You remember Monica? Of course, she is not someone one would forget. You either know her or you don’t know her. So for all those who know her, you would know what I mean when I say I tend to be a Monica at times.
I prefer things to be clean. But I am not overly obsessed with pen caps lying away from the pens and magazines lying here and there. My mom takes care of all that. Sometimes I act as though I’m possessed, as if Monica has taken over me. I go on a cleaning spree and mercilessly trash everything that I think I don’t need.
This strange phenomenon, similar to selective amnesia doesn’t occur often, especially when my mom is around. You ask my mother about this, she would probably say, ‘There is something strange with Ashwini. I keep telling her time and again to clean up, she doesn’t listen. And then one fine day, I got out somewhere and when I come back I find her room sparkling clean.’
The problem here is that, when people ask me to do something, like cleaning up for instance, I prefer to let that fall on deaf ears and continue with Temple Run. But when the angel inside me keeps reminding me continuously that I have a responsibility to clean up my room, I ensure I take it up and finish it then and there. Considering that this angel’s voice comes to my aid only when I’m home alone, no one is there to appreciate my work. Sigh.
When I finally decide to make the room look presentable, I mercilessly throw things that I feel are not of use anymore. And I don’t stop with just one room, I clean up my study, arrange all my files and books, proceed over to my dad’s shelves and clean them up too. Then I turn to my wardrobe, match all the dupattas with their respective sets, match all the earrings with their pairs, throw away broken accessories and then fill up the bags with a set of clothes that can still be used, by someone else and pack it neatly to be given away. Dig out my favorite tops that have been hidden by the latest purchase and keep them all in one particular order so that I don’t miss out on the not-so-recent-ones. And once I’m done with the cleaning, my rooms wouldn’t look out of place in the otherwise neat household, courtesy my mother.
A few months back, mom was away for a while. So that meant I had to spend considerable time alone at home, till my dad got back. Those days, the spirit of Monica stayed with me for the longest duration ever, sometimes even the whole day, provided no one else was around. I remember cleaning up the terrace when my maid couldn’t come for a day, I remember cleaning the windows and arranging the showcase in another order after having carefully cleaned them all.I remember giving a water wash to my car and two wheeler too. My mom cleans the house regularly so the dust doesn’t accumulate. But I do it once in a while, so the change is noticeable, it clearly shows that some cleaning has been done, but unfortunately no on except for me notices that.
That minute, when I see a clean room or a clean table or a sparkling clean vehicle, the satisfaction I get from that is something that cannot be compared to anything else.Those are the days I enjoy playing with the vacuum cleaner than with the iPad.
And as I type, I notice there is a small mark on the laptop screen, now where is my dusting cloth?
As The Mind Wanders 
50 responses to “ABC Challenge #13 : M for Monica”
I feel I am a combination of Monica and Rachel – quite a 'spoilt brat', don't really bother much with cleaning but I can be quite bossy and I hate to lose 😛
I rarely have those spells where I become a maniac at cleaning – it is just not my cup of tea – but like Monica, I can instruct people and yell at them to get things done 😛
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Yaay 🙂 By far the best 🙂
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For some reason i wish that Moinca(Spirit) should stay with me to fix things and my room. I would also appreciate if she prefer to stay with our Netas 😉
Nicely carried away and I will haunt you soon.
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That is the spirit of Monica in action:) A nice read, Ashwini:)
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Connection with one of the character of friends ha? We all have been through it.. Though I don't quite relate to any one, I have one trait similar to Chandler (although I am a huge fan of Joey) I crack jokes when I am nervous 😀
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A little bit of disorder can go well in this utterly disorder world. Now , that was a pretty good profile of your self.
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I clean one thing (my bike) regularly. Once in a year. During ayudha pooja. Because, at that time I am greatly pressurized by people at home 😛 Actually, the desks and workspaces of great minds and scientists are generally cluttered. I take my inspiration from them 🙂
Destination Infinity
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i am part monica, part rachel and part phoebe too(!) Loved your take on the prompt. Quite an engaging read 🙂
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Good that you cleaned up everything and may the spirit of Monica keep visiting you time and again…
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haha liked anil's comment..yez..a little bit of disorder can go well in this utterly disorder world:)
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We all partly belong to the spoilt brat part, don't we 🙂
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LOL! I was crazier than Monica, I used to start puffing cushions the moments guests got up from sofa. Once one of my friend said that she is scared of coming to my place. From then on, I have mellowed down. But, like you even I throw things not required. My trash can is always full 😛
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Hmm..Unlike you, now that I am a mom and a wife, I have to keep on my toes all the time. Spring cleaning goes on in my house quite often..almost every alternate week. Otherwise, in this country the amount of mail junk that collects is uncountable. I had been piling up kids' junk toys..like tops, bey blades, for so many years now feeling this is not broken..this could be played with….yday hubby and me trashed a whole tub!!!
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Its better to be Monica than Rachel. 🙂 But i only like weird Phoebe.
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Oh Ash!! I am such a cleanliness freak , sometimes i get irritated with this phobia, spick-and-span Room is what i prefer always 🙂
As always, A good post ❤
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Talk abt the cleaning frenzy . It attacks me once in a while too . Now that I am the mom around here it's not easy ! Boo hoo 😦
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I am haunted by the Monica spirit too(once in a blue moon) and those days people get tired just by seeing me do all the work. And this happened to me after my marriage, before that I was blissfully unaware of things called vacuum cleaner or duster 🙂
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Yay 🙂
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The next time she takes over,I'll drop in a word 🙂
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Thank you Sir 🙂
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I am a huge fan of Chandler BIng. That guy is just more than awesome 🙂
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Wonderfully said 🙂 Thank you 🙂
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Yes, I agree with your theory, but sometimes I get so irritated at the very sight of some mess.
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Thank you Maliny 🙂 And Cheers to that part Monica 🙂
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I sincerely hope and my mom hopes even more :-d
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True 🙂
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Crazier than Monica? Pray that Monica doesn't hear you 🙂 and I somehow see a lot if similarities between us 😀
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Of course, homemakers are experts in cleaning up and making a place seem habitable and much more than that:-)
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I like them all, but see myself relating to Monica a lot more 🙂
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He he, I am not that much of a freak and I'm happy for that. Thank you 🙂
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Cleaning because you have time and Cleaning because it has to be done is very different and I totally understand the difficulties of the latter!
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And see what good things marriage has taught you 🙂
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There's a little bit of Monica in all of us 🙂
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That was an amusing piece.I know a few who get upset if the chair in the dining table is left askew or the daily folded in improper order.Luckily you are not that perfection freak.Cleanliness is necessary but should not become an obsession.I like your way of cleaning and throwing away unwanted things once a while.
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Very nice, Ashwani -nee- Monica !There is a saying in Hindi- tanda ya toh nache hi naa ya naach kar aangan toray ! Both are extremes though not disagreeable ! We all get feverish at times and sometimes the results are wonderful !
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My mom used to scold me like anything to clean my room but unless I get my own interest, I will never take the cleaning cloth in my hand.
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I am a partial Monica. I am not overly cleaning obsessed like her, but yeah, when I am in my moods, I do the best cleaning, look for a peck of dust and clean them off. I clean my bathroom everytime I go in.
I have this obsessive compulsive habit of washing my hands too very often all the times over a day, but not just before eating food, or when picking up the chocolate that fell on the ground and eating it! Like the adage “Soru Kanda Idam sorgum” is so much meant for me!
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Sorry, I don't know Monica but I am a control freak when it comes to cleanliness. I am an OCD and my poor husband is the scape-goat almost always. Every day, I'm a stickler for cleanliness and on some days the OCD drives me so hard that I end up vigourously cleaning every nook and cranny.
Joy always,
Susan
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Ditto Ashwini. I can so relate to it, because I am like that too 😀
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Hi, this was good. I am also exactly like Monica, and I always want things to be neat and clean all the time. I suffer from OCD, it very difficult to cure this disease.I am a real pain for everybody in the house. I remember a time when one of my cousin had left me in her house for a few hours to attend to some meeting, and i literally started cleaning her bathroom. Later when i came home, I realized what I had done, and felt I had gone too far.From that time i see to it I stick to keeping my house clean and not be bothered about other people's houses
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Unexpected choice of word for the letter 'M'. And yeah about the OCD part…every girl has her own share of Monica 😛
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So very true 🙂
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Well said Sir, it shouldn't become an obsession. Thank you 🙂
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Thank you Sir. Yes, when we are struck by this storm at times, it is good.
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That's been the case with me too 🙂
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Ha ha, we South Indians have a big heart for food. We are all great foodies I tell you.
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Lol 🙂 Somehow I always thought you were also obsessed with cleanliness and now I know its true 🙂
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He he CHeers Deepa 🙂
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Yea, that's a good thing.My mom also makes sure everything remains clean at home. But when we are at other's place, its really not good to be bothered right, well said. 🙂
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Wow. That was the best comment so far. Every girl indeed has her own share of Monica. Wonderfully said 🙂
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