Its Christmas time!

Have you any idea how gorgeous Bandra, Hill road would be just about now?

They would have stalls upon stalls full of Christmas decorations and trees …

Stars and angels and shiny disco balls.

They would have plum cake and marzipans and those milky chocolate things.

There would be people shopping and laughing and having fun.

And then, when your happy feet beg for mercy,

you could halt by that Udupi joint  and

have pav bhaji or walk down to Band-Stand

and have chana jor garam.

And listen to the sea.

Sigh..

But its the season to be merry..

So have bought myself a tree.

And some fancy decorations.

A length of tassels.

A bit of candy.

Some friends with the promise of wine.

Its the season to be merry and so, I am going to be.

Because even though the happy old places are in the past,

the happy new places wait for me

in the future.

Uma Iyer is a writer, a mother and a freelance consultant for marketing communication to several organisations. She was raised in Mumbai and currently lives in Delhi. Her retirement plan includes two dogs, many books and a shack by the sea.