Yesterday once more...

As I waited for my steak.......

2012-02-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

Anyone could see that the Mr Yin Yang Lee was reading the menu word by word, his brows furrowed in concentration. The waiter began tapping his pencil against the note pad and his customer immediately got the hint and placed the order. Ten minutes later, the Chinese visitor was served cheese corn balls on a platter with a dip by the side. After having devoured the dish within the next few minutes, he signaled for the menu again. Now he wanted to study the items available on the main course. The title on the first page read “Chinese”. As if by reflex, he gave the menu back and turned to the waiter “Do you have any suggestions?” The waiter raised an eyebrow. “Would you like to try something Indian? What about some naan and butter chicken? I can get you some salad by the side as well”. Yang Lee nodded his head. He was all game to experiment.

Two tables behind him sat three wives of very hard working men.
W1 : “No!! I am not lying! Tanya IS going to France this summer.”

W2 : “Reaaaalllllyyyyy?? Her poor husband.. he works so hard for her nooo?? And the way she spends all her money. Tch Tch. “

W3 : “Why do you feel so sorry? Maybe he is fine with it.”

W1 : “No No,.. Maria. What Tara is trying to say is that she is not like us. At least we don’t spend it so frivolously. Ok, forget that.. why did she have to lie to us of all people? I mean it’s not like we will sabotage her trip or something. “

W2: “I knowwww sweets. Even I really felt bad you know…”

W3 : “About what??...the trip or about her lying to you??”

W1: “Uffooo… Why are u always taking Tanya’s side?”

W3 : “I am not taking anyone’s side. I just asked a simple question.”

W2: “Ok, let’s not argue about Tanya now. Btw ladies, how do you like my new Tote?”

W1: “Ooooohhh I like! Sooo youuuu! I knew I hadn’t seen that one before!...”

W3: “Its very pretty ,Tara.”

W2 : “Thank you ladies!! Mona, I was wondering why you didn’t ask me earlier. Giggles. You are usually the one who notices these things first.”

W3: “Ok, ladies. I gotta rush. Rishab has reached home from the crèche. His nanny just messaged me. Catch u laters.” W3 makes an exit.

W1: “Talk about kill joys!”

W2: “She’s always been like that. I told you we won’t be able to talk freely if she is around.. At least now you realize…”

W1: “Mmmhmmm….By the way, you know I think this time Tanya may only call her girl friends.. I just have this gut feeling and my instincts are usually never wrong.”

W2: “You serious!!!?...She will definitely ask us am telling you!!Hope your passport is in place?”

W1: “Yeah I hope she does. I have been telling Sameer lets plan an international holiday and he just doesn’t listen. “

W2: “Same here. Even Rishi doesn’t budge. And they say all we can think of spending money. It is not like we shop everyday or something………Why are they so working hard anyway?”

W1: “Beats me."

It looked like the fellas sitting at the adjacent table also found the conversation interesting.
“Dude, ye Tote kya hota hai?”

“Pata nahi, I heard it too. …ketchup pass kar….”

“Arey yaaar, iPhone leke kyoon baita hai? Google karke dekh na.. “

At the table diagonally opposite to them, four year old Sid sat licking his fingers after finishing the last slice of Pizza. His mom shot him the dirtiest look.
“Sid, Kya kar rahe ho? How many times have I told u not to lick your fingers? Sit down now, don’t spoil the cushions with your shoes!”

“Mamma what is thaaaat? ” pointing to her soup bowl.

“Soup… beta”

“I also want…..”

“But..you just….”

“I waaaaantt mommy I waaaaant.. dada.. Tell her I want nowwwwww….”

Sid’s shrill voice obviously cut across the room. Most of us at Bombay Blues waited for the mom’s reaction. She obeyed instantly and Sid was quiet. The father pretended like he was not sitting at that table. He had his eyes fixed on his pasta. This 4 year old was in one of the best malls in the city with a shopping bag overflowing with toys, parents in tow, gorging on his Pizza. What on earth was he complaining about anyway? Very soon he would have his own twitter account and maybe even a BMW.

As soon as Sid’s voice died down, the Citibank guy walked across to the fellas with a galaxy tab.
“Hi…we are having this contest on Facebook…………..can you log on right now??” Social Media Marketing has become a big irritant.

By this time Mr Yin Yang Lee had left the restaurant with his naan and butter chicken left almost untouched. I think I know what spoiled his appetite.

Across the table, my husband was buried in his blackberry while my friend focused on her juice. And of course I was the nutcase making up all these conversations in my head.

Sheesh!!!

Takeaway: If you have an imagination that can get the better of you, please DO NOT order steak.
:-/

When Mumbai runs for a cause.......

2012-01-20T04:41:00.000-08:00

It becomes the event where celebrities, industrialists, physically challenged, the elderly, and rest of the masses come together to honor a social cause and to spread the cheer! Officially sponsored by Standard Chartered, this is one of the biggest events in the city.

The much awaited January 15th finally arrived and many Mumbaikers across the city woke up during wee hours on a Sunday morning and boarded the locals at 6.00 am. The richest sporting event in Asia had been flagged off and the crowd was trickling in.

This year too, I shamelessly tagged along with a friend, to be a part of the festivities.

The turnaround was simply mind blowing! Azad Maidan was a sight for anyone with a sore eye. It was buzzing with a sea of people including hundreds of NGOs supported by various corporates with their volunteers in colorful costumes. Thanks to my blinding orange t shirt and matching cap I must say I blended in quite well! Most of the NGOs had their own mascots and folk dancers who stole the show. Stilt walking clowns, life sized cartoon characters, teenagers parading as Yamdoots against corruption, aunties sporting No Smoking head gears….…Mardi Gras? Well, almost.

Clearly infectious and a delight to watch is the sporting spirit displayed by every marathon participant and the harmony in which the event is conducted. It is almost like the entire city tacitly agrees to all the rules and regulations to render maximum support to this mega event. All roads which constitute the runner’s route map are cordoned off the previous evening and traffic is controlled so that the participants can run in peace, avoiding the blaring horns and traffic jams. There are assigned stand points for media, police, and the celebs. To top it all quite literally, there are helicopters flying above the streets for air security cover and gunned policemen at every nook and corner for ground security. Every now and then you also see volunteers on bikes carrying bottled water. And just when you think all of this is so comforting, you bump into an ambulance. Bombs or no bombs, we are definitely good to go.

It is said that every year half marathon receives the maximum number of entries, and this year the number was close to 14,000. The following day maybe a mad mad Monday, but then who really cares? The media frenzy was growing by the minute while the on-lookers cheered the participants into the last lap of this do or die event.

Later I got to know that the winner of the full marathon Kenyan Laban Moiben took home a whopping 36,000$! I mean just what are these guys made of!? The last time I managed to complete close to 8 km (Obviously I walked the second half) on Marine Drive, I was very close to being immobile! :-/

Old or young; the passion, enthusiasm and the willingness to take on a challenge heads on (with or without medical aid!), is absolutely admirable.

And it does leave you with that same inevitable feeling. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time you tried it too??

Awakening the Social Animal

2012-01-06T00:31:00.000-08:00

One can't complain. I have my friends. Someone spoke to me only yesterday.
Eeyore, From Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne

The first minute I laughed as I pictured Eeyore saying this in his gloomy-yet-loveable manner! The next minute I was introspecting.

The first title that came to my head for this post was “The Antisocial Me” but then I have never burnt down theatres nor shot my fellow countrymen. Hence I don’t obviously qualify.

(I have developed this habit of organizing my thoughts in bullet points. So you will be seeing many more of those in the coming days.)

I digress. So coming back to why I have started to feel like I am almost a member of the “Unsociably Your’s” club:
• My schedule is usually packed with work, conference calls and gym. There is hardly any room for any “random” long phone conversations.

• Finishing neglected household chores suddenly seem like the best thing to do during a weekend.

• I prefer to send that BBM/whatsApp/FB message instead of making some much needed small talk.

• My phone conversations start and end with my mom, dad, in-laws, and sister. On repeat mode.

• I have forgotten my neighbors name for the umpteenth time. Now I seem to be forgetting her face too!

• I want to step out to buy a new lamp shade, and not so much for a cup of coffee.

• Apart from the hordes of book & movies, my constant companions are - The Big Bang Theory, Rules of Engagement, Sex and the city, and other fellow bloggers who care to drop by.

• I am wondering what to write next instead of what to wear next.

• I have been postponing that potluck party for the LONGEST time ever! Sigh!

• I send messages/texts to friends and if I do not receive an answer the first time, I immediately give up.

• I have mastered the art of shopping alone, while the spouse is obviously thrilled.

• I have stopped checking out photographs and updates on Facebook.

• Even on a vacation, I end up looking through people while they are trying to engross me in the most entertaining conversation.

• The number of bookmarks on my Mozilla Firefox page is growing at an exponential rate.

• Looks like I can’t recognize the most popular David Guetta song, which apparently plays in every club these days.

• I am not so gung-ho about eating out. Not even Fish n Chips!

• I go to sleep at 10pm to wake up at 6am to read/write.

• Someone actually yells at me “Jesus! Where the hell have you been??! It has been SO bloody long.”

• I chose to ramble here for the whole world to read, rather than whining about it to a close friend! :-/

Eeeeks! The weirdest part is I seem to be comfortable with this feeling. It seems like a perfectly normal phase. Strange? No??

Well, it better be just a phase.... cause the Social Animal (!) is slowly waking up to plan a potluck soon.

The New Year post

2012-01-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

Dear 2012,

Selfish as it may sound, please be kind and see to it that I do ALL of the below. Pretty, Please?

1. Give this space a new look & feel (Done - check!)
2. Write regularly.
3. Read much more.
4. I DO NOT lose my phone or my wallet.
5. Exercise more. After this vacation, I really have to! :0
6. Drive without getting more dents.
7. Master the art of Perception Management at work.
8. Go out and meet more people.
9. Volunteer for some social work.
10. Travel more, shop less (Bandra does not count :P)
11. Explore Mumbai, a little farther. More road trips.
12. Cook more pasta.
13. Once in a while, practice the art of doing nothing. It does not hurt!
14. Errrr… Just in case you believe that 13 is an unlucky number.

I may whine now and then, act spaced out, and also feign laziness. Btw I also suffer from mood swings which may not be so pleasant. But no matter what, please make sure you shake me up, real HARD so that I snap out and get moving.

That’s all for now, I guess.

Also, please could you give 2011 one more hug from my side for being so splendid. I can never thank her enough!

Love,
me
Ps: Writing like a 13 year old is not such a bad thing afterall!

Dialogue over deadline

2011-12-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

What is the first thing that you do when you reach office?
• Fill the bottle by your desk with water
• Check your daily mail
• Make your To-Do list
• Search frantically for something you forgot on your desk the previous day
• Call the maintenance room to switch on the A/C

I do at least three out of the above five on a daily basis, but only after a speaking to mudder! Cornyyyyy?? Don’t care. :)

Yep, what I actually do as soon as I reach office, and before I sit down to work is - Call my mom.

A typical day at work for me begins by talking to mom, sometimes dad too. For those of you who are working, I am pretty sure you have that one ‘quick-fix’ thingie that you do every time when you feel your BP rising, or when you want to postpone looking at your inbox by just a few more minutes! For some, it could be listening to music, reading a movie review, or the daily news, etc.

I like to settle down and calm my nerves by chit chatting with my mother. There have been days when we would have covered everything from family politics, recipes, books, clothes, movies, just the previous evening. Yet I make that phone call the next morning to listen to her talk about the same old thing!

The conversations always take me back home where I feel like I am sitting opposite to her, cross legged and comfy in our living room sofa, listening carefully to every word. Any time I disagree, I would interrupt and she would get agitated. Sometimes I also do it on purpose. Hehe!

Of course I have also had my share of very crazy days where I reach office and immediately get working on the deadline. Half way through, the feeling that something is amiss begins to prick. I quickly abandon what I am doing and call her. Five minutes of some ‘quick-fix’ dialogue and the zing is back! And yeah, this routine is mostly during weekdays. Weekends I allow her to recharge! :)

And if you were wondering - I am hardly a tea/coffee drinker and trust me, they are no good substitutes.

PS : Amma, If you are reading this short and sweet (you don’t think so?) note, you do realize why I always get annoyed when you take too long to answer the phone. Don’t you??

Breathless in Bombay

2011-11-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

Inspite of being an avid reader, I have never been a big fan of short stories. Be it a bookstore or a library, the words ‘short stories’, would make me automatically put the book back and move onto the next one. One Sunday evening, at a local bookstore in Colaba, the title Breathless in Bombay caught my eye. To me it looked more interesting than a Maximum City or Mumbai fables.

This time the words ‘short stories’ written at the bottom of the cover thankfully did not meet my eye, but the blurb – ‘Shortlisted for Best First book Europe and South Asia Commonwealth Writers Prize 2009’ did. I picked it up without a second thought. Charmed by the city and her effervescent personality many authors have based their stories on this megapolis and her various moods. One such book is Breathless in Bombay.

The book starts with a scene from Dhobi Ghaat and takes the reader on a journey through the famous Chowpatty beach, Nariman Point, and into the lives of the taxiwaalas, the local goons, prostitutes, and rag pickers. The rich Parsi families and Page 3 junta also join the bandwagon after a few pages. In a melting pot of varied lifestyles, it is commendable how Mr Shroff has managed to capture the showbiz and the appalling poverty alike, down to the last detail. The stories are weaved in the most engaging manner and the characters actually come alive in your mind! A few of the stories are narrated by the author himself and revolves around his queer neighbors and acquaintances.

My favourites are Traffic, Haraami, Babu Barrah Takka, and the title story Breathless in Bombay. Traffic talks about a young production assistant, Vicki Dhanrajgiri, and her efforts to be the ideal friend and lover to the highly talented and insecure artist, Nandkumar Chaurasia. In Haraami, we come across a self centered and immature advertising executive, Rohit, who the author tries to befriend and is later shocked at Rohit’s spinelessness and the ‘i-care-for-none’ attitude. In Babu Barrah Takka, we are introduced to Madhulikar Srini, a hard-working public official, who is forced to choose between his conscience and his family’s happiness. The last story, Breathless in Bombay, discusses how a corporate honcho, Aringdham puts his penniless past and parents behind him to chase his dreams, and the love of his life, Ritika.

Based on human relationships, each story carries a subtle message and highlights a unique personality trait of the protagonist. Mr Shroff has also taken the effort to not mask the harsh reality and in some cases the poverty is almost hard to believe! All the characters have their own inimitable style of dealing with what the city has thrown them into, no matter how good, bad or ugly it may be.

A good compilation of interesting short stories, I urge you to add this to your list of ‘Must Reads'.

Out of focus @ 2

2011-11-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

A Chinese Treat!

Location: Panasia, ITC Grand Maratha, Mumbai

Narration: Chinese being my favourite cuisine, A decided to take me to one of the best Chinese haunts in town. If you ever go to Panasia, pls do not forget to try their pan fried rice with chicken and mushroom in oyster sauce! Feast for the Chinese food lovers. In fact, our starters were stir fried prawns which were equally mouthwatering, that we wiped the plate clean within seconds!

Apart from the awesome food, Panasia also has a Live Kitchen where you can actually see the chef making your dish. Me and A were seated by the Live Kitchen counter and it was one hell of a treat for the eyes. In fact I had to make sure I was not caught drooling, quite literally! Heheheheh!

Do you think you are walking in a garden?

2011-10-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Random people and some even more random conversations. Allow me to narrate the ones which I remember a lot more vividly than the others! I just had to share these.

The other day a friend and I were in this plush mall for some window shopping. We were just about to get onto the escalator when I heard this voice behind me, “Do you think you are walking in a garden!” I immediately turned around to see this aunty (at least 50 years old), with a rather grumpy face looking at both of us. I was not sure if I heard her right. I thought she needed help with something. So my retort was “ I am sorry.. what did u say?” The voice then got a little stern “ Do you think you are in a garden to walk so slow!!” Imagine the audacity! My friend immediately said “ Why don’t you move ahead?” I was beginning to lose it. “ Yes, AUNTY! Don’t you see enough space? Why don’t YOU go ahead?!” I bit my tongue from saying anything more. My mom definitely did a good job of “Remember to talk to your elders with respect” bit! Pah! Anyway, our irritable aunty grumbled something under her breath and brushed past us onto the escalator. I was shocked to see the way she was hurrying up, scared in fact. I don’t think she realized that in escalators, one doesn’t usually “climb” the steps, especially not at her age. Who or what was she hurrying up for?

The other incident happened on a local train. I was sitting inside the train and this petite girl sitting opposite to me said “You are wearing a very pretty kurta.”I did think it was quite nice of her to complement a total stranger. She looked interested in starting a conversation. I had nothing better to do either. It started with the casual exchange of names and within 15 minutes we managed to cover books, movies, fitness, shopping, Mumbai, marriage, traveling…..! We ended up exchanging numbers and added each other on Facebook. I got back home and told this to my husband. His obvious reaction was “Wow.. you added a total stranger on Facebook!? “ That is when I asked myself “Did I as usual overdo it?” :P

This last incident happened recently and I thought quite a bit about it when I got back home. Perceptions vary and how!

My sister and I were at this garment store, browsing through some very pretty dresses. A lady in her mid thirties came up to my sister and said “That is a beautiful ring.” Then she turned to me and said “Your earrings are so beautiful.” Amused, but nonetheless pleased by the admiration from a total stranger, we thanked her with a broad grin. She immediately started talking about how much she loves silver jewellery and asked us about some good stores. Then she moved onto what she actually wanted to talk about. The compliments were for simply breaking the ice, I realized. Our lady was an associate producer with a renowned TV channel and she was looking for a game show host. She talked about how glamorous the job was, and the pay package, the fringe benefits and the works. I kept wondering did she really think we were “glamorous game show material?” NO way. I don’t even want to be featured in that category. Reminded me of all the skinny girls I see on Zoom TV with body glitter on them. Definitely not my idea of glamour.

I didn’t want to offend and I feigned interest in her conversation. My sister got back to her browsing. In between the nonstop chatter about the job, she stopped abruptly in between and asked “Btw, where are you girls from?” My nonchalant response was “Kerala”. Little did I know that would surprise her to no end. “Kerala…!? You girls look really cosmopolitan to be from Kerala!!” Huh!? That was my first reaction. I knew why. I figured she arrived at this conclusion seeing our regional talk show hosts. Thanks to our Kiran TV Vjs. I must sadly admit that most Vjs from Malayalam music channels seem to be very far from glamorous in the eyes of an outsider. In fact they are far from glamorous in my eyes too. I wish they didn’t try so hard to be ‘hep and happening’ and would stick to being natural. You know what I mean…

In any case, I immediately replied “Well, … It depends on where all you have been..” I am not sure whether she understood my point. Whether you are a Malayalee or a Bihari, it all depends on one’s exposure and upbringing. I wanted to somehow make her end her game show promotion and hence added “Actually I work with an IT firm and my sister is still studying, if we come across someone who might be interested, we will surely let you know.” In my mind I was saying “If you don’t mind, I would like to continue shopping!” Having heard that, she immediately gave me her visiting card. I honestly have no idea now where I kept it.

Apparently Kerala is still a village and all Malayalees villagers?!

Who am I?

2011-10-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Anyone who inhabits the city is bound to cross my path sometime or the other.

Over the years I have made many acquaintances and friends in not just the maalishwalas, taxiwalas, chaiwalas, policewalas, but also the bada saabs, their memsaabs, chauffers and not to mention their bachha-bachchis.

I feel proud that even if my role is never spoken about, I feature somewhere in their livelihood.

These days, I see a lot of newlyweds, teenagers, health enthusiasts and frustrated office goers. Some seek my comfort during troubled times, while for some others, I am just a partaker in their noisy celebrations or rejuvenating jogging sessions.

Even movie stars would like to pay me a visit, but even before our eyes meet, the paparazzi whisk them away.

Though I have had my share of horrifying incidents in the past, I am a firm believer of the present.

For many I am a lap of comfort and luxury, with their fancy houses and 5 star hotels to boast of. I am tired of being in everyone’s’ vicinity.

Not a day goes by when I don’t sympathize with Mother Nature. Disregarded, she weeps.

The sea is my soulmate. I will always watch out for her.

My peers stand tall and proud as they adorn the Queens’ necklace. They are second next to none.

As for me, I still continue to watch the world go by, one dream chasing the other.

The vast stretch of ocean with her tiny fishing boats, pompous high-rise buildings at the distance, chaiwalas who perpetually flock around potential customers, enthusiastic joggers who train for the next marathon, horse carts that sport colorful balloons, and daydreamers with no one to disturb; these are definitely amongst the many characters which make Mumbai’s Marine Drive a unique spot in this city and also my favourite.

Choosing sides.....

2011-10-12T01:33:00.000-07:00

Been a while since my previous post, I know. The past few weeks have been quite hectic and the sun is hardly showing any mercy on us Mumbaikers. Dear God, can we fast forward to winter please?? (Errrr, is there one in Mumbai??)

Before I go off on another tangent, let me today talk about something which has been on my mind a lot these days. A word of caution - Written in one of those pensive moods, this one may lack the “feel-good” factor. Désolé!

Let us consider a scenario. A, B & C are colleagues. B is good friends with A & C. But A doesn’t like C and C doesn’t seem to care too much for A either. But B is fond of A & C, and according to B, they are both special in their own way. B does not want to choose sides.

Confused? :) Re-read. What if you are in B’s shoes?

Some may say, why do you care? You maintain your personal equation with both of them the way you want, and forget about their feelings for each other. All this is easier said than done.

Unfortunately, one cannot be insouciant to this aspect in relationships beyond a certain point, especially between friends. When A starts talking to you, you are hoping he/she doesn’t start bad mouthing C. When you are talking to C, you are so careful not to mention A’s name anywhere. You and your bunch of friends are organizing a get-together. Do you call A or C? Do not call both?? Better still, ensure one leaves before the other one arrives!? C’mon are we in third grade!!?

Here is one end to the story that I have seen happen. B decides to grow closer to A and at the same time maintain a cordial relationship with C. After a point of time, C begins to realize this tilt in equation, and detaches himself/herself slowly from A & B. Then poof!! C is nowhere in the picture.

Here is what happens otherwise. B maintains a healthy relationship with both A & C. A win-win situation? Not quite. The relationship begins to lose its depth, in some circumstances especially. B is not sure what the other person is thinking and how they will react. Then comes some dreaded outbursts “Why was he over reacting, he is the one who needs to grow up!" Oops. Now what?! How straightforward can one be, to say “Forget him, what about you?” Honestly? Not me, not always.

You may wonder why this loony woman is over analyzing the situation. I have realized that as we mature into adults, we think we know how to handle such idiosyncrasies, but the truth is, we are flummoxed. When both the parties are important, how can you choose sides? And if you do, how do you convince the other person without earning his/her wrath??

Well, there is only so much one can do too.

Maybe, it is better to just, LET GO.

A tag tale!

2011-09-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

I was just about to start on another post and then I stopped. Why not a tag this time??

I have been tagged once by Aishu, well, ummm.. about two years back! :D Never really sat down to write then! I have always been amused while reading tags, never really thought about writing one!
So peeps, here goes!

Ten things I want to say to people right now (I will be skipping this one cause I think this post already says a lot)

Nine things about myself
( Here is when I get to write about the quirks huh?)
1.I love to day dream, write, read, shop and cook. Not necessarily in the same order.
2.I get a high when I dance. Period.
3.Alcohol is not a must, can manage with a Breezer anytime. 4% alcohol is barely anything!
4.I am addicted to Google. Who isn’t?
Currently I am even more addicted to my Blackberry, though sometimes I wish it would stop buzzing when I am reading a great book. Grrrr
5.I walk very quickly, so maybe it has to do with the fact that I am impatient? Many have complained that they cannot catch up.
6.Paranoid can be my middle name sometimes. I am shit scared about losing loved ones.
7.I love to talk and have a bad habit of interrupting people. No, I don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder or anything, but just do so cause unconsciously because I am dying to tell my story too! But I am working on this one.
8.I love to take photographs and to pose for them as well. Camera shy? Nay, not one bit.
9.I really admire and respect folks who make the time to do every small and big thing. In my efforts to do so, I am an almost obsessive compulsive planner. Truth be told.

Eight ways to win my heart
1.Cook a yummmmmmy meal for me. (the simplest because I am completely non-fussy, about food that is!)
2.Take me to as many movies as you can.
3.Buy me two new books every month!!
4.Give me my “me-time” whenever I need it.
5.Dance with me, swirl me around – Salsa, Jive, Anything.
6.Look me in the eye with a smile, and say “It is ok”
7.Allow me to whine, once in a while, please :)
8.Nothing more, really. Weird??

Seven things that cross my mind a lot
1.I want to read that too!
2.My blog seems to have lots of visitors, but hardly any comments. Strange? :P
3.Ok, so what do I cook today?
4.I miss home.
5.Ooops, what do I do now!
6.I need some more sleep.
7.Dear God, Thank u so much.

Six things I wish I never did
1.Did not take the effort to hone my driving skills
2.Hurt someone really bad without giving them the benefit of the doubt
3.Never made the best use of my now alma mater, then my college, in Chennai
4.Ignored sports completely in school
5.Did not take any professional training in dance
6.Accepted the offer to work in a retail chain

Five turn off’s
1.Lies
2.Constantly getting drunk
3.Ogling
4.Bad breath
5.Chauvinism

Four turn on’s
1.Confidence
2.Ability to listen patiently
3.Suave
4.Well read

Three things I want before I die
1.Travel as much as I can.
2.Write as much as possible, my two cents for the future generations.
3.Be able to make as much as time possible for all my loved ones , whenever, wherever.

Two smiley’s that describe me
1.:D
2.:-P

One confession
Seven out of ten times I see the glass half empty. Yes, I must confess, I am always trying to calculate everything that can possibly go wrong. I tend to lose focus of the good side to most situations.
So nowadays I consciously tell myself most of the times “yes, it could’ve been worse!”

:) :)

Wholesome Weekend Wisdom

2011-09-19T01:42:00.000-07:00

In the past few months, some weekends have been so hectic that by Sunday evening I feel worn out and tired. It is almost like I need the following Monday to recuperate!
But the last one was very different. I am usually not in a habit of listing out my “chores” on this blog, but I felt so happy and contented that I just, u know, wanted to write about it. :)

The reason being, in 48 hours, I was able to:
• Get some sound sleep
• Have ONLY homemade food (Read all three meals on Sat and had a friend
over for breakfast on Sun too!), barring a delicious Poha samosa which I could not resist
• Read peacefully without the blackberry buzzing in between. Just me and my book.
• Step out with girlfriends for some worthwhile shopping
• Go on a breathtaking midnight drive by the sea face
• Sleep some more
• Brush upon my driving and put in that extra effort for the tricky U-turns!
• Catch up with an old roommate cum good friend, on phone of course
• Indulge in a rejuvenating massage on Sunday evening

A fitting end to an awesome wholesome weekend, would you say? :)

I know many of you obviously do much more, but I am really thrilled in having done so much and not feeling worn out, even a tad bit! I am not sure if this observation makes sense, but having lived in two metros before, somehow you value your weekends so much more when you are married, and living in the busiest of cities – Mumbai. Weird, but true!

Many of us make the longest “To-do” list even after a hectic five day week that the weekends are chock-a-block! And then there is that melancholic Monday that follows where you regret not having done the 8th and 9th item on your list. One common mistake that we all make - “me-time” hardly features in the list. I don’t want to sound all overly philosophical here, but trust me the “me-time” makes all the difference. So if you are not traveling or embroiled in an emergency, here is what I humbly suggest to make those weekends more wholesome:

Trim the list: Instead of drawing up a list of 10 – 12 things, aim at doing 4 – 5 things and see them to closure. Also please factor in the traffic, the maid who may not show up on time, and of course the spur -of-the-moment movie that happens followed by coffee at Gloria’s!

Sleep like a log: In any case, you are up watching Bones/other sitcoms OR taking that late night conference call during the week, might as well give your body the rest it deserves during these two days. But yeah, if you are out clubbing on Saturday night, then please indulge in that beauty sleep till Sunday brunch/lunch.

Make some “Me-time”: Plans are always made with spouse, friends, family and acquaintances, but never with oneself. This is something which we completely ignore and trust me I am speaking from experience; it makes a lot of difference if you make it a part of your weekend routine. Just take some time, at least 30 – 40 minutes during the weekend and do something that you love, something that relaxes you. It must involve only you. Read a book, cook a yummy dish for yourself, write, listen to music, dance, go for a walk/massage, try a new yoga posture, or simply just meditate. It really enhances your concentration and declutters your mind to a large extent. I assure you over a period of time, you will be able to show lethargy the finger! :)

No place such as home: Yes I agree most of us take plenty of joy and pride in being bitten by the travel bug and sometimes go to the extent of traveling almost every weekend. It is important to go for those picnics and treks now and then, but should you insist on seeing those mountains and birds every week? I honestly do not think so. What will happen to your cozy pad? The one place that welcomes you whole heartedly after a tough day at work, you don’t want it to gather dust, do you? Try and spend some time indoors, and dedicate that time to your making your home cleaner and cozier.

Not another desk job: Don’t make your dining table also your office desk. Let go of that unfinished presentation, let it not eat into your head while you are at the beach with your loved one. I know this is easier said than done, and many of us (including me) break the golden rule of “No work during weekends”. At least let us make the honest attempt or soon our social life will simply cease to exist. What say? One cannot leave everything to Facebook. The boss will understand.

I am confident that the above pointers will help you in one way or the other. So sport that smile as always and the everything else will follow :)

Ah, before I forget, this article is also a product of my “me-time” and I already feel like a million bucks! Woohoo!

Here is to many more wholesome weekends for me and you!

Memories for Eternity

2011-08-29T01:14:00.000-07:00

The other day I happened to receive a forward from my cousin with the photographs below. Aren’t they simply beautiful??

The moment I saw these pictures, I was immediately engulfed with nostalgia.

I am not able to recollect the name. But this particular play thing was commonly used in a game of cards by the village folks. The toy is made of machinga (tiny coconut) and a strand from ola (palm leaf). If I remember correctly, anyone who loses the game had to hang it on his / her ear. :)

The above is a spoon used to have kanji (rice porridge) and made of plaavila (leaf of a jack fruit tree). As a child I used to love watching my grand uncle relish his kanji and cherupayar puzhukku (a dish made of boiled green gram). He used to say that the plaavila added to the flavour!

This one is an ola kanaada (Spectacles made from palm leaf), a play thing of course!

I wonder if I will ever see them again.

Meet Betty Bitter

2011-07-27T01:09:00.000-07:00

Talking about a certain individual, his/her nasty behaviour, and how much it irks you, is one thing. But writing about is something else altogether.

It may not be my style. But I have decided to bite the bullet and go ahead because this one is a class apart. (ok, I know I can be very mean If I want to be. But only very rarely and I have my reasons.)I do not in any way claim to be the quintessential sweet and nice girl, and do not aim to be one either.

Everyone has their bad hair days and this obviously reflects in their mannerisms and attitude towards everyone and everything within an arms distance. In the past few years I have met landlords, neighbors, colleagues, classmates who can be really sarcastic and bitter due to some reason or the other and after that short spell, they are back to normal. C’mon we have all been there sometime.

But our Miss Betty Bitter (did not want to get too creative here) believes that being bitter is the reason why she exists! No Kidding! Reason for this conclusion? Ever since I have known her, she has remained this way with me and most people that we know in common. The minute anyone mentions her name, eyebrows go up and frowns appear out of nowhere. “Oh please don’t tell me she is coming”, “ She has always been this way”, “How does her family put up with this”. I am always very straightforward “ I think she needs to end her frustration soon before it gets the better of her.”

Betty Bitter never smiles at anyone wholeheartedly; at least most of us have never seen it. Negativity exudes from almost every sentence she says. She has a perpetual frown during the most pleasant situations. She does not believe in making friendly conversations to anyone. To make it worse, she whines at every single opportunity she gets. Just the other day she was complaining about how she could have avoided being a silly housewife!? Yes, she thinks she is a silly housewife because – she got married at the age of 21 just after her graduation, had kids when she was 22 and had to give up a promising career. The whining had begun when she was 22 and now her kids are in their teens. Get the drift?

Well. There are so many women out there in her shoes. I know of at least three. They do not complain. They made the best use of the circumstances that they were thrown into. For starters, all of them have become amazing homemakers (trust me, that is far from easy).

We all go through many unfortunate circumstances and incidents in life. But why put others, individuals who had nothing to do with any of it, also through our stories of miseries and misfortunes? You want to share it with a few close friends. Go ahead. Spare the others of the torture.

I have always been willing to listen to anyone who has come to me with their problems. But I cannot put with up cynicism and the constant “Oh God why me always!” In spite of all this I told myself, let me try and be nice to her. She is after all a product of circumstances like we all are. I made constant attempts to speak to her whenever we met at public functions, went over to her house, invited her to mine etc etc. But what happened recently just completely threw me off the rocker.

After a brief visit, while seeing her off I was about to give her a hug. Guess what happened next?
She actually moved away and pushed my hands!!!!? I was stumped. The second she realized she had done something abhorrent, she forced a smile and patted my cheeks in the most haphazard manner. Then she stepped inside the taxi and in a highly mocking manner said “Nice meeting you”. It almost seemed like she was imitating me because I was trying to be formal. Since when did a hug become formal?! How can any adult in their right mind behave so pathetically? No excuses for this one.
By the time I gathered myself, after a minute or so, the taxi had sped off and boy was I glad! I kept asking “what did I do wrong?!” Then I realized I was being a fool in feeling even a tad upset about such an act of sheer bitterness.
I talked about it to some of my closest friends and they laughed. One of them even said “I am not shocked. She is capable of doing worse and you are wasting your time even thinking about it.”

I guess there are some individuals who like to bask in their unpleasantness. Trust me it is better to stay away from those negative vibes.

I decided to write this just so that each time I feel like being nice to her, I can be reminded of her true colors.

Then again, I wonder if I will ever forget this one. Ugh! So bitter!

The show must go on

2011-07-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

Three bomb blasts. Terror strikes again in Mumbai city – reads the headlines in Times of India, Mumbai, 3 days ago.

Why Mumbai? Again? Sometimes one feels so helpless at the plight of things. Yes, Mumbai is known to be resilient enough to take everything in her stride. Every year, a bomb goes off, shoot outs happen, people get killed in broad daylight, yet life goes on! I believe this is what is expected of the average Mumbaiker.

I have been in this city for just 6 months and I am amazed at the fast paced life. People are always on the move. As much as I love this city and its vibrancy, sometimes I wonder if we are performing above the expectations, especially of the politicians. It is almost as if ‘Come what may, Mumbai will manage’… Kasab, the lone captured terrorist in the Mumbai 2006 attacks, seems to be leading a comfortable life in jail? J Dey was killed in broad daylight, have they managed to nab the mastermind behind the mission?

I suppose bomb blasts and shoot outs are daily affairs now. Though I managed to reach home by 6:30 pm on that fateful day, my husband was stuck in a taxi for 4 hours in one of the worst traffic jams ever. I was constantly messaging him to know which part of the city he was passing by. All the phone lines were completely jammed; hence no outgoing calls could be made.

My heart goes out to all those who have lost their beloved ones and homes in these blasts. May God give you the strength to sail through this rough tide.

Sadly for everyone else, life goes on.

Married and all that......

2011-06-14T03:58:00.000-07:00

Ok. So I too took the plunge. Married to the man who can make me laugh when I am in the worst of moods. :)
The D-day May 14 just whooshed by! Now when I look back I am not sure if I remember every detail of the day ……not to mention the few days before. A house packed with relatives, brimming with festivity, flashy lights, food, music and what not. I really enjoyed the mayhem. But what can sometimes get to you is the constant “Where are you going” , “What are you doing”! I had my readymade “Ma.. I am just going out to buy a face wash”, “Ma, I need to get this blouse altered” But that didn’t stop my mom “No, you are not going anywhere ALONE”. Shut it I told myself. I must admit I must have made my poor sister and cousin do all the running around, from corner to corner, pillar to pole in search of that matching earring or bangle or even nail polish! I promise to make up for it during their wedding.
I wonder what matching business grooms do. Nothing .
Then D Day arrives. BIG SMILE….ALL THE TIME. That is the mantra. And I did get a few compliments from most friends. “You looked so happy, so comfortable… not nervous at all” Well the truth is I was NOT nervous nor uncomfortable. I was simply exhausted. While I was watching the wedding video, I must say the lack of sleep didn’t show at all. (Thanks to my super efficient beautician!) While getting ready to go on stage, I was praying that the glucose supplements give me the stamina to stand through the day without being zonked so that I have the presence of mind to recognize people, greet them and pose for the camera. Nothing should go wrong. This is one of the most important days of my life.
Nothing did. The minute I saw his face, smiling at me from the stage, the same reassuring smile that I have seen over the years. I knew “All is well”!
We were married in a few minutes, pronounced husband and wife. Flowers! Trumpets! Camera Flashes! (I also think there were hoots!)The much awaited wedding was over in a few hours!?
Temple visits, functions, food, food and more food with some more pampering followed by a lovely honeymoon in the mountains.
One month into wedlock and loving it. :)

The book store I endorse… ;)

2011-04-10T22:14:00.001-07:00

My love for reading evidently supersedes my love for writing, which naturally makes me search for a good book store in the city/area where I live. I have been pretty lucky on this mission, but this time I think I hit a jack pot.

I was taken to Ashok Shukla’s second hand store by one of my close friends on a Sunday evening, and I was not completely convinced about this one, to be frank. As we reached Gokuldham (Goregaon East , Mumbai) Café Coffee day, I grew a little impatient. Just then in front me of me I saw a man in his late forties, thin and frail, moving around amongst books just piled up on the floor. So this is the book store? Mind you. It is and a really good one sans the roof over your head, air conditioner in full blast, swanky stools to sit and read the books, book shelves and stands. Ashok Shukla’s bookstore is just his books which are stacked up in various rows. Most importantly, his books are in good condition and he gives them to you at such a bloody good deal. The costs are negligible compared to any other book store I have been to, including Blossoms and Bookworm (two other very good second hand book stores) in Bangalore.

Either you read or borrow them, he is the happiest when you say “wow uncle.. you have this book!! I have been hunting for the same since such a long time” He also has a small notebook where you can make an entry of the books that you want to read and he makes an honest effort to source the same at the earliest. I was touched.

Ashok uncle is also accompanied by his son, a teenager who doesn’t seem to be as interested in books as he should be, but very happy to watch all the book lovers who come by. Together, the father and son have managed to build up a good collection and kudos to them for that.

Maybe if they also served dosas with chai as well on the side, I would be the happiest. :D

What about you?

Welcome to Mumbai

2011-03-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in so little time. As clichéd as it sounds, within my last post and this one, I must confess I have become a lot lazier and procrastination seems to be the favorite word.

Ok. So I changed cities. Mumbai is where I live now. Yes, the city of dreams, the city that never sleeps, the safest city for women, the city of vada paavs, the city that has something for everybody. Call it what you want.

Above is the description that I have heard and read many a time. Three weeks into the city and I have in fact started enjoying the train rides (NO kidding!) and I have started observing more than day dreaming for a change! The vendors selling multi colored hair clips to the fellow passengers who believe that nothing is more important than the book that they are reading, not to mention the men and women who push to get to the sky walk and the over bridge a tad quicker than lesser mortals such as me, and of course some men who insist on hanging out from the door to feel the polluted air on their face, no matter how much space is available inside the compartment. Each journey is distinctive, no complaints.
Having said that, you may have noticed that I am yet to explore the famous book stores, malls, the beaches and other corners of this fascinating city. Any suggestion is most welcome.

And Yes, I did visit Marine Drive and the famous Bandra – Worli sea link. Thanks to my fiancé and friends. You guys are the best.

So here is to a great beginning in a vibrant city, fresh faces and some really interesting times ahead.

Welcome to MUMBAI.

The Immortals of Meluha

2010-11-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

The story of Lord Shiva it says, one that is finely crafted and would make a very good movie. :-)

This book was recommended to me by A and I must say it’s a fast read with interesting revelations and facts. The story dates back to 1900 BC where Shiva was just a leader of a tribe, to be later declared as the Savior of an entire kingdom – The Suryavanshis. He is said to be THE NEELKANTH who is extraordinary due to his blue throat. He is passionate and fearless and loves his people, especially his lady love – Sati.

The language is simple and can be easily understood even by a 12 year old. There are no long and complicated sentences, no twists and turns, only straight forward narration. My praise for the author is not just for choosing a protagonist – The God Almighty but also for all the research that has gone into writing this book. It takes immense amount of gut to craft a story such as this as well! I wonder whether Bal Thackery would initiate a ban of this book as it does talk about Lord Shiva being a marijuana addict!! The Immortals of Meluha is the first one in the Shiva Trilogy Series. The second one would be out in mid 2011.

I have always been a sucker for most books based on mythology and ancient kings and queens. My other favorites include the story of Ramses – The Egyptian Mythology series and the story of Panchali - The Palace of Illusions. If any of you know of other interesting reads in this genre, please do write to me. I would love to read them as well.

I believe in MIRACLES!!

2010-07-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

And not just Miracles,the fact that some very good people exist in this world,.. and maybe a few blocks away from mine!

I have quite a reputation for being absent minded and careless and this one just takes my "absent mindedness" to a totally different level. So the other day I am walking back from the bustop to my flat and I stop by an ATM to withdraw money. I withdraw enough money to cover my rent and some other bills which I had to pay. The point to note here is that I am not referring to a few hundreds but ONLY thousands. While I am walking back from the ATM, I get a call from my cousin with whom I have not spoken in ages. I pick up the call and chatter incessantly sitting on a bench on the way. ok, so to give you a picture, I stay in a gated community which has its own ATM, parks, eatouts and the works and the footpaths here are lined with benches to give fitness freaks and maybe the lazy bums, a "break" in between their rigorous walks or day dreams. So coming back to my phone call, I am completely in awe of my cousin's last business trip to Dubai and the details pour in from his end. I get up from the bench, still talking, and walk back home, lugging my laptop bag as well. I reach home and after the much interesting phone conversation of 45 minutes, I settle down in my room. The cook comes in.
"Dekhiye, aaapka salary aaj hi deti hoon"
Shukriya Madam"
THEN. Where is my wallet!!!!??!

What happens in the next twenty minutes is anybody's guess. I search my bag, my cupboard, I rush out of my flat to the bench, I take the flashlight, search under the seat, go back to the ATM, .... the wallet is nowhere in sight.
"Obviously, who will NOT take a wallet with so much money in it"
"Hmmm, I agree. Are you sure you dont remember what happened after you stepped out of the ATM?" says my roommate.
"I dont........!" I am blank. I do remember the some of the best places to shop in Dubai though.

That night I can barely sleep. I tell A & my mom. A is ofcourse very sweet and offers to lend me money. The point is I am not angry because I am broke. I am not broke.I am so BLOODY careless!! Unlike A, my mom does not have any sympathy for me. She is very clear "You have no value for money, it just shows everytime!" SIGH!

I reach office the following day, still not out of the shock completely. I have no mind to even start my laptop.

and THEN, I get the call. An elderly voice, says his name is Mr Satyamurthy.
" Are you Priya Jayarajan"
"Yes" So maybe its Piya, but nevermind. I do not have anything to do with any Satyamurthy anyway.
"I found a purse on one of the park benches yesterday. It has lots of money in it. (He says the amount)I think it belongs to you"
".....!SIR, Yes! That is mine" I cannot believe my ears.
" Yes child, I thought as much...You must always keep your contact details in your purse, if something happens, someone should be able to trace you"
" I know SIR, Its my fault completely"
" You must be careful of your belongings. Yesterday myself and my wife were out for a walk and we found this on one of the park benches. We took it thinking we must give it to the owner or some passerby would definitely misuse it. We had only your ATM card with your name. We called your bank, they gave us your office number. When I called your office, one Mr Prashant picked up and said wrong number. Then I tried again and explained the situation to him, he said that you used to sit in that cubicle and he gave me your mobile number"
"Thank you so so much. You have no idea how grateful I am SIR. I will come and collect it anytime you are free"
" Yes, Here is my addrees, please take it down..."

And so I went on the same day with a box of sweets to his house to meet him and his family. I collected my wallet, not a rupee was moved. Satyamurthy had initially called up some random people whose business cards I had in my wallet. I had not even thrown them out even after I shifted jobs. Those people obviously did not remember me. Then the bank and my colleague Prashant helped him reach me. Prashant also called me the other day telling me how the old man had called him multiple times to get my mobile number.

I may be one of the lucky ones, but I truly believe that goodness is just around the corner.

All hype and no.....???

2010-06-26T01:48:00.000-07:00

Looks like this movie has been in the news even before maybe the actors were signed on.. ?? Atleast when the shooting started, I remember seeing clippings in newspapers and magazines and the rave write ups about the case, the locales, the cinematography.. and what not.

Of course, I am definitely talking about RaaVan.

I saw it a week back and its definitely NOT a bad movie. But i strongly feel the movie was overly hyped and maybe thats why when it finally released, it got a lot of mixed reviews. When you plant a lot of expecations in the viewers mind, then it is impossible to live up to every single one of them.

I absolutely loved the cinematography. The movie was so pleasing to the eye. Aishwarya, as usual, looks beautiful even when she is bruised, starved and dejected. The supporting actors have showcased some brilliant performances. Vikram's performance is decent. What disappointed me most was Jr Bachchan. I really like the actor and I feel he has tried his level best. But to me he is "too polished and nice looking" for an asura king such as Raavan? This i purely my view and if there is any inconsistency, I would put the blame on Amar Chitra Katha :)

Jokes apart, I think the movie is a good one time watch, atleast for the visuals and the music. But yeah.. whats was with the hype?!

" Many a time, trailers are far better than the movie" says the wise one. :)

A storehouse of memories

2010-04-10T23:23:00.000-07:00

Most ancestral houses in Kerala have an open courtyard which essentially gives the house its unique stature. This open courtyard is always built with either four, eight or sixteen pillars surrounding it. Thus was born the name Naalukettu ( Naalu is the number four in Malayalam ) Ettukettu (Ettu is the number eight in Malayalam) or Pathinaaru Kettu ( Pathinaaru is the number sixteen in Malayalam). Whether it likes it or not , this courtyard is a partaker to many important and unimportant events of the house. Be it a wedding, a demise , a family get together, a dance performance by the women or a game of hide and seek amongst the children. It clearly preceeeds in importance compared to the other sections of the house.

Such Naalukettu houses are many in number in Kerala though many a time, they do not live long enough to narrate their stories to the future generations. When owners can no longer bear the burden of maintaining these large houses, they are usually sold off to private parties. They in turn renovate them and convert them into boutiques or coffee shops to attract the tourists.

It is in one such Naalukettu where my father and all his siblings were born. It is also the house where his mother and all her siblings were born. I do not know the year it was built, but I sure know it dates back to the 1930s. I remember it from the time we moved into my hometown.

Whenever I set foot inside, memories automatically rush in. Those were the days when all of us cousins would huddle around one of the pillars of the courtyard to listen to the stories of the eldest grandmother. Even the youngest of the uncles loved to boast about his adventures as a teenager and we would listen, totally awestruck. When it rained, each of us would try to outdo the other with our paper boats. There was a small room in the house which was used by my grand uncle and right above his room was the attic. We would empty numerous Cutticura powder tins on our faces, smear our eyes with my aunt’s kaajal pencil and hide in the attic. The sole aim was to scare the poor soul. He used to get livid every time. “Naashangal” he would mutter under his breath! One day our plan backfired and we were locked inside the attic for two hours. To everyone’s amazement, we brats explored every corner of the attic to discover old books, expensive artifacts and abandoned photographs. We became self proclaimed heroes!

Even after many years, this house is still a class apart from the numerous houses and apartments that have sprung up on all four sides. There are no permanent residents apart from the caretaker. Yet, it is amazing how this Naalukettu continues to boast of its acquired lineage and magnificence. The photographs of the our grand fathers and great grand fathers still adorn the walls, unscathed by the sands of time.

Though relationships may have strained, this house continues to bring us together on all happy and not so happy occasions. After all, this is where it all began.

Good Job Airtel!

2010-01-30T20:37:00.000-08:00

Customer Care is maybe not such an over rated word, is it???

Heck! No matter what anyone says. I am truly impressed with Airtel's gesture of sending their most valuable customers a personalized table calendar. I happen to come across one of these given to my colleague, Maya George. Gifts such as these truly stand out and leave an impression. It makes you smile each time you look at it. I remember making one of these for my parents for their 25th Wedding Anniversary. My folks were thrilled. Though the year was 2008, my mother still keeps it and likes showing it off!

It is indeed a great way of saying Thank You for choosing us. Also, if you ask me, this is yet another way of putting creativity into good use.

Vodafone, U listening ?:-)

I Like Bangalore ??

2010-01-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

I reached here in June 2007,... almost three years and counting... Ok, so maybe I am not in love with the city, nor do I hate it! These are definitely some of the things which I love about this city ( atleast of what I know about it :P)

1. The WEATHER ( It is AWESOME!)
2. Koramangala ( The place I stay - its so self sufficient, you dont need to really go anywhere else, be it shopping, eating out, pub, books, alcohol, movies, gym, coffee.. you name it!)
3. The Volvo buses ( Makes travel so conveniant, affordable and comfortable)
4. Commercial Street ( Here is where I go if I have run out of options at Koramangala, Narayan Jewellers being my favourite silver jewellery store)
5. Koshys ( My favourite restaurant on St Marks Road)
6. Chemistry ( My favourite garmet store in Indira Nagar)
7. Its so much closer to home.(Touchwood)I am sure there are atleast 50 buses running daily from Bangalore to Cochin and back.
8. Blossoms ( My favouire book store on Church Street)
9. Alochol is quite cheap :P ( not that I drink that much...)
10.The WEATHER..... Sigh!

2009 - A year that flew by!

2010-01-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

Before I begin my first post for this year...Here's wishing everyone.....

Happy Happy 2010!:)

When I look back at 2009 :-

1. Moved into a great job
2. Had some very very bitter fights with A, but all for the better(GOD has been kind)
3. Mine and A's relationship became official :)
4. Moved out of a PG into an independent house and again back into a PG (Yeah! Sigh!)
5. One of my closest friends got married. God Bless the couple.
6. My sister got into a good design school. Her hardwork really paid off! :)
7. Made a trip to Mumbai. Had a blast!
8. Lost touch with a close friend, but now things are better.
9. Spent a lot of time with family, much more than I used to.
10.My best friend had a baby girl :) Awwww...shes such a cutie.

It has been a truly testing year, and I learnt quite a lot. and I still believe that I am Blessed :D

Thanks to everyone who has been part of this one great year!!and for the others with whom I may have lost touch with....2010 will be different! Cheeeerrss!!

Keep Smiling!

It happened to me..

2009-10-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

For starters I had a great weekend in Chennai, as usual.
The best part about the weekend - I missed my bus back to Bangalore.

And there I was sulking because the three day hectic weekend unfortunately had to end on a sunday night when I was scheduled to leave at 10: 30 pm. As luck would have it, I was totally exhausted and thoroughly "pooped out" after several walks on the beach, visits to meet family and friends, eating out and the works.

I decide to take a nap at 10:00 pm for "ten minutes", and ofcourse after a much deserved "power nap" there I am sitting up wide awake all ready to leave, but at 11:00pm!!
I shout at A, " What the F... its 11:00 pm". As calm as calm can be, he asks me to relax, its too late now.
I stare at him in disbelief. "But .....??"
I knew he would try his best to ensure that I reach somehow. We rush out. I grab my jacket, scarf, shoes and run to the car.
A drives in full speed. In fifteen mins, we reach. Just as he pulls in to the office of the supposed travels, a Volvo passes.
" I hope that one is not yours" says A
I rush to ask the first person I see from their office, " Bangalore... Volvo....?"
He is indeed thrilled to inform me " oh.. madame? sit No 16 ahhh?? Window seat ahh?? Bus ippothan poyachu"
Bloody hell.
I run back to the car. A tells me we will chase the bus, though we both knew that it had gone far head. Thats the thing with these Volvos I realize. We try to chase it, but it had gone completely out of sight.
A says " No point now, its ok, you can go tommorrow"
I immediately think of what to tell my boss. I must say he should be proud of me.
We get back home. I rush to log onto IRCTC for a train ticket. But the damned site is down - "service unavailable" . crap!
A says, with his usual sheepish grin " Let me take a photo, please"
I am disappointed, upset, angry, ashamed and also telling myself " its no big deal". Yes, I am sure that would have made a good photograph.
After many failed attempts trying to book a ticket on IRCTC and KPN, A tells me the best option would be to take the earliest flight the next day. We argue over the money involved.
After a while I painfully realize there is no other option.
And of course.. I am on this goddam plane now! Pah!
Yes, this did happen to me. ME.

Home Sweet Home Alone?!

2009-05-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

Seven years and still counting....its been quite a while since I have been living away from home,... moving in and out of different cities. It has become next to impossible to keep track of the number of hostels and paying guest accomodations that I have lived in!! But I must say I have very fond memories of almost all the places (I am referring to the people i have lived with and not the WARDENS!! Mind you, those species must be banished from this planet!)

But I must admit that I was always spoiled. Even though I was away from home, I had the best of friends around me (Thank U guys!) ready to cheer me up if I was down, ready to join me if i wanted to cook, ready to go for loong walks even if it was on an early sunday morning.....

Not that I dont have those friends anymore, but they dont live with me now. Its been almost a year since I have been staying alone at my new place (Technically a few months as my sister was always around till about two months back!), and I somehow have mixed feelings about the whole idea.

Initially the idea was definitely exciting! Your own space, Wow! You get all the privacy in the world, You can call your friends and family over (thats the best part), You can play whatever music you want.... blah blah..

Later on as the months passed, I had too many things to think about : electricity bills,a nosy landlord, random noises in the middle of the night (ok, maybe I was hallucinating) cleaning and cooking (this one is the worst). The past few months have made me relaize that though I am an independent person and like my own space, I cannot be alone. I need someone around to talk to,to come back home to..(someone pleasant of course) !!! I keep asking myself - Is this normal? How could I be so immature? But I am sure most of you who have stayed alone would have felt the same way. It can get quite boring after a while, unless you are a person wedded to your work and thats all you can think of even while you are at home.

Its mostly the weekdays and not the weekends that matter. Weekends, I ensure I catch up with most of my friends, make a few trips to see my folks or my boyfriend (who also lives alone and loves it!?! I guess its a 'guy' thing......)

No salsa classes nor gym will help you handle the solitude, its clearly something you need to accept and get used to I realize.

On a positive note, I must say I did manage to do a lot of reading, a bit of cooking ;) and surely a whole lot of online research on most things living and non living (hehehe) in the past few months! Phew! ..... If any of that counts for healthy living...:)ummmmm..

I think it sure does! so Yayy!!

Whoever said "no regrets" was lying!

2009-02-17T02:58:00.000-08:00

What is the most dangerous six letter word that can totally spoil your mood, make you feel disgusted and angry at yourself, nurture only (or atleast mostly) negative thoughts and leave you helpless and depressed?

R E G R E T!

yes, people! It does!

U may agree with me or not...but the truth is that most of us have gone through this phase and some of us go through this phase more often than some others.
Let me warn you, it is healthy as long as it is constructive introspection and you are not on a self sympathy trip. Then it becomes dangerous!
Ok, so u didnt make the right decision then, ok so you didnt tell him/her what you felt then, ok so you chose the long route instead of the short cuts, etc etc... blah blah... so what the heck! Who doesnt make mistakes? DUH!

just a friendly advice from someone who went on this "oh crap.. why did i do it" trip for a while....

- Try and make an honest attempt to UNDO it, if its not too late.
(Now this is definitely easier said than done. I have tried many a time, but in vain!!if u can.... Then thats the best way to feel better about it)
- Try not to tread on the same path again
- Take some time out for yourself, deal with it and tell yourself its no big deal!
- Stop blaming yourself for it always.Maybe it was your fault, but you never claimed to be gabriel!
- Do Not whine about it always (umm, well yeah maybe a lil), instead tell yourself "It couldve been worse"
- Self Sympathy is a No NO!

We all make mistakes for a reason, shit happens!! Try to learn from them and dont let Mr "REGRET" get the better of you!

Dont say i didnt warn ya....on that note i bid farewell to all for a great cup of coffee and a nice walk in the park! :D

tiggity bappitty booooo....!!!!!!!!
random? childish? gibberish? well, what the heck!

I May Not Have Told U.....

2009-01-19T06:23:00.000-08:00

I may not have told you that
I admire your confidence to do atleast 9 out of 10 things
I look upto your ability to not crib
I am moved by your habit of reaching out to someone when they least expect
I respect the effort you have taken to understand my idiosyncracies
I am happy to be with you, A. Always will be.

I may not have told you that
I admire your patience
I look upto you for all what you have taught me
I am amazed at your abilty to multi task
I respect the effort you have taken to groom me
I can never thank you enough for all the care. Love u mom

I may not have told you that
I can never imagine a bigger pillar of strength
I admire your honesty and simplicity
I respect the effort taken to give me a comfortable life
I am amazed at your strength to survive even the worst
I will never let you down. Love u Dad

I may not have told you that
You definitely are not the last priority
You will always be in my fondest childhood memories
You will always remain my confidante
You will always be looked up to for being the independent one
You will always be loved. Thanks for being there ,P.

Office passtime??

2008-10-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Ok,.. Lemme not start this blog by declaring how long it has been....skipping that bit,..

Isnt it amazing that we humans can sit through meetings and meetings and not arrive at a decision. Well I am convinced we can, and even more convinced that this kind of thing can also happen every day! To put in the most simplest way, the corporate world should have laws against holding more than two meetings a day and not more than 5 a week!

Imagine one such discussion:
speaker 1: "So where did we stop last time?"
speaker 2: "we were discussing plan A, .........and I was thinking we could go about it this way"
speaker 3: silence
speaker 4: "yeah it is a good plan....
speaker 1: "Yes, i agree it sounds good, but why dont we do it this way as well....."
speaker 2: "But dont you think that is very difficult in terms of implementation...."
speaker 3: silence
speaker 4: Nods in unison
speaker 5: "Hey guys, sorry I am late......"
speaker 2: "Well we were just dicsussing how to implement plan A,....and this is how it is gonna
happen.."
speaker 3: "I agree"
speaker 4: silence
speaker 1:" Even if that sounds good,... somehow i feel the other idea of mine is quite
simple"
speaker 3: i think i am gonna scream
speaker 2: "ok" whatever!
speaker 5:"Guys, there is this Plan B that i have...."
speaker 4: "excuse me guys, I just got a call,... carry on"jesus! What a waste of time!
speaker 2: "I like X part about Plan A but I also like Y part of plan B, can we kinda merge them ?"
speaker 1:"But i thought we had finalised on Plan A.... But.... "
speaker 5: who cares about you , loser "yeah you were sayin... which part of Plan B did you not
like?"
speaker 3: " Are we not moving away from the topic?.."
SILENCE. YAWN??
speaker 2: "Not really ,.. i think plan B is kinda good. Plan A is also ok"
speaker 1:" No guys,.. I 'll tell u something,.. look at it this way,.."
speaker 5: "Ok, I'll tell u wat. Lets meet again tomo and discuss the pros and cons of both the
plans, then weshall take a call"
speaker 3: wow. this beats rocketscience!?!
speaker 2: damn, i cant leave early tomo too!
speaker 1: that prick, tomo i am gonna kick his ass!
speaker 5: i need to leave before that DVD store closes....

now this is an office reality or what!?
ok, a lil exagerrated. but wat the hell!! They are still bad. Aaaaarrggghhh!

The Busybody of Today!

2008-07-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Why do some people always make the promise of keeping in touch only to disappear from the phase of this earth never to be found again??
One of the biggest ironies!!
I unfortunately know some. Their favourite lines are:
"I am so sorry I have been busy, will call u back"
"Oh I was just thinking I should call you"
"I am a little busy, will definitely call you back"
The funniest one is " I was just talking to him/her about you" (Yeah, I was born yesterday to buy that crap!)
It is quite disheartening when you take the pain to constantly keep them in the loop, update them on your personal life, leave offlines and e mails and never ever get a response.
Everyone today love to use work as their biggest alibi for not having time for others. That is just so lame! Most of them dont realize that what goes around comes around. In such things, age, profession, geographical distance really DO NOT make a difference. It is such a happy feeling to catch with someone after a break, i have always enjoyed such converstaions and e mails. One of my closest friends, She stays like a few million miles away, and I am so proud of the fact that we practically know what each other is upto almost every single week. No, it is not because we do not have a social life or a career. Another ironic fact that i have observed is that you are more in touch w/ people who are the farthest in terms of distance than the ones in the same city!
Why on earth is that!?
Anyways its not like this post would make any difference to anyone of them! lol
For those who are reading this, hope you are hale and hearty wherever you are.
And for the nth time,.. Be in touch. :)

Lazy Sunday??.....

2008-07-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

shucks!! Been more than a month since my last post. Lazy Lazy ,.. so bloody lazy!! Lethargy once it creeps in, its the worst thing that can happen to anyone.
One whole month just buzzed past with two trips to chennai, a few million weddings attended, two great weekends of hectic shopping and ... well that pretty much swallowed almost all my time. Still i have two more Economists left to read, a half read novel by Karan Bajaj, and loads of e- reading! Sigh!..and a License Test awaits.
One Sunday is so not enough. This is the nth time i have been cribbing about a non existent weekend and somehow i realize i shud stop.
Today i must visit the Nautica and E spirit store,.. apparently there is an EOSS sale.
Then i need to drag my ass to some freaking corner of this city to finish some official work! God.. why me!!?..
Atleast a movie awaits me today evening at 4 pm... So much in one day!
"What is life w/ so much care when you have no time to stand and stare!?"
Arrrgggh!..........................

Seeing is believing ???

2008-06-08T02:12:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1 : Domestic Violence.

"What do you think it means.. Why dont you give me an instance?"

" When the girl is usually illtreated by the in laws because she did not bring in enough money and jewellery in the form of dowry" Nagaveni answered me immediately.

I have realized after my frequent trips to Samarthanam, The School for the Blind, that even if God didnt give them eye sight, he did ensure that they too had a "view" on almost all matters . I was truly amazed at a 16 year old blind girl's interpretation of Domestic Violence.She had spoken like any other 16 year old who may have read about these terms from books, TV, internet etc. I must confess that when i first went to Samarthanam as a volunteer, I was kind of expecting the blind teenagers to be not so well read and slow in their understanding and comprehension. But I was proved wrong the very first day. I wish to say that i respect the effort that they take to listen and learn whatever is being taught to them. They can sometimes sit for hours and hours at a stretch and listen to lectures. Sad, but true is the fact that the word distraction may not apply to them as they cannot see the distraction! After every paragraph read out to them, they would memorize and repeat the key words. They also have the exceptional ability to remember numbers. Give them a permutaion and combination of even 10 digit numbers, and they can memorize them with so much ease that can put a mathematician to shame! The girls are very loving and make you feel at home. Once in a while they would stop you in between classes to maybe ask a question like "How does a very big Banyan Tree look like?" I answer the question just to realize that most of us dont even stop to look at it more than once. Not just a Banyan tree, almost everything that we see around us are usually taken for granted. Arent they??

It has been around two months that I have been to Samarthanam and every time that I am there its like a reality check.

We, expecially I , I would like to say, crib about the silliest of situtaions. I have even earned pet names like "whiny wilson"

Imagine!

My classes with them have taught me many a thing, one of them would be to complain less.

Saturday

2008-05-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

It was a lovely saturday evening and I was on my way back from work!! It was a bloody hectic day (read I was running around continuously for some dirty work) and boy!!! Was i glad to head back home ASAP!! Sitting inside the stuffy maruti omni, my so called chauffer driven car from City Taxi,...i was contemplating whether to listen to FM or doze off,.. i decided on the latter totally disheartened at the voice of the singer crooning a kannada song at the top of his lungs! thanks to the totally bumpy ride and the numerous traffic jams, my sleep was down the drain as well.
But It was too good a weather to ignore. I imagined taking my new bike out and going for a quick ride around the colony before it started pouring. The weather was beautiful because there was everything but the rain on a perfect rainy day. Dark clouds, strong wind blowing, the air damp and cold,.. ofcourse all indications of the impending rain. Before i could complete my bike ride in my head, it began to pour !,..Bloody hell, the traffic was gettin worse. But i must say my "chauffer" managed to maneuver his way through the infamous Bangalore traffic. Poor chap!! It really sucks to be a Driver in Bangalore, traffic jams that irk you so much that you just wanna scream and pray all the vehicles disappear,.. forever!
I reached my PG after much struggle on the road and I was delighted at the mere thought of the next day being a sunday. I had everything planned for the sunday : Amitav Ghosh (atleast 50 pages), shopping with my sister, a new haircut, sleep, sleep and yeah of course ride the bike for a few hours! (ahem, had just bought a new bike you see..:),..
ah.... there my plan for an entire day was set!! now only had to execute it,...to top it all, my roommates were all home and we got around to our usual round table conference with chips and juice. wow!! My saturday was just about to start! :)
My blogs are beginning to get too random i wonder,.. hmmm,.. ah well what the heck!!

The first twenty minutes....!

2008-05-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

I must say that there is no better feeling than being back home, after a realllly long time. I for one truly believe that i deserve this much awaited break! Cliched as it sounds, Home will always be sweet home!!

As soon as my auto gets onto the much travelled valanjabalam road, i feel so good seeing the same bus stop, the same flower shop, not to mention the same STD booth!!

Mom greets me with a tight hug and her usual reassuring pat on my back.I scan the room for my sister and then realize that its too early for her to be up for the day. Dad's call comes just when i am about to ask about him. As usual he is quite upset that he couldnt be home with us, makes his usual queries about my journey and my health and makes some other "daddy like comments" lol,.. my dad is definitely the best!! :)

I am not so happy to see my sister's dazed cat taking a nap near the sofa! Nevertheless, I jump over it to the bedroom to dump my luggage and freshen up.

mom brings me my favourite breakfast, the nadan "puttu and kadala", my soul food. My sister decides to grace the ocassion with her presence. After i give her a tight hug, i notice the stupid cat again, standing next to her, rubbing itslef against her legs.. purring!

I make a face but all is forgotten while having the most delicious breakfast. Mom enquires about my plans for the day. I assure her that time time it will not be a name sake trip and that i intend to spend the maximum time indoor, and not gallavanting!

The phone rings and mom rushes to pick it up,... I begin with my routine of pulling my sisters leg and to my disappointment the routine doesnt last too long, thanks to the whiny cat who has managed to get her attention! hmphhh,...

I lie down on the sofa, leafing through the Newspaper, oh Bandh!!?.. My mind begins to wander and I see my office desk,... Pah!! I refuse to think about work. I think i should either take a nap, Ah! pure bliss.. or maybe i should.... damn you wretched cat.. Move outta my way loser!