Enthu Cutlet

Humbled

2011-08-10T01:13:00.002+05:30

There was a lady sitting in the corner, wiping the sweat off her brow with the ends of her sari. Then she resumed painting the paper-mache figures that surrounded her in different shapes and sizes.

Such a delight! There were stacks of gorgeous Madhubani paintings in the same stall. They went through dozens of 'em. Each piece of cloth was so expressive and so vivid, they couldn't make up their mind at all.

While they were pondering over which painting to pick up, Krishna-Radha or the Ardhanareeswar, the young man in the stall started waxing eloquent about the different styles of Madhubani art in chaste Hindi. Still indecisive. He continued talking and told them how natural dyes are used to produce an array of colours. The couple seemed a little apprehensive about spending a few thousands on the painting.

"Sir, an exhibition like this only displays good art. These are the best artists in the country you are seeing here (pointing at the other stalls) These paintings are by my own sister!" he said with a beaming smile and handed out a small business card. It read: Ambika Devi, National Award Winner.

There she was. Still painting the paper-mache figures, somewhere in the background.

Unaware

2010-02-23T17:38:00.004+05:30

The Porsche sped past the people on the road, like a bolt of lightning. It didn't even stop at the signal. It couldn't. The next minute, an oil tanker decided their fate. Sanjay tried to drown his guilt on seeing his dead sister. "Why did I ?", he asked himself repeatedly.

Neha was sent word that the warden wants to see her. When she heard that her parents are no more, she just froze. The warden was rather shocked to see the seven year old not getting hysterical. Neha just walked out of the warden's office, towards her room, feeling more alone than she ever did. She cried profusely all night, with her head muffled in the pillow.

The next day, Neha was called to the warden's office again. This time, to meet a guardian. While she sat in the waiting room, puffy-eyed, she thought of the last time her mother visited her. She walked up and down the hallway, thinking of the warm hug and that peck on her cheek. Tears streamed down her pink cheeks. They refused to stop.

On hearing the loud footsteps, she looked up and on seeing him at a distance, a faint smile appeared on her face. As he walked closer to her, she gained some strength. He sat next to her and took her little hands in his.

Little does she know that she's confronting her parents' murderer. Her uncle, Sanjay.

The Science of Being Apart

2010-02-23T08:47:00.004+05:30

-Some wise woman.

Prescribing paths to holiday happiness

2010-02-04T18:31:00.008+05:30

Sick of picking and choosing from the same old sun and sand holidays and hill station breaks? Well, holidays are meant to get you away from the mundane. No wonder the days of packaged tours are long gone! And with the winter break just round the corner, it’s time you start chalking out your plans to make your vacation extra special. Here are some ultra simple mantras that can transform your vacation from just-another-break to a memorable and exhilarating experience!

Fancy holidaying somewhere unusual?

The top mantra for holiday happiness is to let the roads less travelled entice you. Pick a place that does not feature in the typical list of tourist destinations. That’s the first step to making your holiday unusual. Instead of going to Goa to spend the New Year’s Eve, you could opt for the pristine beaches of Gokarna or Karwar. Or even better, you could substitute the usual lounging around in beaches with a white water rafting break in Dandeli! And if you decide to go to Khajuraho, don’t just fix your eyes on the marvelous temples. Pack in more and get to the unexplored fort of Kalinjar, which lies some 120km north-east or just set out to the Panna National Park, less than 30km away. When the world is packed with destinations and activities that offer such new and refreshing experiences, all you have to do is ignore the herd!

You deserve better than just B&B!

Why settle for the same old B&B style lodging? It’s time to try the more enjoyable alternatives! Home stays and estate stays are excellent alternatives. A classic home stay involves living with a local family and having a first hand experience of its customs, cuisine and way of life. What can get better than indulging in a great conversation with your host who knows everything about Kerala and can tell you which Ayurvedic masseuse is the best in town and where exactly you should head for an affair with the gorgeous backwaters! And if you’re heading out for a beach vacation, try a shack instead of the routine sea-facing suite. Try a houseboat or even a home exchange! It’s time to get creative. After all, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to be transformed into a different world!

Like being lost in the labyrinth?

Instead of depending on tour operators, try using the public transport available in the place that you’re visiting. You get to meet more local people and you can gather suggestions of must-visit locations that are generally unheard of! Since you’ll be saving a lot of money, you can treat yourself to a lavish dinner. And if you are the kind who likes getting behind the wheel, then rent a car! Just make sure you have a valid driver’s license, a full tank and rough directions to your destination. Self-driving is a fabulous way to discover a new place and if you’re terrible at reading maps, do not panic. You just might reach an area that is totally remote, stunningly beautiful, away from mainstream tourism and most importantly, not in any tour guide book!

Linguistic Twist

Learning the local language can enhance your travelling experience, sometimes in ways you never thought of, especially if you are travelling abroad. If you hate the pungent smell of garlic, it might be a good idea to learn the Italian word for garlic, i.e. ‘l'aglio’ (pronounced as ‘Hug Leo’) before you land in Italy! You can begin with just a few greetings and phrases like "Please," "Thank You," "How much is that?," and "Where is ..." These phrases can be very handy when you go to restaurants, buy something, take a taxi etc. You can also do a search on any search engine for "learn Spanish" or "learning Chinese" or any other language, and you will find many sites with free tutorials.

Spice of life!

A very essential mantra is to not order the cheesy pasta with sun dried tomatoes in Tokyo! It is uber important to try the local food instead of sticking with the usual favourites. It adds to that unique flavour to your holiday like nothing else does! When you go to Vietnam, you must go to the Ben Thanh Market for bun thit nuong - grilled lemongrass pork with cool rice noodles. Watch the street vendor generously add spring roll, fried shallots, roasted peanuts, pickled vegetables and a douse of Vietnamese fish sauce! Well, sometimes the ingredients of the local dish might be outside our comfort zone. But you never know! You might just find the avid traveller in you quite willing to at least give it a try! And if you are an absolute foodie, you could go for an entirely culinary vacation. Picture yourself enjoying a gourmet cuisine and wine tasting in the French Alps! If merely imagining all this is giving you so much pleasure, you ought to start planning your vacation this very minute!

Have a blissful getaway!

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PS: I think I was rather excited about my week long vacation in Maharashtra. So much that it even inspired me to write a travel story! This one appeared in MSN’s Lifestyle column on 16^th Dec, ’09. My first ever travel story. Yaaaye :)

Meet the Parents

2010-02-04T17:54:00.009+05:30

Want to know how to make a good impression on your partner’s parents? Read on.

Do you wear a taut expression on your face every time you think of meeting your partner’s parents for the first time? Are you afraid of what impression you will make? Since you have decided to take that all important step towards commitment and meet the parents, here is how you can make sure you are well-prepared.

Know your audience

Find out as much as you can about your partner’s parents in advance. Having a fair idea about the kind of people they are will ensure that you’re better prepared to face them. This will help you find common ground that you can focus on in your conversations with them. For example – if the Dad is really fond of cricket - make sure you make a comment about the India Vs. Sri Lanka match that happened last evening. Does the Mum love baking? – Ask her how she makes those soft ginger cookies! And if your partner is from a different community, make an effort to know their customs and practices. Being familiar with their way of life can take you a long way!

Gifting a little something

Avoid going with a gift that is too big or extravagant. The parents would certainly be happy to know that you’re well off, but you can save that expensive gift for a later date! Food gifts are usually a safe choice. A box of assorted nuts or a basket of fresh fruits are welcomed by most Indian households. If it’s an occasion like the parents’ anniversary, you can opt for a bouquet of flowers. And again, ask your partner what their favourites are. A bottle of wine has always been a great choice for a dinner gift, but make sure they are not teetotalers. If you're travelling to meet the parents, consider bringing something that's the specialty of the place where you're coming from, such as Rosogullas from Bengal, or Bhakarwadi from Maharashtra. This will add a ‘getting to know you’ touch to the whole encounter!

Dress to impress

Make sure you dress appropriately. For the men, going to meet the parents in your acid-washed baggy jeans and that Black Sabbath t-shirt that you wore right through college is a complete no-no! We are not asking you to suit up, but being dressed in smart casuals will do you a world of good. As for the ladies, pick an outfit that is not revealing or too dressy. Just wear clothes you’re comfortable in and that flatter your physique but at the same time, look modest. Keep your makeup to the minimal. And oh, don’t forget to wear that sincere smile!

Making good conversation

If you have mastered the art of conversation, then it’s a battle almost-won. Don’t ever appear to be indifferent, even if what they’re discussing is the last thing you did be interested in. Ladies, listen to the mother’s stories about your man and look at any baby photos she might want to show you - even if your boyfriend is cringing and trying to change the subject! Even for the men, this is a brilliant ploy, especially when you are stuck for conversation. After all, which parent doesn’t love discussing their offspring? Avoid harping on controversial subjects like religion and politics. And of course, the men should be prepared for some interrogation about their career goals! It may help to have ready answers for probable questions. Yes, it can be as painful as an interview! And most important thing to remember is that the weather can simply be described as ‘extremely cold’, don’t use expletives even if you are used to it!

Be affectionate, but not lovey-dovey!

Be attentive to your partner, but in the right manner. In the sense, you can be nice to your partner by opening the door or pulling a chair for her, or by pouring him some wine. Avoid being too lovey-dovey in the presence of the parents. Well, you may think your partner is a complete hottie, but knowing that he is ‘charming, well-settled and caring’ will suffice for your parents. How much ever parents care about their child having a loving partner, they certainly do not want to see you both kissing and groping! So the key is to be affectionate and very interested in the family and not just your partner.

Of dining and wining

If you're having dinner at their house, make sure you compliment the food. However nervous you are, it is not reason enough to hurry and just pour that drink down your throat! Drink ‘very socially’ and if you think you will end up getting drunk, steer clear of alcohol for the night and just stay sober. A great way to impress is to offer to clear the table or help out with the dishes. If you’re out to eat, offer to pay. More than likely, the parents won’t allow you to pay but they’ll appreciate the offer. And oh, if you are a smoker, do not smoke around the parents. Even if they smoke themselves, they may not appreciate it. To make a great closing impression, tell them how wonderful it was to meet them and what a great meal you had.

Go ahead. Put your best foot forward and be confident.

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PS: Never thought I would write a Relationship story!! Hehe! This appeared in MSN's Lifestyle section on the 22nd of Dec, '09.

(In)difference

2009-04-26T11:40:00.005+05:30

When they decide to drown themselves in gallons of ethanol.
When they blow rings of life away.
When they sell their soul to the craving.
What seems so right to them, the evil treat.

That walk on the beach. The game of cards.
That potluck dinner. The long train ride.
The bliss you feel - the small joys,
Don't matter to them. Not anymore.

When they begin to look like the rest of them,
It's hard to pull 'em back. Astray.

Tackling the Toilet Taboo

2009-02-20T20:28:00.005+05:30

When you wake up every morning and have a toilet to use, you should feel lucky. Four out of ten people in the world have no access to toilets. Every twenty seconds, a child dies as a result of poor sanitation. Six out of ten girls drop out from schools on reaching puberty because of lack of water. Toilets, sanitation, sanitary napkins, open defecation - these are not things we like to talk about. But it’s about time we did.

With a percussionist drumming on toilet seats, the rhythmic beat at the last year’s inaugural conference of the World Toilet Association (WTA) seemed to tuck away the cultural taboos surrounding the embarrassing act of defecation. And the UN General Assembly declaring the year 2008 the ‘International Year of Sanitation’ fuelled the restroom revolution. The figures are staggering. 2.6 billion people in the world have no access to toilets and 2.2 billion people die annually from diarrhoea. "When around 4,000 children die each day because they do not have access to these basic services, which we take for granted, something is terribly wrong," said Vanessa J. Tobin of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Sanitation is not just a good idea, it's a great investment. But, the people believe that a mobile phone is a necessity, and sanitation a non-priority. If the government really wants to do something for the poor, it might as well spend on food, health, education or even roads. Why sanitation? This is the common argument used by the families living below the poverty line, who don’t want to ‘waste’ money on building a toilet. It is estimated that the cost of meeting the target of reducing by half the proportion of people without basic sanitation is about 10 billion US$ per year, from now until 2015. Dr. Shiggeru Omi of World Health Organisation (WHO) says that it isn’t as expensive as it seems. “This sum may seem a lot, but if we reflect we realise that this amount is less than one percent of world military spending in 2005; one-third of the estimated global spending on bottled water, or as much as Europeans spend on ice-creams each year!’’ "Globally, if universal sanitation were achieved by 2015, it would cost $95 billion, but it would save $660 billion," writes Rose George in her newly released book "The Big Necessity." Now this is something that should feature in every Government’s smart saving strategies.

Half of India defecates in the open. The government’s far-fetched dream is to get all these 600 million people to start using toilets by 2012. That seems like a lot of toilets to build in less than four years. But, Kurukshetra district in Haryana has proven a point - providing clean sanitation to everyone is not an impossible task. In this district, a landless labourer’s pride is the outdoor toilet. They have no money to build a door. A jute curtain or a plastic sheet does the job. But they have a constant source of water. So the toilet remains hygienic and there is no stench. The design is a simple one, easy to maintain, with a soak pit that will not pollute the water table.

The women in the Bishangarh village, who are part of the Nigrani (vigilance) Samitis, go around with torches, sticks and whistles early in the morning. If they catch anyone defecating in the open, they blow the whistle and shine the torch on the crouching figure. This embarrasses the villagers to the point that they will not repeat it. No wonder, Bishangarh has received the Nirmal Gram Puraskar, the prize instituted by the central government in recognition of villages that are free of open defecation. West Bengal is also taking the lead in initiating sanitation drives in its villages and is targeted to become the first State in the country to achieve total sanitation by 2012. The State already has 76 per cent households covered, as against 27 per cent in 2001 when the sanitation drive began. Over 90 per cent schools have sanitation and 94 per cent have safe water supply.

While we deal with the problems regarding sanitation, eco-sanitation creeps in. It is the problem of dealing efficiently and ecologically with sewer systems, wastewater, treatment and purification, which is no less serious. In the UK alone, the sewage system emits some 28.8 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. In practice, ecological sanitation includes options such as flush-free (and odour-free) urinals, separation toilets for urine and faeces, dry and composting toilets, dehydration devices for composting of faeces, use of faeces or excreta for the generation of biogas, vacuum sewers and flush systems operating on minimal amounts of water etc. As sewers become overloaded with urban development, drought strikes various regions of the earth, and potable water becomes increasingly scarce, even the flush toilet is now put into question.

Sanitation solutions brought with them challenges like failing water resources, rapid urbanisation and population increases. "Approximately 1.7 billion people, one-third of the world's population, presently live in countries that are water-stressed. This number is projected to increase to about five billion by 2025, depending on the rate of population growth. Projected climate change could further decrease streamflow and groundwater recharge" warned Tobin of the WTA. The solution may lie with the Global Dry Toilet Association, which aims at making dry toilets an essential part of sustainable development, thus securing clean waters and a healthy environment for future generations. They intend to introduce dry toilets together with controlled management of toilet waste and also aim at making people aware of the benefits of dry sanitation. But before all this action takes place, the fundamental problem of providing basic sanitation has to be dealt with.

For us, the rare occasion of using a public toilet seems irksome and sometimes, even disgusting. For someone else, using a toilet signifies health and dignity. Let us not flush and forget.

I predict a riot....

2009-01-06T14:34:00.010+05:30

.... in my large intestine!! Read on to know why.

It was my last weekend in the most laid-back city in the world. And I was really keen on doing something fun to make up for my extremely lazy weekends this winter. Well, I indulged in Kolkata's greatest indulgence – No prizes for guessing – Food it is.

It was Friday evening and a good friend from Hyderabad was in town. He suggested Mama Mia in Ballygunj and we landed there. A fairly big scoop of Triple Chocolate and a yummy Sizzling Brownie later, I wanted something snacky. So we went to this Azad Hind Hotel nearby, which was more like a dine-in-your-car place. I stuffed myself with a double egg roll and a bhar (earthen cup) full of thick lassi. When I got home, I topped it all with some curd rice with my favourite mango pickle!

The next morning, I was in a hurry to get to the movie theatre to catch Madagascar’s sequel. I gobbled 3 thin alu parathas with the same favourite mango pickle and some curd. Couple of hours later, I couldn’t fight the urge during the movie interval and grabbed a large butter popcorn and giant glass of Mirinda. With the satisfaction of having watched a great animation film, I headed to New Market to shop and achieve the State of Greater Gratification. Agent S wanted to pick up cakes from Nahoum & Sons, a bakery which is apparently more than 150 years old! I accompanied him there and fell prey to the idea of treating my family (and err..myself) with a pound of rich plum cake. While I was waiting to pay for it, my eyes fell on the cashew cookies. I made a packet mine. After some jewelry browsing and the-right-black-bag hunt, I convinced myself that I’ll not get to eat chaat in Calcutta till June, and should grab some immediately. Spicy puchkas went down my throat in rapid succession. Across the road, I saw a vendor and on his cart were the words ‘Kesar Kulfi’ in a dull, faded red. But suddenly the letters seemed brighter than anything else and I animatedly asked him for one. In the meanwhile, Agent S bought a masala thumsup! I tried a sip of the fancy concoction made of Thumsup, a generous dash of lime and of course a secret masala-ish ingredient – thankfully didn’t like it much, stayed away.

I got back home and my worried Amma enquired whether I had eaten lunch. “Only junk food all day? Chi chi!”, she shrieked and the dining table was soon adorned with hot rasam rice, potato curry, and cruchy appalams to go with it. Later in the evening, my parents and I were getting back home from the Hanuman Mandir. Amma expressed her burning desire to make my last weekend nicer - Sharma’s to treat ourselves to Luchi and Alur Dom! Half a shingara and some luchis got dumped in tummy and I thought I would almost burst. My helpless groan probably sounded like raucous exclamations of delight to Appa. He wanted to honour the sweet tooth I possess!! Some pretty fancy milk sandesh, rabri et al were added to my human warehouse. “That’s all I can eat today!”, I mumbled. Little did I know that I would find a bowl of delectable gaajar ka halwa staring back at me on the table. Amma gave me a wide grin. Should I? Should I not? Should I? Should I not? I knew it could leave me quite winded, but I was being a brave soul. Who can deny Gaajar ka halwa? Not me I learnt.

It was a Sunday and I got busy with the day’s paper and my hot chai, as usual. But well, what can get better than hot jalebis on a wintry morning. Sometimes, I think my Dad’s telepathic! In an effort to be a good daughter, I decided to cook and looked up some recipes online. “Mutter Paneer and Jeera Rice for lunch”, I declared. It was surprisingly good and I ate heartily, also marveling how each grain of rice and each cube of paneer had been cooked to perfection. I suddenly felt the urge to (again) seek the State of Greater Gratification and went shopping in Metro Plaza. When Agent R and I ran out of batteries, we decided to recharge ourselves in Peter Cat, one of the most popular restaurants on Park Street. What I thought would be an evening snack turned out to be a late lunch, and may I add ‘heavy’ to it! Some sweet corn soup followed by Chelo Kebab (Steamed rice topped with butter served with paneer and vegetable tikka, and not to forget the portion of stuffed capsicum!) A friend stopped at The Street in The Park hotel to pick up a salad. Minutes later, I found myself lost in a brownie swimming in oodles of hot chocolate sauce. During the cab ride back home, I was thinking how I could write a book on ‘Do-it-yourself Weight Gaining’ or maybe ‘Expand your waistline in 3 days’ and the like.

Hmmm… Have I forgotten to mention anything? Oh… I also gobbled 7 or 8 rosogollas over the weekend. I am certainly going back to college looking like one!

Guppy, The Brown Guy & The Indians

2009-01-05T15:19:00.008+05:30

Statutory Warning: This is a result of one whole month in Kolkata and in an ad agency. Enter at your own risk.

There lived a man named Guppy Ram in a remote village near Puri. He loved a thing called Papeto more than anything else in the world. But the Jains in the village hated it and wanted to get rid of it. So he decided to change the way Papeto looked. So that they never find it and hence can never destroy it.

Guppy Ram sought the help of a brown guy who sprouted a white moustache often. This brown guy with the help of his hot Indian frens disguised Papeto and gave him a complete makeover. The Jains never found Papeto and Guppy Ram was elated. But then, Orissa got flooded and Puri got filled with water. This led to the birth of Pani Puri!

[A few months later]

Guppy Ram was really sad and remained chup after that disaster. So Pani puri is called Gup-Chup in Orissa. And oh.. Guppy Ram was obese... Probably why in North India, they call him Gol-Guppa!

Terror Trail, Leave me Alone.

2008-12-10T16:01:00.010+05:30

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

2008-11-24T03:29:00.006+05:30

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

2008-11-23T20:22:00.009+05:30

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!

2008-11-17T23:53:00.004+05:30

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

2008-10-16T20:08:00.003+05:30

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

2008-08-09T15:37:00.003+05:30

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!

2008-07-10T16:41:00.003+05:30

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

2008-06-14T08:56:00.003+05:30

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

2008-05-15T19:13:00.006+05:30

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?

2008-05-01T17:34:00.004+05:30

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

2008-04-23T11:45:00.006+05:30

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

2008-04-09T18:59:00.007+05:30

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

2008-04-08T20:06:00.012+05:30

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

2008-03-29T12:16:00.009+05:30

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

2008-02-20T18:10:00.009+05:30

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

2008-02-19T12:58:00.007+05:30

The other side of the table

2008-02-19T12:25:00.003+05:30

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

2008-01-17T13:42:00.001+05:30

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

2008-01-16T14:13:00.001+05:30

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."

Women Empowerment :P

2007-12-30T23:53:00.000+05:30

One and a Halfth Dimension

2007-12-12T14:39:00.001+05:30

All this while, ‘one and a half’ only reminded me of Hyderabad’s (in)famous auto drivers who fleece me by charging extra past 9:30 pm. Sometimes I feel they have some sorta partnership with Dad, to get me home before 9 pm! Anyways, ‘One and a half’ gained a new dimension today.

June 12, 2006 - I stepped into my 1st full-time job, after my B.Com Degree. I was as excited as a jackal which found prey after a week’s starvation. (Yes…trust me. B.Com was that boring. Thanks to the inter-class, inter-departmental, inter-collegiate and all possible ‘inter’ events that kept me alive.)

Away from home, it felt weird in Hyderabad. Every damn thing seemed so new. With all my classmates joining BPOs and banks, I felt like I was traveling to another planet. Online advertising, AdWords, keywords… er.. Where am I! [Panic attack] Staying as a paying guest with a roomie who sleeps at 9 put an end to my ‘reading late’ habit. I didn’t complain about food anymore. I didn’t have a choice! Everyday things changed. I changed. I did like to assume, for the better.

One and a half years later, I am…. one and a half years older!! Hehe..On a serious note, I feel stronger. Not that the junk food helped. I met several people, made many decisions, faced various situations. Before I sound more clichéd, let me get to the point. My mind feels stronger and I tell myself “I’ll live.” And online advertising is not alien anymore to the Googler!

Cheers to the ‘One and half’ that has gone by.

Sanity Fair

2007-11-30T12:46:00.000+05:30

It's been a super crazy-6 day work-week. Wish some concerned soul had given me a Statutory Warning: Staring at spreadsheets, interview feedbacks and advertiser emails (endlessly) can have an adverse impact on your grey cells, if any.

But then, when I spoke to a friend, I was glad. I wasn't the only one! Pasted below, is our conversation. Uncensored :P

K: im maddd! i was playing online pool for 3 hours!!!

:D mad but happy

me: i have been pretending like i am possessed

K: :D

me: The Sanity Fair :D

7:20 PM K: let us goo thereeee...

me: hehe

K: to the sanity fairrrr!!!

then we will stare

and nott glarrreee!

me: and ride on the mare

like we dont care

K: heehee...and free the captive bear!!!

7:21 PM me: let some people tear

while we let down our hair!!

K: o we are a good pairrrrrr!!!

heehee...wasted a whole afternoon working and now im going home to sleep :)

yay!! what a lovely day!

me: aaah...temme bout it. ciao!

Moral of the Story : Visit the Sanity Fair . Or better still... DON'T work 6 days a week.

Sweet Chaos

2007-11-16T13:13:00.000+05:30

It's just a Wish-Each-Day-Had-48Hours Phase. There's so much to do. And so little time. I love having my hands full, but am I biting more than I can chew? Boohoo.. Another love-hate relationship...and this time, with Life. Exciting yet Insane. Sweet yet Chaotic.

Spanish Red Bull

2007-09-30T16:08:00.005+05:30

My roomie 'M' went to Spain for a conference. She says Spain is very nice and beautiful. The boys who went with her say the Spanish are very nice and beautiful. I am very very sleepy now.

Point being, I want to introduce the new person in my life. It's none other than Red Bully [Applause plus Drum Roll for the Most Unimaginative name]. 'M' got him for me from Barcelona. Yes...Yes.. He is Spanish! And he is a fighter... an unconquerable one! He is angry, belligerent, and er...cute! Sigh! K tat's enough for an intro. Now say Hello.

I Detest Air Deccan :P

2007-09-29T13:44:00.001+05:30

I just got this SMS. "Your flight DN-723 HYD-CCU on 03 Oct is cancelled due to operational reasons." I don't think I was in my right mind...Whaaat have I done? I booked an Air Deccan flight!!! (PS: This is before Kingfisher took the reins!)

Here's a forwarded message I got. My Dedication to my FAVORITE Airline! (Pun intended)

Welcome to AIR DECCAN

Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen. This is your captain PATEL welcoming both seated and standing passengers on board of Air Deccan. We apologize for the four-day delay in taking off, it was due to bad weather and partly due to the search for a missing tyre. This is flight 717 to Mumbai. Landing there is not guaranteed, but we will End up somewhere in India. And, if luck is in our favor, we may even be landing on your village!

Air Deccan has an excellent safety-record. In fact, our safety standards are so high, that even terrorists are afraid to fly with us! It is with pleasure; I announce that, starting this year, over 30% of our Passengers have reached their destination. If our engines are too noisy for you, on passenger request, we can arrange to turn them off. To make your free fall to earth pleasant and memorable, we serve Complimentary DHARU(liquor) and Wada pav. For our not-so-religious passengers, we are the only airline who can help you find out if there really is a God!

We regret to inform you, that today's in-flight movie will not be shown as we forgot to record it from the television. However, for our movie buffs, we will be flying right next to Kingfisher Airline, where their movie will be visible from the right side of the cabin window. There is no smoking allowed in this airplane. Any smoke you see in the Cabin is only the early warning system on the engines telling us to slow down! In order to catch important landmarks, we try to fly as close as possible. For the best view, if however, we go a little too close, do let us know. Our enthusiastic co-pilot sometimes flies right through the landmark!

Kindly be seated, keep your seat in an upright position for take-off and fasten your seat-belt. For those of you who can't find a seat-belt, kindly Fasten your own belt to the arm of your seat. And, for those of you who can't find a seat, do not hesitate to get in touch with a air-hostess who will explain how to fasten yourself to your suitcase. :P

High Times

2007-09-29T10:53:00.001+05:30

Ever since they started having these 1 litre Pulpy Orange juice bottles at work... I have this feeling I'm high cos of a Vitamin C overdose. Errr... High on orange juice?! The funny bit in a teetotaler's life...My clan finds solace in getting 'high' on orange juice'ish stuff!
And oh... Did I forget to mention I am high on music too! It's been a craaazy day... Just high on life i guess...Yaaaah! :)

'Family' Time.. Remember?

2007-09-26T18:57:00.000+05:30

We fight all day - against deadlines, fatigue, priorities, not-so-nice people, and most importantly against time. Only to reach the end of the day and realize that we are left with no ‘family’ time.

In the middle of a conversation, I asked this guy how his sis's doing. “How wud I know? Ask her.”, he quipped. It suddenly struck me that the days of family meeting for tea and dinner table discussions are over. Everybody is caught up in their own world. There is a volcano building up - one of misunderstandings! Come oooon! It's hard to read someone else's mind. I keep quiet about something that's bothering me until I am too angry to discuss it calmly. I also end up overstating my case in a way that puts others on the defensive.

BLAH.... In less preachy terms...We say "You're a slob!" instead of "I want you to pick up your clothes and fold them." Is this gonna help? For Christ's sake, express yourself (No, I am not Pro Airtel!!) There is one simple solution to everything. Have your voice heard (Gosh..i just sounded like some Neta)

PS: I am going to Kolkata next week. I am sooo excited!! It's 'Family' Time :)

Bollywood Stereotypes!

2007-09-17T16:34:00.000+05:30

There's this super urge to dive straight into the topic. (1st blog post. Excuse my 'enthu'ness) But I have to do justice to the lesser mortals (read:whoever doesn't watch hindi movies) and give some background information. So here it goes.

The hero is riding his cycle on a deserted street at an untimely hour and suddenly he sees a damsel-in-distress shrieking and running towards him. This pretty lady is followed by a jeep with half a dozen ruffians with huge mustaches, colorful banians and unbuttoned shirts and not to forget atleast one of the bad guys has to be bald. The girl hides behind the towering manly (lol) hero, while he broadens his chest and challenges the bad guys. Bring it Oooon! While the hero beats up five of them black and blue, an enraged well dressed bad guy drives away in fury. Little does our hero know that the man who drove away, is the only son of the most dangerous gangster, who wears the mask of an influential businessman in the city. For those who are weak at the guessing game, this gangster is also known as the ‘villain’. Muaahahahahha!! [Evil Laugh]

After hearing his son’s sob story, the villain schemes to ruin the hero’s life. Input includes using his 'web' of contacts and several attempts of murder with more baddies. The process involves some bad guys with chains, cricket bats and hockey sticks. You Must notice the 'Lowe' for the national game. Chak Deee! ;) The process at any cost must include a ‘bull in the china shop’ fight sequence in some market place where the destruction of a shop of earthen pots and a cart of tomatoes is a Must! The bad guys are rolled down staircases and thrown up in the air but they should Only land on hay stacks. The end result or output remains constant. The hero escapes unhurt. Yaaaah!

INTERVAL!

In the meantime, love blossoms between the then ‘damsel-in-distress’- now heroine and the hero. Some drama and half a dozen songs later, the heroine gets kidnapped by the villain and our super hero tactfully manages to get her half the way out of the evil man’s den. But then the leading lady has to tumble over a huge flower vase and hearing it crash, countless bad guys land there. The hero single handedly takes on all these evil men and this final battle is surprising called the ‘climax’ in every movie we watch! Btw, adventurous movie directors also throw in a car chase. After we watch with bated breath, the hero emerges winner! Did you already know that? Seeee... you are getting better at the guessing game.

I dare not complain.. Cos this weekend I watched a few (didnt count) movies and washed clothes at the same time (always know wat's next) I'll confidently sell some of these Hindi movies to you. New and Improved with ZBE Formula (Zero Brain Exertion)!! So U know what to do next weekend! :)

Spark Execution

2007-09-17T16:33:00.000+05:30

The 'Gotta have my own blog' spark in my brain has been there forever (atleast seems like forever) Realised it's high time I execute the spark... before it becomes a five-year plan or something! Get Set GO!