Braided Memories ~ Pages from my Diary


After chasing my cousins on a sultry summer day, I fell into my grandmother’s lap. She stroked her fingers into my hair and it felt heavenly. She unclipped my hair and I rested my little head close to her bosom. As she blew air on my scalp and with the sweat beads evaporating, summer turned into spring. ‘You have beautiful hair,’ she said and started braiding my hair. Too tired to argue, I let her make two braids turning one side after another. ‘Go see in the mirror, how pretty you look’ and I darted into my parents’ bedroom and loved what I saw.

June 21st, 1991 
I love playing with Shilpa. I think we can be good friends. We talked about writing letters to each other and she said we will be pen friends. I hope we go to Pinjore on Saturday and eat cassata. Grandma made two chottis on me  and I like it. I think I will buy ribbons matching with my school uniform. I’ll tell Mamma to buy ribbon when she will go to market.
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Restlessly, I rubbed my eyes, paced towards the corner and lifted the newspaper. In about fours hours, I had to be ready for Richa’s birthday party. With constant flipping of magazines and channels, I was confused. I had to look pretty, ‘I will straighten my hair,’ I thought. It was the new cool thing. I washed my hair but another load shed dashed my hopes for the evening. I was about to cancel my plans when grandmother entered. ‘Anything wrong?’Look at my hair, I don’t want to go like this,’ I grumbled. ‘Why don’t you braid it?’ grandmother asked. It wasn’t the best of ideas, but I dazzled it with a hair band and rocked the party.

August 5th, 1998
It was the best day ever. I looked way better than Anjali. Just when I was about to cancel my plans, grandma told me to braid my hair. I did that and I looked so pretty. Even Rohan complimented me. I should try that often and I need a nice bag. 
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I was in a pitiful state as to what to do, deeply disturbed; my life was in a mess. Loss of a loved one can change you in unbelievable ways. I missed my grandmother, her wit and warmth had helped me sail through many tough times. Coupled with a breakup, work-wise, life-wise, family-wise and hair-wise, it was all dull. I went to her room after I came back from Office. I have always loved the view from her window and I sat there, opened the old album and lived all our memories. Dad came too and we talked about everything. It was like having a conversation with yourself. I felt light.

March 7th, 2005
I have some peace today. I can’t discuss my break-up with anyone and something is surely wrong with my new boss.  Dad and me sat in grandma’s room and I found her picture in the almirah. She was looking very beautiful. I wish I age like her, gracefully. I found some peace and solutions. Will start meditating to clear my soul and use better shampoo and braiding to soothe my hair. 
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For a couple of years life has been an excellent teacher. I learnt from my mistakes and won accolades at work and compliments for my looks, especially hair. With constant nourishment and care I became a head-turner. Those dull, unhealthy hair with split ends were gone. Food, exercise and a better hair care range gave me perfect tresses. On my wedding day, I flaunted a braid, a perfect braid and adorned it with grandmother’s memories. I needn’t ask anyone for ‘how I looked?’...the look on their face was answer enough. My body, mind and heart were in a state of bliss.

April 15th, 2009
2009 is a great year for me. I would always treasure it. After marriage, life has been busy but I’m loving it. We got the wedding album yesterday and the pictures are stunning. I don’t know it’s the braid or something else, I think I quite resemble grandma and I miss her.
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Transition from girl to woman changes you but few things become a part of your existence and taking care of myself is one of those. Though being a mother to a three year old girl I have very little time to spare for myself but using a good shampoo has worked. On hectic days, especially in summer, I knead my hair into a braid and it is as smooth as it was first when grandmother introduced it to me and I feel the twist and turn of my hair holds her love till date.

March 18th, 2013
Siya is becoming very naughty. I have to look for some summer activities for her. She has fine hair and I hope she keeps it long when she grows up. If grandma would have been alive, she would have given her braids. Today when I was getting ready and  saw myself in the mirror, I felt I resemble her. I think aging gracefully is in our genes. 
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Comments

  1. Amazing...reading this was like peeking into my own diary. Lovely, Saru. Good luck with the contest!

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  2. Such a wonderful tale. :) A woman's hair looks precious, braided or not. Loved reading about the transition of a girl to a woman and her 'hair'y tale. :) Initially when I started reading, I actually thought it was about you, until I came to the daughter part. But I am sure, some personal experiences are included too. Loved it. :)

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  3. Lovely :) The feel while reading it was just awesome :)

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  4. i used to have braids only as a child till 5th standard, then my tomboyishness ensure i never had long enough hair to braid..and then i got out of the habit and never braided my hair even if hair was long enough.

    Nice recollection to read here :)

    http://www.myunfinishedlife.com

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  5. I liked the way you expressed. It is snazzy too. good luck :)

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  6. Beautifully written Saru, absolutely loved it and could relate. You write awesome now will be hooked to all your writings :) Amit

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  7. You are lovely and so is your writing!
    Soulful, honest and wonderful play of words!
    All the best for the contest :)

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  8. Very beautiful and unique style,wish you luck ma'am:)

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  9. Hmmm nicely wriiten for girl or a women hair is beautiful part... And taking care for that is tough job for a mom..!!! Its braided or not when will looks goos i dont know.. But you share many thing about it... From ur dairy good post keep writing

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  10. Nicely written Saru. I must confess, I love braided hair :)

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  11. A very nicely narrated journey of life :)

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  12. चोटी की गाँठ ने पूरे समय बाँधकर रखा..

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  13. This was like reading a fairy tale in a flawless manner! Best wishes for the contest, Saru:)

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  14. Mine was a face to having a boycut...then to having braid till shool life...then boycut and now shoulder length non braidable hair.
    Loved how cutely you took us to a journey down the memory lane

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  15. Wow! That is what I can say about this post which is so unique and stands out.

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  16. Lovely. Your writing brings back(or alive) the bygone era of English fairy-tale-writing. The usage of words surely keeps readers hooked. :)
    And as much as I know of the females, Mom braiding her daughter's hairs is always considered as a classic moment. :)

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  17. You braided your life quite neatly in too Saru!

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  18. What a refreshing read. The merging of contest and grandma memories were beyond imaginations. A single post to endorse grandma s love, importance of elders in our life, values and parental support system. God has blessed u enough luck to have a fantastic family life. Preserve it for ever. Touchwood for you. Ha Ha

    http://neoimaginations.blogspot.in/

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  19. Nice article & worth watching drawings...

    http://classiblogger.blogspot.in/

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  20. I am sure..it is always a great feeling

    love
    http://www.meghasarin.com

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  21. Beautiful! Like your inimitable style.

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  22. loved the read :) best of luck Saru :)

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  23. So beautifully written. I love the idea of the way you have used a diary here.
    This took me down the memory lane.My grandmother took care of my hair - oiled it, and washed it with a herbs paste - and I had the prettiest, shiniest and the thickest braid in school :P

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  24. Such beautiful excerpts from your diary. Penned beautifully, really! Loved it!
    All the Best! :)

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  25. Very nice personal touch Saru!
    This format is a great way of narrating your hairy tales.

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  26. Just love your style of working. :)

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  27. Just made me remember that hair lie best in mother's hand. Never been good enough after that.

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  28. Lovely piece of writing - so touching!

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  29. Hey Saru..beautifully braided yaa..good luck..I used to braid my hair too all the time :) now, that it is short I can't do it anymore..

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  30. In fact I am amazed that every time you come up with a different post...there is something different. Down the memory lane! Hmm Good luck for the contest, Saru!

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  31. This entry stands out Saru. I liked the way you have sorted it out chonologically. All the best for the contest :)

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  32. lovely read.. all the best. :-)

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  33. Lovely Saru ! Loved the concept :) Good luck

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  34. That's a beautiful post...:) Worth reading and all the best for the contest...:) Hey, is that, "Now, We shall read" your another blog site...??

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  35. Wow Saru.. Its like you are allowing us to peek into your personal diary! :D I got the actual feeling of "excitement" and "if-caught-act-guilty"! :)

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  36. I love this, everything about it from start to finish

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  37. aha....that was a chiseled post, Saru!! Enjoyed reading this unique diary so much! All the best...:)

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  38. Beautiful use of metaphors for hair and life. The use of a diary-like format was also very clever -- it nicely shows the history and evolution of a girl turned woman.

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  39. Aww this is so lovely, Saru! I liked the personal touch you've given here and the pictures speak a lot.

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  40. made me teary and smiley at the same time...
    my god!! you write beautifully!

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  41. aww it was such a sweet thing to read :)
    It reminded of my Grandma..

    power packed braided memories :P

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  42. Excellent post. Nicely written.

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  43. Beautifully touched down the memory lane. Nostalgic.

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