Men are from Mars


I have been a single parent for the past 6 months. I wont say stressed out single parent because I dont think I am. I have gone through this in Delhi for a year and repeated the feat in NJ for another year and compared to those living conditions, this is only a fling. But on my errands at the Indian store, I pick up several packets of Mehendi these days. I did the same in India too but the word 'fun' has now been replaced by 'requirement'. My friends remark and rightly so, that I have more gray hair now than ever before, bang at the center of my head. I wonder if its chrono-logy or chrono-stress! And so, once a month I plaster my hair and bring back the beautiful smell of henna into the house.

Every woman organizes. Some do a good job and some dont. I am the good organizer than borders on OCD. I organize lunch menus, dinner recipes, cleaning schedules, laundry schedules, email schedules, music timings, driving timings, packing timings, work timings, writing timings.... oooof!! And with one hand (not the Right, definitely) gone to Utah, organizing has to be fine tuned so that nothing is amiss.

And it is one of these rushing weekend days, when the house is a mess with packets, scotch tapes, scissors, lables, markers strewn all over the place. Boxes are lying unlabeled. Some have been sealed too soon and I have forgotten whats inside. I am still sorting out stuff that I will carry to Connecticut. Some useless papers and folders that need to be disposed. Three pairs of good shoes that Anu has outgrown, those have to be kept separately for Planet Aid. Shuma's school books that should not be packed for Utah--they have to be returned to her school. Library books that are due. Three calls from friends asking the date of my move. Milk is over. Anu will have only Fruit Loops for snack. Garbage is overflowing. Shuma needs to reach the drama center by 5. Her show is at 7pm. I have to get dressed. Anu is with a friend at Picture People and I just received a call that they have lost their way.

I take a deep breath, grab my cell phone, bark at Shuma to get into the car and drive off. Its a crowded street and people are taking their time to drive. Well girl, you must realise, its a Saturday. I hurry and make it to the center just on the dot. I pull into the parking slot quickly. A little too quickly I guess. The wheels ride up the side walk with a groan and a shudder. I cant believe it. I have to remove my feet from the gas and slam the brakes. But I cant. My right foot is just stuck on the accelerator. And I am pressing it down further. Shuma is shouting and my eyes are closed. We hit a tree on the right. The car stops moving. I open my eyes, reverse the car. There is a man standing right next to us now. Shuma pleads to hear differently, "Is it bad?". I walk out to see the bumper completely broken, passenger side lights are smashed. It is ugly. My heart is beating fast. I hate this. $$$. Thats all I can see. Shuma runs into the building crying. She is more shocked than anything else. I follow her inside, give her a hug, place her drama stuff on her table, get back to the car and make a call to Abhijit. The most difficult part. I say "Wookie, there is bad news". He asks "What happened?". I say " I rammed into a tree. The bumper and lights are gone". He asks, "You guys are Ok, right?". I say "Yes, but....". He decides that we should pay for the repair ourselves because of my insurance history. I tell him I have to hang up and go because the friends just called that they have found their way back and are coming home.

Many trips to Body shops, estimates from freaked out mechanics, more garage visits with students and friends, learning the difference between bumper and fender, original and fake, VIN # and Policy #, American and Desi.... I am tired. That consumes my entire week days. Worrying, trying to save some dough, calling shops, asking for better estimates apart from organizing the packing part. The Mover truck comes in Monday, remember!

Finally I boil down to one Body Shop. The man's good, gives me a deal. Well, whats good when you have nothing good anyway!! I scrutinize the new black bumper and hope that they will paint it to the right shade of my Civic. I keep calling Abhijit everyday to relate the harangues that I have been going through doing this shitty job. Shuma says she is proud of me that I am being able to handle this all by myself. I tell her, "Yes baby, I am smart. Idiots drive on roads, I drive on trees".

Day 5 of running around, the cool guy from Utah calls. I always think the first thing he will ask will be about the car and how I am managing. But its always, "hows work going, how are the kids, have you had lunch yet......". Today I take the call. I say "Hello". He says, "Wookie, there is bad news". I am stricken. O my God! Not anymore. My plate is full dear Lord. My mind is racing: someone lost a job, parents doing bad, he has fight with his boss, we lost some more money somewhere, another accident, what??? He says it in a very sad and low voice, "Ted Kennedy has cancer". I am dumbfounded. I cant believe it! I look around the messy house, the 2 kids, school, job, work, meals, classes, packing and a car crash later, he is worried about Ted Kennedy?????

Men are definitely from Mars.