Dreams,Memoirs and all the stuff that make life

10 Day You Challenge: 1 photo

2011-12-31T09:28:00.003+05:30

The tag continues..
And here I am..

Glad that I FINALLY finished the tag before the new year(the tag was supposed to be done in the month of July though)..

10 Day You Challenge: 2 songs

2011-12-30T23:51:00.003+05:30

2 Songs
Strange how some songs holds memories. One day I was listening to some song and it reminded me of a college friend, a random song playing in the radio brought back the memories of days bygone. So the two songs are not only the favourite songs but favourite old memories also..

1) Dil dhoondta hain: An old friend introduced me to this song. I bought my first Gulzaar cassette at that time. Everytime I listen to this song, it reminds me of those lazy afternoons when me and my mother spread on the bed listened to the songs, me fast-forwarding/ rewinding the cassette so as to reach to my favourite song, getting in and out of the bed to change the side of the cassette once it has rolled completely. Those were such carefree days and everytime the song sings of the lazy afternoons of the winters and breezy nights of the summers, the heart dreams to live them.

2) Way Back into love: I had just watchd the movie, courtesy ZZ to whom I used to hand-over the list of good movies which he downloaded for me and brought to me during those days. I loved the movie and this song too. Inside one Diwali Greeting card that he had posted to me, there was a paper in which he had written the song in his specially-calligraphed writing in ink pen. I was back into love.

10 Day You Challenge: 3 movies

2011-12-28T18:51:00.005+05:30

3 Movies

1) 1Dil Chahta Hain: The kind of movie I would enjoy watching again and again and this statement itself speaks a lot on how much I like that movie. Superb styling, witty dialogues, fantastic acting and fabulous script. “Hum Cake khan eke liye kahi bhi pahuch jate hain..”, “ Tumke kya lagta hain main pillow mein roz baithta hoon?’ etc still can bring a smile on the face.

2) Before Sunrise/ Before Sunset: I have to trust my brother’s choice. He told me long ago that “Before Sunrise’ is a nice movie and you would love watching it. But like his every advice, I ignored and one fine day when I watched this movie (smuggled from his Hard disc), I fall in love with the movie, the actors especially Julie Delpy (such an original) , the locales. The kind brother helped again telling me that its sequel is also there. Downloaded the movie and yes, I enjoyed it as much as the earlier one. One (Two) of the favourites.

3) Amelie: The very charming Audrey Toutou stole the heart. I get ZZ to download this movie for me. Loved the movie. Have already watched it thrice.

Conclusion

2011-12-26T19:53:00.003+05:30

Its not a good sign when your Boss asks ' But why shall I do this for you?" at the crucial point when you ask for support.

10 Day You Challenge: four Books

2011-12-26T19:36:00.002+05:30

1) The Time-Travellers Wife: This was such a different kind of book. Took some time to understand the story but once you do, the story engrosses you completely. While reading, I kept wondering how it would feel to have a Time-Traveller companion. It was late evening in the winters when I along with ZZ were roaming in the market when I decided to enter one store. So I stepped down from the bike and ZZ proposed to park the bike in the parking lot. And while I was wrapping the stole around my neck, I looked around and found him vanished. Yes not in the parking lot ahead nor around. And the first thought that came in to my mind at that point was oh, so this must be how Lizzee feel when her husband went away. See, the impact the book made on me.

2) The Catcer in the Rye: Well, I got to read this book in my mid-20s but then better late then never.

3) Memoirs of Geisha: I borrowed this book from the library. And I was transferred into that Japanese era of Chiyo. Later I watched the movie also but didn’t find the movie half as good as the original book.

4) Jeffrey Archer Short Stories: I was tempted to write Jhumpa Lahiri short stories but then of all her short stories, I remember only one even though I enjoyed reading all of them. I love how she plays with memories, fights with love and lonliness in her prose. But Jeffrey Archer style is more I like-straight to the point, with its own twists, the language simple yet captivating. Currently reading “Kane & abel” in ebook format and cant wait to finish it. This may well explain my bias towards the author.

10 day You Challenge: 5 foods

2011-12-19T22:22:00.003+05:30

After such a long break, it's no sense to continue this tag but well its end-December. And like many things, I want to finish this and step into the new Year afresh, with new tags to do;) and no laments for the old incomplete ones;)

So here goes my favourite 5 foods:

1) Besan ke laddoo: Ma ke haath ke bane huwe. No matter how less time she has, she always ensures to pack a box of laddoo for me.

2) Biryani: that ZZ makes. I am a big fan and on special demand, the guy cooks his awesome biryani

3) Corn: bhutta, bolied corn, sweet corn, baby corn-corn in every form. I like.

4) Khandvi and Dhokla- I so much relish these snacks.I have tried making Dhokla more than 5 times and eveytime it ended non-fluffy and hard. Hmm..in new year I have to get some of my culinary disasters right.

5) Sweets: I have a sweet touth. As a kid, I was notorious among my relatives for my love for anything sweet.

random Realization

2011-12-19T22:00:00.003+05:30

So finally today I took a stance and spoke for myself and asked for a sort of favour to the boss. I dont know what will happen tomorrow or in the long run, but I am kind of pleased with myself that finally after a lot of dilly-dallying I put forward my situation and asked for a way out.

Also I learnt an important lesson: Whenever you are in a position to help your subordinate, help. Whenever you are in a position to make or break someone's review, make it better. Whenever you are in a position to choose between forgive and forget and revenge, choose the former one. You may not realize it but small deeds like these will make a huge impact on your subordinate. 'Whenever possible, Be an open-minded Good Boss' as a retired GM said in an meeting.

The lesson that I learnt above doesnt mean that this was the response I received. But I would rather be what that ex-G.M than any other version.

All that I would like to believe at this moment is " All that happens is for good."

A monday morning of December

2011-12-12T19:11:00.004+05:30

As I enter that compact room
That seats four and some more
I bowed to the man sitting ahead
And waved as another passes by the door

I went to the small cabin inside
To mark my presence for today
And back to a table that houses
A pile of folders with sticky notes

I powered on and logged-in the screen ahead
And checked the emails of previous days
And replied to some and forwarded a few
And later browsed the company’s web page.

It’s a cold Monday morning, I woke up late
And rushed my way to this place
The mood not good and the work too
Is not feeling the same today

And as I sip the office tea
I noticed the sunlight playing
on the glass surface of the table
Filtering from the large window panes

Yes it’s a cold Monday morning
And now I feel warm
For the winter sun has given
This day a blissful charm.

And now I also remember
The boss is today on leave
Oh what more can I want from Monday
Some sunshine and some peace.

Edited to add: this i wrote in the morning and by evening there was no peace but some turmoil in the mind. Hope all will be well.

On Marriage

2011-12-01T19:10:00.003+05:30

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow

-Kahil Gibran on Marriage

around me

2011-11-20T12:44:00.005+05:30

She was transferred to my office on marriage grounds from the other unit. Tall, beautiful and a smile to die for. They were a small family: she , her husband and her in-laws living in a duplex home at a decent society. Her husband along with a steady job co-owned a small telecom business and her father-in-law was a retired government officer. Like every new bride at a new home, she had to make some adjustments in her new home. She quitted her habit of drinking morning tea as none in her family drink tea early morning. To start for her office at 8:00 am, she has to get-up and rush to the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone and lunch for herself, in the evening reach hhome at 7:00 and cook dinner for all. She accustomed herself with the big city travel system and changed 2 buses to reach office on time. Work at office was also not very smooth and work under a hot-tempered boss has its own ill-effects. Once she told how her mother-in-law gifted her a gold bracelet of exactly same design as the one she had lost earlier. We were impressed after all whose mother-in-law gifts gold even after marriage.

A year into marriage, she hadnt been to her parents home. She yearned to go home. Any requests to her husband to take her home were transferred to her mother-in-law who dilly-dallied it to next time. The work she used to do at home and then managing to work as efficiently at office was really tough. From 6:00 in the morning till night she was in a constant grind and even on that her mother-in-law insisted to wake up a bit more early so that she can manage everything better. She tried her best to ensure her mother-in-law that she had no interests to come in between her and her son and that the husband would always been her so first.Its not like that she didnt discuss the problem or spoke her mind but whenever she did, the mother-in-law started crying and cursing herself and the girl started feeling guilty for making her mother-in-law sad and crying.

Soon she got pregnant, by chance. They were not prepared for it but went with the flow. With months into pregnancy, she faced difficulty doing the house-hold chores like kneading dough and standing constantly at the kitchen. On coaxing her family to get a maid for some help, her mother-in-law wondered aloud that if the girl is having any problem to do house-hold work , she(the mom-in-law) is fit enough to do the work and there is no need for the maid as they are unhygenic and dont do things properly.

Once after reaching home after office with a headache, she asked her husband to get her a glass of water. That was , may be, the first time the boy was doing anything for her. As he was taking the water bottle for her to their room, the mother-in-law taunted her son, "So now the queen cant even drink water on her own?" That was the day and since then she had sworn to not get her husband to do anything for her before the mother-in-law.

In the mean-time, her father-in-law got a heart-attack. The focus was now the health of the father-in-law. Not that she was ever the focus of the house as it was always her mother-in-law. As she wondered sometime that noone in the family has shown any care or love for her health. The husband would run post to pillar if her mother will get a headache and when she demanded extra-care owing to her pregnancy would ask "why? you dont have any problem."

In the second trimester when she desired to have delivery at her parent's home, the mother-in-law and her husband made it clear that they are nobody to say in this matter. But whatever happens. she will be solely responsible for it. The girl went to her parents place for a day and returned back the same evening from the train.

Till her last days before taking maternity leave, she came to the office from the same bus, while earlier she was contemplating to get a driver and came to office in the family car.

The girl had a love-marriage. She knew her husband before the marriage. This is an outsider's perspective from what we hear from her, may be the things were not as dark in the inside. The insecurity of a woman that her son will not hers after marriage, the husband who does his best to be the good son of his mother and made it clear to his wife that her mother is the first priority in his life, a girl away from her family and friends entangled in the roles of the dutiful daughter-in-law and wife, loveless relations and as she earlier confesses, in no feeling of maternal affection with her womb. A sad state to be in and all one can wish is a happy beginning to her family with the new baby.

10 Day You Challenge: 6 places

2011-08-01T17:16:00.005+05:30

This tag was supposed to be done by July end and I have just reached half-way..So without any delay lets continue the tag. Today os the turn of 6 places:
1) Milam: To see the splendid beauty I have heard of only.
2)Laddakh: What to say. If you havent seen Ladakh, well you havent seen anything. or so I think. I so want to be there.
3) Goa: I thought I wouldnt like that place, that paradise of so-called hippies, well I so didnt know myself. I loved that place. If possible every year I can go and stay there and not yet get bored.
4) Europe: Not just a place, a country but the entire continent from Turkey to Holland.
5) Thailand: Just to see the beaches there and gorge on the heavenly food and shopping and some foor massage and temple-visits..
6) Home: After all the travels, its good to be back to the home, to the loving faces of all those who matters most.

10 day You Challenge-Seven Wants

2011-07-30T14:43:00.002+05:30

Seven Wants:

1) Some bright coloured clothes in my wardrobe. Just noticed that my wardrobe is full of earth tomes of black, brown, green and blue.
2) A clean flawless skin. And then I promise I will take good care of that. At present, the only skin-care I do is to take 8 + hours sleep, haha. That reflects- the oily, patchy, blemished, tanned, big-pored, acne-prone skin.
3) A job at TLC for both me and ZZ. That way we can both roam, explore and see the new destinations free of cost.
4) Big half-yearly holidays intermixed with small breaks fortnightly.
5) An elegantly done house with balconies (lined with bonsai s), big lawn, a small backyard at a nice location.
6) A good active lifestyle.
7) And last but not the least, World-Peace.

10 Day You Challenge: 8 fears

2011-07-24T10:45:00.001+05:30

Continuing the tag, here is the list of Eight Fears. Following are my eight fears that can be tamed and win over:

1) I fear that I will never gain weight. I so want to gain weight and look different from my earlier self.

2) I fear that I can never drive in the insane city traffic.

3) I fear that I am not becoming the person I want to be. I know this, I fear this but I am not at all doing anything towards it.

4) I fear if all the dreams I have will be dreams only.

5) I fear of heights.

6) I fear that I might turn into a non-active, non-spiritual, lazy woman who don’t exercise, yoga, pray and is lazy to do her household chores and cook and clean and attend functions.

7) I fear that I will never learn swimming.

8) Lizards..

Now that I have documented the fears I have, I will come back here from time to time to check if I have overpowered them or not.

10 Day You Challenge: 9 loves

2011-07-21T19:10:00.003+05:30

Continuing the tag from here, today is the confession of 9 loves.

I love:

1) my sweaters knitted by my mummy . I don’t know knitting and i have made a pact with her that she is going to knit for my kids.

2) houses with balconies. I would any day take a room with balcony over a ground-floor room.

3) sense of humour of my father.

4) deep husky strong voice in men, in women also. Not the kind of Rani Mukherji voice but Angelina Jolie type voice. Strong and clear. I remember during my school days when I had got a bad cough and got my voice all hoarse, I secretly loved it and was sad when I lost my sexy voice. Ala Phoebe from Friends.

5) the idea of being in love.

6) New destinations, great vacations, good food, nice company, great movies, awesome books- i love them like everybody else.

7) sunny mornings on winter days, cool breeze on rainy days, flowers around in spring, colours of autumn and sunscreen on summer days.

8) the beautiful and cute twin kids who used to live in my building at my previous place. They were so adorable. They used to call my specs “Ai” for ‘Ainak”. Here I written one of their tales. They are the most adorable and smartest kids I have known.

9) the expression on my brother’s face when I crack my ‘deadly’ PJs and crass jokes.

10 Day You Challenge-10 Secrets

2011-07-18T10:21:00.005+05:30

Saw this "I, Me,Myself" kinda "10 Day You Challenge" in this blog. This being my birth-month and in a hope to end the blog-draught, here I am taking up this Challenge. As per rules, it is to be done in 10 consecutive days. But well (lets make our own rules) my challenge is to complete it by Julu end.

Here are my Ten Secrets:

I am not crazy over Harry Potter series or Twilight series. I have not read any of those books from the series and don’t follow the movies very keenly. Apart from the main characters, I hardly know the names of the other characters. The same goes for the Twilight series.

I love to sing. Blame it on those days singing reality shows, when I was alone, I used to sing with one of my hand folded as a mike and other hand gesturing the surs of the music. In my college 1^st year, my room was next to 4^th year Senior Maam who was the singing champion of the college. Through the open window, my soulful;) voice must have reached her ears as on her farewell, she called me and complimented that she loves my voice and asked me to participate me in the college annual function. I famously couldn’t cleared the Auditions.

On the eve of fourth semester examination of “Network Theory”, I famously slept from 7:00pm in the evening to 8:00am in the next morning. The room mate, friends all came in the regular intervals to wake me up but I didnt budge and wake up at my sweet own time. Then grew morose, cried a tear or two on my situation, flirted with the books and notes and went to the exam at 2:00pm. Thankfully the paper was easy and I passed. A friend told me after exam, “I was looking at you time to time. To check if you are writing anything or not. And when you get up to take another copy, I sighed a relief, even if garbage at least she is writing”:) Luckily cleared the exam and all friends checked to see my marks in that subject. When I look back I couldn’t understand why did I do that.

I didnt know how to carry an umbrella. Monsoon time, rainy mornings, big bag on the shoulders, black polished shoes, neatly pressed dress- almost all my friends will come safe with not a drop of water in their clothes and I would have my shirt sleeves and skirt ends wet with rain.

Shantaram, Midnight’s Children, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Catch-22- all Classics-all books I have left half-read. *hangs her head in shame*

For past 8-9 years my weight is almost constant as is my height;), no matter how much I eat. And I am underweight as per BMI.

I am not good with showing emotions through words. I cry when I feel bad, when I am emotional, and usually at loss of words to show my gratitude, condolence towards others, especially when it comes to talk to some elder or rude person.

I wished I have departed on better terms from my last office.

You know there are some people who are so level-headed at all times, who don’t panic at crisis. I admire them.
For the past couple of years, yoga and pooja everyday is in my New Year Resolution list every year. And I have never been able to complete this one it due to sheer laziness. Mornings are a hurry and evenings are busy or so is the excuse I give myself for this inactivity.

Realisation: Age is just a number

2011-07-02T22:31:00.003+05:30

They asked my 12th class percentage.
80.6
Four marks less and I would have fallen from 80+ criteria.

They ask my graduation marks.
74.8
6 marks more and I would have passed with distinction.

They asked my age.
I rounded it off by a year and half.
Uhmm, well, AGE is just a number, no..

Favourite Rain Song

2011-06-10T22:54:00.002+05:30

As I was blog-hopping I came across a blog where someone has written down her favourite rain songs. This brought back the memories of an incident that happened last year.

So, we were on our way to Rishikesh when it suddenly started raining. It was beautiful weather and we both were humming tunes in between the conversations and silence.

Me: You know what is my favourite rain song?

ZZ(driving=concentrating on the road=eyes on the road and ears towards me and mind dont know where): No. Tell me..

Me (ghumming the son): This one. Have you seen the video. Akshay and Sonali are there in it.. Great Video..lovely music..

ZZ: Ohh..Yes, good song..

Me: I dont have that song in my laptop. I soo want to listen it.Download this song for me, ok.

ZZ: Sure..I too like that song. Akshay wala naa.

Me: yeah..

The song I was talking of is this one..

I really like this song. The voices of Hariharan and Chitra creates magic.

Those were the days when we were in the long distance relationship. The next time ZZ came, he told me non-chalantly that he has brought the video song and I get it copied before he leaves. I excitedly took the pendrive and dear friends this was the song waiting for me..

Apparantly, irrespective of my soulful rendition of that song, the only thing the man's mind registered was "Akshay"+"Rain Song".

Ah well, Cest la vie..:)

Question of the day

2011-05-22T20:44:00.003+05:30

Ques: What is our National Sweet?

(I never knew that any such category existed, and only a couple of minutes earlier I got to know about it and here I am sharing my 'knowledge' and now I am craving for it:()

Hint: Attached video will help;)

Tag:After a long time

2011-05-17T09:03:00.008+05:30

I found this fun tag at

http://thegalnxtdoor.wordpress.com/

, and here I am.

Rules
: Fill in the rest of the sentence with the title of a book you have read this year. I slightly tweaked the rules, as I haven’t read many books this year, yet. I have filled in the blanks using the names of books I have read so far.

In School I was: The Catcher in the Rye

People Might be surprised I’m: Interpreter of Maladies

I will never be: The White Tiger

My Fantasy job is: The Alchemist

At the end of a long day I need: Unaccustomed Earth

I Hate It When: 3 Mistakes of my Life

Wish I Had: The Secret

My Family Reunions Are: Great Expectations

At A Party You’d Find Me With: Sun Signs

I’ve Never Been To: South of the Border, West of the Sun

A Happy Day Includes: PS I Love You

Motto I Live By: Life as you make it

On My Bucket List: The Last Lecture

In My Next Life, I Want To Be: The Fountainhead

Tagging

Neha of My Lemonade Chronicles

and everyone else who is interested to take up this fun tag..

Middle path

2011-05-15T12:44:00.005+05:30

Wife: I again have acne appearing on the face.

Husband (working at the laptop) (sounding supportive): no dear, you are looking fine. I dont see them (from here).

Wife: No, they are there. You cant see them from afar. Look..(leaning closer and brings her face in the line of sight of husband)

Husband (examines as a specialist through different angles) ( finding himself stuck between truth and daresay): Umm, ahmmm..I dont know. "well, they are not visible from here "

Someone is surely learning the tricks of marriage..

Daughetrs of beautiful women are not pretty

2011-05-08T09:47:00.004+05:30

In my teens I made a theory, "Daughters of beautiful women are not pretty". Oh yes, my mummy is very beautiful and hence the theory:) In times, I have met many who supported this theory and I have celebrity evidences too to support.

I take after my father in looks as well as in behaviour department. And often I used to rue over this fact too.That I dont have eyes, nose , smile and beauty like hers. Then one day, an old acquaintance came to meet my parents. She had known my parents since their youth but hadnt meet them for like 14-15 years. I had just begun college then. And when she saw me, she exclaims.." You have taken after your mother!! So tall, such elegance ". Now my mother's elegance and style of carrying herself is incomparable but needless to say, I was on moon. I shared it with my mother and slept with a smile on my face.

No one can say, on looking at me that I am my mother's daughter. You know how on seeing some person you feel like "oh she looks exactly like her mother's/ father's" I wanted that to happen with me. So couple of months back I was going through the photos we clicked during Deepawali and I have this moment "omg, I am looking like her. Not completely, surely I dont have beautiful eyes and the natural smile like her, but well the cringes around the eyes and the curl around the lips are unmistakenly hers."

So you see, I am evolving. First the height, then the cringes and curls, and maybe one day people look at me and exclaims"oh she looks exactly like her mother's"..That would surely be a grand day for me. And it would be of great help to me if with time her easy-going nature, child-like exuberance, energy and timeless elegance also rubs in..:)

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful mommies and all their not-so-pretty daughters.:)

Generalising Magazines

2011-04-24T20:16:00.003+05:30

After so many dayss I laughed so much that I was left with aching cheeks..
Sample Conversation:
Friend: you know J, my cousin appeared in the "Playboy" magazine with..
Me, ZZ, Her husband (rotfl): what!!??
Friend ( finally realising the name that she had mentioned and a bit embarrassed): oh not playboy..what's that magazine called??!! ummm.."Men's Health"..yes, he appeared in that magazine..
Ahh well, we now have a topic to tease J and her..

Things I hate/ love about you

2011-03-31T21:17:00.004+05:30

"I love it when you snooze with me

Care-free and sound.

And hate it when you wake me up

Saying baby, its 7:00 am around.

And hate it when you fight with me

Those silent battles again..

And love it when the ice is broken

And we are back in the playfield sane.

I love it when you like the food

That i cook with love for you

And hate it when you forget to

Praise it highly like you used to

And i hate it when you watch those channels

With action and sci-fi

And love it when you blabber on

As i watch “Desparate Housewives”.

I love it when i see you

Rolling on the waves so happy

And hate it when you drive so fast

In the roads with traffic scary.

And i love the way you heartily laugh

Like a child on stupid jokes.

And i hate the fact that i don’t have

Dimple on cheeks like yours.

I love it when we travel around

This keeps me sane and going

And hate it when i cant match

your exuberance high and flying

I love you for the flowers you bring

And for your trademark ‘biryani’

I love you for your beautiful heart

For the love and understanding.

I hate you too as well mister

As i often keep saying

I hate for the zillion things

In my heart i know I m lying..

You see how much I love you

And hate you that as much

But if I want to change one thing

I ll keep you always as such."

And with these cheesy lines i break this self-implied blog-'fast'. You see, office, where my creativity is at its peak;)has blocked blogger..:(

Image courtesy: http://blog.ixwebhosting.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/love_hate.png

What to say of the home where

2011-01-28T21:19:00.003+05:30

Husband wants to go to see "Dil to bachcha hain ji"

and wife "Saat Khoon Maaf".

Disclaimer: Now dont look at me with that expression. Definitely not the story of my home. ZZ is fine and doing good, only I am excited about to watch the murderous wife in action:)

life is good..

2011-01-18T20:08:00.003+05:30

Date: 17/01/2011

Good start in the office..no boss, not much work
The situation changed after lunch, work started pouring in from all directions..
Had to stay late in the office, work still not completed..
Came back home at around 8:00pm, overall Bad day at office..
Bhai A called and shared a good news..
Mood lifted and spent the rest half an hour chatting to him and parents..
Was in no mood to cook dinner..
but proposed to cook some short-cut dinner
ZZ vetoed and suggested he would cook "Biryani" (he cooks the awesomest biryani and knows this;))
and ordered me to chop vegetables..
While chopping vegetables, suddenly i decided to cook "gobhi manchurian"..
Strange!! after initial protest ZZ was made convinced that it wont take much time..
So at 9:00 pm in the night, in between the glimpses of "Jhalak Dikhla Ja", the two master-chefs of our household were cooking biryani and gobhi-manchurian..
end result- lip-smacking food.
ah, well, all s well that ends well..
hmm, life is good...

And thereby hangs a tale

2011-01-10T19:37:00.003+05:30

So I bought this book sometime in February last year. The book is a collection of short-stories by Jeffrey Archer. one of the reason i bought this book was the waves that one of its story "Caste-off" was creating. This was the true story based in India but my favourite among all of them was "The Queen's Birthday Telegram". short and sweet. After I was done reading the book, ZZ took this book with him . Those were the days when we were in a long-distance relationship. I had praised very highly of this book stating that the stories are short and easy to read. He took that book saying it would make a good read on his train –journeys.

Now reading for pleasure is not ZZ's forte. Months passed, weather changed, vacations were taken, bags were changed, I moved in with him but the book never left his side. He always carried that book along with him on his way to office. No matter how many times he emptied, cleared and refilled his back-pack, that book proudly lied there. He carries the back-up regularly to office, with the book inside it hoping he would get to read in his Metro ride to-and-fro home. Now in the so crowded metros, I can well imagine no one can get a chance to stand properly lest think about reading.

So as I saw him once again, ready to go office, his back-pack hanged on his shoulders, with the book inside, I thought, so apt. “And thereby hangs a tale”.

BBC 100 books to read -tag

2010-12-22T19:39:00.002+05:30

Have you read more than 6 of these books? The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed here.

Instructions: Copy this into your NOTES. Bold those books you’ve read in their entirety, italicize the ones you started but didn’t finish or read an excerpt. Tag other book nerds. Tag me as well so I can see your responses!

1. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (I own one copy, but havent yet read it:( )

2. The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien

3. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

4. Harry Potter series – JK Rowling

5. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee (watched the movie..does it count?)

6. The Bible

7. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

8. Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell

9. His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman

10. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

11. Little Women – Louisa M Alcott (I own one copy, but havent yet read it:( )

12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy

13. Catch 22 – Joseph Heller (I own one copy, but havent yet read it:( )

14. Complete Works of Shakespeare

15. Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

16. The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien

17. Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk

18. Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger

19. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger

20. Middlemarch – George Eliot

21. Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell

22. The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald

23. Bleak House – Charles Dickens

24. War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy

25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

26. Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

27. Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck

28. Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

29. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame

30. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy

31. David Copperfield – Charles Dickens

32. Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis

33. Emma -Jane Austen

34. Persuasion – Jane Austen

35. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis

36. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

37. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres

38. Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden

39. Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne

40. Animal Farm – George Orwell

41. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown

42. One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez (got a chance to read it, but i couldnt bring myself to get ahead of the first few pages..:( )

43. A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving

44. The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins

45. Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery

46. Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy

47. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood

48. Lord of the Flies – William Golding

49. Atonement – Ian McEwan

50. Life of Pi – Yann Martel

51. Dune – Frank Herbert

52. Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons

53. Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen (watched the movie..does it count?)

54. A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth

55. The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon

56. A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

57. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley

58. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon

59. Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez (

60. Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck

61. Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov

62. The Secret History – Donna Tartt

63. The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold

64. Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas

65. On The Road – Jack Kerouac

66. Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy

67. Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding

68. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie

69. Moby Dick – Herman Melville

70. Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens

71. Dracula – Bram Stoker

72. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

73. Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson

74. Ulysses – James Joyce

75. The Inferno – Dante

76. Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome

77. Germinal – Emile Zola

78. Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray

79. Possession – AS Byatt

80. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

81. Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell

82. The Color Purple – Alice Walker

83. The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro

84. Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert

85. A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry

86. Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White

87. The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom

88. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

89. The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton

90. Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad

91. The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery

92. The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks

93. Watership Down – Richard Adams

94. A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole

95. A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute

96. The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas

97. Hamlet – William Shakespeare

99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl

100. Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

Score: 9/100
Rating: Very poor.

When i was 25...

2010-12-12T15:21:00.004+05:30

ever since i saw those ads of 25 years of kotak mahindra, i was dying to write a post like this. first, as i have already mentioned,the office where most of the waking hours are spent has blocked blogger and second the home connection was cut for a very long period of time.. So today only i got the net connection back, and here i am writing my idea of how 25 was ..

So when i was 25..
1) no miracle happened. i was still the same confused soul that i am.
2) gifted myself the Dell laptop, i was wishing to buy for some time.
3) got my first bouquet.
4) realised that sometimes God's test your patience and one should use one's senses to deal with it. Emotions are good but one must keep the mind in place to plan and act at the next best chance.
5) got married.
6) realised that no matter how much you smile, laugh, grin at your other photos..its the wedding photos that matter most. So one has to keep the ear-to-ear smile/ coy grin intact on one's face throughout the wedding.
7) flew on plane for the first time in my life! Yes! i am a small town girl.did engineering in the same state, got job in that very state and the job involved no tours. The travel i had of distant places were till date all done in Indian Railways:) and i had a fear of heights so yay, finally i did it.
8) watched "The Sound of Music" for the first time and yes, loved it. And also "Casablanca", and "Amelie" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's".. thanks to zz who has this amazing collection of movies and a decent broadband connection, i got to watch these classics.
9) got my own car, a driving license but no driving skills. I have to learn this.
10) made peace with the fact that if you really want to change something, change your self.

so well, 25 was a great year to be. and i hope the coming years will be more interesting and fun..

of changing beliefs

2010-11-07T20:05:00.005+05:30

used to think what kinda custom it is..
wondered why should only woman should do that..
was determined that i will never do this..
after all it is not a part of "pahari" custom..
told everyone around me that i will not be the part of the fasting tribe..

but on the eve of Karva-chauth,this was what i was doing,

and
lo and behold,i was part of the 'fasting' bandwagon.

note to myself

2010-10-19T11:51:00.002+05:30

for the scattered soul that is me,
let me bring the pieces together
let me look once again at the mirror
and try to laugh back again

for the lost mind that is away
let me remind it once again
that life is hard and work is bitch, for everybody
and better count your blessings than cry

it's time for me to be on "Constructive mission"

welcome idiot-box

2010-10-17T15:49:00.005+05:30

So, in february last year, i wrote this post about the absence of idiot-box in my life. Strangely, I never felt the need and it used to surprise my friends and parents.'Kanjoos' they would say to me 'but how can you stay without tv, yaar?'. After marriage, since I and ZZ had to live in separate cities for some months, my austere life continued.
But in August, I changed location and moved in with ZZ. Our days of living as bachelors had come to an end and we have to make a "grihasthi";). Shopping started, priority list made of what to buy first and what is urgent. I had made him clear about my stance for TV and TV was at the bottom in our priority list. But then, everytime we were at Home-Town or Big-bazaar, I could spot ZZ looking dreamily at the TVs on display, enquiring about the features and offers. Every morning, while reading newspaper, he would exclaim on seeing ads" hey, great offers on Tv yaar..there's this new technology LED which.." You get the drift, right? Then, the big sporting extravaganza called CWG happened, and the need of TV was felt more.
One cant keep a man away from his toys for long, so I had some time back, have agreed of us buying it this Diwali. While I am the kind, who thinks a lot (and dont do much) and asks for opinions/ reviews before any purchase, ZZ is more of a instant kind of buyer, getting anything he likes without much thought. and in the same fashion, today morning ZZ declared we are going to get a TV today. The man kept his words, and right now, busy setting the TV while I write this post.

Stay tuned for the news of TV/ remote wars.

Realisation:5

2010-10-12T19:44:00.002+05:30

A seat in the line of sight of boss's seat will never do you any good.
*sigh*

the month august-1

2010-09-10T19:56:00.003+05:30

For a large part of August, this song described our situation very well...

This is one reason why i was not regular in this blog.ye alag baat hain ki in my new office i have no access to blogger....

Holland vs Netherlands

2010-07-15T09:47:00.004+05:30

Circa 1995-96
Characters:
Me 11-12 years old.
A, My brother 2years younger to me

Scene: We both were alone in the house. While surfing channels, my brother came across a football match on some Sports channel. Being an avid sports fan (as he proclaimed then), he got hooked to the match. I was not a keen sports enthusiast. All I wanted to watch was “MTV”.
Me: A, change the channel.
A: (royal ignore)
Me(ordering): Didn’t you listen, change the channel. I don’t want to see that stupid match. Its not even a ‘LIVE’ match!! Some old match..
A: Let me watch na di..
Me (tried snatching the remote from him)
A (successful in seizing the remote to himself)
Me: (got up from the couch and stood in front of the screen making weird body movements in order to not let him see the TV screen at all..
A (annoyed) ; kya hain di.. get lost. Have I ever done this to you? Why do you always does this? I..
Me (yelling): You don’t even know which two countries are playing this match, and still you want to see the match! huh..
A: I know..I know (still trying to catch a glimpse of the match)
Me (in my cunning Judge avatar) : ok, you have to earn the right to watch the match..I ll ask you a question.If you get the right answer, you can watch the match and if couldn’t then I ll have the remote. Fine?
A: (perplexed but seeing that this is his only chance to view the match uninterruptedly) Okay. But it has to be something of my standard, ok.
Those were the days when we were ardent followers of “Bournvita Quiz Contest”. So quizzing each other on current affairs and general knowledge was our time-pass.
Me: ok. It would be an easy one. Tell me, which 2 countries are playing this match?
A(fading smile) : oye..!! let me at least see the screen. I cant even see their jerseys.
I moved from the screen and checked that the score –board was not poping at any side of the screen at that moment. After a good 15 second. I moved back to my place of being a wall in front of him and TV.
Me: So tell me..
A: Give me time..
Me: Ok , I will give you a hint. One of the team is “Holland”. How did I guess?(proud of my knowledge) Because they are wearing the ‘Orange’ jersey. Orange is their national colour of sorts. Now tell me which country the other team represents.
I myself had no effing idea about the teams.
A: (blank face but impressed by my knowledge of Geography and football)
Me: Time up! Give me the remote.
A: (like a dignified loser handed me the remote): But you first have to tell me which is the other team? (ah, the thirst for knowledge;))
Me: Stupid, you don’t even know this and then you proclaim that you are a know-all in sports. It’s between “Holland” and “Netherlands”!! (still suspecting that I might get caught on my ‘high-risk' bluff)
A (with a saddened face and nodding his head) : ohh..
Me (controlling my laughter hard changed the channel to MTV and still couldn't stop grinning all the time of her master-stroke and awaiting her parents to tell them the incident).
That was the age of stupidity of my brother.
Later in the evening, this story was told in front of the whole family how my brother came to believe that Holland and Netherlands were different countries and I know for sure, I would be narrating this story of their father's knowledge to his kids also.. Yes, wicked me:)

On fountain-pen

2010-06-25T14:41:00.003+05:30

Today, when a person from another department came to me for some official work, I noticed him writing with an fountain pen (ink-pen). 'Ohh, you are writing with an ink pen..!!' with a big grin on my face I said. He smiled. It was that moment of surprise and happiness , you know, when you find someone reliving the days you left so far behind...may be in Class 9-10th..

I continued staring at my screen and blabbering the data he wanted, in between stealing glances at the beautiful black-and-red model and the chelpark-blue ink marks it was leaving as it strides along the page. "Is it 'Stic'?" I asked tempting to hold that pen. "I used to have a pen in the same colour once". "Parker" he replied. Ohh.I couldn't help but lend out my hand and hold that pen and write my name in my note-book with the fountain-pen.

It's been long time that I saw someone using an fountain-pen. Even my cousins studying in Class 6th or 7th use Gel-pens and Ball-point pens. n there was time when our Maam used to chide even students of Class 9th or 10th then for not using fountain-pens, as she believed that using Ball-point pens deteriorates hand-writing. No wonder, I never used Ball-points till Class 11th.Yes, only fountain-pens and Luxar Pilot pens for me.

I wonder if Stationary shops still sell these pens?

I wonder if brands like "Stic" still make these ink-pens? I wonder if young students are still finicky about the colour of the body of the pen or which cartoon is appearing in the pen. Like "Show me the pen in red-n blank. No-no, not in blue-n-yellow". Ok, I am sure nobody does it. But I used to do that.

I wonder if a young student still checks the ink in all his pens every morning while preparing his school-bag.

I wonder, if Chinese pens (today the market is teaming with cheap chinese goods and they all symbolizes poor quality/ use and throw type. But in those days, the decade of 90s, Chinese pens were the priceist and cutest with metalic bodies and a smaller nib) still hold the charm of some young eyes who secretly wishes that her cousin leave her 'legacy' to her in the next academic year..

Realization 4: Height of Narcissism

2010-05-07T09:01:00.004+05:30

On a drizzling day, walking alone in the street carrying an umbrella and humming "Pretty woman, walking down the street..."

All you who sleep tonight-1

2010-04-19T10:13:00.004+05:30

All you who sleep tonight
Far from the ones you love.
No hand to left or right
And emptiness above-

Know that you are not alone.
The whole world share your tears.
Some for a day or two
While some for all their years.
-Vikram Seth

I just happened to pick this book from my Club library mainly because it was a Vikram Seth and it was not thick;) . Also it was the first time I would be reading a book on poetry. I think I lack depth to understand all a composer tries to write between lines but then when you read something so direct and plain yet so profound and poetic, you can not but fall in love with it.
Definitely, the best poem I have read till date...

Near-death experience

2010-04-17T16:57:00.004+05:30

Numbness in your limbs, body turning cold, lips dry, mind blank, the heart thumping so loud that you fear it will pop out from your mouth which is screaming ‘aaaaa…’ at the highest pitch it could , that dizzying empty feeling in the stomach : all at the same time. You cling to your only support with all your strength and might but still feeling that you are losing the grip and you are going to die..

I went through all of this and it was completely my choice. On reaching the crossroads, I was in dilemma if I am taking the right decision? But then once the wheel starts rolling, there is no looking back only this sensation that you are going to die.

On our trip to Land of sun & sand, I tried everything from jetskiing to bump-ride to what-ever-was-created-in-the-name-of-water-sports. I even exuberantly ferried to the deep sea to go for para-sailing above the deep blue ocean. Imagine the feeling to fly like a bird and have a real bird’s-eye view of the ground sea below! But as I saw people putting up the gear and getting ready to sail, the heart started beating faster and an unexplainable emptiness/ whatever in my stomach which made cringe with fear.So when my turn came, all the attempts of ZZ convincing me “Main Hoon naa” went vain and I decided that I will be more happy to see him flying from the ferry ..He sailed alone and I really enjoyed watching him enjoying his sail so much. We came back happily and never spoke about it later.

Till one day,I caught up with the self-improvisation ka bhoot and decided that I have to overcome this fear of mine. So I talked about it with ZZ who zeroed on a venue nearby –an adventure park.

The first ride itself made my heart beat escalated to 120/min. ZZ sweet-talked me into it saying it will not go high but it will only revolve around the main pole. I got entrapped and had the ride..Fear did grip me but overall I enjoyed. Do I want to take that rode again? No, thank you..
Next we took a water ride..The boat takes you from narrow ways and then goes through an elevation and then runs down at meteoric speed splashing water everywhere inside and out. I was game for it and liked it, probably because the fun part ended so soon as it begun. There was a ride from which the cries and the exclaimations were the loudest and the oscillating machine could be seen from the farthest distance itself. ZZ was so pushing me to take that ride else “aane ka phayada hi kya when you didn’t overcame your fear.” As if he was not enjoying his rides.. ZZ had already done 2 rides alone without me as I clearly metioned that I am not interested to rotate my body at 360 degree over and over again for 10 minutes and that too at such speed.

So after analyzing that high ride from the queue, I said to myself, this does look high but its not as terrifying as it looks. The speed looks nominal and the duration of ride is also less than 5 minutes. As I sit in the ride, I double-checked my seat-belt, held the handle with all my might, asked ZZ, who was sitting next to me to hold my hand instead of holding his handle. The journey began and needless to say, those less than 5 minutes become the most terrifying moments of my planet. From the zenith, when you come down, it feels like a free fall, with the body lifted slightly up from your seat, you doesn’t sense any seat-belt or any cover handle .oh god, it’s real terrifying and when you rise up, it still feels the same.. I could hear cries of fear, exuberance, fun, delight around me with my voice also a part of it.As the speed subsided, I heaved a sigh of relief that I am alive and vowed never to take such ride again. Soon ZZ and I parted ways..he went for another topsy-turvy ride and I went for my favourite ride of the whole park, which is :

In that moment I got this realization that there are certain things you can’t do. And for the things that you can’t do, blame it on your genes;) Yes, I think my father is also a bit paranoid of adventure rides and heights.;)

Hey, do you ever have any such experience?
Pic courtesy: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2017/2205999855_bfec32dff1_m.jpg
http://audreyandthane.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/dscf0593.jpg

old man & the sea

2010-04-08T10:13:00.002+05:30

If only...

2010-04-06T13:56:00.002+05:30

Dear ZZ,
I would not have declined your so many “chalo, chalet hain naa” requests with one alibi or other
nor would I have dared to rejoice when your attempt to book the show tickets online get unfruitful
nor would I have not succumbed to your reference “We haven’t seen a single movie together(in movie hall)”
if only I knew that you so much wanted to see the “Clashes of the Titans” that you went for the 10:30pm show alone after the 19+hour journey(that included accompanying me to another city and returning back) and 5+hour work in the past 32 hours.
P.s: (Edited to add: I was in the another town when this incident happen)

Phases

2010-03-24T10:51:00.003+05:30

Living with parents is about dreaming of somedaymaking it big and living alone. You never realize how it is to live with your parents when you are living with them. But once you are away, the reality dawns on you that what you left was heaven where you lived a princess life with nothing to bother except your studies.
Living alone is freedom juxtaposed with boredom. You have the freedom to watch any TV channel you want to without any interference from anyone to change the channel but you miss the nearness of someone along with whom you can share your 2-cents on the movie you watched just then.
Living with friends is freedom. And freedom only. Not a single ounce of boredom.
You watch your favourite TV serial in bits and pieces, in between breaks of the other TV serials that are on,sitting in a common-hall along with 20-something people with constant chatter where you have to “Shoo” them everytime your favourite actor is appearing onscreen.
You cook ‘Bread-rolls’ on a low-flame heater in your room at a corner with a bunch of friends and making almost no noise so that none of the other hostel-mates could know ‘whats cookin’’.So what if the bread-rolls took 2.5 hours to cook, they would remain the best bread-rolls you ever ate.
You argue hard with your friends and with yourself if it is fine to go PVR to watch the night 12:00 show of that block-buster movie and end up going there and munching popcorns and loving the feel of walking in the deserted streets at 4 in the morning.
You sing a line of a song, your room-mate the next and this chain continues from one song to another with bouts of giggles and laughter and breaks for correction in between and you realize that what a joy it is to sing with someone singing along with you and forming the chorus. And you chukle when a freind mentions in your testimonial (in Orkut ofcourse;)) about you singing "Tanha Dil" loud in the corridors of your hostel.

Ah those days...

The Curious Incident of Dog in the Night-time

2010-03-20T13:41:00.004+05:30

It's a simple story of a not-so-simple boy who understands science, loves mathematics (in the book you will find numerous instances that proves his love for the subject), likes dogs, dreams of being astronaut . But he doesn’t understand people and jokes, don’t like being touched, hates colour "Yellow" and "Brown"loves reading mystery novels and that’s why he wrote one of a true incident .
The narrator is Christopher Boone and he suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. Yes ,this is the same syndrome of which Rizwan Khan’s character suffers from in the movie “My Name Is Khan”. And this character Christopher is such nicely created that you can imagine him in flesh and blood. In his locality, there is a murder committed and he goes on to find the murderer and in the path he resolves to write a book about it.

The peculiar points of the writing style in the book are so different from the other books that I read.

Not many characters that you lose focus as the narrator don’t like crowd.
Chapter numbers are only prime numbers because the narrator loves prime number. Hence when you find the first chapter 2, don’t go back and start looking for the Chapter 1.
It has graphics and maps because that’s how his mind works. His mind calculates and make maps of any place he goes.
It has an Appendix that is a solution of a mathematics problem. He didnt include it in the book’s text because his teacher says that one should not include un-interesting facts while writing a book. And the writer Mark Haddon proves true to the words he wrote because not in any instance does the book loses the interest of the reader.
The chapters are written in such a way that they make an alteration between the actual story and his basic nature. Like Chapter 2 tells the story and in chapter 3 the narrator talks about himself or anything that comes under his curiosity (the main plot is not at all here) and then again the chapter 5, the story plot resumes and so on.

Just the way, you fall in love with Holden in “The Catcher in the Rye” because of his thinking, you will fall in love with 15-year old Christopher for his quirkiness, that I can assure you.

A couple of years earlier I recall, I read the interview of Shah Rukh Khan where he was asked about the book he was currently reading and he named this book. That was the same year, I suppose, when this book received “The Whitbread Book Award”. The name of the book remained with me( oh yes, I remember namesJ) and it was only in 2010, when I chanced upon the book and I totally love it.

In short, what I can say is that reading this book made me :)

For Carry-on-tuesday

2010-03-10T16:23:00.004+05:30

I knew this would be coming

It's that time of the week.

But on work-front things kept showing

And I had much stuff to seek.

In the evenings I had to do groceries

And read that unfinished book.

The morns I was always in hurry

Even the newspaper I had to overlook.

Each day just goes so fast

I turn around-its past.

I told myself that its fine and

I submitted this at last.

;) ;) ;) ;)

Main Hoon Naa

2010-03-03T16:31:00.004+05:30

The three most important words that can make an impact is “Main Hoon Naa”…
Sometimes these are said explicitly and there are times when the warmth in the gaze, hold of the hands make it come alive.
It is this same support a mother gives to her kid when he hold her fingers to take the first steps.
It is the same faith a father renders to his son when he pushes and balances the bicycle to teach his son the art of cycling.
It is the same support a friend gives when he stands by you and lends you his notebooks and teaches you the missed lectures when you were down with chicken-pox.

I remember a particular incident when my father had come to meet me at the hostel. I lived with my 2 room-mates. In the evening he proposed to have dinner outside and asked for some good restaurant nearby. My friend K told him about this great non-veg restaurant “Maharaja” nearby adding “ but we must not go there as it is usually filled with guys and it’s night time”..To this what my father responds still is my friend’s favourite line..He simply said “Arre Main hoon naa..We ll go there.” It was not a big issue but the way he said it in his spirited voice makes it a memorable moment for me as well as for my friends.

When I was new to my job, my boss assigned me with some work which was new to me. Obviously, I was not very comfortable and asked a lot of querries about it.To this he just said me to “work with no fear because even if the project doesn’t turn out right, what I am for? Main Hoon Naa”..I don’t remember what happened to the project, but his words remind me of my father and I smiled and started working as I know I had a firm support at my back.

This idea that no matter what we do, there is someone who has set a safety net for us whenever we fall, someone to whom we can return to when everyone has turned their back to us, someone whose hands are holding you in every step you take, gives a high, a motivation to work your best.

And these three words also show that the person who is saying them has the power and the means to support you as well as that he is caring enough to lend you his support. It is great to be at the receiving end of the someone’s unflinching support but it is more important to be at the stage to say these words and mean it. Because these simple words can make someone to go to his farthest limit because he knows that after a day’s hard work, no matter what the result is, he has someone to go to who is there for you at your every step.

Pic courtesy: Internet

ek choti si love poem :D

2010-02-16T15:58:00.006+05:30

"Yes, love is in the food I cook
And in your lavish praises
But, turn and see the love when I look
As you volunteer to do the dishes"
:D :D
P.S I have changed my header from the MS-Paint image I made to the photo ZZ clicked. Tell me how it is??

It was today

2010-02-02T15:48:00.002+05:30

In the beginning of the year 2009 or was it late 2008 ?,whatever, something new happened. Sitting idle in front of a computer which doesn’t have access to any social networking sites and other interactive mediums, I was wandering in the world wide web to get access to something readable when I stumbled upon someone’s blog, which lead me to a chain of other blogs and in a few days I was so addicted to it that the first thing after reaching the office , after checking mail-box, was to type-in the favourite urls and read the blog-posts. Soon, I started commenting on the posts and dreaming of owning one too..

It was today last year when that dream turned into reality..

Cheers to the blog.. Hoping the celebration of writing and reading and commenting and tagging and book-marking continues…..

My attempt

2010-02-01T15:24:00.002+05:30

I saw it in neon lights burning
And read it in the print
“There is a big show coming
Bigger than one have dreamt”

It celebrates the hope and love
And defeats and sorrows too
It has all the flavours
Of birth, death and “I do”

Oppurtunity knocks never twice
So lets take this chance
It is totally upto to you
Whether you wanna sit or dance.

So pack your bags and get your ticket,
Come and lets take a ride
I am sure as the show ends
You ll wonder “What a life!”

My attempt at Carry on tuesday "Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth" inspired by Titaxy.

Quote-Unquote

2010-01-23T13:22:00.007+05:30

As I was browsing the net in the office, I came across this very beautiful and profound piece of wisdom on marriage.
It reads,
" To keep your marriage brimming,

With love in the loving cup,

Whenever you're wrong admit it;

Whenever you're right shut up. "

Immediately, as a good partner I CtrlC CtrlV it and send this to ZZ through email hoping he would imbibe the lesson of these words.(Oh yes I am die-hard optimistic still thinking I can change my husband..) As we had some argument a day before this piece made sense too..
Afterwords when I checked my mailbox this was what ZZ shot back.
“
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Whenever you're right shut up ..........”

Realisation: 3

2010-01-16T08:42:00.002+05:30

Always dress your best. You never know when your pending appointment to the Director of your company is granted.

Random post

2009-12-31T15:58:00.006+05:30

Last week I was out-of-town to be with my Husband..(Yes I got married last year..I am yet to complete 2 months of married life. My husband lives in another city and since Husband will/ can now often get featured in the forthcoming posts, he will be called ZZ)
I had a day when he went to office and I was alone at the home after 10:00am..Delhi is at its chilly best and even though I had plans to do this and that, all I did was read a book, upload marriage pics at picasa and send links to friends and check my home-page umpteen times in Orkut.. It was such a boring day but was made up when a dear friend K who too recently got married, came in the evening with her husband.. We watched her marriage and honeymoon pics and ate and laughed and drank and ate again and discussed another friend who is going to get married and our married lives. It was so cold that day and she braved to come to meet me that too in a bike, was awesome…

My organization has organized a 3-day program for its women executives at Noida and it was a fantabulous project.. One evening after session we went for shopping to Great India Palace and another day watched “3 idiots” with friends. We sure had a great time there.. Also the lectures were interesting and I got to meet some of real wise souls there. One of the external faculty who undertook one lecture on “Managing Role Stress” was stressing the fact that in a life, a woman has to play many roles like that of a good daughter, wife, mother, sister, daughter-in-law.. And she never skipped this last word “daughter-in-law” every time she talked about roles.. She probably lives with a mother-in-law at home :/…Being married made me extra observant on these kind of words, it seems ;)

It’s the beginning of a brand new year, a new decade.. Let me quickly sum up the last deacde 2000-09 as
The period when I made transition from a teenage to a bespectacled young woman, when I left the warm and secure blanket of parents and moved to a bigger world (and it ‘s a nice world outside), when I know the bliss of living in hostel and with friends, when I shunned the school-bag and went to college( sometimes with just a pen in hand), when I had the best time of my life, when I saw the sea first time, when I danced all night on friend’s birthdays, when I earned my first pay-check, when I fall in love, when I received my first ever rose and bouquet, when my marital status changed..

Wishing all a wonderful new year....

December-End

2009-12-23T15:47:00.002+05:30

Its that time of the year when

the chill in the air has increased, freshly snowed mountain-tops can be seen from the home, the fog covers the surrounding thus barring the much-needed sun-shine, everybody has his hands in pockets, the pockets are full of peanuts, hand-made sweaters are getting appreciating glances from kids around and an inquisitive look ( to see the pattern of design and copy) by the neighbourhood aunties, sleeping inside the quilt is the best past-time for evening, basking in the sun the time-pass of day, market-hopping to get new year greeting cards for your relatives afar, making hand-made cards for the friends near, eating oranges and other seasonal citrus fruits, exchanging comics everyday with the friends, rubbing Boroline every-night on chapped lips and cracked cheeks, mother cooking gajar-ka-halwa, father buying gajak, holiday-home work still pending, discussing which programme would be broadcast on DD-1 on New-Year’s eve, if Jaspal Bhatti and Gurdas Mann would be there in that programme, running noses, waiting for the New Year cake that mummy would prepare

Yes it’s end-December and nostalgia is at its best…

Realization:2

2009-12-15T15:45:00.001+05:30

The best thing one can say to the father of the bride is “The marriage arrangement is great. We like it.”
And then don’t forget to see the pride and satisfaction in his smile.

Somethings never change...

2009-11-09T16:38:00.006+05:30

Somethings never change. No matter how fast-paced life become, no matter how tech savvy new-age kids become, somethings never change..

So what if we had only 5-star and Dairy-Milk as option for chocolates and today the kids have plethora to choose from, the young girls of age 3-4 still love to snatch the hand-bag of their lady guests or neighbours, turn them inside out to check if there are any chocolates/ eatables there and hang the purse on their shoulders and flaunt it as if they are carrying their own.
>

So what if fashion then was not so very much to look forward to and there was not much TV/internet that breeds the bug of looks and beauty on young minds like they do have today, the young adolescents still admire the young unmarried woman who their family knows and who comes to their place often and tells her how much they love her hair, her looks and her dress and her everything and dreams to be like her some day.

Yes, at some point of time I was that kid who used to tear apart the purse of her aunt to look for chocolates and for the entire time she were at our place, I used to carry her purse and roam around the house with an air thinking I am a big girl now.
Down the line, I was also that young tween who dreamt of being like the nice neighbourhood “Didi” who used to come at my house often..

One can always exclaim “girls will be girls” and yes even I will second it but also I want to add that “What goes round comes around” (Today my neighbourhood twin-girls remind me of my childhood when they fight to get hold of/ scrutinize my purse and carry it with elan on their tiny shoulders. Today a young teen makes me smile when she tells how much she likes the dress and hair and earrings and..)
“What goes round surely comes around”
…and I am not complaining :D

Photos from Internet.

Realization:1

2009-11-07T08:41:00.003+05:30

SHOPPING helps! SHOPPING heals!!

When you are feeling low, Shopping is the next best thing to do to lift your mood up..Whats the best thing, ofcourse talking to a close friend..:D

Being a GEM

2009-10-26T16:42:00.002+05:30

My dear friend updated me of a new word and I thought it is apt to write a post about it right now before this phase eludes me and I am left with nothing but wordless memories..

Being a GEM, I realize there are certain aspects added to your personality and knowingly or unknowingly we all follow this pattern:

You keep falling in and out of love with the same person. With every good thing, your belief in the other strengthens further and with every fight, the clouds of doubts appear.

You start questioning yourself and assuring yourself and arguing and believing the sanctity of marriage.

The home where you lived your whole life now for you becomes your parents home. You innocuously start calling your home as your parent’s home.

The once-in-the-year calls of your cousins and aunt’s become frequent these times who wants to know all the updates on the preparations of the D-day.

You find yourself staring at the dummies with bridal-outfits. Not that you were never into window shopping but looking lustily at those designer embroidered/ kanjeevaram sarees is a total new experience.

Before every purchase, you begin contemplating if this thing/ dress could be used after your status change as well and if the answer is a guiltful no, you, with a heavy heart, leave it at the counter.

On seeing an old crush at the social networking site still brings a smile on your face while your mind repeats “You are a GEM now”.

You day-dream of what the future life would be.

You worry a lot of how the whole process of marriage going to happen and thus reduce weight and instead of that so-called glow what shines in your face are those new zits.

If you are working like me you also start wondering about what lies ahead professionally but believe me, career is the last thing on your mind right now.

You smile and cant wait to marry when you see some marriage function or a sweet couple roaming in the market but at the same time you heave a sigh after a day-out with your girl- friends thinking this might not be a regular custom afterwards.

P.S: For the uninitiated, GEM stands for “Getting engaged or married”.

Edited to add: Celestialrays handed me this fab award which I have proudly displayed in my blog. I would love to give this award to NEHA who I think not only has a fabulous blog but herself is a fabulous person. This one is for you, Neha!!

Two Awards, One tag and merry month-beginning :))

2009-10-01T15:45:00.009+05:30

Yes Neha, along with the awards and tag, I even swept your post title as well ;)) . Thank you Neha!!

Now without wasting a second, here goes the tag:

1.What is your current obsession ?

Blogging. That included more reading, less writing. Whenever something note-worthy happens, my mind starts planning it to blog it out..

2. What are you wearing today?
Salwaar Suit

3. What’s for dinner?

It is gonna be chole and roti.

4. What’s the last thing you bought?

Maggie Vegetable Atta Noodles

5. What are you listening to right now?

Incessant noise the ceiling fan is making

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?

A blogger with a heart of gold. She writes beautiful..

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

Somewhere in picturesque Europe..

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?

Sun-screen

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

Kerela

10. Which language do you want to learn?

French. It sounds sophisticated.

11. What’s your favourite quote?

"Life goes on"

12. Who do you want to meet right now?

Someone whose mail I received yesterday.

13. What is your favourite colour?

Red. But the irony is I have only one tee in that colour.

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?

An embroidered silk salwaar-suit.

15. What is your dream job?
I used to think being an Engineer is my dream-job. don’t agree to it anymore.

16. What’s your favourite magazine?

Reader’s Digest and Femina

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
A nice dress!

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

Indians sporting Blonde hair.

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
SRK

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?

Anything that suits me and that is long enough to be tied in a pony-tail

21. What are you going to do after this?

look at the watch and exclaim "one more hour to go before I leave for home";))

22. What are your favourite movies?

A lot. You can visit this page to see which are they.

23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

Deo, lip balm, sun-screen

24. What inspires you ?

Anybody who does his work sincerely and with a smile on his/her face.

25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:

Wear your best smile, never do make-up if you don’t know how to put it and keep it simple

26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?

Give a puzzled look at the closet and then unpack the packed closet in search of something to wear,lol

27. Coffee or tea?

It’s a tie.

28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?

I flip magazines, talk to mummy or a close friend, take a walk, try to sleep

29. What is the meaning of your name?

the saddest part of my existence..My name has no exact meaning.:(

30. Which other blogs do you love visiting?

A lot..All of those that are appearing in “I read” list.

31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?

Ice-cream, imarti

32. Favorite Season ?

Spring

33. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?

A cup of hot cuppa tea..Its tea-time:))

34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?

Tell them what they have done to you and that you dont want to be in their contact.

35. What are you afraid of the most?

Dark!!

36.My Question: Is it possible to be in love with two persons simultaneously??:O

Rules for those who are tagged:Respond and rework – answer these questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own, and add one more question to the list.

I tag:

dewdropdreams

prashant

Merlin

Dido

Aanya

Neha aka my lemonade chronicles

and all those who want to take it up!!

"I love your blog award" goes to

Arunima

"One lovely-Blog" Award goes to

Shruti aka My days, my thoughts

Cm-chap aka Dare to Acheive

I earlier received this "Blog-Buddies Award" too which goes too:

Neha aka my Lemonade Chronicles

celestialrays

Enjoy!!

Poor Me

2009-09-30T14:58:00.002+05:30

I was reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” a couple of weeks ago. Inspired and motivated, I felt it is not late to start and sharpen your financial intelligence. The next valid step was to switch my newspaper from “The Times of India” to yes, you guessed it right, “Economic Times”.

As I don’t have any idiot box at my place, the newspaper and internet are my sole windows to the world outside.
I had started comtemplating about opening a DeMat account and buying-and-selling shares and growing rich and buying a bigger car, my own house and traveling the world. hmph.. All this needs knowledge about the ups and downs of market that would come with the newspaper I will be reading and the sites that I would be visiting on the internet.

I have this particular habit of glancing the head-lines in the first page, then moving to the back of the newspaper where Sports News, then global news and then local news and then the front page. Yes I read backwards.

To cut a long story short, for past couple of weeks-1 week, I have been setting my alarm at 6:00AM everyday unsuccessfully, so that I could wake up early and catch the newspaper hawker to ask him to bring my Sports, entertainment, and non-economical-global news back..

Yes, I am missing TOI and I want it back.

P.S: “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” is a remarkable book every person should read. And if you feel inspired, do drop me a note telling me the steps that one could follow to implement the lessons that the book shared.

Pehla-pehla .....

2009-09-19T16:28:00.017+05:30

" First time is always special."so they say..

It was some day in September, I think. I was flying high when I found that I have been tagged.Total of 6 months in the blogging world and that was the first tag I received. I have done tags earlier too but those were ~~stolen(~~taken) by me on-my-own. THANK YOU AS.

Day before yesterday I got my another feel-good moment coz I received my First Blog AWARD. The whole story behind that award is that I used my assertiveness;) and innocence;)) to let Neha hand me that award.. Ummm, Thanks a lot Neha.

Since Blogger is acting up, I am unable to post th pic here:(

So there goes my tag:

The rules are thus…

RULE 1 You can only say Guilty or Innocent

RULE 2 You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!

RULE 3 Copy and paste this into your notes , delete my answers, type in your answers and tag your friends to answer this.

Asked someone to marry you? Innocent

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Innocent

Danced on a table in a bar? Guilty (OH, this guilty charge comes with a twist. Actually I have danced on a table in a restaurent. The story goes that we, the First Years, were given the Freshers by our Seniors in the second Semester, yes, we the poosr souls*sob-sob*.So to commemorate our freedom, the First Year girls decided to party in the only restaurent in the campus and what followed was History)

Ever told a lie? Guilty

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Guilty

Kissed a picture? Guilty

Slept in until 5 PM? Guilty

Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty

Held a snake? Innocent (eww.. has anyone?)

Been suspended from school? Innocent

Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent

Stolen from a store? Innocent

Been fired from a job? Innocent

Done something you regret? Guilty

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Innocent

Kissed in the rain? Innocent

Sat on a roof top? Guilty

Kissed someone you shouldn’t? Innocent

Sang in the shower? Guilty. (Name ay soul who loves music/ singing and who isnt guilty of this charge)

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Innocent

Shaved your head? Innocent

Had a boxing membership? Innocent.

Made a girlfriend/boyfriend cry? Guilty

Been in a band? Innocent

Shot a gun? Innocent

Donated Blood? Innocent

Eaten alligator meat? Innocent

Eaten cheesecake? Guilty

Still love someone you shouldn’t? Guilty

Have/had a tattoo? Innocent.

Liked someone, but will never tell who? Guilty

Been too honest? Guilty ( College days were bunk-days , right. So on a fateful day, out of the many people absent, I was also the one). Those absent included my friends as well and all of us didnt go to the class kyunki mood nahi tha. So our teacher, after taking the lecture, started asking one-by-one the reason for absence. A friend's parents had arrived to visit her(!! may be thats why she was sleeping all day!!), another had fever(ohh thats why the whole hostel was bursting with music from her computer) and another had headache. When my turn came ,I said "aise hi". My stars were with me as the teacher just casually stared me and the bell rang)

Ruined a surprise? Innocent

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterwards? Guilty.

Erased someone in your friends list? Guilty

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Guilty
(This requires an explanation. Actually I am tall(by Indian standards)..So in group dance I had to be the guy as there was no girl taller than me..But after some performances, my dance maam, started taking me me in girl's role because according to her, my gestures and actions and dance are elegant and womanly :))

Joined a pageant? Innocent

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Guilty

Had communication with your ex? Innocent

Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Innocent. (But I clearly remeber the night when I slept for 14 straight hours before the exam during my 2nd Year Engineering. Thank god, paper was not that tough and main pass ho gayi :D)

Got totally angry that you cried so hard? guilty

That was a great fun :D

ahh, yes"First time is always special"

Yes..Yes!!

2009-09-14T10:27:00.007+05:30

Once upon a time, there was a boy and there was a girl. They both happened to be our immediate seniors. The boy was a nice guy and I respect him a lot. The girl was a sweet, short and I don’t-know-why-they-linked-him-to-her type, in other words they were no match. Anyways , that’s college life and no, they were not an item. Just that the friends of the girl used to tease her with his name. They both were a part of College Club of which I was also a part. It was a farewell party in that Club and all of its members were gathered and the party was in full flow. The game that was being played "Dumb Charade- “Only Hindi Movies..”"
The game was in full flow and then it comes the girl’s turn.
Girl picked up the chit and read the movie name, blushed a little and her request to change the movie name was stridently rejected.
She acted/ tried to act the name of the movie.
The boy was very sport and was quite enthused in the game. So there she was acting and the rest of 15-20 people trying to guess the name.
In the 3- letter movie after enacting the first word, she was explaining the second word through her actions. Random guesses were flying..
Out of a sudden,

Boy(exclaining): “Mujhse shaadi karogi!!!!???”.

Girl (jumping with joy) : “Yes!!!! Yes!!”

Boy clenching his fist and grinning wide "Yay, i made it" and girl smiling and sighing with relief "so i am done.."

Me(with a group of friends): **Laughing our hearts out**

She stepped down and then it was the turn of some other guy..
And the game went on happily thereafter.

[Random post.A couple of days back we were playing this same game in a office-party and it was sort of boring. It reminded me of this piece-de-irresistible of Dumb-Charade..]

Pic Courtesy: varchasva.sjbit.ac.in/2009/images/dc1.jpg

WAKE-UP TIME

2009-08-19T11:08:00.005+05:30

I am rushing through life. Yes I am. I never thought that I would end up being someone who is just going through life without realizing the beauty around her.

My daily routine has become a loop of office-home-(sometimes)market. The time in home is spent in reading magazines and whizzing in front of laptop. The mornings are so rush that I don’t even get to open the windows to let the fresh air come in and the in evenings I feel so tired ( no tired is not the right term, ‘lazy’ will be better) to exercise or go out unless you have to rush to market for shopping/ knick-knacks and so the time is spent lying in the couch breezing through magazines and listening songs.

You don’t get such kind of insightful wake-up call on your own. There is always something small/ big that triggers it, right. Yes. It so happens that some time ago we planned of a little get-together of friends at my place in the evening. I live on the first floor. So after office my friends came to my place. I pulled the curtains aside to open the window and one of my friend gushed ‘Wow’. I was like what. What did you find attractive in opening a window? And she pointed to the big tree covered with bright red flowers that stood in the lawn of the ground-floor occupants and towers high into the air. “Never in my life I have seen tree laden with so many flowers.” I smiled but deep down I feel guilty. All through this time I had gone to my balcony umpteen times to hang clothes , I had opened and closed the windows every day but never did I care to see that tree laden with so many bright red flowers!! I looked again at that tree. It was indeed laden and bent with bulk of flowers.

Yes that was the wake-up call for me to look into the materialistic life I was leading.

I am in the good company of books, movies and music but it has been long since I took a stroll in the road just for the pleasure of walking and taking in the sereneness around me. All I have walked is for getting from one place to another with the aim to reach that place.

I am sitting in an ac office but it has been long since I sit on the railing of my terrace when it’s breezy outside to feel the air on my face. All I have done on such weather is ponder how will I commute to office if it rains tomorrow.

“What is this life if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?” This poem suddenly makes sense now and fits in the situation.

Whenever my alarm-bell rings , I have this habit of putting it on snooze. The bell has rung and still I haven’t wake up. I have been keeping it on snooze mode every time it tries to wake me up. I think the limit is over now and I have to wake up now else I would never know when the sun is over my head and the time is lost.

Pic courtsy:http://picture-book.com/files/userimages/800u/gift.jpg

Tag Game

2009-08-08T09:48:00.001+05:30

Saw this tag in some blogs and thought to give it a try. It looks easy but its not.Play it to beleive me..
Had I played with my real name this game would have been easier but then 'whats fun without blog-pan'..

Rules: Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real .... nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

So here I go:

1. What is your name: Wishesgalore
2. A four Letter Word: Warm
3. A boy's Name: Wendell (sounds uncommon but its a name of an Indian fashion designer)
4. A girl's Name: Walusha (an Indian model)thank you again fashion industry!!:))
5. An occupation: Waiter
6. A colour: White
7. Something you wear: Watch
8. A food: Watermelon
9. Something found in the bathroom: Water
10. A place: Wellington (Newzeland one of my dream detination)
11. A reason for being late: Wandering in the dreamland
12. Something you shout: What the hell!!
13. A movie title: Whats your Rashee? (an upcoming Hind Movie)
14. Something you drink: Water
15. A musical group: Weezer (Perfect situation)
16. An animal: Wolf
17. A street name: Washington Street (so what if I have never been to US, I am sure there would be some street like this):D
18. A type of car: hey, but I know a car that ends with w ie; BMW ;))
19. Something scary: Witches
20. Ice cream flavour: World Class Chocolate (it’s indeed a ice-cream flavour from Baskin-Robbins)

I tag: Shruti (suffering from Blogger's block), prashant, cmchap (he hasnt blogged for long), Arunima (i know you already have some tags pending up but take time to do this one), merlin and anybody willing to take up this tag....

Addiction to FRIENDS

2009-07-16T14:20:00.000+05:30

What happens when you watch marathon sessions of FRIENDS Season 1-10 for past 4 nights sleeping at ungodly 2 am .

1) You just wish the office ends up soon so that you can go back to watch the remaining episodes.

2) You start humming “Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat” when you find that the office is empty and nobody can listen you .

Season 4 finished…Today onwards, Season 5.:)

P.S: And no, Phoebes is not my favourite Friend character.

Observations of a true "Linda Goodman" fan

2009-06-25T10:15:00.000+05:30

Whenever anybody asked “Whats Your Rashee” when I was in secondary school, I gave the blankest look I could give (and believe me, I am too good when it comes to expressing through face expressions;)).Thanks to my friend D , who later told me the existence of something called Sun/Zodiac Sign and Moon Sign. Yey, So from then on I knew the answer!!
I knew that I was “Cancer-the crab” according to my Sun-Sign and that’s it .And thus began the weekly Horoscope reading habit. But Hey, I am not like those who believe whatever is written and have faith in it religiously.. naah, for me they are just for fun. Read, laugh and forget..

It was only in college when I got to read the bible of astronomy “Linda Goodman Sun Signs” and her another work "Love Signs". And on hearing any person’s birthday those days, the first reaction always was “ohh, (s)he’s that sign!!!! Thats why (s)he is like this” or “ohh, (s)he’s that sign!!!! But (s)he is not like typical sign...”

In case I am starting to sound like Sorceress, let me come to the point. Its been around 5 months of blogging and I have come across with some very nice blogs. And seeing the blogger’s profile I, by default, checks their Sun Sign. I have definitely matured now and dont care much about all this stuff but they say, old habits die hard..Hence this post!!! [:)]

And here are the tit-bits, this Disciple of Linda Goodman found out in the Blogger World:

1) If the blogger Sun Sign is Aries, heavy chances are that he/she is very open-minded and they surely have posted their photo in their profile and in their posts as well. Another point noticed was that they are happy bloggers (fun stuff they write)

2) If the Sun-Sign is Cancer , chances are the topics will mostly be humour or rants or stories. And 90% chances are that they would have not disclosed their name and if they have disclosed their name then there would be no photo of them in their profile. Search their whole blog and there are scarce changes of finding their photo there. They will be writing a lot of personal stuff but without any photo.

3) If the Sun-Sign is Scorpio, then like Cancer( both being water-signs) there will be stories/humour/rants et al. There will be one of these two things: either their hand-writing is good or their writing-style. There may be both qualities as well. Since one cant judge their hand-writing in blogs;)), read them and you will know the truth.

4) If the Sun-Sign is Capricorn, then feel assured no matter what the content is , the writing style would be modern and distinct.

5) If your Sun-Sign is Libra, sorry I haven’t come across any blogger with this sign.
Since Librans are supposed to be very practical, they might be thinking this Blogging turf a serious time of waste.

In fact most of the bloggers I have come across are either Cancer or Scorpio. So I can say, that I didn’t get to observe the other signs as such.

P.S: If you are any of this sign and you agree with it, do comment.
If you are any of this sign but don’t agree, still do comment.
If you are not any of this sign and think of it as Crabby Crap or Crappy Crab, then think as you wish;)).

Just go and observe!!

She

2009-06-22T11:53:00.001+05:30

So she came at my place to meet me. Its been summer vacations at her school and she was headstrong that she ll be coming all alone to stay with me during her vacations.

She came on the set date and we passed the first day chatting and gorging on the sweets she had brought for me. For the coming days I had planned that we ll be going to morning-walks, something she’s really enthusiastic about and something which I hope, will help me make an early-riser. We couldn’t manage to get up early next day so we skipped the first day walk but we compensated for it with evening-walk. We were walking, I was telling about my life here and she was observing the surrounding when I caught her looking longingly at the children on the swings in the park in front of my building. We kept on talking and walking until my feet started demanding rest and came back home.

Next morning , I woke up at 6.00,too late for a morning walk and found her bed lying empty. Thinking that she might be in bathroom, waited for some moments and then went to check there but she wasn’t there too. The front door was open. I wondered where could she have gone, keeping the door unlocked. She might be walking in the terrace, I wondered, so rushed there but no she wasn’t there. From there, I saw somebody swinging alone in the park down .

I laughed to myself, at the little pleasures we enjoy and ran smiling all the way to park to join my Mummy playing on swing.

Its these little joys that sum up the bliss of life. They say, in every (wo)man’s heart lives a kid, so true…

Engrossed in work

2009-06-11T13:37:00.000+05:30

It was some requirement from the client .He wanted some changes in the report provided by us. I began modifying the report code and started testing it. The phone at the other table was continuously ringing, soI rushed, picked the receiver and said "16546 (this was the data with which i was doing testing)...err.....sorry ..ummmm...hello"

Expression Number?

2009-06-08T14:24:00.000+05:30

Your Expression Number is 7

Very intelligent, you are usually thinking, introspecting, or analyzing.

You have a good mind, and you are especially good at finding out the truth.

Very little ever escapes your observation and deep understanding.

You tend to obsess over wisdom and hidden truths.

You are likely to become a authority on any subject you undertake.

Operating on a different wavelength, most people don't know you that well.

Very logical and rational, at times you tend to lack emotion.

So much so, that you often have times coping with emotional situations.

You are not very adaptable - you may tend to be overly critical at times.

What's Your Expression Number?

Thick-Skinned or Thin-Skinned?

2009-06-08T14:07:00.000+05:30

You Are Medium-Skinned

You can be sensitive at times, but that's totally normal.

Your sensitivity means you can be empathetic and compassionate, even if you're a bit thin-skinned.

You take what people think into account but you try not to let it get to you.

It's hard not to take things personally, but you do your best.

Are You Thin Skinned or Thick Skinned?

THE LADY I KNOW

2009-05-15T10:22:00.000+05:30

Yeah, dreams are what reside in her eyes
And her heart is full of hope.
She has seen life’s lows and highs
And the days that soon elope.

She lives today to its fullest
And sets her eyes on tomorrow
She smiles and says with her heart honest
Yesterday I lived with no sorrow.

She says,” It’s a mad-mad world”.
But she thoroughly relished its madness.
She flirts but also keeps her word.
She speaks her heart flawless.

She sings with the wind and flies in the sky,
She dances in the rain.
She demands what she wants without being shy,
She works hard with her brain.

She is a sweet pie, she is a serene lass.
She fades the gloom away.
She walks by the lane she walks by the pass,
Has she ever crossed your way?

**Out of Archive**

(Engineering 2nd Year)

:/

2009-05-08T13:47:00.000+05:30

GIRL: I want to get married and live a happy life.
BOY: Pick one.
(Read it in TOI cartoon strip)

the english teacher

2009-05-04T11:52:00.000+05:30

"The way he handled us (in childhood) we used to think that he would become an commander in Army or Police officer but he ended up as an Auditor in a govt firm and is nose-led by his wife."
-Narrator depicting his elder brother.
-Novel: The English Teacher( R.K Narayan)

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE

2009-04-10T16:30:00.000+05:30

have changed my blog-header pic.just like that..for the child-like and amateurness-in-Power-point look of the image , i confess that it's solely my creation...and if it is looking grotesque and offend the aesthetic sense of the reader ;)) , do let me know. I'll try to act accordingly as soon as i come back to this space.....

as for the title, this pic is exactly the change i want to see , uhmmm, in my surroundings..:D:D

AAH se AHA tak

2009-04-10T08:41:00.000+05:30

Yesterday morning begins as usual. The alarm rang at 6.00 am exact and i wake up at 6:45 approx .But the new development was the excrutiating pain (ok i am a bit exaggerating, just pain) on my right shoulder and arm....the legend behind this is that the day before yours truly had played Badminton after a long hiatus and the muscles were just showing the aftereffect of that...
The office work was fine but i was not in a great mood .No special reason for that. At times i get such bouts of mood swings.Not my fault, not my fault.the crab is like that only.Now as luck would have it, my mother called me after lunch in office..Generally she calls in the evenings or night after i reach home..
Here is our converstation:
Mummy:hello beta, office mein right??
Me: hii!! haan yaa, office mein hi thi"
Mummy: kaise ho?? surprised!!i just felt like talking to you..
Me: Mummy, i am tired * in an equally exhausted voice*
Mummy: *now serious* kya?? what happened beta??
Me:i am tired, tired of...........
*pause*
Me: i ll be coming ghar(hometown) day after tomorrow ..will talk you then....bye..
Mummy: kya huwa?? achcha office ke baad shaam ko i ll call you, take care ...

After hanging up, i was like "baah, what the $#%& i talk to her??why did i act so melodramatic to her??now she would be worrying..i am such a mood-spoiler"..I could feel the pain on the slight movement of the right arm.My office colleague who sits beside me, had taken leave post-lunch and it was now onto my responsibility to receive his phones as well as we both work on the same module..Only i knew how was i feeling when i hear that cranking sound of phone ringing and the displeasure would surely be noticed in my voice as well....

As i ll be leaving to my hometown there were some shopping that i had to do...with a super-crank mood, i came back,had my tea and rushed to market.Things were not good there too...The tailor from where i have to take my dress was not there at the shop and would be coming in a short while...urrrghh....The deo which i use was out-of-stock/ not available in the shops i asked and so on..after 30 minutes i went back to the boutique with the "do-or-die" attitude and found the him there..got my dress.On the way , stopped at the chaat shop, packed "Panipuri" and "Shahi Samosa"( if you are wondering what was 'shahi' in the samosa then, friends the stuffing was of mixed veg instead of potato and the shape was like half-kachori..even i ate that first time) and come back home....

Now i have this habit(i doubt if there is anyone who dont have) to test the new dress as soon as i get it and analyze it from all angels .But pet-pooja first..So i gorged on the panipuri first and then had the dress-rehersal of the marriage event thati ll be going to attend, for which the dress was purchased. The dress was super-fit ( an unusual case as i seldom get satisfied from the first tailoring and it always go for the alter)..As i was analyzing the dress, the phone rang.It was mummy...
"haan, aur beta kya kar rahe ho??"
"arre mummy, dress try kar rahi thi...aaj hi layi shop se..i wonder if this colour would look good in day-time..par abhi to achchi lag rahi hain..."
i heard her laughing..we didnt discuss the day's conversation..
i think she knows her loony, eccentric child...
after indulging the heavy shahi samosa , i went to bed with a smile...and did i tell you i didnt feel the pain since the moment i ate pani-puri........:))

Random thoughts on marriage n movie

2009-04-08T13:26:00.000+05:30

In a next few days i ll be attending a very dear friend's wedding...after that in May there are back-2 back weddings of 2 friends.In the last couple of months, precisely from November onwards, i have attended 2 marriage functions , missed 4 invitations .....It's alwayz been nice to be a part of such a important occasion of life of your friends and it become sheer delight and fun if your other friends would be attending that function too..By 2009 almost all of my friends will be experiencing the marriage bliss.....At times I like this idea of being in a relationship but then i wont hide that committment sometimes scare me a bit.....I think it happens..Grass is always greener at the other side...When single, one wishes to be in relationship and once committed, one dreams of those free days and yearns to go back again...BUT i am sure and hope that all my friends are and will be living the sequel of the stories that end with "Happily thereafter ..."

This weekend got a chance to see the movie "Romancing the Stone "( yeah, yeah the same Michael Douglas one about which there are talks that its sequel will be filmed in India)..I used to swear by the fact that i am a romcom-comedy-reality movies type and action and fantasy films are not my type...But hey, i was there giving a smirk to those witty dialogues of Douglas and gasping in awe at places and grinning ear-to-ear at the funny moments.Meanwhile, my friend commented "He's not that bad yaar...handsome hain" about Douglas...haha, total time-pass stuff and i feel good after seeing the movie..2 hours fully Utilized:)):))

"Kareena Aunty bhi to.........."

2009-03-31T14:30:00.000+05:30

There live 2 cute twins in my neighbourhood.They are damn cute and naughty.Just 3 year old girls and they can make you fall in love with them with their sweet innocenct and expressive chats.....So one day they had come at my place and were as usual, as the kids do, looking around the rooms, fiddling around,asking about the new stuff they see ,picking whatever amuses their curiosity et al.

So, just to amuse them and have fun,I asked "lets dance,k".they grinned.The player started playing a slow song to which they showed their displeasure,I changed it quickly and as "Ye ishq hai"(Jab We Met fame) floated in the air ,their feet started tapping and they were charged to scorch the dance floor...Soon one of them instead of dancing started swirling around (errrr i mean swirling become her dance steps)..I tried to stop her saying "mat karo.chakkar aa jayega, bachche....", her reply was enough to make me ROTFL "naiiiiiiiiiiii,Kareena Aunty bhi to aise hi ghoomti hain gaane mein..." :D:D
Hain koi jawaab ab???

CHOKer me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-25T08:19:00.000+05:30

I m a Choker!! i m labelling myself for the same reasons for which Australia labelled South Africa ( a cricket enthusiast must be knowing what it stands for??)
hmmm, Did God made me that way or what??? As there is no reason to cry over the spilled milk lemme hope that I too shed the tag "Choker" the way Cricket South Africa did .......

suhaana safar aur ye mausam haseen...

2009-03-21T08:20:00.000+05:30

Imagine...
Cool breeze running and you on your two-wheeler feeling the touch of the wind in your face.
Trees shedding their old yellow leaves on the road ahead as young leaves mark the season Spring.
Your hair flowing with the wind(if you have left your hair open:)))

A song naturally comes to your lips and you come humming it all the way to office.
Oh, I love this season!!!!!!!!!!

Management Lessons from my maid

2009-03-19T11:38:00.000+05:30

My maid has worked for 26 years, or so she proclaims.So here is the gyan I have got from her 'Professionalism' (huhh??) in a year:))

Management Lessons from my maid:

DO's

1) Whenever the employer(M,me) seems angry, not in good mood dont talk much to her instead work hard, clean the gas-stove ,wash the dishes in time and yes when she, the employer reaches from the office be ready with a cup of hot tea.

2) Never directly ask for money/increment.Instead weave the story of how the other employers have increased their maid's salary even though they work less harder than the maid.

3) Never nag/ask for salary on the due date.Money can wait.If the employer is not paying her on time there may be some genuine reasons like she may not be having the ready cash or was forgetting to pay at times.BUT if the delay is prolonged, hit the button and ask directly.

4) Be polite to employer's family.

5) Work is worship.No matter there are temptations to be back in your home and not come to duty, BUT come and work.If taking leave, duly tell the employer with prior notice.

6)Have a heart.Be human.Every employer is a human too so care for your employer.

7) Money is not the most important thing in life BUT it is important.So whenever you feel you deserve it, fight for it.

8) Be resouceful, even if you cant read, be ready to go to the extra mile to get the parcha(note) written by your employer for you read by anyone nearby so that you can act accordingly.

9)Have multiple skills and let your employer know of them or at least have a hint of them.This way your employer can utilize more of you making you indispensable.

10)Look for new oppurtunities.Feel free to show your interest whenever you find one where you can give your inputs and ask for recommendations from your employer if needed....

8th March

2009-03-08T08:19:00.000+05:30

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY TO ALL
"Being a woman is not about some secret guild or elite clique. It’s just knowing deep in your heart that you’re something else, that you have the capacity to amaze and perplex at the same time.
It’s knowing you have the power to create, and nurture, and heal with a single touch or a kind word, and using this power to make a difference.

Here on blah! we wish to celebrate women, not just on the occasion of Woman’s Day, but on all days; women who are comfortable in their own skin; who understand that womanhood has nothing to do with men, who know that feminism is not a movement, but a feeling, a right. We celebrate the joys that they bring into the world. And we celebrate the various roles they play…
She is no more precious to her parents than a son would be to them, and yet, she is different. She balances her own hopes and desires with those her parents have for her. She holds on to her dreams, and at the same time, never lets go of the respect she has for her parents and her family. Life is not always easy for her, and she may not always get what she wants, but she lives it, and how! She is the Daughter.

She wears her uniform proudly. She walks the walk and talks the talk, day in and day out, holding her own in the company of her male peers. She has persevered being passed over for promotions as well as accusations of using her ‘wily’ ways to get ahead. Her superiors have grudgingly come to acknowledge her value, and her subordinates only want her on her way out. But she stands tall, this woman, just the way that the Kiran Mazumdar Shaw’s and the Indra Nooyi’s of the world do. She is the Working Woman.

Her days are the longest. She’s probably the first to rise and hits the bed only after making sure every last sofa cushion is in its place, and every last one of her babies is tucked into bed. She reports for duty from the word ‘Go’ and her levels of patience can be an inspiration in itself. She creates and cares and is ever nurturing, ever preserving. Wife to her husband, mother to her children, and daughter to her in-laws, she slips into every one of these roles with grace. Last, but not the least, she is the Homemaker."
P.S: This mail was forwarded to all the women employees of our department by our Boss..
And I cant help copying this beautiful mail here.

Friend-D Part 2

2009-03-04T13:53:00.000+05:30

continued from here.
n I was well the good girl of the neighbourhood and school. Th year she came, our Principal also got changed and a new dynamic Principal took charge.

When we were in Class VIIIth some girls including me n D started a love for Poetry writing and we all used to write poems on a topic in our free periods and then select whose was the best all the time appreciating other's creations.Those were the days!! With time that beautiful habit left me and the diary of my poems locked in the store gathered dust. So when D came back after her stint in Army School...her question to me was "Do you still write?" I shared a smile and from then in free periods the poetesses-in-making rekindled their romance with pen....As I look back, I find that the same question has been asked to me a couple of times by my college friends and seniors whenever we meet in social n/wing sites and I know for sure who started this thread...

That place was a small hilly town, away from the city pollution and exposure but thanks to Cable TV , I had access to MTV which I could watch whenever I could especially when Papa was not around. D had seen more world than me and from that world, she brought me the audio cassettes of Bryan Adams and Bacardi Blast and greatest Romantic Hits.Out of it, my favourite was "Inside Out" and as it was not easy to get the exact words out of the crooning voice of Adams, she had the lyrics wriiten on her diary for me to copy... She told me that words like 'S@#T' ,'f%#k' exists an some more gyan about the other big words.

There is a general tendency that smart girl doesnt make a good home maker.She was just 16-17 like me and I in that age I didnt even know how to fix a button or to make a round chapati (like other good parents my parents too think that this is an age to study and never tried to push me for that nor I had any desire to learn.I was happy with my drawings, magazines,dancing,watching mirror and TV-watching as hobbies) but she used to make her own breakfast as her mother had to leave early to taech at some far-away primary school and on Sundays she had even put Sari-fall on her mother's sarees...She was the ultimate Super-Girl for me..

Before she come, being of the senior class and my serene image(!!)I was one of the students whom younger students look up to.She brought with her the freshness and soon had quite a fan following among the younger students. My old school friends( the 2 who have started feeling uncomfortable in her presence and being the bridge, I was the peace-maker or uncomfortable talk-remover of the group. I remember the sight when in a debate competition(language no bar) she started her points in English and there were smirks and gasps among the competitiors and
the audience..In my new diary of Quotable Quotes, I had written my own new Quote-"Be inspired not jealous"..A reminder to myself to follow...

Class XII ended and yes this time too she leaded me with 5 marks..We ended up in different engineering colleges.My family too moved from that place and due to change in place I could not take her new address but friend that she was, she somehow got my new address and phone number.We were in contact through letters.Yes Letters!!21st century and letters!!! Her college was in Pune and she definitely had good access to internet options but my college being at remote area and no regular internet facility and mobile connection .I had told her that and this way letters were our communication medium.She was a champ and in letters when she used to tell how she managed to become the Runner-Up on Rose Day, I wondered how come she didnt win that.At times she would send me and her other friends hand-made cards on Friendship Day and oh yes a band too.We talked of crushes and semester exams and the frequency reduced with years but didnt vanished.. To her was my last letter addressed and I think hers was the last letter I received till date.

Before I passed out of my college, God had some other plans for her of her another life.
Today she is not here but this I know for sure she lived a life!! leaving cherished moments through old greeting-cards, crumpled letters, old photographs and loving memories......

Friend- D (Part 1)

2009-03-03T11:31:00.000+05:30

I have decided long ago that if I write any book there will specially be a chapter about all the people because of whom i am what i am and the title woulde be "Good People that surround Me"..So aptly the label of the book-turned-blog is "Good People that surround Me".
It's the month of March and around me I hear conversations with words like "Women's Day" so I decided to look back at all the beautiful angel souls that touched my heart .Among them was a face which now is just a memory; it was of D.
When I was in Class VIth I moved to a bigger school in the same town.In the previous school I was among the Top-3 and a member of the elite dance group that always win all the district level dance competitions of its category.With her it was not a first day friendship.Infact till Class VIIIth we were just OK sort of friends, more competitors..In the Annual Exams we both were IInd in the class,same to same grand total!!We had Kunwar Sir, our Maths teacher who used to oil the competency in the class so that we can improve.He used all "Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed" and expected us to know all the Maths formulae in finger-tips.Those were the days!!! By Class IXth all the 10 girls of my batch leave that school for various reasons.She moved to Udhampur with her Armyman father. I was all alone but soon with new admissions there were 2 more girls in my class and then I got bust with the Boards and all. Kunwar Sir was still there and when Board results came he managed to know how D and another of my class-mate N who had moved to better school in bigger city had fared and conveyed it to me..D this time was 2 marks ahead of me but Kunwar Sir reasoned that you have fared better respective of the teching conditions... I was nonchalent about that.I was happy for myself.
In Class XIIth she came back to the town.Her maternal grand-parents and Mummy used to live there.I still dont know the exact reasons why she came back there leaving the good Army School. but was happy to see her again.She had grown more beautiful.I forgot to tell you that she had big, beautiful eyes and living in the best environ of Army School has given her exposure and moulded her in a confident,English-speaking girl....
(to be continued..)

Jai Ho...!!!!!!

2009-02-23T11:17:00.000+05:30

Rehman bought glory to India sweeping 2 OSCARS..:)):))
n India based "SlumDog Millionaire' bagged 8 out of 10 nominated awards and 'Smile Pinki" bagged the Oscars for Best Documentary..
n it was good to know that finally after 5 earlier nominations Kate 'Rose' Winslet win the Oscar. Since ""Hugh Jackman"" presented the show, I am planning to see a glimpse of the show tonight at Star Movies.Where else but at rich n benign friend's place:))!!!!
edited to add: Freida Pinto is one lucky girl..She 's going places,really, in all the Red Carpets of the world....Great yaa.. * with sigh and wish*

9 reasons why I dont miss TV

2009-02-19T15:38:00.000+05:30

It just come to my mind that I have almost completed 2.10 years of my existence without TV (Occasional visits tohome and others's residence where i control the remote are excused)!!!I have sparsed my college days from this time-period as there I always had an option to watch TV in common-room.
So here I reason why I dont miss TV:
1) Absence of TV from my surroundings made me discover the oh-so-cool Radio.Yes, the 10 months I spent in Delhi were passed listening to the sound-waves at the frequency of 91.2 FM,93.5 FM and et al and even today i miss the scintillationg voice of Sayema from one station presenting old hindi songs and the husky sound of Nitin from the other.** Luckily I just discover that in my current place too, radio signals catch in my mobile**
2) No TV,no time-waste. I can clean my room without a second thought that I may miss a scene from any serial or a clip of new video.
3) I can read, literally.When I was young( I mean in my teens,it sounds so loooong time back;(( ) I used to convince my mother that I CAN read while watching TV.Now, do I have to reveal the truth to you??:) So last couple of years I had quite a time to read what I want and what is required..
4) I get time to call old friends and talk to them at length without my eyes glued to some "Idiot Box".
5) I can go anywhere I want to in the evening or in other words, can socialize.
6) Oh I just realized I can use my evening time to learn Table-Tennis in the club as well!!!
7) I dont need TV when music can be accessed from MP3 players,mobiles ,ipod and your neighbours place:)).
8) I can write, ahemm, think of writing at least..
9) Last but not the least,I am blessed with *RICH* friends who own TV and are *BENIGN* enough to hand me the remote when I visit them once in a while.So I get up-to-date with the latest offerings of Bollywood, the sole reason of my TV viewing:))

This day, every year

2009-02-14T09:00:00.000+05:30

"You can’t hurry love

No, you just have to wait

You have to trust, give it time

No matter how long it takes!!"

Office-Office

2009-02-10T14:25:00.000+05:30

The company for which I work has separate units for engineering,admin and manufacturing.There are strict security norms followed in the engineering and manufacturing units.For going to manufacturing unit we had to get a Red-Pass issued from our Senior and our Company I-Card which is checked by the Security guards at the manufacturing gate.

On a fine day, as I had to go to the manufacturing unit for some work I get my Red-Pass signed by my senior and start searching hurriedly in my hand-bag.(On a side note ,unluckily I had forgot to bring my I-Card that day.Careless me!).So there I was, standing beside my desk and looking for my I-Card in my bag.
My senior: "What happened??"
Me:"It seems I have forgot to bring my I-Card,sheesh!"(still searching in my bag)
My senior: "haah, Girls carry so bade-bade bags but dont carry necessary items!! hahaha"
Me: :-

Book Review: The White Tiger

2009-02-07T15:42:00.001+05:30

It would have been a great pleasure to write any movie-review but since these days I am living in a haven devoid of these materialistic pleasures,I found solace in the once-declared-and-now-forgotten-friends i.e; books.

This year Booker Prize Winner "The White Tiger" ahs been creating waves and I felt so lucky to receive it, so what if in e-book format.;))

The book open in royal fashion, with the narrator, the white tiger, writing a letter to Chinese Premier.As the pages unfurled, you get a peep in to the real India,DARKNESS as referred by the narrator.The pages depict corruption,paucity,dishonesty,fear,filth,everything negative with a big N. But the sheer way, the writer binds the reader each night of his letter-writing is impulsive.

The reader, at times, feel disillusioned about the brightening India theory but then it also shows the determination & strength of will of Balram Halwai to be a master, the master of his destiny.

Dont know if it should have won the Booker Prize as it shows the country in not-so-good light, but then here comes the freedom of Expression which India stands for. Good novel, not bulky and easy to read small paragraphs.

As a first time novelist,great work by Aravind Adiga.The lack of flowery prose is made up by gripping thoughts and descriptions of narration. There are references to casteist politics, corruption at even school-level and everything wrong.

Makes a compelling read.You will feel hard-hitted by the description of the country in this novel but then you cant deny it, for sure.

Rehna Tu....Hain Jaise Tu

2009-02-06T15:54:00.000+05:30

Rehna Tu....
Hain Jaise Tu
Thoda sa dard tu
Thoda Sukoon....
Tujhe badalna naa chahu
Ratti bhar bhi sanam..........
n so goes the melodious voice of Rehman from my music system and there i get transported to an altogether different world.Especially the flute playing in between the song gives it a very pious feeling.
Rehman, you rule!!!!
n oh the lyrics just talk about the "perfect" love.Does it exist????

Playing Tags

2009-02-04T14:19:00.002+05:30

Picked this tag all by myself:)) to check my rapid-fire quotient ...

I am: a fun-loving person.

I think: of going to an exotic place someday.

I know: I am capable of doing anything only when i shun my laziness and pre-conceived notions.

I want: a happy life.

I have:N-73 :D my biggest purchase till date;))

I wish:I can travel anytime,anywhere with anybody i want to.

I hate:right now, and most of the time, nothing or nobody specific.Ther are times when I dont like something or someone but no I dont 'hate' anybody.

I miss: not being connected to orkut or internet everytime.

I fear:of not being attached to people who matters to me and not getting loved back.

I feel: good about myself.

I hear: umm, Masakali, (arre the latest song) in my head:)) .

I smell:of freshly-prepared tea at my desk.

I search: for something meaningful and blissful in a relationship.

I wonder: why i am so confused at times.

I regret:not being a part of travel tales my friends share with me .

I love:myself .

I ache: why right things dont happen to good people.

I care:for my near and dear ones.

I am not: as cow-like as some fellows think.

I believe: in God.

I dance: when i am in mood.

I sing: everytime.There's always a song playing in my head.

I cry : when things goes terrible.

I don’t always: buy things on impulse and later i regret for the same.

I fight :no, i used to fight my brother when we were young in typical WWF fashion but these days no.I get angry at times but dont fight .

I write: so that i can pour whatever i want to and keep my thoughts flowing.

I win:most of the times when comes to current affairs:) and movies.

I lose:my cool at times when things dont go my way, the right way. .

I never: drive above 60 km/hr ;D

I always: try to be positive.

I confuse: at big times.

I listen: to anythat i found interesting.

I can usually be found: reading some book or magzine.

I am scared:of nothing as such but would never listen ghost stories at night:).

I need:people around me at times.I feel lonely at times:(( .

I am happy about:the songs that i loaded in my mobile yesterday .

A beginning

2009-02-02T09:19:00.001+05:30

"A beginning" this is what i call my first attempt of writing 'on-line'...
"An ongoing journey" this is what i think of my undertaking this arena...
"A bliss" this is what i feel of pouring my heart n soul in colourful words...
Hope the journey continues and keep inviting me to move forward with more exuberance....