Everywhere somewhere in the bend of a road or even in corners , paths are puntuated by exclamations of bright flowers blooming hope and life.

Finer things in life are never perfect. Fitness is lacking because it is not drawn by power and push of a button. It human hand that works with its frugal needle and a thread. You can see left over threads at the back of the embroidery jostling for space not evenly spaced out, but on its surface it is a painted canvas. Flowers and blossoms on its moonlight blues, snow greys, crimson reds or lavender lilacs!

Taking time and toil, days and sunshine ,frost and freedom ,peace and love to create a single paisley! It's finger held, palm felt , hand brushed and warmth met,handmade and home lived!

THAT IS THE VALLEY!

There is this museum “suffering mosses” .Museum i call it because its heirloom pieces are a part of kashmir and how long it has been ! may be as old as the chinar or the call of prayer that wafts throughout at the break or the day .

Everything in kashmir moves slow.                                        Kahwa takes time. Tulips take awhile year. Wazwan is simmered over along time . Meat is pounded by hand on stone , taking long time and effort.                                        But they say pashmina is done it is dipped in the jhelum! minerals help it to shine and stay….

Very soon the flowers would wither away unable to withstand the rains on its delicate petals, it would soon be raining and life would be taken over by the an overused green crayon!

In india tea or chai is never an occasion .It is devoid of paraphernalia  it follows no ritual , no roadmap. It is impulsive and can be enjoyed guilt free at any moment or anywhere . Devoid of a design  it is devoured in copious amounts, all attention to savour it is goodness like flowers do to a stand alone center piece on a table !

The tea arrives like an  escape , a transition ,  a pause , an arbiter, a moment a nagging habit that feels like companionship in a long marriage . It is only to be felt . It has humble accompaniments , usually the modest biscuits to dunk in the tea or it the weather yearns may be deep fried potatoes fritters whose shaped and sizes are never identical !

Everything feels better just after you put down that cup!!!