wherever you are!

Until we meet again on the other side, I’ll miss you my Hero.

Love,

Khushboo

P.S. Today I wore the stole you gifted me on my birthday. I was hoping you will see it.

The Last Night Supper

Somethings just happen to you and you are so overwhelmed by the effect of it that you don’t know if you should react or just remain poised and silently and subtly enjoy every bit of it. Moreover, sometimes these things that happen to you are so small for the world outside that you are left wondering whether or not you should even talk about it. But I have left those inhibitions far and behind. So here I am to talk to you about something as small as a supper but something that has had a far reaching effect on me.

So if you know me you know that I have immigrated to a new country about 3 weeks ago. They say that the experience of moving from one country to the other is overwhelming. However, for someone like me who has never travelled abroad being overwhelmed is an understatement. There is not one thing that I am not overwhelmed about. Leaving behind the place you called home, planning to set up a new base, saying a teary good bye to your family, and telling your little niece that now she will have to make a long journey if she decides to spend her vacations with you. The last part is the toughest. But what bothered me the most was the thought which revolved around me accepting this new place as my new home and people in this new place accepting me as one of their own.

R is well-read and well-travelled. I am just decently read. Obviously, I was scared. What if the new place doesn’t like me? What if we are not accepted? No amount of pacifying by R helped. I was excited to immigrate but I was scared too. But then the last 3 weeks have changed my opinion quite a lot. I am so glad to have done what we did.

We were immigrating to a country which did not have any of our relatives. So R and I decided to look for a B&B (Bed & Breakfast) arrangement till we find a decent accommodation for ourselves. This would work for us, R explained. The logic was that we get access to kitchen where we could cook our meals and not spend too much money eating outside. B&B works out to be reasonable on your pocket and meets all your requirements of a safe temporary accommodation. Little did I know that B&B also provides you with some fringe benefits. It puts you in touch with some of the most amazing and kind people. People who make you feel so warm inside that no amount of temperature outside can rob you off that warmth.

Before I tell you about my experience let me give you a glimpse in to this B&B business. B&B if seen from the surface is actually a commercial thing to do. Your host is not required to cater to your whims and fancies. You pay them for the room and both of you could go about minding your own business. Once the tenure is over you pack your bags and leave. Matter over. Most of the times guest and hosts don’t see each other for days. Even if they do they hardly talk. They know so little about each other. They just share a roof in most cases and it ends there.

But I guess with nice people it doesn’t work that way. They walk that extra mile, break all the barriers of a host-guest relationship and set a benchmark. They share gentle smiles and warm hugs. They share delicious meals and the rarest of the rare wines. They share stories of their woods and towns. They share experiences and ambitions. They share trust and affection. Most of all they share a piece of their heart with each other. A piece that would just stay as a cherished memory with us for ever. From complete strangers they become these treasured friends who you would love to cherish for a lifetime.

So it all began when we met this gorgeous couple – M&T. We met them when we moved in to their B&B as guests for few days. Before I tell you further about my experience with them let me introduce these beautiful people to you. M has the most beautiful smile and an equally beautiful heart. (You will drool over the food she makes). T is a gentleman - gentle with his words and even gentler at his heart. We had never met both these lovely people ever. A quick interaction on a website and boom we landed luggage and bags at their door. Skeptical in our heads about whether this would work out or not we made our quick journey to their beautiful abode. And before we could even blink our eyes M was already helping us with the luggage and making sure that we settle down in this new place. And then M welcomed us to a tasty supper. Who doesn’t like tasty warm food served on a cold day especially when you are tired and worn out?

It may sound silly. I mean what is so big about sharing a supper, isn’t it? But sometimes small things have a profound influence. It does for us. M&T had a long day at work. Both of them were as tried as I was. Yet, R&I were treated to a sumptuous meal and conversation that will stay with me for a lifetime. We (all four of us) spent about 2 hours on the dinner table talking about random things. Things about this and that part of the world. Things about food and wine. Things about kids and adults. Things about our cultures and how different yet similar they are. Things about inventions and discoveries. Of course I did most of the blabbering and the others put up with it with bravery and courage. All this while both M&T had a long tiring day at work yet they wanted to spend some time with us.

In a new place with no known face around one looks out for a smile to latch on to. Immigrating isn’t easy. In such a situation when you meet someone who makes you feel welcome it makes a difference. It does. M&T accepted us in to their house with open arms. We were treated like family and we truly felt like one. R&I are genuinely touched by this gesture.

We belong to different countries and cultures. We have different skin and texture. We speak different languages. We may also have different opinions on many things. But beneath this skin we are all the same. The smile and the hug are the same. The heart and the emotions it feels are just the same as well.

The supper last night was such a beautiful gesture that even in this unkind chilly weather R&I felt warm inside.