The other day, I was having a conversation with a 45 year old ‘boy’ who asked me to introduce him to an ‘extremely beautiful’ girl to marry and settle down with! “She should be clever, an absolute charmer, and intelligent too, like James Bond’s women!” he quipped, to which I replied, “But all those women […]
Category: Ruby’s Column
Meherbai’s Mandli Discusses Their First Love
Meherbai hosted a simple theme-based Valentine’s Day lunch at her house. The Mandli was served heart-shaped pakoras as starters (with beer), heart-shaped pizzas and a huge, heart-shaped cake followed by heart-shaped chocolates. Everything was relished by the Mandli and as usual…, Keki’s Khadhri wife reminded her husband, “Keks! Go ask Meherbai if we can take home the left-overs!” […]
Your Feelings Affect Your Life
Ancient Indian writer, Chanakya said (in 275 BC) that the good and bad quality of your life depends entirely on your feelings. He wrote that if you wanted to change your health, money or relationships, just imagine and feel the love of having it. Imagine every person, scene and situation you want to be in, […]
The Role Of A Prophet
The Bhagvad Geeta begins with the words “Yadaa Yadaa,” meaning ‘whenever’. Whenever what? Whenever humanity sinks into the depths of darkness and experiences the ‘dark night of the soul’! So what happens next? In every age, whenever there’s unbearable suffering, a prophet appears to rescue humanity from darkness and lead it into the light. What is the role of the prophet – […]
Meherbai’s Mandli Makes New Year’s Resolutions!!
Meherbai’s marvelous Mandli met for the first time in the brand new year for lunch at Meherbai’s club to discuss their New Year’s resolutions. Keki Khadhro: First things first. Let’s order food. Polly Pipyu: No! First the hot drinks. Then food, along with cold drinks. Keki ordered large quantities, in the hope that he will take home the […]
Meherbai’s Mandli And The X’mas Lunch!
Meherbai was a great influencer and role-model. She was the inspiration of her mandli-members because of her good advice. Ever since Meherbai taught them the health benefits of not eating after sunset, the Mandli met only for breakfast, lunches and tea-parties. What’s more, every member looked and felt fitter, healthier and ten years younger. A […]
Meherbai’s Mandli And Anahita Andoos!!
It was that time of the year when X’Mas was near and Parsi NRIs came to Mumbai in droves for the festive season and the Lagan-Navjote na patras. One such NRI was Anahita Andoos from Australia, who was in the same school as Meherbai’s daughter and hence, Meherbai loved her and even called her ‘baby’ since she brought out […]
The World Is Your Monastery… … And Daily Life Your Monastic Discipline
Those who withdraw from the world into a monastic retreat are few nowadays, but those who feel the need of withdrawing into an inward peace of some kind, are many. They can have their peace and have their world too – simply by spiritualizing their life in the world. The very act of withdrawing into […]
The Humble Kitchen Has Come Of Age!
My richie-rich friend was showing off her ‘new’ money once again. Mrs. Nouveau Rich told our ladies group, “I spent XX lakhs of rupees on my kitchen, darlings,” to which Mrs. Witchie-witch resorted, “That’s nothing honey, I spent double! This set me thinking… the space once hidden behind a utilitarian swinging-door has become center-stage! […]
Meherbai’s Mandli Celebrates Diwali
As every Parsi Times reader knows by now, Meherbai’s Mandli celebrates each and every festival. In fact, they celebrate life, with their breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner parties, so how could they NOT celebrate Aapri Diwali? In fact, they made plans for all the attendant days that herald the Diwali. Meherbai: Let’s make plans for Diwali. Keki Kanjoos: Whose father’s […]
Identity Crisis Within Marriage
The term ‘Identity Crisis’ was coined in the sixties. It was a catch-phrase, more misused than understood. Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson used the term to describe the normal, turbulent phase when an adolescent confronts the questions, “Who am I? What do I want and believe? What are my values, talents, priorities and dreams?” In Dr. Erikson’s […]