The last month of this year brings cheer. This was not an Annus Horribilis, Thank God. The year 2025 was like a good ball in cricket which does not take a wicket, but also does not yield any run.

Grey and Green represent the last month of the year, December. That is my view. Grey because it is the colour of nostalgia, twelve more months have been added to our history, and green because it represents our hope that the new year will bring better life. Green is the symbol of growth and new beginnings.

Speaking of Green, I remember my parrot, Lulu, which readers of my blogs will be familiar with. Lulu is an imaginary parrot. It speaks to me. And I discovered a real one.

I visited my young friend Adv. Machindra Kapare at his residence. Believe me, a parrot flew in and landed on Mrs Ratnaprabha Kapare’s shoulder. This is nothing new, that parrot comes regularly and eats out of their hands and flies away. This parrot is not their pet bird, in fact they have no pets.

Anant Kanekar’s article which we studied in school mentioned that birds befriend only those human beings who are pure at heart. You don’t believe Kanekar’s words? Here is the evidence.

Machindra is an accomplished lawyer. From law to life philosophy is just one step and he moved there with ease. With Mrs. Ratnaprabha Kapare. Machindra can recite all the 700 shlokas of Shrimad Bhagavdgita by heart. He delivers talks on Bhagavad Gita. His family belongs to the Warkari Sampradaya which worships Lord Vitthal. Pious couple. Parrot instinctively realizes what we conclude after getting to know Machindra and Ratnaprabha. That’s why he lands at their home. I rest my case, my Lord!

In a fortnight I had two boat rides at the Gateway of India. Each trip of thirty minutes. The experience is great, though the boats are shabby and not at all traveller friendly. Indians have this knack of ignoring disagreeable part and still enjoying something, I did it too.

People throw bread crumbs and farsan to the seagulls who have learnt the art of following the boats. It makes good photographs but a sad story.

I feared that my mobile will fall in the sea when I click photographs from the boat. I must buy a Selfie Stick. The boat reduced speed as it returned to the Gateway of India. That gave me an opportunity to shoot this photo. We do not get this angle unless we take a boat ride.

Behind the two great buildings, the Gateway and the Taj Mahal Hotel, the tall Taj Mahal Tower is an eyesore. We must ignore the disagreeable part and still enjoy what is before us, what say you?

I have been visiting the Terminal 2 of Mumbai airport for receiving or seeing off guests and relatives. The Terminal 2 is enormously specious. I discovered the space behind the fountains. Fortunately the light and shadow were just perfect.

Light and shadow create such a dramatic scene!

Terminal 1 of the Mumbai airport is beautifully designed too. Here is a photograph which I clicked in December last year, in 2024.

Having spent past sixteen years covering lives of the workers at various levels, my eyes search for working persons. This handcart was pulled by a young and thin man and it was pushed by the man in the pic. The front man gave out a loud shout asking the pusher to push a bit hard. Pulling that load even on a smooth surface must have been punishing.

With another man pushing his small handcart and a man running behind the handcart this pic emphasizes action.

And finally this thought – we can only work earnestly, giving our best, hoping that it benefits others, and makes an impact however small, leaving ‘Imprints on the sands of time.’ Does it not go well with the mood in December?

Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Vivek S Patwardhan

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” All matter copyrighted.