Terror Trail, Leave me Alone.

I finally reached Kolkata! I was glad to see Appa's driver at the station. "Jaffer Bhaaaai, Id Mubarak.", I exclaimed. "Is baar Id nahi hai.", he said, with a faint, forced smile. Before I could ask an insensitive question, Amma dragged me to the side and quickly told me how Jaffer Bhai's sister was shot dead! - in an encounter between some goons in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. A civilian - for no fault of hers - is dead. The drive back home was unusually quiet, except the reflection in the mirror that spoke to me, mutedly. The controlled tears brimming in his eyes asked me several questions.

My train to Kolkata reached the city, a whole nine hours late. The rumor was that a rail track in Berhampur, Orissa was bombed by the Naxals. Almost 11 bogies of the train were derailed. It felt terrible, but at the same time, I thanked my stars - rather selfishly, that I only got delayed. I told myself that I'll avoid taking the train on my way back. The next minute, a co-passenger is talking about how all the airports are on high alert! Then, I heard about the SIM scandal here, connected to the Mumbai terror attack. Police everywhere. My mind floated back to the Goa film festival - that's where I was when the attack in Mumbai happened. When I took longer than a minute in the restroom, a policewoman banged the door, rather impatiently. She probably thought I was a suicide bomber, desperate for some blood-spill.. waiting to destroy India!

When I look around, I see masks everywhere. I want to look through a sieve.

This's probably my biggest fear - There'll be noone I can trust. There'll be noone left to love.

Panic A-pack

I love travelling. I hate packing. There're some things you like doing and for everything else, there's no Mastercard! I have been trying to pack for a 4 day trip for the last 13 hours. Yes, I am a retard. I have been doing a zillion things in between, everything but packing. (This includes writing the previous post!)

I tried telling myself, "Just do it! It's half past three. You have a train in less than 4 hours. You can't go to the Goa film festival looking like a dumb ass! Just Pack!" It's not helping. I'm slow, almost dyslexic, when it comes to packing. Waaah!

I am gonna make a list of Things-to-carry, and then just dump them all in my rucksack. OK. Sounds good. I'm gonna just get done with this. I don't have an option. Do I? No. Just pack. Quick. Yes. [Deep Breath]

As I prepare and motivate myself to be mentally tough to complete this Herculean task with proper planning and execution, I read my friend's status message on Gtalk - "Whoever said nothing was impossible never tried slamming a revolving door." SIGH!

Mangalooru Mania

4 days in Manipal before I head to Goa. I went through my 'Places to Visit in Karnataka' list. Kudraimukh? Agumbe? "Mangalore!", she said. "Why don't you all come home?", said my roomie, Agent S cordially. I was more than happy, and with the latest Bond flick, Quantum of Solace playing in the Adlabs there - I couldn't have asked for more! Seven of us decided to descend upon the pleasant town- turning- annoying city, Mangalooru aka Mangalore.

"The movie is at 10:45.", declared Mr.B. It's a 2 hour bus ride, so we decided to leave at 7:30, to be there an hour early. With great difficulty, we woke Mr.K up at 7:15 and we discovered that he takes a longer while in the loo, than 2 girls put together! Finally much past 7:45, we left home and boarded a bus to Udupi. Just when we got off the bus, a nice little hotel called us for breakfast, and our senses obliged. "Ah..there's a lot of time! 10:45 only no." said Ms. K. After the idli-vada indulgence, we took an express bus to Mangalore. On the way, I read 2 issues of 'India Today Woman', and came to the conclusion that it's utter nonsense. Some Home and Decor type magazine came to my rescue. Yes, reading about how to match your couture draperies to your luxury bed linen is less painful than reading about how carrots and bananas could be a secret to increasing a man's sex appeal!

We got to the Adlabs theatre in Bharath Mall, only to find out that the movie started 5 minutes back! It was at 10 am, and all eyes were fixed on Mr. B, who had confidently declared that the show was at 10:45. We hurriedly bought the tickets and ran into the theatre. We were huffing and puffing, though it was Bond who was in action already :P I loved the movie. I could say, it's the same league as... umm... well... Casino Royale! Oh come ooon...Nothing else can get into that league! And I am quite biased when it comes to Bond. Aren't we all, Ladies?

Watching all that action caused tremendous fatigue and we wanted to eat again. Agent S arrived, while we were shopping at Big Bazaar, like we haven't seen a supermarket in ages. We really hadn't! Then we went to this place called 'The Village' in Marathahalli. While the others digged into their sea food platter, I relished my risotto with cheese sauce, with a generous sprinkling of mushrooms.And oh, the mashed potatoes were nice too. I had my first sip of Peach Schnapps from Ms.N's glass... well, it smells great. Others indulged in the regular red wine. After the nice and elaborate lunch, we went to the St. Aloysius chapel. It's fabulous, and the Italian, Bro. Antonio Moscheni who painted it must have been One Patient Man! We walked around the college campus and decided to stop for ice cream at Ideal's, the most popular icecream place there. I had a pretty fancy Choco-nut preparation, loaded with cashew bits! My sweet tooth craved for more and I ended up gobbling some gajar ka halwa as well. The place was easy on the pocket, but not on the waistline.

After spotting a condom-vending machine by the side of the road and a long India-is-becoming-progressive conversation, we canned the plan of going to the helipad and headed to Agent S's abode. A pretty Konkani house, with a Mangalore tile roofing and wooden windows...and an attic! It was so Harry Potter-ish when we all climbed the attic and walked across to the dimly lit terrace. Aapam, fried fish, chicken gravy, spicy veg curry, Old Monk, Sprite & Coke for the not-so-adventurous, lots of interesting stories, and Retro English numbers were the perfect ingredients for the wonderful evening.

Reminded me of those agenda-packed, one-day school excursions. So short, yet soooo much fun :)

Hey Whim, I fancy you!

This noon, I was writing an exam after 30 months! Getting back to books is sometimes crazy. But then, it's fun.

As the answer to a question in the exam today, I was expected to write about the effect of new media on globalization. I was already 2 hours into writing the paper, by then I was already bheja-fried... like 'properly'! I was in nooo mood to write something intellectual. So I just decided to write whatever I felt like!

And I wrote this:

"Vinton Cerf, the Father of the Internet will probably be the next demigod or maybe God himself. He abolished the concept of latitudes and longitudes - there's no distance. Now, it's as though Ambala is next to Alaska. Web Content writing is the new-age freelancing. A person in Mangalore is probably writing the content for a website on wild elephant conservation in Africa."

FYI, this is nothing close to what I should 'technically' have written! God bless the examiner! And me.

Later in the evening, Little-Voice-in-the-head said - Maybe you should go home and study for the next exam! I was walking home and just when I reached the MIT grounds, I decided to take a detour. Before the little voice knew, I comfortably seated myself in one of the passenger gondolas of a Giant Wheel! There I was - feeling light - going up in the air - space-shippy!

Random 'I am doing this, for no particular reason' things - I Like! :)

Lung charring Monster

Imagine a basketball arena filled with people. More than 14000 people. That's how many die in this world - every single day - due to tobacco! I am living in a country with 250 million smokers, helping me shorten my life, minute by minute. Thanks, But No Thanks!

Aaaah October 2 - I was ecstatic about the ban. It was finally time to stub out the cigarettes, clamp down on this insensateness! It's almost been a fortnight. I still see them. The monsters are lurking around - See them a hundred times as often as I see people spitting and urinating in public. This (already) widely flouted law will remain the most amazing Diwali gift to the law makers and 'keepers'!

The little voice in my head taunts me - "Enforcement. Hah! That's something you have never heard of. But then, dream on!" The Monster continues to kill. Passively. Anguishingly.

Holding the Mic

Work to MIC. The transition is still on.

From air-conditioned cabs to ever-rattling town buses, from 5 figure salaries to haggling for 5 Rupees. Kingfisher Airlines to Durgamba Travels, buffet breakfast spreads to bread masala in the press-cart, plush cubicles to back benches, impulsive shopping sprees to shoe-string budgets, meetings to chai breaks, video-conferencing rooms to the college common room, from who’s who at work to campus love stories, work targets to assignment deadlines, induction and training to interaction with the seniors, Airtel Postpaid to Vodafone Prepaid, from the hustle and bustle of Hyderabad to the peaceful almost rehab-like silence of Manipal.

The rush to the library a day before the assignment deadline, tagging along to the college mess, never-ending card games in the common room, sweet buns, Mangalore tiles, Udupi Adlabs multiplex trips – All I can say is – Mmm.. Lovin’ it!

And it strikes!

I was booking the ticket to Blore this morning. When I chose the 'One-way' option, instead of the default 'Round Trip' option, it struck me that there's no coming back. Atleast not for a while.

The replies to the Goodbye email, scheduled lunches, planning for the weekend 5 days in advance! Movies, Pot-lucks, Coffees, Sweet-Nothings. Sorting, Throwing, Giving away, Packing. Calling the Movers, Airlines, and everybody else. Chaos. Ah... there's more to come.

So Long, Google.

One of These Things First

I'm in love with Nick Drake's voice. It's so pure, and my heart feels like a feather when I listen to him in the early-morning hours. I'm listening to his song One of These Things First. It seems witty in a very strange manner, so detached. It goes like this:

I could have been a sailor
Could have been a cook
A real live lover
Could have been a book
I could have been a signpost (I can pull of being one quite easily ;)
Could have been a clock
As simple as a kettle
Steady as a rock
I could be
Here and now
I would be, I should be
But how?
I could have been
One of these things first

... rest of the Lyrics

You must try singing along...it's a lot of fun :) And oh... I almost forgot the most important thing - You can listen to the song here. Happy Listening!

Divided Loyalty

I did not belong to a political party and intend to move to another one. And no, I am not deciding between Dark Chocolate ice cream and the Litchee flavoured one. I like exaggerating, but not that much.

My heart is torn between two teams in the Indian Premier League. My life is divided between Chennai and Kolkata - so is my loyalty. I love rosogulla and shingara, as much as I relish my crisp dosa and onion sambhar. I enjoy my cha and I still need my filter kaapi. I am as nostalgic about Judges Court Road in Alipore, as I am about Besant Nagar in Adyar. Is it the Kolkata Knight Riders or is it the Chennai Super Kings?

Chennai Super Kings lost so badly to the Mumbai Indians yesterday. I was terribly disappointed, but then I saw a peaceful means for revenge. Kolkata will bash up the Mumbai team in tomorrow's game. Muahahaha! [Evil Grin]

Gosh... I am trying to create some sort of relationship between the Knight Riders and the Super Kings, instead of reaching a conclusion. I am really dreading a day - 3 days from now - May 18th, 2008. The day when my two teams clash again - when my heart will be torn into two innings. And oh.. did I already mention that I like exaggerating?

Do you mind?

Have you ever used the phrase ‘Do you mind’ in a question? And did you receive a weird answer?

Me: “Hey, Do you mind if I turn the AC on?”

Mr.X: “Yes...yes. ”

Me: [Wondering why he doesn’t want the AC!]

Errr… Ok. No problem.

Mr.X: Ya. No problem for me too. Put it no!

Me: Oh… you don’t mind the AC?

Mr. X: No… Noooo

Me: Well... [&*#$%#]

Mr. X instructs the driver to switch the AC on.

Me: Sigh of Relief!

--------------

Me: Do you mind sitting next to the window?

Ms. Y: Yea… yea.

Me: It’s really cold…So…if you could…

Ms. Y: [Makes way for me to get the ‘window seat’]

Me: [&*$%$%]

--------------

Me: Do you mind taking a picture?

Random guy in Goa: [excited] Yea!

Me: Ummm…

Random guy in Goa: [almost snatches the camera]

Me: [confused and posing for the picture]

--------------

And oh... there's this song called 'Do you mind' which goes like this:

Do you mind if I ask you a question
Do you mind if I swear not to hurt you
Do you mind if I bring her still with me
Do you mind if I forget and thank you
Do you mind if I juggle the meaning

Do you care that I wear only silver
Do you care that set only stone
Are you angry the you I'm adopting
Is only a pretense at home

Do you mind if I make you wear earrings
Like she did, like you did before
Do you mind for I think I still love you
Do you mind
Always have
Evermore

All I can say is NEVER MIND and would you mind if I use ‘would you mind’ the next time?

Of Laryngitis and Saintly Feelings

I woke up one morning sounding like a frog. Err... I didn't kiss a toad hoping he would turn into a handsome prince. And no, I didn't dream of it either!

A few hours later, I was sitting in Y Hospital with Dr. S, the ENT specialist, closely examining my throat like it's an archeological site! Then he told me with a beaming smile, "Nothing serious. It's just laryngitis." Larrying-What! After seeing my face go white, he quicky added, "It's just acute throat infection!" Phew! My sigh of relief was short-lived. He not only prescribed half a dozen pills for the next 2 light years - but also advised 'voice-rest' for a week. [Lightning, Thunder, Bells Ringing, Dogs Barking...] I obviously didn't shut up. I just spoke less.

Some people thought I am terminally ill, some thought they dialled the wrong number, some thought I am in love (@#%#$%#@), and some assumed I have 'generally sobered down' (God Bless them). When I spoke to Appa, he said "Wow, mellowed eh.. you sound so lady-like" (Errr..How did I sound all these years?!) And I feel like a saint. An important saint that too – I think clearing your throat before uttering each word has that effect.

NEVER BEFORE:

Have I gulped down gallons of ginger tea

Have I gotten addicted to hot tomato soup

Have I wrapped a repeatedly ironed and tormented piece of cloth around my neck,
hoping the warmth will create some magic in my infected throat!

Have I watched a sidey Hindi movie, without commenting on anything at all!

Have I said No to eating spicy garlic roast dosa

Have my friends said “Plsss speak. Say something no!”

This is gonna be over soon. I CAN deal with this state of 'not-talking.'

Hail Laryngitis. God probably issued it to me in public interest!

Yours Oxymoronically

I walked past this store in Candolim, Goa. Designer Handbags. Leather Garments, Watches. All-Original-Fakes!!

And all this while, I thought using 'bigger half' is ridiculous.

The Great Goan Holiday

April 1st - Battling weirdos in the train

Getting to Mapsa

Varun's PR skills and the Mumbaiyya Uncle

Bus ride to Panjim - and then to Candolim

Finding Perola do Mar

King's beer fails - Belo wins hearts!

Dinner at Oceanic - Horribly half-cooked dal :(

Early morning walk with Affy, Michoo & Roosho

'Indian' Chai at the Candolim shack

Breakfast at Tony's

Spotting Temple Elephants

Renting our Activa machines ;)

Going round and round the Aguada Fort

Rusha calls Varun to ask where he is (Thrice!) When he was right in front of her! - Proves the existence of Banta DNA in her

Lunch @ Britto's - My 1st breezer & their 1st VEG Goan Curry order!!

Shack-ing and Sun bathing at Baga

Boys get their tattoos

Dinner at Fisherman's Cove

The Black Monster Jeep & Mr. Shark taming it

Aditya gets the Goa map and jazz with great enthu - leaves it back in the hotel :P

Santa-Banta-Ghanta's (so-called) Jokes

Mapsa fish market!

The friendly bakery uncle who gave us 2 mineral water bottles free!

Wagator Beach - Shopping for shorts and shells

Steep climb up to the Chapora Fort & DCH pose pics

The Mango Tree pizzas and the effect of Chocolate Liquer on Varun ;)

When KD and Bala's imagination went too far - Haunted pizza slice!

Blue loo - Pink toilet paper - & Horrible Noodles

Hot Coffee - Pot Coffee, Hot Coffee - Pot Coffee, Cold Coffee!

Partying at Tito's - More Cashew Fenny & Lime Cordial

Parasailing at sunset - Scary yet super-fun

The Killer Banana Boat :P

Floretine's and Chicken Cafreal - And oh... the dogs under the table!

Ingo's Bazaar - 'Dream-catching' attempts - sleepy and cold ride back

Vikranth's enthusiasm in the bike race takes him too far - Aguada (a whole km past the destination ;)

Ferry ride to Panjim & the Interesting taxi-wala

The Gorgeous Churches :)

Tiring 16 Hour Bus ride

April 7th -Back to Hyderabad

Still Goa Hungover.

Vizaaaaag

My little voice in the head said "Aaaah...Friday is a holiday!" It suddenly struck me that it's a 3-day weekend and I haven't made any travel plans!

[Alarmed]

Mr. PS and Ms. AS played Rescue Rangers and told me of their travel plans. I invited myself to go with them to Vizag! I am glad I did :)

Spamming and long email threads before the trip
Meeting Salu and Eleonora for the 1st time
Leg-room struggle in the bus - sleeping with my legs in the air
Sidey Telugu flicks playing till 11pm
Annoying Afrin with Tamil songs [evil grin]
Reaching Vizag - Auto drivers - need I say more!
The Ambassador Ride
Tyda jungles - Tribals - The Strike
Going round and round - Up the Mountain
The beautiful Araku Valley
Lunch at Annapurna Noodil Shop
Tender Coconut and Relief from the heat
Waterfalls and The Rain
Back to Vizag - Hunting for a roof
Finding Kamat Guest House
Salu disappearing from time to time!
Afrin's slippers getting washed away
And coming back with the next wave!
Holi - Colour - Craze
The sea turning pink - Paris Hilton would have loved it :P
Pranav's Prank - Wet Mattress!
Long walks - Lazing under the sun
Hurling Abuses in Italian (Courtesy: Ele ;-)
Staying at the Rushikonda beach resort
The hot Chai and the sea breeze
The 'Jalsa' song haunting us - Everywhere we went
Sleeping on a park bench!!
Listening to 'Zig-Zag Vizag' radio station
Lunch at 4:30 pm - Dahi Vada and Paper Dosa Binge
Listening to the Waves and Watching the Moon rise
Building castles - Feeling a decade younger :)

Some Vizag pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/priyar411/Vizag

Paradox of Our Time

This one is by Dr. Bob Moorehead, Former pastor of a church in Seattle. This seems cynical, but it's sooo true!

Presenting the Paradox of Our Time:

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Cos I wrote of interviews in my previous post

The other side of the table

December 2005: The anxious final year grad student is heading out of the college. I have a presentation to attend at The Park, Chennai. Followed by several rounds of interview. [Gulp] If I clear them, then I would soon be working with the search engine leader. [Thought bubble with my happy face]

February 2008: I reach the same place: The Park, Chennai. Seems nothing less than a posh suite to me. I plonk myself on the soft bed and think about the questions I want to put to the candidates, the next morning. [nose up in the air] It suddenly struck me - I have reached the other side of the table. I probably don't feel good about growing up, except on a few rare occasions. [Cupping my palms] I want to save this one.

Telugu Disaster

Last weekend, I thought of being a little adventurous and ended up watching the latest Balakrishna flick in a random theatre called Talkie Town in Miapur.

Okka Magadu (As in: One Man Army) is a horrible cocktail of Kamal Hasan's Indian and some Vijaykanth scenes (like the Narasimha surviving-the-electricity-shock one). I fell off my seat when the actresses came into picture - half-clad is an understatement. Out of the blue, some sleazy numbers popped up. The men weren't complaining though (Excuse the feminist in me :P) While the other 2 actresses were busy setting the screen on fire, Simran does a pretty decent job. But I wonder why she appeared in a dual role..made absolutely no sense. The scenes were extremely choppy and incoherent. This movie is the typical masala type - made by fat-bellied producers who don't know what to do with the money!

Balakrishna appears in such colorful shirts that he would put even the brightest rainbow to shame. There is a particular flashback, set in Pre-Independence times, in which Balakrishna learns Shao-Lin in China to fight against the British. (Eyes Popping Out). There are many things in this world that can be explained. For everything else, there's Balakrishna! When the movie got over, I was so confused that I had to spend the rest of the evening figuring out what it was about!

Silver Lining : I was Really Glad that I don't understand Telugu. After 3 whole hours of fighting my urge to leave the theatre and explaining the movie to a Parsi girl, I think I'll even survive Hitler's gas chambers now! :P

Verdict : Third Grade Rubbish - If you really hate someone and he's really dumb, get him a ticket for this movie!

Clutterly Flutterly

At my desk, clutter is as much of an office fixture as my phone and computer! When Clutter hits my brain, that's when the going gets tough. This morning, it hit me again. Brain-Clutter-Syndrome arrived! The droning-ish feeling in my ears with the occasional thump on my head... sometimes forehead. Before my grey cells shatter into pieces, I am going to write a list of 'tasks to do.'

• Take the rent receipt from the old landlord (And no, he is not exactly old. I moved to a new apartment, that makes him the ‘old’ landlord)
• Eye Specialist appointment - replace scratched glass
• Name correction in the PAN card (It's got grandpa's name instead of Dad's! There IS a LOT of difference between Ramakrishnan and Ramachandran)
• Dentist appointment - 2nd sitting for enamel cap, discuss about braces (Yes…Ugly Betty in the Making)
• Tailor's - Give the new shirt for alteration
• Repair the Sony MP3 player
• Apply for a credit card (with photo :P)
• Last one...Go to the spa for an Aroma body massage and relaaaax! These things should never make it to the 'To do' list! Sigh.

When was the last time someone told me "You need help."