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.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Unaware
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.
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.
-Some wise woman.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Prescribing paths to holiday happiness
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!
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
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!
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!
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
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
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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 16th Dec, ’09. My first ever travel story. Yaaaye :)
Meet the Parents
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.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
(In)difference
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.
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.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Tackling the Toilet Taboo
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.
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.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
I predict a riot....
.... 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!
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!
Monday, 5 January 2009
Guppy, The Brown Guy & The Indians
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!
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
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.
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.
Monday, 24 November 2008
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!
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!
Sunday, 23 November 2008
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 :)
"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 :)
Monday, 17 November 2008
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! :)
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! :)
Thursday, 16 October 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, 9 August 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, 10 July 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, 14 June 2008
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
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!
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
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!
Thursday, 15 May 2008
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?
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?
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Do you mind?
Have you ever used the phrase ‘Do you mind’ in a question? And did you receive a weird answer?
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
Me: Ummm…
Random guy in
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?
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
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.
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!
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