Memories of a Wandering Soul

So long, Mr. Potter

2011-07-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

And it all ends, say the posters for the final installment in Harry Potter series. Maybe it does, for the creators of the movie. But for ardent fans like us, it never will.

As the second part of the final Potter movie hits cinema halls worldwide, I'm filled with a sort of nostalgia, almost not wanting to see the movie itself. For me, Harry Potter has not been the story of the boy wizard, but of several memories associated with its publishing period.

I picked up my copy of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, sometime in late 2000. My grandmother had just passed away and my world seemed to have gone into a seemingly unending mess. My grades in school fell, I was shifted to a section meant for 'weak students', and I was always a more than average student. I just couldn't take it. I was forever scared that either my father or my mother or both may die soon and I will have no one in the world to look after me. I was bordering on paranoia.

Around the same time, newspapers carried stories of this book series that had become an international sensation. Harry Potter. The more I read about it, the more I wanted to know what it was all about. Then, after the unfortunate events of 2000, I didn't have the chance to think about it. One day, after things at home had settled a bit, my father and uncle decided to go to this book-cum-CD-store to pick up a few movies. Papa asked me if I wanted something. I merely wrote down the name 'Harry Potter' on a piece of paper and gave it to him. An hour later I got a call, 'There are four books. Which one do you want me to bring?". Not having read any, I asked him to bring me just the first one.

I started reading it and fell in love with the characters. This was my Enid Blyton. Somehow, all the magic that Harry did and the wonderful friends that he had, made me feel good. And knowing that there is more, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the subsequent books. I managed to get hold of those books from friends and continued to read them whenever I could manage. I wanted to read it even when I had my board exams.

And then the movies came out shortly after I started reading the second one. Daniel Radcliffe gave a face to the Harry that I had so far been imagining. So did other prominent actors. In all the subsequent books that I read, I could imagine Alan Rickman as Snape, Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore and Maggie Smith as Minerva Mcgonagall. It was a fairytale period, those years.

Even now as I remember those moments, it makes me want to thank J.K.Rowling for giving me Harry Potter. For all the days in college when I read the books during ongoing lectures, for all the times I looked forward to something for the first time, for the only biggest source of joy I remember from my adolescent life - I thank you.

And now, the last movie hits theaters today. I will watch it, even if I don't want to. I would rather live in this world where I can look forward to 'one more Potter movie or book' and remember those days that made me who I am today. Harry Potter literally saved me in many ways. It truly did. Without it, in those months after my grandmother's death, life would have been much more difficult. But Potter and his magic, did a wonderful trick to direct my heart to someplace better than where it was.

There will be no more Potter books or movies. Probably it is better this way. I have moved on to other series and look forward to new things everyday. But each time I think about my Potter-crazy days, I cannot feel anything but happiness associated with those memories.

I have six out of the seven Potter books at my parents' place in Hyderabad. The only one that I don't have is the sixth one, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which incidentally is my favourite. I'm still looking for a good deal on a Hardcover edition for that one and then my Potter collection will be complete.

Maybe that is why it doesn't end for me yet. That one book missing from my collection. But I shall have it one day, and then what? Nothing. It'll remain so until the day I want to start to re-live those moments again. And maybe when I am older and my children want to read books from my library, I can recommend it to them. Maybe they'll like it. Maybe they won't. Who knows?

Till then, so long Mr. Potter. Thanks for the magic that you've brought into the lives of millions of children worldwide.

Once Upon a World Cup

2011-04-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

There you are. India beat Pakistan in the 2011 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final and will now face the Sri Lankans tomorrow. There. Every Indian is happy. The victory sparked off wild celebrations, even in dry Ahmedabad (Formally dry. Informally, like Sabarmati flows the Scotch).

That morning, before the match had begun, I was thinking, "What if we lose this match now? How would the Indian fans take it? After all, it IS Pakistan. And every news channel is already gung-ho about this match and the political who's who attending". Indeed, this match was seemingly becoming bigger than cricket itself. But then again, aren't all Indo-Pak matches are?

Meanwhile, my mind decided to pull into reverse-gear and arrived at the flashback of the 1999 World Cup. A couple of my cousins and I, ages 9-12, used to gather at this aunt's place to watch the matches. Some Pizza outlet had a scheme running -

"Call 66333444 when a Batsman hits a six. Name the Batsman. First caller wins a Pizza".

This was just brilliant. A free Pizza was like the biggest dream of our life. And we all decided to try our luck at every single match. We had the number on speed-dial and took turns to sit next to the telephone. The number, however, was always "busy". Too young to realize the marketing strategy, we had plenty of hope that one day, we shall get to the Pizza.

India - Sri Lanka Match. 26 May, 1999, Taunton (England).

Without much luck in the previous matches, we were hoping we'd strike Pizza in this one. We had this younger cousin of ours, Puneet, put the number on speed dial and wait for someone to hit a six.

Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid were batting. The signs were ominous. Somebody was going to hit a six. And we had Pizza Puneet ready to make the call. All of 10 and hungry for free Pizza, he waited anxiously, praying. Then came the moment we were all waiting for. Ganguly hit a massive six and we rejoiced. One more shot at the Pizza. Puneet speed-dialed and it was finally ringing at the other end. Someone picked up -

Man - Hello?

Puneet - Hello. Hello (stammering. Still thinking about the Pizza)

Man - Yes?

Puneet - Haan. Hello. Hello? Ganguly ne chakka maara. Ganguly ne chakka maara!! (Ganguly hit a six)

Man - Haan to? Main kya karoon? (So. What am I supposed to do?)

Puneet - Pizza bhejo na. Ganguly ne chakka maara hai. Pizza jeete hum log. Bhejo. (Send the Pizza. Ganguly hit a six. We've won the Pizza.)

Man - Kya? Kaun sa number chaahiye? (What? What number did you dial?)

Puneet -66633444.

Man - Number sahi hai..par kya Pizza? (The number is correct. But what Pizza?)

The moment he said the number we were shouting behind him to put the phone down. Wrong number. Wrong number.
DOUBLE SIX, TRIPLE THREE, TRIPLE FOUR You Idiot.
Not TRIPLE SIX, DOUBLE THREE, TRIPLE FOUR.

A few of us slapped our fore-head as Ganguly hit another six. And THEN we all laughed. Puneet thought we were all going to hit him for the missed chance. When that didn't happen, he joined us to share this moment.

Ganguly went on and hit a few more sixes in that memorable innings where he scored 183. However, thanks to Puneet, we remember the match more for the Pizza rather than the final outcome.

Did we call again? No. Everytime Ganguly hit a six, we joked around as Puneet looked on sheepishly.

Did we get the Pizza? Yes. Not immediately though. And definitely not free.

Thinking about it now, watching cricket for reasons beyond cricket, has always been a way of life. At least for me.

:)

Look who's back!

2011-03-27T02:37:00.000-07:00

Hee Hee.

Now, if you thought I forgot all about this blog, wrong you were. Might have been selective amnesia, yes. Might have been sheer boredom, yes. Even so, I have decided to get back to my blogger-ship which got me plenty of wonderful friends and readers alike.

I stopped blogging here because of all the zillion things happening in my life. And this blog was a bitter-sweet reminder of all the memories I had stored, some of which I wanted to forget. I started other blogs but couldn't bring myself to write as regularly as I used to write here. So here I am again. Where I began. To continue where I'd left and maybe start anew.

Hello, my dear blog. I've missed you very much.

P.S: You can keep me blog-rolled now. Hee.

P.P.S: And yeah. You can find this shit on "http://snehriti.in" as well. HeeHee.

Blank

2010-04-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

It doesn't make any sense. This life. And the unexpected turns it takes.

I came back home early on Wednesday. So that I can spend time with loved ones while everyone in college wanted me to stay back. Spend time to reconnect with family members where relationships once treasured were souring in the last few years. I loved them all, despite whatever I said to the contrary. Shopping was also big on my list and I was to begin on Saturday.

Saturday. Another day of the week I'm going to come to hate.

I did go shopping. For clothes, as I'd already planned. But not for me. For the last clothes I'd ever buy for her. For the last saree she was ever going to wear and be cremated with. I still cannot believe she's gone.

She came back to me last night. In dreams filled with visuals of all the moments I'd spent with her. Her remarks when I asked her as to how we shared the same birthday: that I was her gift from god when she asked him for a birthday present and for many years I believed that. The one of a kind dal that only she could make, filled with warmth and love that only Mumma or Dadi could match. The hugs that were so natural as a kid which slowly drifted as we grew older. Those days of shopping for brothers on their wedding. Those days that I came back everyday from my work at the CA firm -tired and hungry. That laugh that still echoes.

It still haunts me. The last movie in theatre that we saw together. SAAWARIYA. Around 10 of us. And she was bored from the beginning. "Yeh Hero to ekdum chhokri jaisa lagta hai" , She said. It was fun. She was fun. Despite all my growing tempers all these years against everything, I still loved her. Coz she loved me and I sure did hurt her by openly flaunting my displeasures.

Two weeks ago when I came to know she was bed-ridden, I spoke to her on the phone. She said, "I'll be alright in time for your wedding". I came to meet her on Wednesday, the day I came back to the city. She looked discomforted, but then not such that anyone could imagine she would leave us so suddenly.

While we waited at the hospital and kept hearing about her sinking state, Jolly kept saying, "Keep faith. Mobilize energy. I'm sure if we're positive, she'll be fine soon". We tried. We lost. She died in the same hospital she lost her husband at. And I've lost three loved ones in that building now. I cannot bear to look at it once more.

As we stood there to pay respect to her lifeless body there, I could not hold back the tears I'd been holding all day. The wedding will not be the same without her. When I was younger, she was the only surviving person with whom I'd discussed my wedding and she'd always been the one most excited about it. I'd decided to let her know before I came here that I'd want her to be there, right there with Mummy Papa for all the rituals. With her gone now, I cannot cannot cannot imagine how things would be. How our lives would be. We'll move on in due time. But then, I'm going to regret that last moment that I saw her alive and I didn't hug her even when I really wanted to.

I wish I'd hugged you and told you that I love you and I'm sorry for being so rude in the last few years. I wish...

I'm going to miss you Kanak Bua. I still cannot believe you and I are not going to celebrate our birthday together ever again.

Hates placements!

2010-04-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Not that they mattered to me. I knew from the minute I stepped into ACJ that there was little chance of me walking out with a job. Always knew I'd have to fend for myself later on and I'm sure something worthwhile will come my way. But even so, I hate placements.

It doesn't feel nice to see some very deserving students losing hope after not getting placed anywhere, four days into placements season. Some of the brightest people are still awaiting calls to be interviewed. It is depressing to see these grim faces and the campus feels like a prison.

I hope things change soon around here.

Roomie Woomie Haaye Rabba!

2010-04-01T04:07:00.001-07:00

Room 101 ACJ Rocks!! (Wall art by Amma)

One of my roomies is singing really loudly even as I am typing this. I think she is singing "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun". Wait. Lemme check.

*tip toes to the other side of the room. Peeks. tip toes back*

Err. It is an unrecognizable Telugu song.

Now, I've been thinking lately about my first few days here at ACJ. With no known friends (of course, immediate roomie I'd met during the interview and told her I'm getting married soon and she suggested I run away, assuming that it was an arranged marriage :P); I was like "What have I done? Why have I come here?". But soon, I realised I have the best possible roomies that I could get.

Proud to say ours is the coolest and the most peaceful room in the entire hostel (me and my roomies think so :P). Here is a few reasons why:

Reason # 1: We are simply the best combination of room-mates. Three Hyderabadis and One Japanese...errr...Pune-ite (Now THAT is something that can get me killed....) :P

Reason # 2: We have the most adorable 'adopted roomie' in the whole not-so-wide hostel. Her laptop goes by the name of "Pupul Chatter-PC". HOW COOL IS THAT? :)

Reason # 3: We don't communicate like normal mortals do. We chat. Online. Sitting across two beds in the same part of the room or even sitting in ANY PART OF THE ROOM. We chat. ONLINE. Beat that!

Reason # 4: We have an awesomely balanced sense of humour. Two tell legen....wait for it....dary jokes, one tells pathetic jokes and one...well, finds everything a joke. The adopted roomie is a walking, talking, jumping, 4'10 joker. She'd make Heath Ledger proud I say.

Reason # 5: No one smokes or drinks here (well drinking occasionally doesn't count as drinking, right?). We don't fight, we just bug each other a lot.

Yeah. That's that. I THINK my roomies are the best. Original and adopted combined. Ok?? OK.

What's that noise? Oh. It is roomie again. I think NOW she's singing Hum Aapke Hain Kaun.

NO.

It is some Telugu movie song again. DAMN!

Roomie Woomie Haaye Rabba!

Love - AAJ KAL

2010-03-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Was just talking to roomie about a couple of '89ers displaying a proud status message "IN A RELATIONSHIP" on Facebook. This is what my newsfeed was showing, about one such couple, who went from being in a relationship... to single.

Sigh! Love aaj kal.

(click on image to read)

THE BLUE MUG

2010-03-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

Pic source: Deccan Chronicle

The Blue Mug - A play featuring Ranvir Shorey, Rajat Kapoor, Konkana Sen Sharma, Vinay Pathak, Sheeba Chaddha and Munish Bharadwaj.

The play spoke about memories - and how important it is to our lives. All the characters depicted memories that they remembered...something close to their heart. Most of it was part of the act but god did I enjoy the play.

Speaking of memories.

I will always remember THESE from today:

1) I was not keen on going for the play but after insistence from the gang, I gave in.

2) Until this day, I always assumed I was a "non-play" kind of person. Today I know I'M NOT! I LOVED IT.

3) This was the first time ever that I'd gone to see a play IN MY LIFE. (Pooja's reaction was just priceless when I told her that...It's not a big deal you know Poo bear :P )

4) I met Ranvir Shorey, Rajat Kapoor, Konkana Sen Sharma and Vinay Pathak after the play and rued the fact that I didn't get a camera with me.

5) Realized how approachable these actors were and now know the true worth of stage plays. (Konkana was so sweet... An old man had come to talk to her after the play and she went up to him and said Namaste! It was so natural. It was such a wonderful feeling. Ranvir stood next to me, with a wonderful smile on his face. He looked at Konkana with pride. He left with her, hand in hand, after she was done talking to the old man.)

It was a truly wonderful day for me. I'll remember it for a very long time.

Thanks Ye ACJ Bunch. I LOVE YOU GUYS! :)

Happiness!

2010-02-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

All my life, I've tried to understand what true happiness is.

Was it when I got good grades?

Was it when I got my scooty?

Was it when I finally did what I wanted to?

I kept thinking even as happiness ensued me.

HAPPINESS:

was when I went home last diwali and felt like a daughter

was when he told me money will come, moment may not

was when he shared tiny yet significant moments of his life with me

was when mumma told me she called him up 'just cos she felt like it'

was when I was down with fever and for the first time someone took care of me, just like I'd imagined

was when we went to eat kulfi in the middle of the night

was when I realized how complete my life is

was when I realized I can be happy without buying something material

was when I watched a youtube video which made no sense to me, yet was familiar coz it reminded me of him

Happiness is all these small things which bring a smile to your face...and it comes in doses.

Right when you need them. :)

100 TRUTHS

2010-02-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

Have been having a hard time posting something up. Have found on previous occassions that 'tags' are my answer to this blog-block: HERE GOES 100 TRUTHS (a tag I flicked off Renu Aunty's blog)

1. Last drink: Water

2. Last phone call: Snehal Patel (fiance)

3. Last text message: Shreedutta Vasudeva (Chids)

4. Last song you listened to: 'Before the Dawn' by Evanescence

5. Last time you cried: 22 February 2010

HAVE YOU EVER...
6. Dated someone twice: Still dating Snehal Patel...over a million times :P

7. Been cheated upon? Nope

8. Kissed someone & regretted it? Nope

9. Lost someone special? Yes

10. Been depressed? PLENTY of time

11. Been drunk and threw up? Drunk (unintentionally), yes. Threw up, NO.

LIST THREE FAVOURITE COLOURS:
12. Lavender
13. White
14. Beige

FIRSTS :
15. Made new friends: Asian College of Journalism, Chennai

16. Fallen out of love: Too deep in it to fall out of it :)

17. Laughed until you cried: Almost always :)

18. Met someone who changed you: Yes. My Fiance.

19. Found out who your true friends were: Yes.

20. Found out someone was talking about you: Yes. :)

HAVE/YOU:
21. Kissed anyone on your friend's list: No.

22. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life: Plenty

23. How many kids do you want to have: Two.

24. Do you have any pets: No

25. Do you want to change your name: No.

26. What did you do for your last birthday: Had a party at a rooftop hotel, just for family.

27. What time did you wake up today: 7 am for a damn 'photo shoot' (otherwise I'm up by 8:30)

28. What were you doing at midnight last night: Reading something on KERS

29. Name something you CANNOT wait for: Starting a new life with my better half.

30. Last time you saw your father: January 27 when I went home for the Republic day holidays.

31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: NOTHING. Whatever needed to be changed, has already been.

32. Most visited web page: ACJNEWSLINE :P (To keep checking if our links work properly)

Whats your:
33. Name: Smriti

34. Nicknames: DD, Deeds, Deedee, Sammi, Sam, Smutty, Smartie, Smarts, Simmi

35. Zodiac sign: Taurus

36. Male or female or transgender: ?????

37. Elementary: ???????

38. School: Taraporewalla Montessori House of Children and Harvard P.S, Hyderabad

39. Colleges: OU, Asian College of Journalism

40. Hair color: Coloured Dark Chocolate :P

41. Long or short: Medium

42. Height: 5'2"

43. Do you have a crush on someone? Kimi Raikkonen

44. Ever been in love? Yes. Still am.

45. Piercings? Ears.

46. Tattoos? Nope.

47. Righty or lefty: All Righty Right.

48. First surgery: None

49. First piercing: Ears

50. First best friend: Prashant

51. First sport you loved: Cricket

52. First pet: None yet

53. First vacation: Can't remember honestly.

54. First concert: Might have been the Lata Mangeshkar concert at Hyderabad

55. First crush: Prashant.

RIGHT NOW:
56. Eating: Shreedutta's head.

57. Drinking: Water.

58. I'm about to: Sleep.

59. Listening to: Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot

60. Waiting for: a free day in the life of ACJians.

YOUR/FUTURE
61. Want kids? Of Course.

62. Want to get married? Yes. AND not running away from the mandap :P

63. Careers in mind? Journalism, Teaching too.

WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?
64. Lips or eyes: Eyes.

65. Hugs or kisses: Both. :P

66. Shorter or taller: Medium.

67. Older or Younger: Anything.

68. Romantic or spontaneous: Rom Rom Antic. :p

69. Nice stomach or nice arms: Ehh? Nice BRAIN.

70. Sensitive or loud: Sensitive

71. Hook-up or relationship: Relationship

72. Trouble maker or hesitant: Both.

HAVE YOU EVER :
73. Kissed a stranger: Nope.

74. Lost glasses / contacts: Nope.

75. Broken someone's heart: Quite a few.

76. Had your own heart broken: Quite a few times.

77. Been arrested: No.

78. Turned someone down: Yes.

79. Cried when someone died: Yes.

80. Liked a friend that is a girl? Hell yeah.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
81. Yourself: Yeah.

82. Miracles: Yes.

83. God: Sachin, apparently. Otherwise, no.

84. Love at first sight: Totally!!

85. Heaven: Ehhh??

86. Santa Claus: No.

87. Kiss on the first date? Maybe.

88. Angels: Yes. The Human ones. Not the fairy tale ones.

89. Devils: Yes. The Human ones again.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
90. Is there one person you want to be with right now? Yes. :(

91. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time? No.

92. Wanted to kill someone ever? YES.

93. Among your blog mates, whom would you like to kiss? PJ :P

94. Committed a blunder and regretted later? Many times.

95. Wanted to steal your friend's boyfriend / girlfriend? Why would I? I've got the best. :P

96. White: T-shirt

97. Black: Jeans.

98. Red: Shoes.

99. Pink: Bedsheet.

100. Posting this as 100 Truths? Boring. :| :P :P

Open to anyone who wants to take it up :P

Lives of Others

2010-02-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

It has been exactly one week since our trip to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) and I still can't seem to get those images outside my head.

As is the routine with every tourist spot in India, Mahabs (as they call it here) has a huge influx of tourists - local and foreigners. Agreed that the architecture is spectacular and beaches are beautiful. Normally, it would have been an ideal weekend getaway on short budget. Amid the huge tourist influx, I wonder how many wait to notice the poor ladies selling beaded ornaments.

We reached there around 11 in the morning and were immediately hounded by a woman selling bead necklace. She was carrying a baby, carefully put up in a cloth bag hung across her chest. She was pregnant with another child. What was striking about this woman was, the baby was positioned right on her breast, while she continued to have her hands full with these beaded necklaces.

A little while later, as my friends negotiated on the price of hats being sold near the Shore Temple, I saw plenty other women like the earlier one. Most of them were carrying children, just like she was. The rest were pregnant. I was quite overwhelmed when I noticed that every one of these women either had a baby or was pregnant. And they seemed like they were in their early to mid-twenties.

I saw the first woman again. This time the baby had woken up and was crying. She kept yelling out, trying to sell the necklaces to anyone who was interested. At the same time, she tried hard to breast feed her baby and stop its crying.

Although it was a good trip with friends, I am still haunted with questions about those women.

I wonder what their life is like everyday. Children are a huge responsibility and to see them juggling motherhood with livelihood, just humbles me. I cannot imagine such a loss of privacy, but these women seem to have none.

One can't help but imagine...the lives of others.

My Hero!

2009-11-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

These days I often find myself lapsing into this different kind of emotion, something that brings tears to my eyes. It has finally dawned upon me that I will be getting married in less than a year and I won't be around each day making that special morning tea that Papa loves.

As a child, I always knew that I'll leave home one day to go and live with my soulmate, my life partner. It always bothered me that I didn't have a brother who'd be there everyday with mummy and papa, after even my sister got married. I'm sure my parents never had that kind of a fear and they've brought up me and my sister with all the comforts that they could provide.

I've been thinking about the times I got mad at Papa for various things. Trivial issues. I wonder why I ever lost my temper at dad from small things. No one's perfect and I expected him to be. It is only now I realize that he is perfect in his own special way. He's my perfect hero.

Papa has always given me whatever I wanted. Always. He cared to listen to me, wanted to hear me out even though I was always chatty with mummy. I always felt that I can talk only the 'serious things' with papa and maintain a sort of 'professionalism' with him, while being pally with mummy. That is how our equation has been working so far.

I was scared as hell when I spoke to him about Snehal but his reaction to it just made me want to hug him. I realize now that I don't actually remember hugging him ever. He was cool about everything, putting my happiness first. He always has as I think of it now.

I remember telling my Dadi that I will marry someone from Hyderabad so that I don't have to go away from home. Now that I'll go away over 1200kms away, I don't know what it must be like for Papa .

This diwali when I went home, I could sense that papa realised it was my last diwali at home. I guess all of us wanted to make is special this time. And we did. For the first time in all these years, my diwali was memorable and I felt truly connected and happy. I'm sure papa did as well.

Each night I dread thinking about the day I go away, I dread seeing tears in my hero's eyes, I dread showing him my tears. But I guess it is bound to happen. Yes, he'll cry and so will I. I can already see that it is a moment of pride for a father when he gets his daughter married and papa

is excited. But those tears are inevitable.

Just wanted to say that Papa I love you very much for everything that you have ever done for me and all the happiness that you have given me in life. You not only gave me a life, but most importantly you gave me the freedom to live it on my terms. Love you papa.

Diwali Lights on Air India

2009-10-17T00:44:00.000-07:00

For starters, I seriously believe the Maggi Noodles counter at Chennai Airport should be immediately removed. It is a bane for someone like me who is trying very hard to get rid of her Maggi addiction. I'm serious! I used to be terribly addicted to Maggie, eating it everyday, until my little tummy decided to shout in disgust. Snehal has also asked me not to eat it for my own good. Everyone in chennai airport was eating Maggi yesterday as I waited for my flight to depart. I found myself loitering near the counter, but eventually didn't let myself cave it. Yaaay!

Oh. Almost forgot.

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY DIWALI. :) :)

I had always wondered as to what the view might be from up there during diwali. I mean the sky. Thank god that the Air India flight was delayed by a good 20 mins. The view was spectacular. Chennai is surprisingly well planned. Or at least it seems so, from up there. The firecrackers being burst presented such an impressive picture. I imagined a stupid Hollywood style movie as the plane gained altitude. I was a bit worried thinking what would happen if a firecracker comes and hits the plane. Would the pilot steer it away, saving us from the many fiery obstacles that lay ahead? Eh?? Phew!

It was a good flight and I need to find out who makes the cake they serve on Air India. It is absolutely yummy. I love it. I'm talking about the Chennai-Hyderabad sector. Rest of the food was pretty passable, but that slice of the walnut cake was really good. In fact, all the cakes that I've had on Air India flights in the last one year have been more than decent.

Anyways, I'm going to end here. I'm home now and I dont want to be blogging or facebooking or doing anything on the internet for too long. Going to make Tomato Chutney (I make it pretty good...Don't believe me??).

Wish you all a very happy diwali once again. Enjoy the festival and don't be a nuisance to others :P

Dilemma of a Bloggernoulist

2009-10-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

For starters, there is no such term as 'Bloggernoulist'. I'm sure everyone knows that already (including 'Blogger' which indicates it as an error with the red curvy underline. Interestingly, 'Blogger' is also not a recognizable word).

After the initial rambling, I now continue writing yet another wayward post.

Three months into India's top Journo school, we now begin our 'Stream Work' i.e. specialization. I'm in New Media and we started off week one with creating a blog . This is strictly for class assignments, not for my random ramblings. The purpose of this blog is to follow a developing news story by means of RSS feeds from various news websites and writing a 500 word report. Two reports infact. Guess what I chose? YES! FORMULA ONE.

Here is the catch. We need to write our drafts, mail it to the professor in-charge and after he approves what we've written, the content goes on the blog. Now this leaves me completely bewildered.

What is the point of having a blog when there is moderation? A few of us do blog (surprising, considering we are all 'NEW MEDIA' students) and most people aren't even aware of how to set up an RSS feed. Sigh!

I read something written by someone (on an Orkut Community) that "as a journalist, ignorance can be your greatest virtue". I'm not sure I agree with it. Hail New Media!

It is unnerving that I should take half an hour to sum up this post. But at least, announcing now to my fellow bloggers that 'Hey, I'm back'.

Gone are those days when writing used to be a lot more fun. Thank god for blogging :)

Chennai Bites

2009-07-24T23:55:00.000-07:00

Two weeks into hostel life and I still seem to be trying my best to settle in. The heat obviously is a put off. The college, well just getting started on the nuances so I wouldnt want to comment on that. There is a good side and a bad side to everything. I guess I am getting my share of "life experiences".

I have made some real good friends here and life with them is a lot of fun. Academics are not up to what I expected - YET. Its just two weeks into it and I am told that there should be a gradual improvement. Hoping for the best. We dont have the internet and wi-fi stuff in place as yet hence there has been trouble accessing internet as freely as I would have liked.

I still have a lot of blogs pending which I am dying to read. Kindly excuse my lapses.

Kochu, thanks for the call. It was wonderful talking to you :)

And ahem ahem... we got to see a movie as part of curriculum (ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN) ((SUPER DUD!!! I FELL ASLEEP)

Will update you guys shortly... reading as many blogs as I can right now...cheerios people...take care :)

The ACJ Interview

2009-06-15T05:14:00.001-07:00

Update: I have been selected at ACJ.... Will be leaving for Chennai real soon. :) :) :) Thanks for all the wishes and congratulating messages :) :)

I wasnt planning on blogging about anything related to the Journalism College entrances and other such details. But I had such a freaky tiring time on this one-day trip to Chennai recently, I had no other option but to share it all with you guys:

Having cleared the Asian College of Journalism's(ACJ) entrance test which was held on 24th May 2009, I was invited for the panel interview scheduled on 11th June 2009 at Chennai. After all the excitement after Snehal's visit, I was in a fix on how to prepare for a panel interview, coz I had never faced such a situation in my life. I was unsure of what they might ask.

I found out to my surprise that another blogger buddy, Trinna Prasad, had her interview on the same day as me. I searched for her on Facebook and sent her a note suggesting we meet up at the venue. Sruthi Radhakrishnan, whom I met at the Manorama School of Communication's entrance test at Chennai, had her interview at ACJ one day before me. Her status updates on Facebook, had me in splits and also kept me wondering about bizzare facts. The General Knowledge bits in the ACJ paper were really tough, and we wondered if we would be subject to more such GK incompetence humiliation.

Every imaginable preparation done, and bag packed, I was all set to take the 6.30 am flight from the Shamshabad Airport to Chennai. Anyone who has any idea about how things work in Hyderabad, will know that the airport is a good hours drive. Make that One and a half at peak hours. That meant I had to take the bus at 4.30 am to be at the airport by 5.30am, one hour before the flight time. I set the alarm for 3.30 am, spoke to Snehal before retiring for the night.

I dont remember the alarm going off but I do remember waking up, startled, at 5.09 am. I was almost in tears and ran downstairs to wake up my mother, and tried to find out ways to get to the airport in an hours time. I just changed my clothes, brushed my teeth and called up Air India to ask for the next available flight. I was informed that their next flight is at 4 in the evening. Distraught, I immediately called up Snehal and screamed: "Baby, please come online... I missed my flight...search other available options". His calm and composed demeanor even after just being rudely woken up, is something I lack :P We managed to find a Spicejet flight which left at 9.50 AM and reached Chennai at 11 AM.

I decided to tidy up and leave for the Airport at 6.30 AM, not wanting to take any more risks. I collected my boarding pass, and just waited for the flight to take off. Snehal keeping me company over the phone, of course, and calming my nerves. Then it was announced that the flight was delayed and would leave by 10.30 AM. Time to hit the panic button once again.

I messaged Sruthi, who lived in Chennai, and asked her how far the venue was from the Airport. She informed me it was a good hours drive. Damn....more cause of worry, since I had to report at 1 PM. I just kept praying that it doesnt get delayed any further and boarded the flight which took off at 10.35 AM. Reached Chennai at 11.40 AM, darted off towards the pre-paid taxi stand and blurted out "Wallajah Road".... The man at the counter had no clue and kept calling it "Balaji Road". I called up Sruthi once again so that she could spell it out to him. I took the cab and probably roamed a quarter of Chennai, getting lost and finally finding this place at about 1.10 PM. I was relieved that the interviews hadn't gotten underway yet.

All those present were made to sit in a room and I got to experience what Sruthi had messaged me a day earlier: "I feel like I'm waiting at the dentist's". I had good company, in the form of faces I recognised from the Hyderabad entrance. Met Trinna and she is this amazing, cherubic young girl. And just waited for my turn. Every time the door opened and the person last interviewed came in, people kept hounding them for the kind of questions that were asked. I got a fair idea of how things might go for me, and I decided to just speak my mind, no matter what was asked.

Then my name was announced at around 3.10 AM. Although hungry and tired earlier, I had forgotten that all I had that day was Cold Coffee, and confidently walked into the room labelled "Panel B". No sooner had I entered, I was greeted by the sight of 7 intimidatingly smiling faculty members of the college.

They were very nice. It was pretty casual and I am still trying to gauge what they were trying to asses by asking me about movies and sports. I was confident, spoke without any fear and just said whatever came to my mind. I dont really know if that would help me gain a seat at this prestigious college, but I tried. I took the 6.20 PM Air India flight back home and reached around 9 PM after the 1.5 hour long bus trip.

The results would be out tomorrow i.e 16th June 2009, and I dont know if I make the grade. I am not too bothered as of now, I have my options open at Manorama. But getting into ACJ would be nice, given its reputation amond Journalism colleges. So wish me luck :)

Phew this was a long post I believe. Just wanted to post it on the eve of the results. Have fun guys. Cheers :)

This is what has been happening..

2009-06-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know I've been away for quite sometime now. Ready to give my explanations and excuses :P :P You ready to hear them??

Firstly, as some of you who have been in touch with me via Facebook or mails or Gtalk, know about the current event in my life. For those who didn't know, I decided to come clean and tell my parents that I am in love with someone, he makes me extremely happy and he is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. His name is Snehal Kumar Patel and he is from Ahmedabad. I fidgeted for hours sitting next to my father before finally breaking the news to him...and in this fashion:

"Errr...ummm....Papaaaaa....Mujhe ek ladka pasand hai....." :P :P Looking back, I cant believe that's how I started introducing my Mr Right to my father. I was worried he might say something, but his reaction was pleasant, unexpected and quite contrary to what I had been imagining thus far. He had a wonderful smile on his face and within 10 mins he had concocted the details of when the engagement will be, and the wedding and other details. I had to put the breaks on his thinking process and remind him that I need to finish my studies this year and then we can plan it accordingly. And I need to meet his parents too...which will happen by the end of this month.

The only reason I was telling my parents about Snehal before I started college was the fact that my parents have always encouraged me to come out clean and tell them everything and anything under the sun that pertains to me and my life. I didnt want to keep them in dark and let them know after a year or so. It is never too soon or too late, as I found that out.

My mother's reaction....well she is still trying to digest this peice of information. She always knew that some day I would come and tell her about someone I liked. But when the day arrived, she is having that motherly difficulties and realisation that her daughter is slipping away from her (that is how she put it).

Snehal was here in Hyderabad from 5th to 7th of June. He met my parents, sister, my cousin brother and aunt. Everyone loved him.... he has become Mr Popular in his own sense here with my family members. I'm glad they appreciate him as the person he is and they could see exactly why I admire, love and respect him :) :)

Ok I must stop this mushiness now.... I can be at it all day. ;)

The other major event has been Entrance exams for various Journalism colleges. I'm down to either Manorama School of Communication or Asian College of Journalism. Either way, I am getting out of Hyderabad within a month's time...phew!!!

Asian College had a panel interview....7 people "sweetly grilled" me on my application on 11th of June. It was a rather adventurous day, one of those days where I survived only on Coffee...I didnt think I was capable of doing that up until that day :P

More on the Asian College interview soon....watch out for this space. I'm hungry right now... Leaving you guys with this pic of "Me and Mr Patel" :) :) (Chashmish log) :P

Cheers everyone :)

Who let the DOC out?

2009-05-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

Hellos Hellos Hellos all around.

Last night at 12, I had a special 30 second screening of this movie I had been really looking forward to watching.

Its about this young doctor, who learns about food, love, relationship...and eventually salvation.

The Story is about Nithin Jayan a.k.a Kochu, who sets out on his journey into the big bad world. He meets "Miss Red Dancing no-hood" and soon realises that life has different plans for him than he had thought out. He looks for peace, salvation and finally gives up red riding hood to find a shiny red car.

Interesting story really, since its about a doctor and yet, no white coats around :P :P

Anyways, it is being released on the story's protagonist's birthday i.e 30th May 2009, at hospitals near you. Since the protagonist is a celebrity blogger and my favourite blogger too, I decided to dedicate today's post to him.

So Happy Birthday Kochu!!! ;)

Never mind my stupid attempt at being smart :P :P I hope I am still up for the life-long free consultation after this :D :D :D

Happpyyyyyy Birthday sweetheart..... Have a wonderful day ahead....and an even more wonderful life ahead delivering the "Osamas and Obamas of the world"....cheers mate!! :)

Here, there and Everywhere...!!

2009-05-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

Well lots to write about, so lets get started shall we??

As many of you are aware I had the entrance test for Asian College of Journalism this sunday. It consisted of two parts - English and General Knowledge. After the initial preparation, I was tensed about how well I'd do in the English paper. For some reason, I was relatively confident about my General awareness. And lo... over confidence struck again. Keeping in mind the pattern of the MASCOM entrance (which had multiple choice bits), I thought Asian's test would be on the same lines and should be relatively easier. Hell No!! There were no multiple choices, and the questions... well lets see how many of you can answer these without googling.

1. Who is the newly elected President of South Africa?

2. Who is the Prime Minister of Thailand?

3. Who got elected as the President of Zimbabwe on a power sharing basis with Robert Mugabe?

Ehhhh???

What the......?? I didn't know whether I should laugh at cry at myself. Left it all to fate now, so the coming few weeks should seal my future. Further comparing these exams, I had gone to appear for the MASCOM entrance in Chennai as they didnt have a centre in Hyderabad. The ACJ entrance was at THE HINDU office in Hyderabad. The initial reaction of everyone when I spoke to about ACJ being my first choice, was "Oh Chennai is a horrible city and people are so aloof and unfriendly...Dont go there...Go to Bangalore". Huh?? No one was talking at the THE HINDU office before or after ACJ entrance, while I met some really super cool people at the MASCOM entrance. I liked Chennai better I say. The wait is on for results of these exams, which should be out in a week or two. Lets see how it goes.

Secondly, what wrong with people? Why should there be a shutdown of entire Punjab because there was a shoot out in Vienna of all places?? I know it was a gurudwara and a major religious leader there was shot dead. What is the point of burning trains, vandalizing shops, looting here?? Is it making any sort of difference? Mom said last night that "There are loads of people to ignite hatred on religious lines, and people listen to them. No one listens to the one who wants to find an end with peaceful means". Right on I say. Lets see what develops further.

Thirdly, I was proudly announcing to every Tina, Dimpy and Mary who'd listen that "We dont have any power cuts in our area...this summer has been reeeeaaaalllly good!!" Haah!!! Ever since that, I seem to have cursed myself. One of these days there was a power cut from evening six to morning 8 owing to rains. And not to mention the frequent power cuts, all day, ranging anywhere from 5 to 50 mins more than 3 times a day.

The Worst part of it all was, I had decided I'd follow IPL only if the Chargers made it to the Semis. I was looking forward to spend some quality time with Papa and enjoy the Finals match with him, coz when its cricket....and the slam bang cricket at that.... Papa is as excited as a kid who's won a jackpot of video games. I absolutely love those times. And thanks to 1mm rain, there was no power and we missed over 3 to 16. Papa had gone back to sleep and I saw the match all by myself. It was fun, but not the same. He woke up and came to watch the closing ceremony I guess.

Ok now I must end things here. Hope everyone is doing great. And yes, if someone can please please please advice me on what to do about the billion lizards in my house, I'd be your blog slave for life... :P HELP!!!

P.S. I'm still reading Shashi Tharoor...seriously want to chuck it, but then.... :|

Who's keeping the count, I say??

2009-05-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

My current fixation with the English language and its ever astonishing vocabulary continues to amaze me. This time, thankfully not due to Mr. Tharoor (I'm getting a grip on myself now after reading Sawan's comment in the previous post :D).

I was reading MANORAMA YEARBOOK (2009 edition) today. One of the pages had this footer titled "A New Word Every 98 minutes". On reading it further, I found out that the English language was set to reach its 1 Millionth word by April 2009 (which just went by). Apparently, a new English word is created every 98 minutes and as at the time of printing the compilation (MANORAMA YEARBOOK) in late 2008, the word count stood at 995,844.

I decided to google and try to get behind this story and enlighten myself a little bit.

So who exactly is keeping the count?? The answer is: A company called The Global Language Monitor based in Austin, Texas which keeps an eye on the use of languages, English primarily, and monitors frequent changes to the same. I mean seriously, that's an actual company and that's an actual job!!!

But how can one be so certain that English doesn't already have a million words? After I read Mr. Tharoor, I wondered how many million words in English am I not aware of? And what exactly is the yardstick for constituting a "word"?

There are several dictionaries available in the market: Oxford, Merriam Websters etc. The Unabridged versions of these put the tally of words anywhere between 450,000 to 650,000. Both of them contain certain disputable terms. For instance: "OK" or "ain't". I remember I had used "ain't" while writing an essay in class 11 English paper and was promptly summoned by my English teacher: "You're writing English, not "Smriti's English"."

A lot of controversy surrounds this claim as many English words are often derived from other languages, and hence there is noise in a few quarters about the genuiness of these words. Some people have also claimed that English might have already passed that figure.

Whatever might be the case, my knowledge of words in English language stands at a few thousand perhaps. Meanwhile, The Global Language Monitor website has installed a countdown anticipating the 1 Millionth Word to be inducted into the English Language on June 10th, 2009 at 10.22 AM.

So much fuss. I'm not complaining. I can't. I found something to blog about.

Oh, if you want to know, the words competiting for that prestigious 1 Millionth Spot are:

DEFOLLOW

DEFRIEND

NOOB

Apparently, the odds highly favour "NOOB" and it might just become word number 1 Million. I just hope there isn't an Anil Kapoor Clone around shouting out the 1 Millionth word followed by "Millllionaaare". I've had enough of the word "Million" for this lifetime at least.

And IF I had it my way, I'd let the 1 Millionth Word be "Baaaaaaaaah"!!!

Wonderful Words

2009-05-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Apologies that I couldn't really think of a better title... just like a week ago I couldn't think of words to write in the MASCOM entrance.

A week ago I was in Chennai to write the MASCOM entrance test. I had the morning 6.30 flight from Shamshabad Airport, which meant I had to be there by 5.30. Anyone who has been the new and swanky RGIA (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport), would be aware that it takes about an hour or more to reach there...off peak hours. I woke up at 3 and took the 4.30 bus to the airport. After a mad dash for my boarding pass, thanks to some momma magic, I had comfortable Executive Class seats to Chennai. I was sleepy and tired but couldn't sleep due to all the anxiety in anticipation of the exam.

From the airport, I took a cab to Mount Road or Anna Salai as they call it. Reached the exam venue a good hour and a half before the exam. Got talking to a few people there and everyone was as anxious as I was, since no one knew what would the question pattern be like.

We were shifted from Malayalee Manorama office to another place at Stirling Road. The first part of the exam consisted of test of english language and for the first time I realised the set-backs to my writing skills. I never use big words, coz frankly I dont understand them. I didnt realise the importance of the same until I gave that exam.

In the test for English and Vocabulary, I managed to do the grammer part well enough to say that this was the area I would undoubtedly score in. Then there were segments during which I wished I had taken the Thesaurus with me. I did alright on those parts, but it just made me realise how much I had been taking for granted. I still have Asian College of Journalism's entrance in a week's time, and I've been trying to sort out that area of my writing.

The General Awareness part was the easiest one, multiple choice mostly. Once done with the exam, I headed back to the airport, took my boarding pass about 3 hours before the flight's departure time (6.20 pm) and just went around wandering like a lunatic at the Chennai Airport. Thank god for the Higginbothams book store at the airport, I enjoyed picking up a few. I wanted to resist the temptation to buy another book for myself, but when I laid my eyes on INDIA: FROM MIDNIGHT TO THE MILLENNIUM AND BEYOND by Shashi Tharoor, I just couldn't stop myself. I picked it up on a whim and have been hooked on to the same for the past week.

By the way, I think either Shashi Tharoor has a super vocabulary or he sleeps with Thesaurus next to him. 10 pages into the book and I started my page 11 with a post-it pad and Dictionary next to me.

Here are the few new words I picked up, which I doubt if I will ever ever ever use:

ONEIRODYNIA : Intense mental disturbance or distress associated with dreaming.

ESOTERIC : belonging to the select few.

INIQUITOUS : characterized by injustice or wickedness; wicked; sinful.

PHOENICIANS : a native or inhabitant of Phoenicia.

BELABOR : to explain, worry about, or work at (something) repeatedly or more than is necessary

DERACINATED : To displace from one's native or accustomed environment.

PHILISTINISM : lacking in or hostile to culture.

and I am still on page 82 out of 362!! Phew!!

It is an interesting read thus far. I'm still preparing for my entrance next week and not feeling too good about it. Lets see how it goes from here.

Cheers!

Aurangabad Trip --> Back to Blogging

2009-05-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know I have been away for almost a month, not visiting any blogs, nor posting any of my own. Been a hectic past few weeks, with a long awaited trip to Aurangabad, pending assignments, my 23rd birthday and then the entrance exams. Phew!! Not much I say.

Lets just cover the Aurangabad Trip today. I reached there on the 18th of April, the train fashionably late by over an hour. Sari Bua and Reggie fufaji were at the station to pick me up past midnight. Once I reached their home, I was greeted by the oh-so-adorable and excited Benji. I fear canines....make that "used to"...thanks to Benji now :)

19th to 23rd went mostly in finishing my assignments which I had carried along with me on the trip. We had a few sessions of IPL , Formula One and shopping at various places that Sari Bua took me. I also learnt a new method of making tea (some of you might already be knowing the same, but new to me...so...). :P Also checked out Sari bua's amazing new home (Still under construction....but was blown away by the view...majestic!!)

My friend Snehal arrived from Ahmedabad on 24th and we decided to let him rest a while (16 hour bus journey is no easy feat!!! Especially in this heat!!). We decided we'll start our sight seeing with the nearest spots of interest.

First up -----> Bibi Ka Maqbara

Sari Bua calls it a "SAD LOOKING TAJ MAHAL". Indeed it does has an uncanny resemblence to the famous monument of Love. It was built by Prince Azam Shah, Aurangzeb's Son, for his mother. I overheard a guide refer to it as a "Poor man's Taj Mahal". Yeah it does seem so. I was telling Snehal that it looks like they squeezed up the Taj on available piece of land... I dont really understand the fuss behind Taj, I've been there 3 times and I could find absolutely nothing there that impressed me. Then again, personal opinion.

As with most other monuments of India that isnt under the "World Heritage" or the "Archaelogical Survey of India" radar (it must be, but probably not so important...), the place was unkempt and neglected. Even so, the minarets were quite impressive (probably coz I havent been to the Taj in over 10 years now and havent been remotely close to a minaret in...god knows how long a time).

We spent about quarter of an hour at Bibi ka Maqbara and decided to head for our next stop.

-------->Paan Chakki<--------------

When we arrived at this place, we were actually wandering around like silly tourists and trying to figure out what we were looking for. We just asked the auto wallah to drop us off at Paan Chakki and when we reached the place, well...there it was right in front of us. A 17th century structure of Medieval Engineering. Google it if you like, as we ourself didn't spend more than five minutes here.

It was probably the chicken I ate the previous night and I had begun to have some sort of stomach cramps. We initially decided to head back home after Bibi ka Maqbara and Paan Chakki. Having saved ample time after the disappointment that was Paan Chakki, we decided to cover the "Aurangabad Caves". It was supposedly a 6 kms walk away from Paan Chakki, but thanks to my tantrums ("I dont feel like walking so much in this heat"), we took an auto to this destination.

--------->Aurangabad Caves<--------------

This was the best part of the day's trip. We reached just about in time for the caves to close, but we managed to rush up there anyways. Buddhist sculptures lined up everywhere and it was a mini-ajanta of sorts. Really nice, and the view of the city from up there was pretty amazing.

We returned home, a little tired, a little hungry and very very very thirsty. Headed out for dinner with Sari bua and Reggie fufa, to this Rajasthani Joint called "Thaat-baat". Not being a foodie, I didnt really enjoy the food....Snehal, Fufa and Bua did. We retired early for the night, as we had the bus to catch next morning to Ajanta Caves.

------>Ajanta Caves<-------

Snehal was royally woken up by Benji at 4 AM or so. Of course I was Benji's next target when he came to the room I was sleeping in and woke me up too. We started pretty early at around 7.30 AM to take the bus from a nearby place. A two hour journey, and I might have bored Snehal by falling asleep, thanks to my nausea. When we finally reached Ajanta, it was hot as hell. Lots of monkeys around and I was dreading the long steps, yet again.

The caves were pretty awesome. Buddhist sculptures and paintings lined the magnificent caves. Thank goodness for the guide, we had a pretty good time trying to understand the paintings....otherwise I am sure I wouldnt know a damp patch from a painting. We made our way back at around 3 PM and were back in the city at 5.30. We had some rest and got ready again to celebrate Sari bua and Reggie fufa's 28th Wedding anniversary

---------> Sari Bua and Reggie Fufa's anniversary <------------

We went to this restaurant Amarpreet, where apparently you get the best non vegetarian food. I had some tasty cheese dumpling kind of thing, I dont recall the name....but it was pure heaven....yummmm. I also tried "screw driver"...can safely say I aint trying that one again. It was a nice time that the four of us spent. I might sound cliched but I sometimes wonder when I am married for 28 years, will I have the same kind of love that these two share?? I mean its the kind of love one can actually feel by just being in their presence. Same goes for Appu and Kalyan. :)

We went back home, clicked a few pics and retired for the night with Ellora on our agenda for the next day.

------>Ellora Caves<-------

We started around 8 in the morning for Ellora Caves. Weather wasnt too bad and the four of us took Reggie Fufa's grey goose (Lancer). Amazingly smooth vehicle....very very comfortable, I fell in love with it. On our way to Ellora, we saw Daulatabad Fort from a distance. Iwish I could climb up there, but my fitness .... baaah lets not go there :P

Snehal got out of the car to take the pics of the fort. Something about ruins and forts presents an impressive image....all the past glory that withstood the test of time. We proceeded towards the caves and I must say, they were a thousand times better than Ajanta.

I had a sort of "Buddha Overdose" after Ajanta, and seeing other sculptures was a sight for sore eyes.

The carvings were impressive to say the least. If I could live there, I gladly would.

These are few of the pics that I absolutely loved. Snehal was like a tour guide to me and kept me busy with the "Dashavataras" and other stories. For a software engineer, he sure has his mythology in place :P

-------->Mhaismal<---------

Mhaismal was this beautiful place about 12 kms away from Khuldabad. Its 1067m above sea-level and is a sort of hill station. It was the coolest place in all of Aurangabad (apart from Sari Bua's home of course!! :P). The view was amazing, the wind was amazing....in short, everything about the place was amazing. It was s quiet that you could hear the birds chirping. And you could also hear the wind......awwwssoome. We spent a few mins there and made our way back to have lunch.

After lunch, we started packing our bags. Snehal was leaving on the same day for Ahmedabad. Me and Sari bua had a train to catch at 4 the next morning. So after a much needed rest, packing of bags, wasting time online...it was time to bid Snehal goodbye and thank him for the amazing company he gave me the past three days.

Once he left, I spent some quality time with my darling....Benji. He had finally tired out of chewing my socks and lay at my feet most times, as if knowing that fact that we'll be gone tomorrow. He is sooooo adorable... Just love him immensely. Reggie Fufa commented: "I never imagined I'll be seeing Dolly play with Benji....remember how she was jumping around in fear on the first day and see her now". Yeah well... Thats Benji Magic talking :D

For more pics (All clicked by Mr Patel ;)), go HERE

All in all, the trip was pretty tiring but a lot of fun too. Sari bua and me came to the Hyderabad. We celebrated my 23rd birthday on 3rd May and she returned on 4th. After that, its been exams and preparations.

I'll be slowly going around all the blogs soon. Just to remind everyone...I am invisible, not dead ;)

Cheers!!

A Voter's diary: ELECTIONS 2009

2009-04-16T02:41:00.000-07:00

It is election time and I just returned after casting my vote. :) This was the first time I voted and certainly isn't going to be my last. It was an amazing experience though, standing there in the queue and looking at all the faces, young and old...rich and poor. Just there to exercise their franchise... even after knowing that it may or may not make a difference... Yet they were all there.

And I was there too....Grinning away and waiting for my Mom to click, who was too scared to take a pic. She thought it wasn't allowed and kept looking around to see if anyone was watching her. It was a great feeling standing between people of two completely different backgrounds. A housewife was jovially talking to her house-maid, and asking her if she needs water, and if she is casting her vote for the "RIGHT CANDIDATE"...whoever that was.

I stay in a very "posh" colony, with beautiful houses and people with a lot of money. The area around it is completely opposite. It consists of this small belt called THE YAPRAL VILLAGE. That is where most of our household helpers and workers for petty jobs reside. Its like two sides of the same coin. This old man here in the picture below sat with his grandson, after casting his vote. He noticed I was clicking this pic, and he motioned his granchild to look towards the camera and smile. It was one of those overwhelming moments, to see this sight.

This lone policeman was trying his best to maintain order at the polling station. There was an occassional bunch of the so-called educated modern women who kept wanting to cut the line, get in and vote. They seemed to have come direct from the beauty parlour types...all shiny and prim and proper, who were too worried about standing in the sun and getting tanned :P :P ..This man, stood firm and didnt allow anyone except senior citizens and people who were sick. There was a young lady who had just got a C-section done few days ago and couldn't stand in line, she was let through to vote. I felt good about coming in to vote :)

This aunty too had come to vote, her grandchildren drove her right up till the room where she was to vote. At her age, she walked in the scorching mid-day heat and came to vote. So many youngsters, my age and older argued that it is worthless to vote. What does she get after voting?? But she still came. Would you call her a fool to vote?? WOULD YOU DARE??

These young kids were intently watching the proceedings, quitely sitting in one corner and waiting for their parents to cast their votes. The lines for males and females was separate, and no one seemed to grumble about the heat. I saw a lot of smiling faces. Maybe they hope for change and vote with the belief that their votes matter. These were some of the daily wage hourly paid labourers, who left their work for one day and came to stand in the queue and losing a few precious hours of earnings. Yet they came to vote. They looked at strangers and smiled all through...they were more than helpful in informing others about the procedures to vote and the rooms to go to.

This 11 year old was bringing water for her parents when they were standing in line, and also for complete strangers, who requested her. It was lovely to see her obliging and doing her bit in this election. She wasnt eligible to vote....but she played a part.

This is our colony's caretaker, Patel Uncle. Such a wonderful soul. He came to the polling station that was about 4 kms from our colony and ensured that all those who came to vote, from our colony that is, faced no problems at all. Just included his pic coz I felt like putting it here. Jai Shri Krishna Patel Uncle :)

This was the polling station. A Primary school. I wish I could go inside and take more pictures but I was getting a little restless too. I went on an empty stomach and was very very hungry(that is irrelevent now considering there were plenty such other people...I am spoilt :( ). I managed to see a few classrooms and I was pleased that underpriviledged kids do have some decent infrastructure in place. It wasnt as bad a government school building as I had imagined.

All in all, I felt great to have been able to exercise my right to vote. I am happy that I did. After seeing all the people who came to vote, I realised its not about expecting what the GOVERNMENT or the FOOLS WHO GET ELECTED will do for us. It may be flawed, it may be rigged, but it matters to me that I did what I was supposed to do. I stood in line with people of various ages, speaking various languages, having various dreams... doing one single thing. Exercising their right.

Today is the first day of polling in India...so in various other states, where elections are due, I urge everyone to vote. You need to vote....you need to take that time out. You need to make it count. I think I did a good thing. If anyone thinks otherwise, they are free to think so.

I stand my ground and I am proud to have voted.

PS: I like the mark of the indelible ink on my finger. I washed my hands after getting back home and even though I knew it wouldnt wash away soon, I was actually worried that it will go away. I feel good to see it there :P

Forgive Yourself Now, Will you??

2009-04-14T02:37:00.000-07:00

Why does it always happen that we know what we should be doing and we hardly take steps to do what we think is right?

Is it right then, to not take any action, while witnessing something insane and then probably having a talk about it with your mother, sister and then rambling it all out to the blogosphere?

I've been really happy lately, nothing perturbs me as easily as it used to. But yesterday I was furious, at myself, at somebody else. At myself for not doing anything. At someone else for doing what they did.

I live in a beautiful and peaceful locality. Every person who has even visited my place has said that it is pure bliss. I imagine that too. But yesterday's events just kept bothering me all night and right until this morning.

My next door neighbour is Papa's college friend. One of the main reasons why we shifted here was because of him. I have never liked him because to me, he seems like an arrogant man who only wants to do what he thinks is right and isn't willing to lend an ear to anyone else's opinion. Over the years, my mom has asked me to just try and not to lose my temper at anything that he says.

I mean alright. So you've seen the world and you are a millionaire. You claim to be a self-made man (I know you have wealth of your forefathers, stop kidding me!!). You step into my home and slam my career choices in front of my own father, who I am glad, is finally seeing that I want to do what makes me happy and he is very supportive. You tell me what I should be doing and how I should be doing. Who gives you the right to decide my life path?? Keep your opinions to yourself.

I tried to be cordial everytime, just because I do not want to ruin whatever friendship my father has with you. He respects you as a friend and accepts you for who you are. But I would like you to be away from preaching me, and telling me what shade colours I should put on my house when I get it painted, or what kind of flooring I need for renovations.

I am disgusted.

There's an aunty who lives two buildings away, right behind my home. She talks to me everytime she needs to ask me about something, through her wash area, which falls behind my home's parking area. She supplies daily tiffins for my mom, and I have been visiting her home every morning for the last 2 years. She has a daughter as old as me, who is basically running the hosuehold.

I admire this lady. She has a whole lot of marital problems and an abusive husband. I have silently witnessed a few jibes he takes at her and he does not work. Aunty tries to make an alternate living my providing tiffins to people around the area, or catering sometimes to parties in the locality. I enjoy a lot of her dishes and everytime there's a party at home, I go to her for the bulk cooking.

She began opening up to me a year ago and telling me everything that troubles her. One day she said "Please don't think anything, I say all this to you coz you are like a daughter to me". Unable to leave her husband, unable to fight, she suffers silently because she cannot see any other way out. I have seen her cry so many times in front of me and I could never even muster the courage to give her a hug. She talks about killing herself and dying but she is worried for her only daughter.

I respect aunty for what she does.

Yesterday, this uncle was getting the whole complex painted behind our houses. Aunty is a tenant in the complex in one of the row house complex. She wasn't informed that the complex was being painted. A mason got into the wash area through the open spaces and knocked off a few utensils. Alarmed, and alone, she was petrified of who or what might be present there. Finding the mason, she said the least someone could do was inform that the building was being painted, rather than give her such a fright.

The Mason went and complained to uncle who was in charge of getting the complex painted. He came out and flew into a rage and starting abusing aunty left and right with the choicest tirade of curses. He used such foul words in Hindi that I cannot even utter them without feeling disgusted. In the end of it he added, "You are a tenant, behave like a tenant. If you have a problem, go find some other place to live". Aunty kept talking to him saying, "Bhaiyya you cant talk to me like this. I just asked a simple question and why are you hurling abuses towards me". He didnt relent and went on and on and on.

In the end, aunty was the one who said "I am sorry bhaiyya, I am a poor person. Poor people like me dont get any respect". He didnt stop, and said "Are you doing a favour to me by being poor?". I am sure aunty would have closed the door behind her and went inside and cried alone, like many other times. It occurred to me what she had said yesterday morning, "Its my 25th Anniversary today. We are not going anywhere.".

I was taking bath when I heard a lot of shouting and screaming. I stopped the shower to hear better and this is what I heard. I was a silent witness yet again. A part of me said, "Get dressed, go out and defend her if you think that's the right thing to do. THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!! You dont like what he said, let it be known to him that he might have earned millions, he might be knowing the ways of the world, but he doesnt know how to earn respect. No matter how pissed off you are, no matter whatever is going on in your mind, there is a way to treat a woman, a humility, a kind of ettiquette and language that one maintains. I have no respect for people like him."

But even after that, I refrained. I didn't go up and express my abhorration for his conduct. My father's happiness and friendship with this man, triumphed over what I thought or felt about him. I felt like a failure, for not doing what I should have been doing. For not supporting someone who considers me her daughter. I kept thinking, would I have shut my mouth had he spoken the same way to my mother?? Definitely not!! Then why did I keep mum this time?

I spoke about it to mom, dad and even sis. I had a long chat with my sister and she said to me, "Learn to forgive and forget". Well are all made that way. We forgive. We forget. But what about the person who faced it? Will she forgive? Can she forget?

I have seen a million tears from her eyes, maybe I'll see more. I do not know if I can ever vindicate her, but mummy says "Be thankful that at least she has someone to talk to. What else can you do?". What else can I do?

I dont know if I was right or wrong in being a silent spectator. I may forget this someday. But this moment is a witness, that I didn't do something....and it adds up to the ever growing list of the things left undone!

Kids say the Darnedest Things :)

2009-04-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know I've been away for a while. Haven't really been too busy, just been a bit lazy. Most of my time goes in finishing up a few pending assignments and didn't want to blog just for the heck of it....

Coming to the title of the post, don't you think kids today are much more cooler, smarter, whackier, sharper, blahblahblah-ber than you and me were at their age?

Why this sudden interest in things that kids say?? Well I am coming to that in a bit.

I finally had a hair cut. The summer was getting to my nerves and couldn't maintain the long step-feather-lazer cut (that's what my aunt calls it...I'm not sure what it was, but I loved it :P). I now have a full feather cut, and no I dont look like a "kabootar" or pidgeon as some of you may call.

So, my aunt runs this beauty parlour and she is the only person who I've gone to for every single thing since I can remember. Last saturday I decided I wanted to get my hair shorter so she suggested a change in the hair cut. Feather cut. After I said yes, we got down to business.

Another customer arrived in the mean-time with her 7 year old daughter. They wanted a haircut too and my aunt was busy cutting my hair (it took an hour and a half to do so...my hair length is less than half of what it used to be :( SIGH!! SUMMER!!!)

The mother wanted a U-cut. The girl snapped in and said "No Mamma, go for step cut". My aunt said to the little girl that she could get it done, and let her Mother get a haircut of her choice. To this, the girl replied., "No, I want to see how it looks on her and how well you cut. After that I will get my hair cut".

At that age, my mom refused to let me grow my hair. Every few months, it was cut short. I think I took decisions on hair styles and cuts after I turned 16. I wondered, what would my mom tell me if I said something like that to her? :P Of course it was a different time...Tab hum masoom bachche the :P :P

The girl was wearing an poncho and every few mins she kept looking at herself in the mirror. Then suddenly she looked at her mom and said, "Mummy, Am I looking fat in this?". I dont know if I was amused or disturbed. Are kids these days getting much more conscious of their looks than their talents? Because this isnt an isolated case.

My 4-year old nephew, a few days ago, yelled out and said to me "Bua, I cant reach the wash basin. Lift me up so that I can wash my face". He looked spotlessly clean to me so the lazy me said, "You look fine, just go to tuition next door". His reaction was "Arre I need to wash my face....I need to look fair". He is, what I call, a male-version of snow white. I couldn't help but smile.

Kids these days :)

P.S : Erratic posts to continue for a while. Will try my best to read as many posts as I can. Hope everyone is doing well :)

P.P.S: I Met Renu aunty, my blog mother :) Had a real good time :)

The Legal Rights Dilemma

2009-04-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Should Kasab get a Lawyer?

This debate has been raging on almost anywhere and everywhere I go. And it is not just since Anjali Waghmare was appointed as Kasab's Lawyer, even before that, many lawyers had said they wouldn't take up Kasab's case.

I was watching the news last night with my family and was just thinking, should a woman be targetted for simply doing her job?? That I mean for Anjali Waghmare. Shiv Sena is nothing but a bunch of morons who have got their nationalistic ideals all wrong.

But what has happened to us? Why do we agree to the no-lawyer-for-Kasab stand?

If my personal opinion is asked, I think Kasab deserves the right to a fair trial, even though he has confessed to his crime and it is almost certain that he would be awarded nothing less than the gallows. Why do people think that he should not get a lawyer and he should simply be hanged directly?

Tell me, have you not heard of Naxals or even murderous terrorists laying their arms vountarily, and some of them being reformed? I am not saying reform Kasab. If he showed any kind of genuine remorse, I would still think it would have been a good idea to do so.... on paper. But in reality, no we will not let him be reformed even if he wanted to, coz he was among the many terrorists who carried out a heinous crime. Fair enough.

My point is NOT about reforming here. My point is, every person deserves a right to fair trial, no matter how brutal his crime is. There is a system in civilised society (if we can call ourselves that) and it needs to be followed in executing justice. Yes, I agree it will take a lot of court's time and money, which can be better utilised in solving other cases pending since god knows when.

Not to mention the media circus it would create. Someone mentioned on a news channel that media should not hype it so much and create a circus out of it, and Kasab should be publicly lynched. Now, that would not generate any kind of hype, isnt it??

I might be naive in saying so that not everyone is born a criminal. Circumstances compel them to take dangerously wrong paths, but that does not absolve them of their crimes. They need to pay a price for the crime they committed and for that, a proper system is the need of the hour. The rule of the mob isn't such a great idea. If we let them do it once, we open the door for such things to happen again.

A defence lawyer, in such a case, might best try to reduce the quantum of the sentence. Even she realises that it is already a lost battle, and yet she should do her duty. There is hardly any chance of Kasab getting anything less than a death sentence. But the sentence should be imparted in the way it is meant to be.

Didn't we do that during the 1993 blasts? Weren't all the perpetrators caught and evidence collected against them? Wasn't there a proper trial then? Did they not have a defence lawyer?

Then why the exception for Kasab when you know he will be given nothing less than death?

Why attack an innocent lawyer for doing what the highest authority, the legal system, in your country has asked her to do?

Do you think a doctor will refrain from doing his duty, if he sees a patient with blood oozing out of every single location of his body? He knows the patient WILL not survive, but he will still give him the basic first aid.

I am not defending Kasab here. I think he deserves nothing less than a death penalty. But it should be in accordance with the legal system in the country. Yes, someone mentioned about Md.Afzal, the parliament attack conspirator, and how he still has not been hanged.

I would jsut say that politics is such a sham in our country. They use terrorists on their agenda to degrade the other parties. But still, I would like Kasab properly tried in the court.

Maybe you would think I am delusional in my thinking and say my thoughts are not relevant. But these are purely my opinions on this matter.

I SAY HE SHOULD GET A LAWYER AND A FAIR TRIAL.

Surely would like to hear yours.

100+ Reading Challenge

2009-03-30T01:53:00.000-07:00

I found this link on Pratibha's blog and said, why not give this a try and let me see how many books I actually do read in a year (since...errr...I am always always reading like a geek :P)

For those who don't know, I also maintain a book review blog and it has been getting harder to maintain it alone, especially with the Formula One season starting. So anyone interested in writing reviews of the good books they read, feel free to drop in and I'll make you a contributor, with pleasure :)

So here's what I've read in 2009 so far:

(Will be continuously updating it)

1) A Long Way Gone (Ishmael Beah)

2) Man's search for Meaning (Viktor E Frankl)

3) My Revolutions (Hari Kunzru)

4) Moth Smoke (Mohsin Hamid)

5) Notes to Myself (Hugh Prather)

6) The Reader (Bernhard Schlink)

7) The Japanese Wife (Kunal Basu)

8) Descent into Chaos (Ahmed Rashid)

9) Train to Pakistan (Khushwant Singh)

10) Wise and Otherwise (Sudha Murthy)

11) Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)

12) Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)

13)

14)

15)

16)

17)

18)

19)

20)

Secret to reducing your age...!!!!

2009-03-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

Yes. You heard it right.

All you people, worried about growing older, balder, fatter, thinner...whatever.

Remember the time when you were 18, 19, 20...or even 30?? Dont you wish you could go back to those days and be young again?? Wouldn't you absolutely love it to be sweet 16?? Well I dont claim it will work that well but it sure is effective to a reasonable extent.

I have discovered a miraculous, non-scientific and non-surgical way of reducing age...as have many other people in India. As far as my experience goes, this is available only in India and its almost free of cost.

Though I may warn you that it is not without its share of hassles. The waiting period for me has been more than what the TATAs are quoting for NANO. And there might be minor hiccups which will be explained in detail as you read.

Believe me. It worked for me. My age has been knocked off by 2 precious years and I am 21 again :D :D

Lets not keep the suspense going and reveal the magic formula..

Drumrolls...... :)

Presenting...

from the Makers of Indian General Elections 1951-2009

and still going strong...

THE INDIAN VOTER ID CARDS!!

Now let's hear some true stories:

Smriti : I was actually born in 1986 but my voter ID says its 1988. I cant believe my eyes. It works..it really does. And I get a bonus gift...My adress details say I reside in 3 different buildings in my locality. Wow!! That's some bargain.. this thing works, it really does!!

Gopal Srivastava: I was born in 1956 but as per my ID..its 1958...I'm thrilled...I wish I can put off retiring two more years thanks to this formula. And guess what?? I get to be my own father too!!!

There are plenty of such cases out there, a lot of people who've had their ages miraculously reduced.

However the minor glitches to this amazing service include long waiting periods to get the IDs, sometimes change in the spellings and sometimes change in gender as well. Also, your father can become your mother, your mother become your father or you might end up being the mother of your father. But these are minor glitches. Small price for getting your age reduced.

So try it today. Check with Election Commission for further details.

Believe me. It works!!!

DISCLAIMER: I know it would be a daunting task for an Election commission to create a database of such a large pool of eligible voters and mistakes are bound to happen. But I was just having fun with this. Cheerios!! :)

Time to fall in Love again

2009-03-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

Its wednesday already and I will start falling in love again in about 3 days time.

Formula One season 2009 kicks off on Saturday with the Australian Grand Prix and I am getting excited at the prospects of McLaren not having such a great car. Hi hi hi. And no I dont want Kimi to win this year. One Champion title is enough. Lets hope some of the other guys (Jenson, Barrichello, Kubica) get their due. Brawn GP is looking really good so lets wait and watch for the season to kick off to have a fair idea of things. :)

Alright, I know this isnt my F1 blog and I should not rant F1, but that's the only thing I am looking forward to lately. I was really missing Bani the other day, with all his F1 commentary and his unbelievable technical know how. It has been kinda hard to finish my F1 blog without him around and I know it wont be done before the season opener race. :(

Yeah everyone is talking about IPL but I dont watch cricket lately. It still had its place with F1 and Tennis in my books, but that kinda got lost after the disaster of the last world cup. Was still watching it, but since Dada and Shaun retired, it hasnt been the same for me.

Divya was here yesterday and we had a lot of fun.... I hope. :) We watched SINGING IN THE RAIN (1952). Its a wonderful movie and I recommend it to everyone who loves movies. :)

Ok I need you guys to help me out here. My sister is toothpick thin and she gets really bugged with people looking at her and exclaiming "ohhh how thin you've become!!!!". She's 18 and I guess, now these comments have started to prick. We tell her she'll put on weight with time, since both mom and me were really thin until our graduation. So was dad. Now look at us fatsos. She eats well but is selective in her diet...appetite is normal...what am I doing here? Narrating it as if narrating to a doctor? Alright guys, please tell her something...esp those who put on a lot of weight after being thin :P

She said she wants to check out who the thinnest person in the world was? Coz she thinks she might just qualify. I dont think so.

Alright enough from me for now. And yes it is time for me to fall in love with Kimi again :) So this is a warning to all my blogger pals that there are chances of Kimi overdose in the upcoming posts. Kindly be on your guard. :)

Cheers everyone!! :)

P.S. Sam, ho gaya naya post ji!!! Ab bolo :D

Waiting to Die

2009-03-18T01:52:00.000-07:00

"Goody has few weeks to live"

"Goody has days to live"

"Goody in her final hours"

These were some of the headlines I read in the "International news" segment of newspapers that I get. NDTV had a news feature on her today and it just got me wondering a lot of things.

For those who do not know what I am talking about, let me brief you a little bit.

Remember Jade Goody, the participant on UK reality TV show "Big Brother" who came under a lot of fire for her racial remarks on co-participant Shilpa Shetty? She decided to take part in the Indian version of the show and soon discovered that she was suffering from Cervical cancer. Ever since the discovery of this fatal condition, she is yet again in the news, with her publicists informing the press about her deteriorating condition on a daily basis. The life and death of Jade Goody will be broadcast on TV channels and reporters wait outside her hospital 24/7 for any news whatsoever.

She has two children from a previous marriage and married her boyfriend in February this year.

Now this got me thinking as to what goes on inside a person's mind when they know that their death is near and the doctors give you a time line of so and so days to live? And the way media is making news out of one person's misery, I do not know but it seems very insensitive to me. I followed the whole BIG BROTHER fiasco with as much interest as I follow any other news. Yes I did not like the things she said to Shilpa Shetty, who is not a saint herself either. Save for THE AMAZING RACE, I have never watched any other reality TV show with any sort of enthusiasm.

I mean we talk about privacy of celebrities and their lives. Surely death is another such moment -- if not for them, at least for their families. I know Jade herself publicised the events as they unfolded, but the way media is waiting for any sort of updates just seems to me like they are asking just one question - "When will she die??".

Maybe it is just me and my demented thoughts, but I really feel sorry for the sad state of things in our times. One cannot even die in peace. I cannot even try to imagine what her family is going through....and her children. I do not know much about the kind of person that Mrs Goody is, or if the tabloids have made her so... but fact remains that she is going to die and I just wished the media didn't make it a circus-like event.

P.S. Posting after a long time, hope all of you are doing good. :)

More than That... :)

2009-03-05T11:48:00.001-08:00

It's my foodie-goodie Nik's birthday today. :)

I just returned from a wedding, still coughing my head off and had something that I should have resisted but could not. :P

Ah, Nik. Or Nikhil Moyal. The guy-friend I am most senti about in the whole wide world.... and was once very very possessive about (not anymore, thankfully :p...)

Nik, is the kind of friend I have actually messaged at 2 in the morning to talk about every little stupid miserable event of my life. Still do sometimes. Have been doing since my teens. The guy I get most furious with, shout the most at, spend most of my time with, someone who is an ever-ready partner for a movie in the theatres. Going to whose place feels like being home. The guy I can annoy and annoy and still get away....sadly :( He just wont shout back at you for behaving stupidly....coz he behaves that way too at times :P Isnt it true Niks??

But above all, he is a friend... who always listened to me, when I needed listening...without jumping in and telling me what he thought. A friend, whose hug feels like the protection of an older brother... but he isnt one, mind you :P Whose admonition is in his way of sarcasm, and care, the only way he knows...with an open heart. Darsh, you're one lucky girl!! :) :) :)

Cant believe you just turned 26....Buddhe!!! Shaadi kar le re!! :P Ab tak chhabbis!! :P

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKS... LOVE YOU LOADS!! :)

WISH YOU ALL THE HAPPINESS AND GOOD FOOD IN THE WORLD!! :P CHEERS!! :)

What the....

2009-03-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

102 degrees... cough cough cough.....aaaacchhhoooo!!

Thats been me for the past 4 days. Today 2 degrees lesser but cough cough cough and aaaacchhoooo....FULL ON!!

Just trying to keep it short here. Trying to write as much my mind is willing to write. But given my habit of writing in detail, no guarantees.

Alankar called me up today and tells me "You sound like Kishore Kumar". I say, make me say another sentence and I might just start sounding like Bappi Lahiri. Yeah he'll like that!! :P

Was asleep all of Saturday. Record. Have not done that in...I dunno...since the first few days of my life on this earth. Have had a total of 4 meals in the last 4 days but have managed to drink up an ocean almost...dont ask me which one....I'll tell you about it when another glacier melts at the pole.

Been trying to read posts and comment on as many as possible. Have commented on few and left apologies on many. (Rakesh and Jiggy....yaar concession de do....heavy heavy posts hai aap logo ke... :p)

Finished reading MY REVOLUTIONS by Hari Kunzru and now on to THE READER by Bernhard Schlink. I also got TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Mitch Albom, so Hemz, you will have to get me something else...just couldnt resist picking it up :)

Cough Cough... Was watching some soap on TV with mom and commenting something a while ago.... realised with this kind of voice I should shut up for the time being. Its a scene where someone has died and I am trying to make a smart-ass comment but end up sounding like I am crying myself. So...husssshhh!!

Murthy Uncle was here to see me in the evening, advising me on the medicines I should take...and return a few DVDs he had borrowed. Gave me a crash course on alcohol I can take and in what quantity (in limit!!). If only Mom and Dad were around when he was giving me those lessons, I would have loved to see their reaction :P Murthy Uncle is very nice by the way...very very cool. I hear Rum is good for cold, isnt it...what say mom?? :P [In MY head, I can already hear her say: "ladki haath se nikal gayi hai" :P]

Yesterday's newspaper had a picture of Kylie Minogue and Akki Baby, posing for some movie they are shooting..BLUE I think thats what its named. Kylie's smile suddenly made me aware I have bunny teeth like hers... Well I know I have bunny teeth, I brush and notice them everyday. Havent thought about it lately, coz I have gotten used to getting my pics taken with my mouth shut. Someone tell me how to have a gorgeous smile like Kylie's with Bunny teeth like mine... I'd like to do a little HAPPYDENT WHITE promotion myself, thank you very much.

Cough Cough...another bout.

Have to replace D-COLD TOTAL in the medicine cabinet first thing tomorrow morning. Just noticed I ran out of it. I'm still a little weak, though I can drive up to the pharmacy, thank you very much. :)

Vinay, I am still reading....just not commenting....I am running out of adjectives to describe your talent, you are just awesome!! I can do a re-run of adjectives if you like...But I assure you, I am still reading :)

Nancy's post today made me realise how much I love Diva....and also hate her.....but Love her more....god!! Grrrr ... :P Wanted to call, but as usual, too lazy to do that. Did I mention in the 25 things that I hardly make calls....I take them mostly...I'm not a phone person...haan if Diva calls, I always have a conversation....otherwise its...errr...ummm...what else? Nik knows it. We have been friends since I dont know when and on Shivratri we spoke on the phone for like 1.5 hours for the first time. BIIIIIG feat for the two of us.

Kochu, PJ are missing from action. I was gonna say the same about Anoop but he just came back and blogged...so, welcome back Anoop. :)

Mithe, still have to read the conclusion of the story.

Aditi, I hope more people are reading your wonderful blog.

Pratibha, one talented Naisaiku writer... absolutely loving your blogs lately.

Nikhil, your post made me laugh so much...I dont want to think about it. I still am giggling.

Sam...ho kya raha hai??? Bahut romantic posts chal rahe hai aajkal?? ;)

Blog Mum Renu, just wanted to give you a hug >:D<

Swats, Like the pic in the hat...looking cool :) And wonderful new post too!!

Val...still have to read ur 25 random habits..will comment soon.

Ria... I saw a pic of Beyonce today and it reminded me of you...I swear!! O_O

Anil, given any thoughts to the home decor yet?? ;)

Shalom... Thank god I am not the only person who loves cheese :)

Vee, Dostana was nominated for best picture at FILMFARE?? o_o BULL!! What is happening?

Rahul, hope practicals went well.

Neha...beta thoda to simple language mein likh diya kar!! :(

Rajesh, where have you gone?? ARR And Shreya, all winning awards :)

And I was thinking I can finally rest...my mind was constantly thinking of things to write and blogs to visit!!

Chalo Chalo bahut ho gaya...already coughing too much and going sniff sniff sniff. Will be back in action soon. Tab tak miss mat karna!!

ALL WELLS HERES :)

P.S-- Sourish....chal ab fir se first comment maar ;)

P.P.S --- Mummy, font theek hai ab?? Now dont come back home and tell, "Yeh kya bakwaas likha hai!!" :P

Picture Tag and Hi-25

2009-02-25T22:19:00.000-08:00

A lot of tags going around here...

First up: THE PICTURE TAG

MY Blog mother Renu tagged me for a picture tag.

RULES

Pick the 6th picture of your 6th photo folder.

Tell a story around it.

Pass it on to six other people you like.

Here goes:

Well this is a picture of me taken when I was a two year old. It was taken by photographers of an ad agency. It was basically to select a child for Apollo Hospital's advertisement. I was chosen and I featured in this ad of Apollo Hospital dated 22 December, 1988.

Not much story to revolve around this picture. As a pre-teen, I wanted to be fair skinned and beautiful like the fair and lovely ad girls. I dont remember where the notion was fed into me that fair is beautiful. My dadi used to say I was born fair but the over-exposure to sun completely ruined my appearance. I was hurt by it and for the longest of time I thought I was an ugly duckling. I wanted to be a beautiful swan. One day my aunt told me that I had appeared in an ad for Apollo Hospitals... My joy knew no bounds. Even if I had been 2 years old, the fact that I was in an ad just made me feel beautiful for that moment. I was happy. Years have passed and now beauty has a very different definition in my books -- far more greater than outward appearances. :)

NEXT UP: HI-25

This tag is everywhere. Facebook, blogs...you name it. Read too many this week and it feels like I've been reading the autobiographies of my fellow bloggers. Rakesh calls it the truth serum. Well I've been injected, the executors being Shalom, Nancy and My Space...here goes:

RULES

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more

1. I Cry when I'm extremely hungry. I wouldnt need to say a word....for some reason I have never been able to indicate verbally that I'm hungry. And its always via the boo-hoo-hoo network. Best time to see this event : Weddings in the family. Since we are all supposed to be making arrangements and nobody is supposed to feel hungry, the tears are a good indication. I get irritable and hungry and then there's a comment : "Dolly ko bhook lagi hai...koi khaana leke aao re..." :|

2. I counted. I have 39 dozen bangles in 3 different boxes in my room. That is 39*12=468. How many times a year do I wear them?? Rarely...and when I do, its more than a dozen on both hands every time.... I'm a walking bangle shop at times, but I dont care...I like it :P

3. I dance when I'm cooking. I'm not a great dancer like Diva, or my family members, but I dont like to stand at one place and cook. I roam around the entire ground floor, through the dining area into the sitting room and back to the kitchen, in different yet clumsy movements, with

amused faces of my sister and mom fixed upon me through all the "latke-jhatkes"

4. Sometimes when I am really in a mood to shower my love on my parents, I start referring to them as "Pitashri" and "Matashri" and try to talk in "Shudh-Hindi"...often citing dialogues from "Chupke Chupke".

5. I love cheese. I eat maggie coz I love grated cheese on it. My sis says I've been bloating coz of all the cheese...but I dont care...I love cheese :P

6. I Should have a restraining order every month after a few visits to a book store. Odyssey at Vikrampuri better start giving me good discount. I have no control over my book buying. I enter

into a book store and I HAVE TO BUY a book. It feels like a crime to enter and not pick up something to read. I purchased 11 books in the last 25 days...and I have no clue when I am going to read them...refer my book blog for the books on my shelf.

7. I cannot tolerate spice. I eat the slightest of spicy food and the bathroom is my vacation home for the night....and there are frequent food disasters and stomach troubles that I have a song for it too : "Mummy Mummy, I Got trouble in my Tummy"!! :P

8. My all time favourite movie is LAMHE. Not many people know this, coz I always talk about "Chupke Chupke" or "Philadelphia"... But I absolutely love LAMHE.

9. I am obsessed with the color Lavendor. My room, my bedsheets, the curtains in my room....all Lavendor. I added more drapes to my room a few days ago, a lil shade of pinkish purples and lavendor. My sister now looks at the room and goes : It looks like a "Kotha"!! :|

10. I have too many perfumes which I hardly use. I love Deos....No I dont stink..yet :P My favourite is JOVAN WHITE MUSK. A few months ago it was priced at Rs 168. It was hard to find it at super markets and Health n Glow outlets. When I did manage to locate one, I said I'll

stock it up coz I might not find it again. The Price had gone up to Rs.265. I came back home with just one :(

11. I constantly want to keep re-arranging the furniture ....and also purge the old ones for new ones. Mom says I can do anything with the house when I start earning...yet she keeps asking me again and again for changes. So decision for the home decor is my area.

12. I have always had things easy. I always get what I want. I feel guilty that I shouldn't be this way but I always end up doing the thing I dont want to do. I always think of cutting up my credit cards and throwing them away but then Papa says not to do so...and I always go on a spending spree....I need some control.

13. I like White wine. If mom reads this , which she does at office sometimes, she'll know that I've tasted liquor most of the days of my stay at Singapore. And I made a crazy call to a certain someone. Vowed not to take drinks for the rest of my stay there... Took it once in front of my mom ...with her permission. Next time I wanted to take drinks at a party, she gave me a look and said: "Koi Nahi". :P

14. I rode a bi-cycle for the first time when I was in class 10. Before that I always used to ride a tricycle I had... :P I know...sounds funny. Then I graduated to the scooty directly after trying the cycle for like 3 times.

15. I have never travelled in an RTC bus in any place in India. I've only gone for school trips in school buses and a trip to Goa from school in a tour-guide-operated bus. Planning to get onto a Hyderabad local bus before my 23rd Birthday.

16. I absolutely hate recieving show-peices as gifts. I love cards....and books....and Ferrero Rocher. I'd rather have it "NO GIFTS" rather than such things.

17. I am terrified of Deep Waters....Rivers, Seas, Oceans or even wells. I used to think that I might have drowned to my death in a previous life and that's why I have this phobia. That is one reason why I havent learnt swimming. But since the summer is already here and I might be leaving Hyderabad in a few months, I think I must finally learn.

18. I love Ginger Garlic paste. I Like to use it in most dishes I cook....salty ones of course.

19. I used to be in love with Ajay Devgan when I saw Phool aur Kaante. I used to go around singing "Maine Pyaar tumhi se kiya hai" and used to think Madhu is gorgeous and wanted to be like her. I saw the song today while flipping channels and wanted to kill the makers and music composers of the movie.

20. I used to crack stupid jokes in order to get people to like me... and it usually worked. Sigh, I think I've lost all that now :P

21. I miss my Dadi more than anyone else in the world. Mom was cleaning out her closet a few days ago and found the wedding "Chunari" that Dadi put on her while she was getting married. I knicked it from her and let it be known that I want it over my head when I get married. And I had a lump in my throat. I know I am a bit too sentimental.

22. I get seriously annoyed by people who think that only their opinion matters and that they know everything in the world. I used to flow into such rage as a kid, I used to tell mom that I will seriously insult someone some day. And I did...and it didnt feel great. I've learnt to control my temper ever since. These days I get annoyed by communal talk. And I hate it when people say "so and so celebrity belongs to our caste/community/region".

23. I think I am super-addicted to blogging and I am fiercely protective of my blogger buddies. I eat my mom's head talking about posts written by Kochu, Jiggy, Rakesh, Nancy, my space, Hemz, Vinay (who is bookmarked for mom's reading). One day on our way back home papa said something about blog-world being "stupid bakwaas" and I almost had an arguement with him. I controlled it at that moment but I came back home and cried coz I couldnt defend my blog-buds.

24. I spend a lot of time talking to mom and sis. I do not talk so much with Papa. I'm not scared of him, though I used to be as a kid. But I love my dad toooooooo much. I sometimes dont like things he says and frequently get annoyed with him for smallest of reasons. But I love him the most. I Love you Papa....I've never told you this. Today I am saying it for the first time. I hope we learn to be a little more informal.

25. Finally, I want to become a good writer some day. I cannot use big words, I do not understand big words. But I think I am a fairly emotional person (understatement...VERY EMOTIONAL) and I think I write from my heart. I just want to write something beautiful for which I am remembered by millions and millions of people. :)

FINALLY DONE WITH THIS TAG...4 DAYS.....IN MY DEFENCE, I WAS A BIT BUSY AND WASNT BLOGGING :P :P

For both the tags, I tag anyone who hasnt taken up these yet and who'd want to try. Happy Blogging :)

Movie Shoovie Award Shaward

2009-02-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

22nd February 2009

11.50 PM PCT (Personal Computer Time)

I have plans to wake up at 6, take bath and finish the morning chores to sit down and watch the Oscars without any disturbance. The day nominations were announced Papa went, "Arrey yeh kya harr jagah Dog-Dog hai...channel change karo!!". To my surprise, when me and papa were watching some random Hindi Movie on Star Gold, he said: "Oscars at 6.30 Monday morning right??". That means he might wake up and give me company, in all these years of my early morning fixation of watching the ceremony LIVE as it happens. This year I am going to watch it for two reasons:

1. To witness, hopefully, A.R. Rehman winning the Best Song and Best Musical Score...that would be just awesome. :)

2. Hopefully Kate Winslet will take away the Best actress award, coz I just saw THE READER and I was totally floored by her. Kate is easily the most talented and beautiful actress of our time.

The Rest, I dont really care. I probably would have skipped watching them this year if not for the Slumdog thingy. And Anil Kapoor is expected to make a clown out of himself I guess. He should exercise some restraint...I dunno....it is a big put off for me, all the hooting and shouting and clapping.

AND WHOA!! Just googled...Hugh Jackman gonna host the awards.....I didnt know that! Normally I do. This tells you that I have better things to think about than the Oscars...but...I dont know what they are... :P

Funny thing. I was surfing the channels yesterday and I dont know why I stopped at ZEE CINEMA. They were showing "Phool Aur Kante", Ajay Devgan's debut film with Roja Girl Madhu. The song "Maine Pyaar tumhi se Kiya hai.....(toorooorooroooroooo)" was mid-way through and I remembered how crazy me and my cousin Maneesha used to be about that song. I think it was DD-1 that used to play the song an awefully lot and the cable fellow put up the pirated print a few times. Me and Maneesha used to sit up late nights to watch Ajay Devgan woo Madhu and catch the bad guys. It must have been the third or fourth time that we were seeing it together when Maneesha exclaimed: "AJAY I LOVE YOU!!" I dont remember how old I was but it was a big thing for me those days. Something that girls our age shouldnt talk about...love shove!! :P

I went ahead and told Mom about Maneesha talking "like that" and I remember being disappointed that she didnt say anything more than a "hmmmm". :p A few years later maybe, it was my turn to go crazy, when that song "Chura ke Dil mera" from that I-DONT-REMEMBER-WHICH Akshay Kumar-Shilpa Shetty movie hit the screens. Me and Maneesha were at it again, this time closing the doors of this room on the third floor, where we had put up a poster of Akkie Baby, and we used to Play that very song and dance like Heroines. Oh those were fun days :)

I met Maneesha a few days ago, we meet a lot lesser these days, more so after she got married. When she said it to my younger sister, "Dolly(Me) and Me used to be best friends once". I always thought as kids that we would always remain best friends. But things change, people change. At the end of it, we still give each other genuine hugs whenever we meet. There is an under-lying hostility for some reason, some difference that crept in but whenever I reminisce old times, It brings tears of laughter to my face. No matter how much I hate certain things about Maneesha, I do love her immensely...I only try not to remind myself about it for some reason.

Ok this wasnt supposed to go the nostalgic way. The 25 random things tag is still a Work-in-Progess. I'm stuck at Sweet number 16. So watch out for this space.

Also check out the latest TOP READ FOR THE WEEK. Its a wonderful blog, I'm sure you all would love it.

23rd February 2009

12.19 AM PCT (Need to remind again???)

I'm off to sleep.... Good night :)

P.S: After I finished watching the Song, the Ajay Devgan one...I wanted to kill the whole team behind that movie....see how people change?? :P

The Woes and Joy of getting a Driving Licence

2009-02-18T00:52:00.000-08:00

18th November 2008

I gripped the steering wheel of a rickety-over-500-people-driven Indica that the driving school had provided me with (Kimi had been begging me not to take up the classes ...he's scared you see.... He thinks I might beat Danica Patrick to an F1 seat in a few years ..He He He...and he's worried Ferrari might sign me up...Hehehe!!)

18th February 2009

I gave my driving test and passed... I can now officially drive on the Indian roads at least...No Super licence yet...But Kimi...you better watch out!! :P :P

Ok the classes shouldn't take so long to complete but this was yet another typically laid-back Hyderabadi attitude, both on the behalf of the instructor and myself. I missed too many classes in between and he didnt turn up for a few coz "its too cold in December to wake up at 6"... Heck, was he teaching me drive on a hill station??

I'd been pretty confident of driving by mid-January and I kept asking him to book my slot with another student who was supposed to go around the same time. The instructor kept postponing my slot and two weeks ago he informed me that I'll have to give the test on a Maruti 800. My turn to freak out.

Its a drastic shift from Diesel to Petrol vehicle and I wasnt too confident of driving the Maruti 800, especially after bumping Mom's car into that of our neighbours. I refrained from trying out the Maruti and kept practicing on the Indica. So when he said I'd have to drive a Maruti, I asked him to give me a little more time. He was more than happy to do so. I tried mom's car, once ALMOST crashing into the main gate. Sunday we had a long session and I drove the car for a good distance to gain some confidence. Yesterday I drove the Indica on my way back home, and my driver said in his heavy North-eastern accent :

"Ma'am, aap chalaa lega gaadi.... tenshun mat lo" (Ma'am you will drive well, dont stress).

I asked : "Main fail to nahi ho jaungi na, aise gaadi chala kar?" (Would I fail if I drive this way?)

And he said: "Nai Madam...Phel to nahi hote...aaraam se chalao" (No, You wont fail...just drive with ease)

I called up my instructor and told him I was ready to give my test today. He asked me to be at the Driving track at Nagole by 8 in the Morning. I reached by 7.30 and called up this person I was asked to contact. He came fashionably late at 8.40 and gave me my papers. I sat for a while, saw the track layout and tried to understand it. I was worried about the reverse track, which seemed very tricky.

Kept getting more and more nervous. Tried to calm myself by deep breathing techniques learnt at the ART OF LIVING class. I said, the worst that'll happen is I'll fail. No problem. Come back in 7 days and give test again. Practice more. Meanwhile Alankar called me up and wished me luck. He helped me lighten up my mood and I felt at ease.

At 10, I was asked to go and give my test. I had managed everything well. The S-Track, 8-roundabout track. Then came the H-Reverse track. Managed the first 3 parts of the reverse and forward quite well, but messed up on the last part. Not completely messed up, but I didnt take the turn as it was supposed to be taken. Got out of that section, went on the Ghat-type-road segment to the last stretch of the track and out of it. Once I parked and went to the cabin, the officer smiled and said, "You goofed up a little on the reverse, but good presence of mind". He smiled back and stamped a "PASSED" on my forms and receipt. Then he said, "Why taking so much tension, relax now. I'm not scaring you by any chance, am I?".

I had to let out something that I was refraining from telling him. I told him that 3 years ago, me and 2 other friends had come for the 2-wheeler licence and he was one of the officers taking the test that day. He had failed one of my friends for not taking one particular turn, and after I messed up the reverse, I thought he would fail me this time. He just laughed it off and said "Congratulations. Have a good day". It was a good experience this time around. People seemed much more co-operative all of a sudden. My last few experiences at RTAs have been real bad with in-charges shouting for no reason.

I called up Papa and told him that I had passed and the licence would come via courier in 2-3 days. Papa said now I have to drive more often and take the car into traffic as many times as possible. Hyderabad traffic....I have the licence....to add to your woes....grrr!! But..Yipeeee!! :)

Cheers! :)

The Art of Living....and Loving

2009-02-14T00:23:00.001-08:00

CAUTION: Big Big post.... exercise discretion, I would not take any blame for anyone falling asleep while reading this post. :P

A lot has been going around and within me lately that just disturbed my soul and inner peace to no end. So when papa decided the entire family would go for THE ART OF LIVING basic course, I said why not give it a try. On 9th February, I woke up at 5 am to attend this course and not without my doubts. Confused about my status between being an athiest or agnostic, I went into the couse thinking this would be one of those rare days the entire family would be together....for 6 days.

I must admit, the sessions that started at 5.30 everyday and went on till 8 in the morning, were fun. There were plenty of other people in the class and at the end of day one, all of us knew each other by our smiles. Though we had all said our names to each other before the class commenced and I could recollect only a few by the end of day three, I just knew that I'd get a smile on my face in the company of these complete strangers. We did the breathing exercise called "Sudarshan Kriya" and experienced something different....not everyone had a similar experience but everyone had something to share. Positive and Negative.

I went the first 3 days without any fuss but the 4th day I just didnt feel like going. It was 4.30 am on the morning of 12th and I was sitting at this very place writing my previous blog post and whining and grumbling about the thing that has been slowly eating me from within, for the past few months. The rest of the day went fine and I spent it with Diva watching Dev D, eating yummy gobi pakoras her mom had made. I got back home and just kept feeling that the hours arent passing by quickly enough. Something was missing. I enjoyed a lot with Diva but then there was this sudden emptyness that crept in and I just didnt know what was wrong. I went to bed that night thinking I am not going back to the ART OF LIVING class. It felt foolish that I was enjoying myself in moments and it doesnt help me overcome these sudden moments of anxiety, fear and depression.

The next morning I chose to go just so that I dont anger my dad. After all it was just two more days and I might as well go there. And I am glad I did.

In the class, apart from the breathing exercise, they make us play games too that might seem childish to outsiders. I am not going to delve into details here coz there are two many of them to write. Each game we played told a story and had a moral...something that makes us look deeper into our inner selves and ask ourselves some burning questions, the answers for which we keep expecting from the outside world. On day 5, I went into the class and we had yet another activity to do.

We were divided into groups of 3 -- 2 males and a female. We sat in a huddle and told our life stories to each other with the promise that these stories would remain within the group. One of the member in my group, Niroop, had something to say about his life, wife and family that reminded me a little of what I had been going through for the past few days. I thought he has been through something similar and I should ask him about it. Since each one of us were given our 5 mins quota to tell our stories and Niroop's being the last one, our gurus had started telling us about how no one is free of problems and that everyone has faced hurdles in some form or another. Until that moment, I was going to the ART OF LIVING class just to get the worth of my Rs 1000, but it changed a little bit in the moment.

I sat next to Niroop and shared my reasons for coming to the class and he sat down patiently and listened to me. It was time to go and we were all asked to get something to eat for the next day coz it would be an extended session. We were all asked to bring a gift, something small would do, for a "divine guru" who was going to come the next day. Else we were free to buy something from the gift shop they'd put up the next day. I made Coleslaw sandwiches and decided we would buy gift from the gift shop.

Today we went on doing our routine of the pranayams and the breathing exercise and there were some stories that our gurus and the guest gurus told us all. A lot of them dealing with H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shanker and some relating to personal experiences of our gurus. Once that session was done, we were asked to get our gifts from the gift shop. I picked up a book called Tales for the Young and the elderly. We all assumed that these would go to the gurus and the guest gurus who had come.

We were all asked to close our eyes, no peeking. They played a music and asked us to slowly move around the hall with our eyes closed. We had to keep moving till the music stopped. So we all did, bumping into each other occassionally, not knowing who we were passing. And then they stopped the music and asked us to stand still wherever we were, slowly open our eyes and look at the person standing nearest to us. What followed next just brought tears to my eyes.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the same two group members that I had huddled with and we were standing almost as close as we sat in the group yesterday. The three of us were just so happy to see each other while the gurus asked us to exchange our gift with the person standing closest to us. Niroop was standing closest to me so I gave him the book I had picked up and playfully asked him for my gift. And Niroop just told me, "I didnt get anything but all I can say is I wish you all the happiness in the world and with all my heart I hope you overcome everything that has been disturbing you. I'm giving you the love in my heart and I truly want you to find your peace". That was the moment I couldn't control my tears.

Here was a person, the only thing I knew about him was his name and what he did for a living. Yesterday he gave me a glimpse into his life and that is all there was to it. Today he was honestly and with all his heart, telling me that things would be alright and that it matters to someone....it matters to the universe that I stay happy. These were the tears of joy. This was a moment when I know whatever I have held inside me for all these months, just got flushed out with all the tears and I feel at such peace right now that I cannot express in words.

I am not getting any more spiritual. Yet.

I am not getting any more philosophical. Yet.

I am not advocating the ART OF LIVING course. Yet.

I do not revere Sri Sri Ravi Shanker any more than I revere the next person. Yet.

But I know for sure something changed in me today. I know I felt something different. And something is just glowing within me right now. I do not know what that is. As of now, I would call it the Art of Loving myself for who I am and the realisation that things would be alright. I just need to have a little faith. Miracles can happen, small or big. I had one today and I hope to give it back to the nature someday.

The experience of these 6 days I would treasure for a long time till I decide on taking the next level of this course. But what Niroop said would stay with me for a lifetime and I must show my gratitude to him here at this very moment. And to all my blog reader, the sad, sombre Smriti got washed away in a tear spell.... I promise to give you a brand new bubbling, lively Smriti who loves herself now more than ever and someone who will no longer give in to circumstances.

On this day, I promise to be my own Valentine forever. I promise to be happy and spread happiness. I found something beautiful within me today and someday I will witness the miracle of someone else finding something special in them too. I'm smiling with all my heart as I write this post and I vow to maintain this smile. :)

Happy Valentines Day everyone....and my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who commented on my previous post. Really appreciate it.

OK. No more boring you today. Be back as frequently as possible with renewed vigour and enthusiasm :)

Cheers everyone..... :)

Back to my senses

2009-02-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

Ok. So the rambling early saturday morning was real stupid. I wasnt writing a story, no suspense intended. Was just plain frustrated and couldn't sleep. Monday morning I started the art of living course and it as been alright thus far. I meant the course. I would have been back to normal in any which case.

So its the D-Day today. And I'm not as fidgety or uncomfortable as I was on Saturday night. The reason for the all the stupidness?? Well someone I've known forever, is getting married today. I cannot attend the wedding coz it can get a little awkward. No I do not love him. Saying this for the nth time. But there are reasons which to the outsider, may never seem clear.

He decided to cut the cords of 12 yrs of friendship when the marriage was fixed and I was blamed for being insensitive when I asked questions. It is hard to let go of friends. Especially someone you've known since you were a kid. All the memories of revising lessons together, filling slam books, eating ice creams, running around like fools as kids.... to sharing family issues, health issues and every other issue....just come as a flashback. Sari bua says you feel bad coz it is the loss of a relationship and no one wants to feel that loss.

I had something in mind to gift him. Something he gave me as a mark of our ever-lasting friendship. But I cannot go to the wedding. I will dedicate a blog to him tonight. Hope he reads it someday.

Ok I'm not sombre anymore. Me and Divya are meeting up today and we'll have a lot of time to spend with each other. Like old days. Haven't done it in the longest of times and I think I've taken her too much for granted. We are going to watch Dev D... lunch before that...Maybe window shopping after that. OK OK. I'm going....gotta start getting ready, its a one hour drive from home.

Updates on the way. And I'm feeling better :)

Too Much to take

2009-02-07T12:17:00.001-08:00

Four more days.

It is just hard to believe. Something I had been dreading for a long time is now just 4 days away and as I sit typing this at 1.50 AM on Sunday, 8th of February, I feel like the loneliest person in the world. I have to face the inevitable and I am shit scared of going through with it alone. The more I try and tell myself that I need to face it, for my own sake, the more I want to run away from it. But how?? I cannot see any way out of it. I am at loss of feelings and emotions and I hate this negativity that creeps in. Never knew what it feels to be numb....I guess this very moment should describe it. I really don't know what I should be doing...I want to cry but the tears seem all dried up. They don't want to come out. I am at such discomfort and completely aimless about what needs to be done in such a case. Should I be feeling this way? Shouldn't I just be happy for someone else and stop brooding over something that was never there? Should this be the way to end all those years of .....?

Right at this very moment I dont know. I cannot figure it out. I cannot think. I cant sleep. I'll sign off.

Main Bhi Jennifer Aniston :P

2009-02-05T22:12:00.001-08:00

A few days ago when I was reading the newspaper, and before Obama was sworn in as President, there was this report about the Indonesian Photographer Ilham Anas, who resembled Obama. That got me wondering, was there anyone else who I resembled....or who resembled me. In school, juniors teased me a few times calling me Rani Mukherjee when I had problems with sore throat. Rani wasn't such a big star then so I guess it was easier to compare her and me. There was this junior girl Sushmita, who they used to say looks like me. I used to get so irritated with all the comparisons. I was like "I dont look like anyone and no one looks like me. I'm me!!"

Off late there has been a spate of news reports about celebrity look-alikes and I was wondering how many more such people exist who look like someone or the other. Even if not celebrities, two completely unrelated people might just look so similar. What does that have to say about the complexities of human beings.

Anyways, I found this on Ria's blog and lapped up the opportunity to check out who my celebrity look alikes were. I must admit now that I tried out 2 photos and settled for this one. Not that I have problems having male look alikes - I mean Federer, Roddick, Hugh Grant, Tony Blair, Jake Gyllenhal...I have some real pretty male faces you know :P

You can check out who your look alike is and let us all know, if you wish to. Meanwhile I'll put up the other pic and the look alikes on the side bar...do check them out :P

The Tall and Short of it..

2009-02-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

"Lambu ji Lambu ji
Bolo ji Tingu ji"

This isnt about singing the old Big B song in praise of his never-ending controversies. This is about my meeting with probably the most famous male blogger on my blog-roll. Standing 6ft 2 in tall, he is....

*Drum rolls*

-Ta-da-

Hemz

Its been quite a while now and I thought Hemz would already have finished writing a mini novel and narrated it to Mini-Hemz by now (In any case Mini Hemz seems to be sleepy all the time :P).

So Hemz was here and as promised I took him out shopping in the stores of Hyderabad and Secunderabad (Mostly Secunderabad). I got intimidated the moment I stood next to him. Why? Wouldn't you be, if you are 5ft 2in tall....A WHOLE FEET SHORTER!! Its like standing in front of the Himalayas. :P ... He insisted we hop on his bike and leave my beloved scooty (which does 60kmph...really ...lol). I had informed Hemz about my strong disliking for bikes. He offered to get an aeroplane, but I said why create a ruckus. So we stuck to the plan B...as in Bike. Hemz crashed the bike into a Wagon R just about the same time we started. And he tells me that he just realised that brakes arent working. Grrrr. I broke a toe nail and bruised my hand, about which Hemz will come to know right about now :P I know if I tell him, he'd feel all guilty....and after this too, he might feel guilty, but what the heck. Its just a minor bruise...no issues ;) So Hemz...Chill :)

I took Hemz to various stores and I must tell you, Hemz is very choosy about his clothing and goes inside with a pre-concieved notion about what he wants to buy. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. Good, coz you are a more confident buyer then. Bad, coz if you dont find it, you keep looking through stuff and eventually see the entire store and find just one or two clothes that you like. Hemz had the good and bad of it. I have never ever spent 3 hrs inside one PANTALOONS store ....or for that matter at any store. Thanks to Hemz, this was something new for me in the longest of while. He picked up a few. It was fun.

We headed off to Dominos around 4.30 evening and we were hungry as hell. Placed the order and sat down to talk with Neha. Such a lively character, I could almost feel the warmth of her persona across the phone. Either that, or Hemz phone's battery was heating up :P ...Just kidding. But it was fun to talk to her finally!! :)

Hemz also introduced me, on phone of course, to another fellow blogger, Archana, whose blogs I haven't read yet. She had such a sweet voice it was endearing how she got off talking to a complete stranger like me. It was nice talking to her. She dropped me a comment on the previous blog, and as soon as I'm done with Hemz-nama, I'll start reading Archana's :)

Coming to Hemz's driving after the Wagon R took a beating, he didnt try to dare and drive above 30kmph I guess, thanks to my scream that was still reverberating in his ears. Hemz kept asking me if I got bored. Ok now I must admit I was bored like hell at that speed :P :P :P Sorry Hemz :P :P

But it was fun. Found out how none of the clothing impressed me, except for just one "annabelle" top which I loved and which wasnt available in my size (God why does it always happne, you like something so much and it hardly fits you!! :(). I had a good time scolding Hemz on every ridiculous T-shirt he picked up and glad that he went for my suggestions a few times. :P We were so damn tired with the whole shopping business that we almost forgot to click a snap and Hemz remembered before leaving. So please dont get scared if we both look like convicts straight out of Chanchalguda Jail. :P

Cheers everyone..... ;)

Here comes a little Angel... :)

2009-01-24T01:31:00.000-08:00

No I'm not talking about me. :P

I have become the proud bua of a cute cute cute baby girl, who was born to Mona Bhabhi and Nitin Dada, in Lucknow last night i.e. 23rd January 2009. Hey, now that I have scribbled the date, I think their wedding also took place around the same time two years ago. I am real bad remembering anniversaries...birthdays I dont have a problem (cake milta hai bhai!!! :P)...Hmmm!!

No I haven't yet got a chance to see the baby girl, nor have I had the chance to speak to bro yet, but god knows I am dying to. A few days ago I was reminiscing my conversation with bhabhi and we had discussed that it would be wonderful if its a baby girl. I'd really love to spoil and pamper the little angel. You get the most wonderful girlie clothes these days, unlike the ones we wore as kids. Everytime I go shopping (even window!!!), I see baby girl clothes and they are oh so cute.

Okay enough of the shoppaholic display. Coming to the baby girl. Like I said, she was born in Lucknow and god knows when I'll be able to see her. I am hoping to get my entrance exams schedule a little sorted out then maybe I can plan a trip to the north...before it gets too warm of course!! So So So So So excited....I was howling in my brother's scrapbook in Orkut and all I could come up with was "Yipppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee".

So this is from me to you, little baby:

Teeny Tiny little toes

Small and round little nose

A special gift from heaven above

You're a baby we all oh so love

We've longed to see you face to face

And we've prepared a special place

For you little one, the special one

With you around, our worries seem none

We'll watch with delight every step you take

Be with you to correct any mistake you make

Our special journey has now begun

Growing and learning shall be fun

Welcome to this world oh little one!! :)

CONGRATULATIONS BHAI AND BHABHI!!! :)

Also to all the Uncles and Aunties :P!!!

Last but not the least to the Grandparents too, they'll be the happiest ones I am sure :) :)

P.S: The above picture is not of the baby girl born yesterday....I'm sure you've all figured it out by now...he he he...Smart people!!! :P

Bushisms

2009-01-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

The President we love to hate, yet cannot get enough of his public gaffs, leaves office after 8 tumultuous years, let us look back and enjoy the BUSHISMS of George W. Bush:

"One of the very difficult parts of the decision I made on the financial crisis was to use hardworking people's money to help prevent there to be a crisis."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009

"In terms of the economy, look, I inherited a recession, I am ending on a recession."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009

"I'm telling you there's an enemy that would like to attack America, Americans, again. There just is. That's the reality of the world. And I wish him all the very best."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009

"I've been in the Bible every day since I've been the president."—Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2008

"Yesterday, you made note of my—the lack of my talent when it came to dancing. But nevertheless, I want you to know I danced with joy. And no question Liberia has gone through very difficult times."—Speaking with the president of Liberia, Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2008

"I didn't grow up in the ocean—as a matter of fact—near the ocean—I grew up in the desert. Therefore, it was a pleasant contrast to see the ocean. And I particularly like it when I'm fishing."—Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2008

"We're fixing to go down to Galveston and obviously are going to see a devastated part of this fantastic state."—Houston, Sept. 16, 2008

"The people in Louisiana must know that all across our country there's a lot of prayer—prayer for those whose lives have been turned upside down. And I'm one of them."—Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 3, 2008

"And they have no disregard for human life."—Describing the brutality of Afghan fighters, Washington, D.C., July 15, 2008

"I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008

"We've got a lot of relations with countries in our neighborhood."—Kranj, Slovenia, June 10, 2008

"And I, unfortunately, have been to too many disasters as president."—discussing flooding in the Midwest, Washington, D.C., June 17, 2008

"We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure."—Crawford, Texas, May 3, 2003

"The public education system in America is one of the most important foundations of our democracy. After all, it is where children from all over America learn to be responsible citizens, and learn to have the skills necessary to take advantage of our fantastic opportunistic society."—Santa Clara, Calif., May 1, 2002

"And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours." —Bridgeport, Conn., April 9, 2002

"It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber."—Washington, D.C., April 10, 2002

"Let's make sure that there is certainty during uncertain times in our economy."—Washington, D.C., June 2, 2008

"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008

"Take the Middle East seriously because that's the center of—that's the place where people get so despondent and despair that they're willing to come and take lives of U.S. citizens."—on advice he would give the next president, Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." —LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." —Greater Nashua, N.H.,

"I hear there's rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a draft." —second presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, 2004

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." —Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000

"You work three jobs? … Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." —to a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004

"They misunderestimated me." —Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000

"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

"I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today. He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me."
Nashville, Tennessee, 27 May, 2004

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
Florence, South Carolina, 11 January, 2000

"Reading is the basics for all learning."
Reston, Virginia, 28 March, 2000

"As governor of Texas, I have set high standards for our public schools, and I have met those standards."
CNN, 30 August, 2000

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''
Townsend, Tennessee, 21 February, 2001

"I understand small business growth. I was one."
New York Daily News, 19 February, 2000

"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."
Reuters, 5 May, 2000

"I do remain confident in Linda. She'll make a fine Labour Secretary. From what I've read in the press accounts, she's perfectly qualified."
Austin, Texas, 8 January, 2001

"First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill."
Washington DC, 19 May, 2003

"The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorise himself."
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 29 January, 2003

Taggie Taggie Taggie :)

2009-01-17T20:58:00.000-08:00

Plagiarised this from Val's Blog. Just wanted to do something simple for a while ....yeah yeah simpler than my rants. Here goes :)

What are you listening to now?

- At this very moment, POTION - Ludacris

What is your occupation?

- Part Time Content writer. Getting ready for another dose of student life.

What was the last thing you ate?

- Sooji Ka Halwa..This morning... He he he he!!

Last person you spoke to on phone?

- Diva, Last night...

How old are you today?

- 22 Years, 8 months, 15 days. (I'm getting older...waaaah!!!)

Last movie watched?

-Ghajini (Hated it!!)

Favourite day of the year?

- Rakhi...bahut Rokda milta hai beedu :p :p :p

Favourite toy as a child?

- Cant think of any except the dolls I had...but as far as I remember I used to be glued to Tinkle, Chacha Chaudhary and Amar Chitra Kathas.

Favourite season?

- Rain Rain come again :P

When was the last time you cried?

- A few days ago.

Who is the friend you have had the longest?

- Not sure who I've known longest among Diva, Nik and Prashant. These three have been in my life ever since Ican remember

What did you do last night?

- Cleaned my cupboard...for the Nth time this month :P

What are you most afraid of?

- Fear itself

Favourite dog breed ?

- Golden Retrievers

Favorite day of the week?

- Sunday

How many states have you lived in?

- One One One.

What is your wish for this new year?

- Get into IIJNM/ ASJ / Manorama

New year resolutions?

- Dont make any resolutions :P

Now, Alok also tagged me...Grrr...To write 8 wierd things abt me...I guess I'll give it a shot :P

1. I have a fixation with numbers and adding up. I see number plates on cars, scooters, autos, whatever..and I add up the four digits and check if they total 3, 6 or 9. This is for no rhyme or reason.

2. I take off my footwear while driving the car. Like the Accelerator, Break and Clutch are Holy incarnations.

3. I do not take a second helping. Very rarely. I eat less that way (Sub-consciously...not decided..yes I know I am getting fat but this is no way related to that :p).

4. I hate making calls. I find no good reason to make a call, unless there is something I want to talk about. Which is hardly the case these days.

5. I cannot tolerate the munching sound that comes while chewing food. Even if it is chips, which is bound to make a crunchy noise, I get irritated real quick. In theatres, I am vary of eating when there are "silent moments" during a movie, coz I cant tolerate even myself making the chomp chomp noise.

6. I am a habitual furniture mover. My weekends go on re-arranging the furniture in my room or wherever.

7. I cannot ride my scooty less than 40 kmph. :P I know 40 isnt much...but if I see the speedometer going below 40, I get real pissed. I dont mind taking a longer route but I need to go faster than 40.

8. I do not believe in buying pirated books. I claim to be against piracy but I download movies and songs. So that makes me a hypocrite in a way. But pirated books are a no no for me.

Phew!! One tag by Shalom Pending. :)

And I tag anyone who wants to take up any of the above...Cheers!!

Singapore Revisited

2009-01-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

A few of my friends have been ranting on for a really long time about showing them pics from my Singapore Trip...anything except the Race Track. Here are a random collection of pics that I liked from the trip. A picture is worth a 1000 words eh?? Still gonna write about these :P ..Sankranti Blog in a day or two... :P

Appu and me...I look Drunk...I know :P

Appu was about to Kill Kalyan when he was taking this..I think she'll Kill me for putting this up :P

Nice na?? This one was Near Clark Quay Station. Kalyan was the photographer for the evening :P

Just put it up for fun...Me and Kalyan were discussing that we looked like characters out of ZEE HORROR SHOW Season 200th

The background didnt come the way we wanted it but I still Like this one :)

Appu and me ...Dont ask what this is all about :P

Again the goof up on the background...still like it :P

This for those who didnt believe me when I said there was a SUCH A STATION :P

Nice decorations na??? This was one month before Deepavali though ...Little India.

How do you expect me not to include F1 when in fact I went to Singapore only for that ... :P

I hope no more complaints :P..For those who want to see other pics from my Singapore trip, Please go to

SINGAPORE TRIP BLOGS

and

SINGAPORE TRIP PICS 1

SINGAPORE TRIP PICS 2

:) :) :)

Rahman : JAI HO :) :)

2009-01-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

I have been up since 6.30 this morning to watch the Golden Globe Awards on WORLD MOVIES. And Yay, I'm glad that I was up this early.

As of 8.22, the count is 2/4 for Slumdog Millionaire. Simon Beaufoy has won the Best Screenplay Award and our very own AR Rahman has lapped up the Best Original Music score. I must say I didnt know who he was up against, James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer are no small names and to win competing against them is something.

Oh I am so happy happy happpppppyy today. I watched the movie for the nth time last night..guess today I'll watch it again. The music score is just amazing, as is most of Rahman's work. I'm absolutely hooked on to the song "JAI HO" which plays when the credit rolls towards the end. Sukhvinder Singh's voice is magical most times.

Waiting for the next two awards for Slumdog i.e Best Movie (Drama) and Best Director. They are yet to be announced. Hope they make it 4/4.

Right now Steven Speilberg is being honoured with the Cecil B DeMille Award. Grrr...Get away from the screen Scorsese and let the other awards roll... :P So exited :P :P

UPDATE: 3/4 NOW. DANNY BOYLE WINS THE BEST DIRECTOR AWARD TOO...ONE MORE TO GO FOR BEST MOVIE :) :)

P.S: ANIL KAPOOR looks drunk by the way he is jumping around and shouting. Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto are so composed, they put Kapoor to shame :P :P

UPDATE 2: 4/4 YIPPPEEE SLUMDOG WINS THE BEST MOTION PICTURE TOOO...YAAAYYYYYY!!!!

PHEW!! Gotta hand over the laptop to mom...she's in a bit of a hurry. But Yayayayaayaaaaaaay!! :D :D :D

P.S: Shahrukh was there with Freida Pinto... In case you didnt know :)

Watch it tonite at 8 PM on UTV Movies and World Movies. :) I will :)

"Satyam"ev Jayate

2009-01-07T07:16:00.000-08:00

Yeah big day. A friend and ex-colleague calls up...after 4 months. Lets call her "KA" :

My phone goes .."I've been living with a shadow overhead, I've been dreaming of a...." (thats my ringtone if u got confused)

Me: Hey KA.

KA: Hey, I didnt think you'd recognise my number.

Me: Na It was saved in the cellphone. So how are you?

KA: Doing well..you tell me. I thought you'd gone to Bangalore for the Journalism thingy. So never bothered to call you up...felt a little guilty that I didnt even to call to wish you luck. AJ told me you're here. What happened there?

Me : Hmmmm. Well that didnt work out. So I guess stuck in good ol Hyderabad a few more months.

KA : You never call up. Whats with you?

Me : Hellloooo??? Called you up on your birthday, then diwali and New years...you never pick up the phone. Had to give up sometime right?

KA : Oh. Ok. So heard about the Satyam fraud?

Me: Yeah just switched on the TV about 15 mins ago...shocking stuff isnt it?

KA: Yeah I know

Me : Who the hell was their auditor??

KA: Three Guesses Who....?? (Giggles giggles giggles)

Me : You got to be kidding me. PWC?

KA : See. Always told you, you could make a fortune out of your guessing game (laughs)

Me : Stop kidding yaar. Anyone we know working there?

KA : Na. AS left a few months ago coz he had to appear for finals in November. He left PWC around the same time you left CA. He was mighty disappointed that you decided to discontinue. Ahem Ahem.

Me : Hmmm...You need to get some Strepsils.

KA : Ha Ha Ha. You know I was reminded of our conversation with the seniors just before you left. How the hell did you know that PWC had such bozos working there that cant even detect such a huge fraud?

Me: Well that time I had no idea, but I knew one particular bozo who kept getting through papers and couldnt even draft a Balance Sheet properly. He got into PWC and one conversation with him made me think that I knew Class 12 commerce students who knew more than him. That discussion with our seniors was just my disgust coming through.

KA : Hmmmm.

Me : Remember how our boss made us prepare a whole year's books of accounts for that new company, that fight that day with him, I could not believe that I was a part of something of that sort.

KA : Yeah I know. And his smug reply that this is how it works....God, that was the first day I realised that you cannot survive in this world with high morals. You gotta cheat a little.

Me : Yaar I dont know about that. Even my parents told me the same thing..that I should learn to compromise and things dont always work according to you and that to survive in a corporate and competitive world, you should go with the flow. Only I was too weak to give up coz I felt I couldnt do such manipulation on a daily basis. It gives no pleasure.

KA : You were not weak..why do you keep saying so?

Me: Pata Nahi. My point is...How on earth do you think one or even 2-3 persons in Satyam pull of such a fraud and its auditors not know?? I mean isnt it pretty basic?? Such things should and wouldn't go undetected right?? Lets wait and watch.

KA: Yeah, thats what everyone was discussing. Sad really. The shareholders, investors and employees....real sad.

Me: Yeah

KA : Anyways, given any thought to coming back to this field??

Me: No Yaar. Decided...no more finance for me.

KA : You sure about that?? We have a vacancy...at least register and give your Finals.

Me : Nope. I hate finance...no more of it.

KA : Hypocrite...we've been rambling on about finance for 15 mins and you spoke for at least 10.... and you say you dont like Finance??

Me : I can talk on anything and everything you want me to...I dont have to like it just coz I talk about it, do I?

KA : You'd do well in Finance you know, why not give it another shot?

Me : Arre Bhagwaan, I have made up my mind and no matter what you say, I'm not coming back. You need help on an audit you are going to do alone, I'll come and visit...you know. But dont ask me to join that torture chamber again.

KA : Yeah I was meaning to tell you that...I hate the newbies..God I miss your company so much...it was fun time we had..audits are so boring. I'll tell you if I come that side sometime, lets meet up..its been a such a long time since we met.

Me : Sure thing. Let me know in advance please.

KA : Haan Haan. By the way, you have this movie called Billy Eliott?

Me : Yeah...why?

KA : Someone said its good. Can I have it the next time we meet?

Me : Hmmm Ok...You have my Forrest Gump right? Get it back please.

KA : Oh ya..thanks for reminding me. I'll look for it. Dont know where I kept it.

Me : Hmmm...Ohkay.

KA : Chal then, was nice talking to you. Get back to you again. Say my hellos to everyone at home. Keep in touch. Take Care.

Me : Yea you too..see ya..Bbye.

(That Billy Eliott isnt changing hands)

(And was it just me who felt I was buttered quite a bit during this conversation??)...(Just a random ramble)

P.S: Eye is doing much much much much better ..thanks for all your wishes. :)

Sunday Ka Funda

2009-01-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

Less is More. I talk less today...Eye ko strain nahi maangta.

My accomplishment/s for today: (As recorded at 1.29 PM Sunday, 4th Jan)

1. Made perfect Sabudana Vadas...first time in my life they came out this well...with an exclamation from dad... "ZABARDAST HAI...Eat them before they become cold, else they won't taste good"....eh????? My verdict: They were actually good...unbiased about my own cooking you know. Maybe salt can be reduced a bit.

2. Took Dad on a short drive near home...first time he's seen me drive. He sat next to me and everytime the car stopped (2 times), he went.. "KYA HUA??"...He was much more scared than I was driving the Indica :P ..Tried Mom's car yesterday....now can handle driving that Maruti too...but it keeps jumping like a horse for some reason. That shows I still need a lot of practise.

That was events of today thus far. Had a loooooonnggg fun talk with Hemanth over the phone last night. Roadie Shodie talk. Thinking of blogging on it but it will take a lot of time. And I am not supposed to be sitting here and typing this either. :P

Chalo. Waterfall begins. BE BACK SOON. READING YOUR BLOGS ANYWAYS ;)

Kochu ...Welcome back...and post something fast fast!!

Adios! :)

HAVE A WONDERFUL YEAR :)

2008-12-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

11.45 PM, 31ST DECEMBER 2008 AS I WRITE THIS.

Very few people are online...most seem to be partying outside :)...

I wanted to pen a lot of things. Thanks to the worsening eye condition, I have a persistant headache and I cant seem to concentrate on anything else but the time...I know there'll be calls, those who are lucky enough to find a network....and my sleep would be disturbed..so not sleeping yet.

New Year is just 10 mins away now and I want to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Yeah keeping it simple. One thing I am thankful for in 2008 is all the wonderful people I got to know on blogosphere...Thanks for being a part of my life and I hope our association continues in 2009 and beyond.

Thanks Once again:

NITHIN PJ HEMZZ CRYSTAL AQUA ANOOP ALOK SHANU JIGGY RAKESH SHALOM REFLECTIONS SWATS NEHA(JOIE) VINAY PRASHANTH RENU SOLITAIRE SAWAN MITHE RAJESH

CHEERS YOU GUYS....YOU ARE THE BEST!!

BEST WISHES AND LOADS AND LOADS OF LOVE :)

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

Tuesday Terror....

2008-12-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

And they say one has Monday morning blues. It was terror tuesday for me at home, with my sister around. She has been "treating" me to STEP UP 2, the movie, every other day. She loves the music, loves the dances...and in short...loves the movie. So when she said she'll treat me to STEP UP 2 AGAIN...this time I had to step in and impose my "elder sister's authority of negation". Some rights do come handy. :P

After I vetoed the movie, we sat down to watch BEE MOVIE. Saw it half way and got really really bored. Sister has a master back-up plan ready as always. "KUNG FU PANDA!!" she exclaims. Gosh we saw it two days ago...and it wouldn't run on the divx vcd player for some reason. Hence yet another plan went down the drain. We have no less than 200 movies at home (not an understatement...dad doesnt go to theatre...his policy is if we have to spend 200 bucks on a movie in theatre, might as well wait a while, get the VCD when it comes out, and watch it in the comfort of our home...pausing...fast forwarding...rewinding..susu breaks and all :p. As a result, we have all the movies that were released last few years..including Ram Gopal Verma ki Aag and Drona. One of papa's clients is an Owner of a large DVD/VCD store...so he keeps sending all the new releases too. That way, we have a VCD library of our own.)

In the end, we decided to watch "FREAKY FRIDAY". I had TOP RAMEN NOODLES with a lot of cheese, had an ugly stare from my sis with a "what happened to your plans of quiting all forms of instant noodles?". And I said, "New Year resolution...aaj aakhri baar...One last time!!". Hopefully I will not eat any more Maggie/Top Ramen in the new year...doesnt suit my stomach at all, but I love the taste :)

After that, I proceeded to read DESCENT INTO CHAOS. It is taking far more time than I expected, and I have not been able to finish 10 books before year end :( Finished it half way, and I am now thinking of reading one of the two books I picked up : VERNON GOD LITTLE and THE GOOD EARTH. I think its gonna be VERNON

I have to have some restraint order placed upon me, I seem to be giving the book industry a lot to cheer about. I picked up 6 books this month, now as I look back. They are:

DESCENT INTO CHAOS

O JERUSALEM

A FINE BALANCE

ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE

VERNON GOD LITTLE

THE GOOD EARTH

I dunno why it seems like such a crime to me, to enter into a book store and not buy a book. I went to Odyssey the other day. Its quite close to my place, and asked them if they could give me a job, I'd work in return for a few books a month...no payment needed. The store people had a bewildered/amused look on their faces and just kept smiling, thinking I was cracking a joke. I am a regular at Odyssey and share a laugh or two with their staff every time I visit. They took it in Jest...unfortunate for me :(

So rest of the tuesday went in reading book and trying to execute my plans to purge. I was gonna take out all the useless cartons and throw away every unwanted thing my mom keeps in the house saying "Future use". I also cleaned the fridge today (holidays mein ghar ki saaf safai hi hoti hai babu !! ) and it is so spotlessly cleaned (proud of myself) that I dont feel like putting anything inside the fridge :D

When I reached into a cabinet, to remove all the old cartons, I found there were termites in that area. That was real real real bad. I think the person to treat the same should be arriving today. A large house is difficult to maintain, as I have come to find. :( None of us are at home most of the day and the poor house is so neglected :(

I think I Should stop the ramblings for now. Wish you all a very very very Happy New Year. Yeah, keeping it simple...but the new year post would be posted tomorrow. Peace :)

Monday Morning Hues

2008-12-28T17:40:00.000-08:00

Time Check:

7.10 AM.

One of the rare days that I woke up before 7 lately. As a kid, I remember being such a darn disciplined kid, I almost gave myself a medal and a trophy for it :P Ahh!! That changed as I graduated. I dont know who else to blame but myself, for taking some really rash decisions. Anyways, as Master Oogway says in Kung Fu Panda : Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift. Thats why we call it PRESENT :)

So the driving class count has been exactly where it was. I've missed my last ten classes, thanks to an eye infection (CYST). Got plenty of time to catch up on my sleep and said to myself : "This monday, I am no longer gonna be lazy. I'll finish off those 8 remaining classes." And so I woke at 6 (with the help of two cell-phone alarms). Called up the driving class guy and he said he wont be able to make it today as he's in his village. Darn!! He'll call me when he returns. :( :( Decide to take my car on my own. After the morning routine, went up to Ma and asked her if we can go and take a round in the colony...give me some much needed road exposure.

Momma says : "SURE"....and she covers the blanket over her head and goes off to sleep.

Papa Says: "Its cold outside and its too dark outside...light toh aane de". Hmmmmm

Thus I begin blogging...since my sleep is destroyed. Read the updated blogs in the blog-roll, my mind is still fresh with a heated conversation with dad (minor argument..chalte rehta hai) and I so want to drive that car :( :(

Heck..its 7.19 already and I've been rambling on. There's a Kendriya Vidyalaya two blocks away from my home and there'll be cartloads of kids out on the road now. I dont wanna be shit scared. I think I am just gonna go on my own (damn! I cant find my learner's license). Relatives are expected in a while and we have to go and pick them up from Secunderabad Station. I was thinking I'd drive up until a certain point, then Mom can continue her James Bond style driving.

My problem here is I have been learning to drive an Indica...coz that's what dad has. I tried driving Mom's Maruti one day and I felt like I'd been dismounted from a buffallo and placed upon a donkey. Sorry for the comparisions but the Maruti is too light for my liking...and its ABC..Accelerator, Break and Clutch...dont seem smooth enough. Mom has maintained her vehicle but I still like the Indica better. I neeeeed to learn to drive on the roads of Hyderabad/Secunderabad :(

Ok 7:27 now...Enough is enough. I have had enough. Its gonna be the other way round. I am gonna pull mom out of her bed (she should be doing that...jesus!!!). If not I am going to give some much needed Dhamki of going alone :P

7.28 toodles everyone...maybe a post later in the day but right now I need to go...real bad :P

Mummmmmmyyyyyyyyy!!!!!

P.S THANKS MITHE for the award :) :) Morning Morning you made my Monday :) :)

And Sourish is blog-rolled. :)

Again.

Mummmmmmmmyyyyyyyyy!!!!

Another Tag

2008-12-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

PJ tagged me to do this injustice to you all :P, so let me get this done and over with ;) I must admit, this one has some tough questions, for which I'll try my best to give as many non-filmy responses as I can. Here goes:

RULE #1 People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

RULE #2 Tag 6 people to do this quiz and those who are tagged cannot refuse. These people must state who they were tagged by and cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by. Continue this game by sending it to other people.

1. If your lover betrayed you what would your reaction be?
----> Third World War....the non-bombing, non-nuclear types.

2. If you could have one dream come true which one would it be?
----> Write something really brilliant that affects people in a good way...Also It wouldn't hurt if I get to meet Kimi Raikkonen :P

3. Whose butt would you like to kick?
----> George W. Bush...any day.

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?
----> Will NOT invest in stocks for sure :P Maybe put it to use in buliding schools where they are needed, with a proper infrastructure.

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?
----> I have been in love with my best friend ever since he became my best friend :P

6. Which is more blessed: loving someone or being loved by someone?
----> BOTH.

7. How long would you wait for someone you love?
----> As long as I have hope of him returning.

8. If the person you like is secretly attached, what would you do?
----> Kimi is openly attatched :( And there's nothing I can do about him...except profess my love for him on my blogs, which he doesnt read....YET! :p

9. If you could root for one social cause which one would it be?
----> Prevention of Child Abuse

10. What takes you down the fastest?
----> Jactitation....I dunno why it irritates me so..but it does :(

11. Change of quest..... What's your main Aim in life?
----> Do something useful and make a difference in as many lives as possible.

12. What's your fear?
----> Losing focus

13. What kind of person(s) do you think the person who tagged you is/are?
-----> The most adorable person I know on blogosphere :)

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married and poor?
----> How about being Committed to a banker?? :P

15. What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

----> Check my cellphone for the time :P

16. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously who would you pick?
----> If its Kimi, then him, if he'll have me too :P....otherwise....inki pinki ponkey :P :P :P :P

17. Would you give all in a relationship?
----> Y-E-S

18. What's eating you now?
----> Inability to write something good :( ...and a bad eye-infection which is slowing down my reading process :(

19. Do you prefer being single or in a relationship?

----> Both have their own pros and cons...right now, I am content being single :)

Ok...now I have to tag 6 people right???

Its gonna be :

Divya

Nikhil

Hemanth

Reflections

Shalom

Nithin (Whenever you are back...go thru this routine :p)

Now get on with it :P

Updates

2008-12-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

We're into the last fortnight of this year, and this is what has been happening around me:

I'm into day 17 of driving classes, ten more classes to go and I'll finish the stipulated course...hopefully I am road ready by then, which I am not as yet. Everyday its been the 6.40 am class which was pushed back to 8 o clock today. Needless to say, for someone unaccustomed to driving in traffic, it was a maddening experience. I love to zip around on the scooty...but driving a car, was phew!!....I wish I had Kimi beside me, probably that would help. Sure, concentration would be an issue, but then again....ok!! Will stop the rambling now!! :P

Work has taken a beating with most companies cutting costs and advertisements going down. For a small firm where I work, with a clientele that has been steadily losing revenue, advertising is limited. That way I am not too busy during this holiday season (whilst I expected to be), with a handful of projects coming this way. Not complaining..I have the time to catch up on my books. :)

I had this trivial thing on my agenda: to finish reading 10 books by the end of this year. I started on 17th November with book 1, right now I am on book 4. So, 15 days and 6 books to go. You do the math. Attainment of that goal looks a little bleak, but then, the cliched term : IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING. Watch out for this space :)

With the Formula One season already ending a while ago, I have not been having much interest in catching up with telly-dom lately. I've only been using the idiot box to watch some great movies on DVD - Read "A Wednesday" and "Gone Baby Gone".

A really old net friend, Banibhusan, is coming to Hyderabad for the first time this weekend. Pretty psyched about his impending visit. Apart from all the hilarious calls we make to each other, we've been each other's emotional support when it was so required. I just hope the meeting goes well. Given his apparent love for chicken, I plan on taking him to a reputed restaurant so that he can have the delicious Hyderabadi Biriyani. Watch out for this space yet again!! :)

Reading DESCENT INTO CHAOS by Ahmed Rashid. That's book 4, in case I didnt mention. Oh yes, I didnt mention. Next Change : O Jerusalem!

My lil sis (18 yrs old...not little, mind you!!) :P has been making me hear all these "gangsta-rap" songs, which I quite enjoy for their beats. Trouble starts when I break into an impromptu dance and am asked, rather impolitely, to dispense with the comedy circus. I tell you, "real" talent has no takers these days *sigh*

Finally, my best friend of 14 years, just got engaged a few days ago. I am happy for him that he found a great girl, and by March next year, he should be forever bonded in holy matrimony. :) Wish him all the happiness in the world.

Life has been moving at a dreadfully slow pace. I think I need to get out of Hyderabad for a while. Lets see what life has in store next. Peace out you all, nothing more to pen. Cheers!!

P.S: I have put up a new box for the most interesting blogger/post I come across, the readership for which is low considering the amazing content it has. Just a request to all you bloggers who come to my blog, to go through that one as well..and please comment too :). Go to "TOP READ FOR THE WEEK" and check it out.

Featuring this week : OVERATED OUTCAST

And the Award goes to..

2008-12-12T23:44:00.000-08:00

So, the award season continues...and I thought I saw the end of it a few months ago. I am sure Nostradamus wouldn't be happy with me for getting my predictions all wrong (he probably predicted that I'll get it wrong...duh uh...why am I rambling about him now??).

This has been pending for a while now, so I just thought I'll get over with this one before I continue getting back to posting other stuff. Have met some really amazing bloggers recently, and to be awarded by them feels really special. The following is the list of awards I've got from blogger friends, which I am not-so-promptly passing on to my favourite ones:

Shalom and Diva presented me with the Butterfly award which are being passed on to:

Kochu -- Nithin Jayan, Without a doubt, has remained my favourite blogger for a while now.

PJ -- Priya Joyce, The most adorable blogger I know. Its fun reading her posts and even more fun when we have our chats. :))

Aqua -- One of the bloggers whose posts I started reading during my "off" days, and made me feel good, post after post. :)

Reb -- a.k.a Jiggy to me, one of my most recent blogger friends, tolerates my blabber-mouth attitude, and I guess is waiting with a hungry tummy for our wada-paav party :P

Reflections -- Had my initiation to her blogs pretty recently, but I feel like I've been addicted to her blogs forever, in a manner I am not even addicted to reading my India Today weekly!! Absolutely love her posts.

Anoop -- One blogger I have admired ever since I can remember coming to blogosphere. His comments post after post encouraged me to write further, kinda like an affirmation that yes, somebody is reading my posts :) Hugs!! :)

Now coming to the next batch:

Reflections and PJ awarded me this beautiful award, which are being passed on to:

My space -- Her blog "My Family" was the first one I ever read and it just completely blew me away, as I read and re-read it. I have been forwarding

it to friends (who are genuinely interested in reading blogs) ever since I read it. Amazing stuff. Thanks!! :)

Crystal -- The most talented blogger in the blogosphere I have so far treaded on. Her writing has left me speechless most times. She's a wonder,

truly. Absolutely love her. Thanks!! :)

Shalom -- Again, one of bloggers I've recently come across, I just love the simplicity in her blogs and the manner in which she can tell everything she feels....just plainly. Someone I have begun to admire a lot. Thanks!! :)

Vinay -- I never knew I liked reading poetry until I read his blog. The way he expresses himself through his rhymes, just tug at my heart strings...some of them the most amazing ones I've read to date. Just amazingly beautiful. Thanks!! :)

Swats -- Another blogger whose blog I've been recently to and loved reading every single one of them that I've read so far. I like the fearlessness in her writing, the way she speaks her mind.

Thanks!! :)

And finally, PJ gave me this beautiful award too, which I pass on to the most free-spirited bloggers I know on blogosphere. (Beware : Long list ahead!!)

Crystal

Diva

Swats

Kochu

Alok

Anoop

Reb

Hemanth

Shalom

Reflections

Swarna

Phew...enough of the awards. I'm already tired linking up blog url's. :) Congratulations to all the winners. Keep writing. :) Cheers!!

P.S: I Say, at this rate, every blogger in blogosphere will have gotten every award available here. Talk about equal treatment. :P :) ;) Cheers!! :)

Time to Stand Up for yourself

2008-11-28T09:52:00.001-08:00

Forgiving a Terrorist is left to GOD. But fixing their appointment with GOD is our responsibility.

---INDIAN ARMY---

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My nephew Krishang turned 4 today. In the midst of his birthday celebrations, our constant fixation with the news channels continued as we watched the terror drama unfold in Mumbai. Amidst the reports of heroics by the Indian Armed Forces, the NSG and the Marine Commandos, we heard the news of another child who celebrates his birthday today, with the biggest tragedy of his life.

Terrorists killed all 5 hostages held at Nariman House. Among the dead, were this little Israeli child's parents (age of the child unknown, but from the pictures, he appears 1-2 yrs old). For two days, India and the rest of the world have scrapped their routine television schedules to watch the latest developments taking place in South Mumbai's landmark as well as elite hotels. The Taj Mahal Palace, Oberoi and Trident are household names now, if not earlier. The world is watching us. Maybe because of the number of people from various nationalities who were attacked.

And we have the familiar sights yet again. Politicians raking political mileage out of all this. I've been listening to this crap throughout this entire ordeal. L.K. Advani, Shivraj Patil, Pranab Mukherjee, Narendra Modi....the list of name callers goes on and on. I have enormous respect for Manmohan Singh as an economist. But as the leader of this country, I think he's a hopeless failure, these terror attacks notwithstanding.

The whole blogosphere is angry. Including myself. Why shouldn't we be? Can't we be safe in our country and our home? I am angry not with just the political blame game. I am angry with myself for being a silent witness to all this name calling and unkept promises by the so called leaders. I have questions....I have no answers.

Where the hell is Raj Thackeray now when innocent lives were lost in "his" Mumbai? Where are his MNS supporters now?

Is it just me, or the terrorists seem much more united in their cause than we as a country seem to be? Aren't we our biggest enemies in that case?

L.K.Advani, Jaswant Singh, Narendra Modi, Shivraj Patil, R.R. Patil were all shown at the scene of terror for a fleeting glance when they came to make their poilitical statements. They wasted all that money to come down to Mumbai and give us all that crap and stand at safe distance from the scenes of horror to address the media to use this as campaigning platform?

How many more terrorist attacks before we learn to demand action from these incompetent men at the helm of the affairs of our country? How many more days will we go back to chasing our materialistic dreams and brush aside things that concern all of us, by saying "The Governement should have done so and so"?

Is it not our duty to keep the government on its toes and make it responsible to take action against every reasonable grieviance we have? Why should we be helped if we are not ready to stand together and raise our voices and ask for what is rightfully ours?

How many times have we complained about the bad road conditions on our way to work/college etc. and never bother to demand the government to provide us what has been promised?? Why do we keep using those bad roads, or in other case, use other roads, waiting for the government to take steps when it has time?

If we cant stand together and demand for our basic rights, why do we expect the government to do anything else on the much larger issues?

We complain about non-availabilty of young, honest, dynamic, educated leaders to lead our country. How many of the people who actually fit that profile, would rather lead this country than run the affairs of a Multi-million dollar MNC?

Why do most parents encourage their children to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, chartered accountants? Why not something bigger? Like the Prime Minister of the World's Largest Democracy?

It is such an irony that even I am a coward when it comes to answering these questions. These have been troubling me throughout the day as I sat there listening to chilling accounts of horrific tales that are being told in Mumbai. Its not about religion, nor nationality. Nor caste, nor status.

Its about human life.

And how its value seems to get depreciated in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Can Rs 1 Crore for the families of the brave martyred soldiers diminish their pain that they are feeling now?

Can those few thousands of Rupees repair the fractured souls of the people who went through this ordeal?

What goes on inside a terrorist's mind to kill someone else in flesh and blood? What?

I can go on and on and on. Writing here might not serve any greater purpose than to serve as a medium to vent my ire. I know I have been shaken like never before. 9/11 was a spectacle for me, something I had witnessed and shrugged off, as a carefree teenager. 26/11 cannot be that. For now, the world has changed many folds.

Do we want our children to grow up in a hostile environment with a constant fear for their life?

Do we want to blame particular communities and countries for our sufferrings, forever and ever, and just witness all this until it reaches our very doorstep?

Do we want to be just passive watchers and just comment from the sidelines thinking, "Oh it has happened somewhere else, lets think of something more important, like say, the recession".

Do we want to still wait for the government to keep playing dirty political games, talk only about elections, take out extensive rallies with our hard earned money and not give us basic like street lights?

Or do we now start demanding them to give us what we as tax paying citizens of this country deserve and make our voices heard?

After all, even we deserve the chance to live our life free of fear. If the politicians deserve the elite security forces, can the rest of the 1 billion odd population just settle with less than mediocre??

ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER INCIDENT TO SHAKE US AND JUST WRITE OUR MINDS OUT, OR ARE WE GOING TO TAKE SOME ACTION??

ARE WE??

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