The Little Things of life

Little Things, a mini web series produced by Dice Media Productions. This post may reveal a few intricacies and may give out spoilers of the show. You can find Season 1 on Youtube and Season 2 on Netflix.

Little Things is a story of a couple Dhruv Vats (Dhruv Sehgal) and Kavya Kulkarni (Mithila Palkar)  who are in a live-in relationship. The first season of this web series focuses more on the fun the couple has together. From enjoying a lavish american breakfast to simple roadside corn bhajjis, from a friend's organised taboo night to an emotional movie together. From freaking out on losing a earring gifted by her boyfriend to planning on which sari to wear that will go with the nath (a nose ring-an Indian ornament). The first season ends on  a very mature note with the couple discussing their career plans in the middle of a vineyard. 

The second season that released this year is more evolved. The evolution is witnessed not only in the couple and their relationship but also in the script, the dialogues, the chemistry and the direction.

Season 2 speaks about their journey together like taking career decisions for each other or taking a trip together or awkward moments with  Kavya's mother-in-law.

I made a note of all The Little Things that I enjoyed from the second season:

In the first episode named 'Milk cake', Dhruv welcomes his friend, Sandeep from Delhi. Sandeep brings along with him sweets from Dhruv's favourite mithaiwala (sweet shop). While it is highly possible that one may forget to buy vegetables or milk for the house but one never forgets the likes and dislikes of their childhood friend. This is one of the many 'Little Things' that this show has successfully encapsulated.

The second little thing the show subtly highlights is 'Pajamas'. Whenever one visits their relatives' or friend's place one definitely tends to forget their pajamas or their toothbrush. It is the same situation with Sandeep who requests Dhruv to lend him his pajama for the night. Loved how they integrated this part in this episode.

My favourite dialogue from the first episode is the explanation that Kavya gives to Dhruv on how old friends matter at any time in life even if you aren't constantly in touch with them. She says, 'While everything around you is changing, you will be happy to know that there are a few things that remain constant (like childhood friends). And it is important because these constants are comforting'.

I couldn't agree more.

When I say the second season is more evolved, the second episode, 'Back Seat' justifies that. While it starts on a happier note on Kavya getting promoted, it ends on a bitter note on Dhruv revealing to Kavya of he getting fired from his job.

The Little Thing I enjoyed here is the moment the director shifts from Dhruv's dream to his reality of confessing his job situation. The director shows the change wisely by just a simple vehicle horn.

The third episode titled 'Cheeti aur haathi' beautifully puts forth and resolves Dhruv's dilemma of a wrongdoing. It is again resolved by Kavya through a small morally accepted story that she narrates to her maid's son through which Dhruv immediately understands his error and corrects it.

The maid, even though plays a minor role in the series is the ideal maid found in every Indian household who will always remind you of getting back the forgotten lunchbox at office or eating almonds before going to work.

Moving on to the fourth episode, 'Mumbai Darshan' embraces the son-in-law and mother-in-law relationship. Dhruv and Kavya's mother spend an entire day touring around the city of Mumbai. The scenes in this episode couldn't get more awkward for both of them. At the end of the episode both of them bid goodbye to her mother. As a typical mother, Kavya's mom gifts a sari to her maid. Before leaving, her mother, too reminds Kavya of all the little things she has kept in the kitchen for both of them, like dry fruits.

It couldn't get more real in the fifth episode, 'Leicester City F.C'. Every relationship goes through ups and downs and every person in a relationship starts questioning their togetherness. It is no novel for Kavya and Dhruv. Kavya is in a dilemma, she questions herself, if she deserved Dhruv as a her partner, which is natural but, Dhruv, although jealous, answers the question tactfully and gives her an appropriate reason to her feelings. He says, 'Trying to make the best out of what you have is what everything is about'.

How true is this? Not everything is going to be perfect in life but making the best out of it may lead you to happiness and perfection.

I loved how the episode ends in a funny way, Kavya asking Dhruv to get water before going to bed. Who doesn't do this? Everybody is lazy and needs water just when they get comfortable.

And we arrive to my most favorite episode of this entire series, 'Bed & Breakfast'.

Being a Mumbaikar, without a doubt, Bed & Breakfast is an episode I could relate to the most. It is really annoying when one falls sick on a Sunday. Because it is the only day when one can relax and calm down from the monotony. He advises her to take a pill (crocin) for her cold. A universal pill that works for any illness.

I adored how Dhruv pampers Kavya by presenting her a nice, bloomed Hibiscus flower on her breakfast plate since her breakfast plate is boring (just toasted bread). A quick glance at all the other things I enjoyed from Bed & Breakfast (B&B): the time they take to decide on which movie to watch, the competitiveness and the enjoyment in a geography contest between the two, his madness after his favorite team scores a last minute goal.

The direction of B&B is the part that I admired, the 'little thing' that we usually do not see in movies or any other series, when Dhruv comes out of the bathroom and wipes his hand to his pants, while Kavya is going through her old photos on her phone. This is the moment I feel, justifies the title of this series that have been wonderfully noted down and shown in the episode.

Also, the evening Azaan that reminds both of them of two different things. To quote Kavya, 'Isn't it nice how different people relate to the same thing differently?'

How true could it be?

The chemistry between the couple, even a simple kiss on the cheek doesn't feel a forced one on the show.

And the last moment when Kavya quietly keeps the crushed hibiscus in her diary. That is when I am sure all the viewers went 'aww' after watching it.

The second last episode, 'Balti aur Magga' gets as real as possible. To talk about the little things in this episode, every time we visit a hotel, the first thing that we do is connect our phones to the hotel wifi. That is exactly what Kavya does when they visit a hotel where their friend's wedding is to take place. That scene got a gentle smile on my face. How real !

Both of them go through a rough patch a little later in the episode. I agree with both the point of views that they present during their little fight. And I just couldn't take anyone's side in the fight. Their fight is ceased just by a simple door bell. How thoughtful !  

And the last episode, 'Where are we?' assesses the damage, the reconciliation between the couple takes the entire episode but ends in the same way as in the first season, they coming back to a vineyard.

The show, honestly deserves all the credit and success that it has garnered all this while.

And like the rest of them, I, myself can't wait for the next season.

The Accidental Friendship

I couldn't write about 'Happiness' and not mention this story. Being a great believer in destiny this tale is a proof of those who do not believe in serendipity.

"I was in Ronda, Spain recently. Yesterday morning I randomly crossed a guy while trekking. We exchanged smiles".

Great.

Today, he checked-in in the same hotel where I was. We again exchanged smiles.

Fantastic.

We had breakfast together. Shared our travel plans. Had a blast !  Later when he learned that I am learning spanish and I'm an Indian, he asked, "Are you Harsh Shah?"

My jaws dropped. I almost fainted wondering and trying to recollect from my short term memory, "Have I spoken to him before? Have I met him before? How does he know my name?"

I was astounded.

He said, "We have a common friend Anjor Deshpande". (Obviously me)

I said, "So you are the guy from Quebec, Canada?"

He said, "Yes, it is me ! We have exchanged some messaged in the past on for practicing Spanish"

It took us a good amount of time to realize if it was real. We laughed astonishingly seeing each other. Then a moment of silence. We laughed again.

So when a Canadian meets an Indian in some random town of Spain, without any agenda, just pure coincidence; that's the beauty of travelling.

Conclusion- Don't think much. Just pack your bags and start wandering. Travel in itself has beautiful surprises waiting for you"

It all began when I met Harsh, a good friend of mine after a long time at an art festival in the city. This young adult had been learning Spanish for the past 6 months and was expressing his urge to learn more and explore more of Spanish culture. That is when it struck me to get him in contact with my Quebecian friend, Jeremie. Soon, these two got in contact via a social networking site and started chatting in Spanish. Little did they know they would end up meeting in a small town in Spain!

Many a times I wonder, if I had never given Harsh my friend's contact  would this have ever happened? What if Harsh hadn't decided to go bag packing to Spain? What if at the art festival I hadn't ever asked Harsh about Spanish classes?

Both , Jeremie and Harsh have told me how beautiful Ronda is and why it will remain a long lasting memory for them. I have never been to Ronda but it will always hold a special place in my heart too.

To end this article I would like to quote an anonymous author,

"Travel. As far as you can, as long as you can. It is a labyrinthe fortuitous journey" 

The guy on the 7.28 am train

Nina, fashion columnist, a young girl in her early 20s took the 7.28 train everyday to work. She always exchanged smiles with her co-passengers who also boarded the same train. Be it rains, wind, or unforeseen strikes, Nina never missed her 7.28 train.   

It not just helped her reach on time but also was a great kick start to her day. She always waved at her friends, met her fellow passengers and also caught a quick glimpse of 'that guy' before the train pulled into the station. 

For several months this was her routine. 

It was love at first sight for Nina. 

Being shy, she always wondered how to approach him. She never understood how easy was it for her other female friends to approach men. 

He always stood with a bunch of his friends, hence it became harder for her to approach him. She asked her female friends and they gave her tips on "How-to-start-a-conversation-with-a-guy". But every time she saw him, her heart melted and she lost all the courage she had gained through her friends.  

Its been a year since she has a crush on him. 

But she has zero knowledge on his profession, his workplace, his family, his name ! She did not know if he noticed her as much as she noticed him everyday. Even if she wanted to look out for him, she did not know how. All she knew is they both lived in the same city.
A city which she thought was small, seemed crowded and populous enough to her as she never ever bumped into him at any other place.

Nina's friends questioned her each day on the progress on her story but all in vain.

Was she ever going to approach this mysterious extremely handsome stranger?

Typically Indian...

India: a country with 1.3 billion people, with different culture, religion, language, traditions that changes in every state of this country is surely a diverse nation. Each individual, each group has its own habits. 

I made a note of few of these habits and thought to pen them down. So here are a few...

Ganpati Bappa....

I live in one of the metropolitan cities of India: Mumbai. As a Mumbaikar (habitant of Mumbai) it is very common to take the local train every morning to work. The train carries thousands of people to work on it's every single trip. If you have an eye of an observer, this is the best place you'll have material to write on. After I board the train every morning for work, at the next stop is a temple adjacent to the station. A group of men on this local pray to the elephant god by shouting at the top of their voice, "Ganpati Bappa..." and the rest of the local train completing their sentence with "Morya!" 

Now in India, you stand in the middle of the street and shout "Ganpati Bappa", rest assure because you are going to get "Morya" back. Or you shout "Jo bole so nihal.." you will hear "sat sri akal"  

There is this one other ritual I find peculiar that only Indians follow, I believe. Before taking a long trip, we again pray to god at the top of our voice, just so that our ride ahead is smooth. Or may be we don't trust the driver.  

At the end of the day I think Indians are true believers of god. 

Keys...

We love sharing everything with our neighbors. What I love about our country is we know who are our neighbors. We interact with them on a daily basis. We share our happiness and sorrows with them. We also trust them blindly. I don't think anywhere outside India does any family give their house keys to their neighbors. Usually people hide their spare keys either in their garden or behind the letterbox. But Indians give their house keys to their neighbors. Just in case you have forgotten your keys, you knock at your neighbor's door and there you are they will hand you your spare keys. Or if you live abroad and own a house in India,  usually the keys to your house will be with the neighbors. 

Food...

Each state has it's own staple food with ample of assortments on the plate to choose from. If you're a guest to any Indian household, you'll never walk home without eating anything. You at least have a cup of tea. If you are an invitee for lunch or dinner you eat more than required. In India, when you are at the dining table and when you are about to finish with your meal, your host will ask you if you would want to have more, which is quite normal anywhere in the world. But as a guest you do not say yes immediately to that question, you wait for them to ask you once again and then you could say yes or no as per your wish. 'Agraha' as Maharashtrians call it.  

Now you know what to do the next time you're in India and hosted by an Indian family ! 

Tuesdays and Saturdays...

Coming back to god and food, each Indian god has his own day. And each Indian family has their "family god".  As per the days we decide what food to eat. Few Indians choose not to eat chicken on Tuesdays and Saturdays because it is their "family god's day". My family prefers not eating eggs on Saturdays. 

I don't see any logic to it but well that is how it works here... 

The list is just endless. But we are who we are. And we love what we do.  

P.S: I wrote this article after having observed people for quite a few months now and noting down their habits.