Happening Week- Part 2

Day 2. Somehow managed to get up early (verrry early) in the morning (4 am) to catch the flight to Agartala. This time there was another British family of 5 members- Husband-wife and 3 kids. Kids were cute and the parents handling them so nicely. Anyways, this time did not bother much and caught my “dear sleep”. Layover of 30 minutes at Kolkatta and I thought, now the flight may not be much crowded. But I was wrong. The flight was again full with passengers travelling to Agartala. The moment I stepped out of the flight, I could sense that yes, I am far away from my South India or even the West India and the “dulhe raja” (Babla- his pet name) himself had come to pick me up. He dropped me to his fiancé's home... I met her after 1 year and 11 months. Unfortunately, Babla was not allowed to enter into the house. Something was different about the house. May be Agartala touch. Met her parents, freshened up and had lunch, specially prepared chapaati for me. Got a beautiful saree from her mother (Babla also gifted me a suit and Chinchu's mom gave another saree for my mom...wow). I could clearly see how tensed Chinchu (Mitun- her pet name) was. Went in to see her dahej. So many bangles but interestingly, not in pair. Only two mandatory types of bangles were in pair, which are meant to be worn by each married Bengali lady- 1 red bangle pair and another white bangle pair (made out of elephant tusks).
Throughout the day, were so many ceremonies, thanks to which Chinchu was dead tired by the end of day because of regular change of sarees and lack of sleep. Most of the ladies did not know Hindi or English but men and children could easily talk to me. But still, everyone was trying to talk to me and making me feel comfortable. For some time even went to Babla's home.
One unique feature of Bengali ritual. Whenever ladies would give blessings or some auspicious task is being done, all the ladies would make a sound from their mouth, called Jokaar. Had seen that in movies, but when I saw this the first time, I was, frankly speaking, scared. But after witnessing this 2-3 times, I got used to it.
I managed to eat rice very neatly with my hands, though the speed was drastically slower than the others, but I did not back off. Thats the spirit. Ha ha ha...Chinchu's cousins made arrangements for dance party in the night and yes, even I danced and my “snake dance” was already made popular there, so showed off my skills to them.
Then came the wedding day (Day 3). I was made to accompany Chinchu for her make-up and dressing up and when the final product came out, I was awestruck. My Chinchu had turned into a beautiful Bengali BRIDE... Finally Babla had arrived and hard to imagine, but he was looking awesome Bengali GROOM, and yes, trying to act as if he is shying. He was made to sit in another room, where I also joined him, and people would peek into his room, as if he is an object in a museum. Whereas, everyone went in to congratulate Chinchu where she was sitting and was loaded with gifts. After a brief puja, Babla was made to go through few more minutes of embarrassment. He was made to sit in a cage-like structure and the entire gathering surrounded him, as if he is a resident of zoo (sorry Babla, but thats what I could relate this with). Then came The Bride and she was made to encircle him some 7 times, while he kept sitting there and the exchange of garlands took place. Another 2 hours of puja and then they were Man-and-Wife- officially and finally. Then some games and then the dinner.
Next morning, I met them and left Mrs and Mr Chakraborty, for my South India. Slept like anything throughout the journey and at Delhi airport my dear in-laws were already waiting for me. Somehow managed to look alive and active in front of them and had nice lunch and chit-chat session with them. At Bangalore was picked up and dropped at home by dearest....ha ha ha...you must know by now :)
Now eagerly waiting for the wedding photos and wish all the happiness of the world to the newly married couple. Muuaaaahhhhh....CHEERS !!!!!!!

Happening Week-Part1

The last week (not the weekend, but the week) was so happening. I travelled from South to North-east, all alone, for my two best friends were getting married (finally) at Agartala (Tripura). And the moment I would mention “Tripura”, everybody would raise atleast one or both the eyebrows as if I just had committed some murder. Specially my mother. Actually had to fight with her to convince that Agartala is also just another city in India. If bombs can go off there, so can at Jaipur as well. If flights can be delayed or missed or cancelled for Agartala, so can be for any other city. I really don't understand that even after travelling to so many places alone, by all means, why can't someone have just a bit of faith on me that I WILL take precautions for safe journey?
Anyways. To take off from office during the week is the most satisfying feeling and yes, I left for Delhi after office on Monday. In this post, I may just describe this small flight from Bangalore to Delhi. Can't say if it can be categorized as funny or horrifying.
I got the aisle seat of right side and to the left side came a “small” punjabi family, comprising of a very old man (83 years old- A), another elderly couple (61 years- B and 58 years- C respectively), their daughter- a middle age woman (37 years old- D) and her son (8-9 years old- E). Thanks to them, I could not sleep or relax for even one single moment:

1. All of them, except A, changed and swapped the seats among themselves and other passengers. C was the most difficult to move around, thanks to the excess usage of ghee/butter/oil that she must have done in her life, but she was the one who changed the seats maximum number of time.
2. By the time, I reached Delhi, I knew why and how they had come down to South and now going back (because their voice levels where nowhere near to whispers). It was D's brother's wedding. A Punjabi who must have married a South Indian girl, at Mysore.
3. I also know that the family had got the Spinach-Corn sandwiches packed from the CCD on the way back to Bangalore from Mysore, but still had the heaviest bill with the GoAir catering service. Yes, apart from their own packed sandwiches, they bought other sandwiches, nachos, juices from the airline caterers.
4. C and D were typical of Punjabi Gossip Ladies, addressing other ladies present in the wedding by their weight, size, saree color or makeup thickness.
5. C and D took time off from their gossips to look at the Items on sale in the airline and in 5 minutes asked Mr. B to handover mere Rs. 1100 for a purse.
6. Finally, E became alive after having nachos and swapped the seat with dear grandma (C) to sit with dearest grandpa (B) on the window seat.
a) The moment I loosened my seat belt to relax, bang came his first question – “Nanaji, what if another plane comes from this side and breaks this wing of our plane”. My instant reaction was to fasten my seat belt.
b) Without waiting for the answer came another question – “Nanaji, if there suddenly appears a hole on the floor of this plane and someone puts his leg on that hole, what will happend?”
c) Mind it, Mr. B was trying to answer him, but he had no time to listen to any explanations. There were so many randomly thought questions, which even God would not bother to answer. Does anyone reside on North Pole? If not, then why at the first place is it there on the earth? We should cut it off from earth.
d) Which are the best and the worst Domestic and the International airlines according to you?
e) Is this window having double layer of glass? Why two layers, when only one layer could have sufficed? What if I break this window? If this plane is to crash, how will we be rescued? Can I try opening the emergency exit (this is where I actually began sweating)?
f) Are we actually going to die in 2012? He then calculated the age of each member in 2012 (that’s how I could tell their ages in the beginning of the post).
g) Have you ever played Xbox?
h), i), j).......z)
Now was the time when Mr. B called up his wife to accompany him but mind it that E made it a point that I was constantly under threat with his never ending random questions.
When I was waiting for my bag at the luggage belt, E arrived again by my side. I actually changed my place for he might just ask, What if this airport is bombed at this moment?
At the Delhi airport, though, I got one of the most pleasant surprises (will not mention what, but yes, it was a big surprise). My aunty had prepared Sarso ka saag and Makke ki roti, which I had not tasted since past two winters. This was just the first day of my happening week. More in the next post...CHEERS !!!!!!!!!!

Chai Time Masti...

I was feeling very fresh today after too very sleepy days. Worked a lot, bugged other people a lot and was in good mood. After such a day, when I stepped out of office, I got an instant smile on my face. It was all dark outside with black dark clouds hovering above. The first thought that came to my mind was..."chai-pakoda mausam...wow...". In the cab, my room-mate asked if we have besan at home. That implied that even she was thinking of having pakodas today. Then and there we decided our menu- Tea, Onion and potato pakodas and paranthas... Another bachelor friend of ours had to interrupt us coz he had already started feeling jealous...

And went upto the shop under my umbrella to get the ingrediants and back home, we didn't rest for even a minute. She started her Pakoda (onion, potato and 1 bread pakoda) project and I started with my Parantha (plain and potato pranatha) project. With our super sonic speed (which can be seen very rarely), we were all ready with our final products within 30-40 minutes.

And yes, at that very moment (thank God) power went off. But nothing to worry. My torch and tea-pakodas-paranthas-butter-sauce (I know too much ho gaya tha). Started munching on them and relishing the moment and our efforts. After 10 minutes, 11th February 2010 (D-Day) date knocked my mind and I decided to stop myself from over-eating. Wow... Thats the beauty of Indian snacks...

One more Monday Survived...!!!

During my MBA days, in one of the most esteemed Corporate VS B-school Quiz competition organized by our college every year, Quiz Master Derek O' Brian asked a question:

"On which Day of the week are the maximum number of deaths due to Heart-attacks registered around the world?". Without even joining the corporate world, I knew the answer: MONDAY. And yes, it indeed was the right answer and now that I am in this corporate world, I know the reason.

Check out the link mentioned.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Monday-is-the-most-popular-sick-day/articleshow/5214924.cms

Every Monday I just wish whole heartedly to God that State Government should declare a holiday (for whatever reason he wishes) or let my boss call me and tell to stay at and work from home since he is not coming to office and there is not much work for which to come to office or our office declare new timings (instead of 7:45 am, may be to 9 am) or whatever. But please let me sleep for long on Monday. Holiday is always welcome :)

Farmville...

My life was so simple without Internet. Then decided to make an account or create a mail ID. Started with Yahoo, then Hotmail, then Rediffmail, then Indiatimes, then Gmail (mind it, created two each on Yahoo and Rediff). Got addicted to chatting on yahoo messenger. Somehow got rid of this but was caught by gtalk. Then my friend forced me to join Orkut. The addiction began rising. Without checking the "scraps" in every 2 hours, I started finding it difficult to concentrate on anything and I am not exxagerating it. Realized that Orkut has its own security threats. The photographs can be accessed by any and everyone and anyone can send a scrap, how-so-ever obscene they might be. But then, security measures were tightened up. Next addiction was that of online games and free downloadable games. Used to be hooked on to them for hours and hours.

After Orkut, I started receiving Friend Request from God knows how many such "social networking" sites. Ignored all. But then joined one "professional networking" site- LinkedIn.

On fine day, I realized that people are no more interested in Orkut but in Facebook (of FB). Tried to ignore it for long but then bhabhi and her brother told me that it is far better than Orkut and has got so many small small games and other options, apart from the already existing ones from Orkut.

And there begins next level of addiction. So many small games, posting of your thoughts, putting on comments to your friends' status message, getting instant notifications of any development on your friends' wall, movie trivia and challenging your friends, UNO... But still, I was ignoring one feature of FB- FARMVILLE. Thought to try it once, but found it so boring. But then, every other person had started talking about it, so thought, try it again... And there I finally own a farm of my own. I plough the land, I grow fruits, vegetables and trees; I own my cattle; I harvest them and make sure that I harvest them on time. I receive points, money, gifts. I even send them to my friends. Its like a small community now. Although, not yet completely addicted but its surely taking control over me.

Internet has made our world and space so small- to the size of our laptops. I own a land and the cattle fleet. Amazing...!!!!!!

Ajab Prem...Gazab Kahani...

7th November, 11:45 p.m. Thats when I entered my flat after a tiring official trip and was so happy to be back because next day was Sunday and that meant sleeping till 10-11 in the morning. But my roomie casually asked me, if I had received the SMS for tomorrow's movie show. Equally casually, I announced "No, what time is the show?". 10 a.m., for which we should get up by a maximum of 8 a.m. WHAT???????? All my late sleeping plans went down crashing and felt like cursing my friends. How can a tired engaged girl, whose fiancee is in the same city, go out for a movie in the early morning with her friends, rather than with HIM...!!! But then, the program had already been fixed.

And believe me, the movie turned out to be an awesome laugh riot. Ranveer Kapoor is cool and the movie has a fresh feel. The movie is directed by Mr. Rajkumar Santoshi, who had earlier directed Andaz Apna Apna, and that movie is one of my all time favorite comedy movie. Don't expect any story in the movie but just comedy sequences. After such a long time, watched a movie in which the entire hall was laughing at the same time. Songs are cool to listen (was not expecting this from Pritam). Towards the end of the movie, I could notice some similarities with AAA (the earlier movie), specially the fight sequence which was full of confusion and the villain-cum-comedian.

So, finally, I had forgiven my friends :)

A VERY HAPPY DIWALI....

In the last post, I wished all of you a very happy diwali. Hope, all of you had a great time on Diwali. I had a blast and I mean a literal BLAST in my life. Never thought that life can take twists and turns at such fast pace. Went home with the status of "Single" and came back (all within 4 days) as "Committed". The biggest problem with such a twist in life, specially with me, was that many of my friends were not believing me when I told them, thanks to my prankster image.

It was 18th October. I, with my family, went to His home at Delhi and I swear I was not able to eat anything many days before this day. Although I was assuring myself and was being assured by my family and closest friends that there is nothing wrong in meeting the family and take the step forward in life, but something was bothering me. I was not able to understand what was this "something".

Is this boy right for me and my family, the families are very different, His family is very open, will I be able to adjust there, will He like me, our compatibility, most importantly, am I ready to take up such a huge responsibility now... phew !!! These questions formed just the iota of hundreds of questions in my mind.

All of us got up very early in the morning after sleeping late, for Diwali puja, and headed for Delhi. I was trying to relax myself by taking the trip as a family picnic but the moment, we entered into Gurgaon, I confessed to bhabhi that I can't take it anymore. I am nervous. Got ready at my aunty's place. When we were about to reach the place, my mother announced, wake up now and look active, we are about to reach. We entered their apartment and I could see around 6-7 people staring towards our car. I tried to give my best smile ever, but I am sure, I failed badly. All of them were so warm and greeted us well. The moment I entered into the flat, I was literally shocked and shaky, coz, there were roughly around 20 people, all staring at me at the same time. Talked to almost everyone and I was amused at the very thought that this is the first time in my life that so many people wants to talk to me. But I was not able to gather the courage to look up and see around. We talked. They talked. Everyone was talking.

After sometime, to spare me from the tension, His bhabhi took me into another room where the Young brigade of the family was sitting. All of them introduced themselves to me. It was relaxing then. Then came my mother and asked me..."Shall we go ahead". I felt like crying at that time. I always wanted an arranged marriage but now that it was about to take place, the only question in my mind was, "how can I say yes to go ahead with a person whom I barely know". But then we decided to go ahead and then everyone was chearful and I was lost. Small ceremony, Roka, took place. Tilak, sweets, congratulations, gifts and ashirwaads and photographs. Time for lunch, which I anyway was not able to take in and how everyone was taking care of me and my plate.

Got to know so many things about the family in such short span of time. My mom-in-law is known for her jokes and her being "sweet 16" still, lovely nana and naniji, his uncles and aunties and the cousins. The two words which can send shivers down the spine of any girl - "saas" and "jethani" but was so relieved to know how cool they are.

Its a mixed feeling now. I know how boring that line seems, but its true. Nervous, excited, confused, sad (to leave my coocooned life at home), happy, anxious... I just thank God to give me two lovely families in my life and pray that everything goes off well and I could come upto the expectations...

Happy Diwali...

Finally, the countdown has begun. After 8th February, will go back to my hometown. After almost over 8.5 months. Can't concentrate on anything now. And its not only me. Bhaiyya-bhabhi too are equally restless. Thank God, Diwali has arrived... Although its a very short trip of just 5 days, but much awaited and required break... Eagerly waiting to board the flight now... WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY, PROSPEROUS AND SAFE DIWALI... Eat, meet, sing, dance, be safe, control noise and air pollution... See ya... Yuhooooooooo....!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate this...

I hate this. Why is it that your are so happy and jovial today and the other day you are the most depressing being on the earth? And mind it, this is not only with females, though, mostly it is, but not always. Yesterday my friend was feeling very low because of some reason of which he himself was not sure of. I was telling him to keep calm, it happens. And today, I was the victim of this situation.

The perfect setting: when you are all alone, there is no one with you to talk to face-to-face, you start thinking about your perfect future but ends up thinking what all wrong things you have done in the past and what rubbish are you doing in present, and you start blaming yourself completely for that. Its so weird. You force yourself to come out of it. But you cannot.

I put on the loudest music on my laptop, but myself shuts it off. I put on the TV but finds it the most boring device. I starts chatting with a friend, who is pulling my leg and I end up scolding him, for no apparent fault of his. You try to sound so casual and happy to your family members even if you are not. You discuss all such things with them which have no relevance and importance just because you are afraid that they should not get hold of your off mood. And there I sit in silence, with all negative thoughts which has hijacked my mind. I hate this. I have no clue how will I wake up tomorrow morning. I have no idea if I would be able to sleep tonight.

I HATE this and everytime I so earnestly wish that such situation never re-appears.

I know this post is so depressing, but thats my other side, can't help it. And sorry to my very dear friend who was at the receiving end for no fault of his.

Nostalgia-Part2

Earlier also, I had been nostalgic about the famous tv serials, the comics that we used to read, the cartoon shows which were our favourite time pass during childhood days. On this past Friday also, I again went down to the memory lanes. Somewhere I heard the title song of the then famous movie, Heena, and there I go straight to the youtube site and watched all the songs of the movie. There in the right side of the screen was a list of Related Videos. Since the lead actress of Heena was Zeba Bakhtiyar, a pakistani actress, the related video displayed famous Pakistani Plays.

Thats it. From there, I could not resist myself from watching that famous pakistani play, Bakra Qishto Pay, which I and my family were a big fan of during my childhood days. Since Friday, I have been buffering its parts in sequence and believe me, I can't stop laughing, even though I watching them alone... Omar Shareef, a very famous comedian, writer and the lead actor of the play, is incredible.

Then my friend came online and we started discussing the BIG B and his movies. My friend (as always) has to bow down in front of my Bollywood knowledge. The songs and the dialogues and the scenes and the sequences...Yarana, Agnipath, Amar-Akbar-Anthony, Satte pe Satta, Mard, Sharabi, Hum, Sholay... all were discussed :)

Still watching the remaining parts of the play...Laughter is the best medicine. You can try this one. CHEERS !!!!

Whats Your Rashee...

Another movie seen... Two movies in two weeks, good, I am recovering after the movie draught in Chennai. This week watched Whats Your Rashee, by Ashutosh Gowarikar, at Hyderabad with bhaiyya-bhabhi and my two cousins. Last show (or call it late night show).

All five of us were looking forward to Priyanka's role in our respective Rashee (sun sign), and were all prepared to prove that she was best in our rashee. The first Priyanka (Anjali) was awesome. I still can't stop laughing when I think of her, even when I am sitting alone. The way she walked and giggled. Harman Baweja, whom I had started calling Hrithik baweja, since he so closely resembles Hrithik Roshan, was good in this movie. I hope that I would start calling him Harman Baweja after this.

And hey, I got so happy at one point. When Harman's mother (in the movie) was first shown, I thought that I had seen this lady, but could not get where. But once she smiled it instantly clicked in my mind. She was Manju Singh, the girl who played the role of Amol Palekar's sister (Ratna) in my favorite movie of all time- Golmaal. After a movie of 1979, I had seen her in 2009. Wow. I loved her in Golmaal.

The movie was good. Although a bit lengthy, and I would realize its length when songs would come. Poor Harman. To meet 12 girls, he had to sing and dance on 12 songs. But one song which I was looking forward to, was not included in the movie. Sad. Nice comic sequences, specially by Dilip Joshi and Rajesh Vivek.

This one was a different movie by Ashutosh Gowarikar, after Lagaan and Swades. Apart from dozen songs, the movie was good to watch.

Fashion...

No, I have seen this movie long back. But this is related to something that I saw while coming back from office today. I am sure by now everyone must have heard about "LOW WAIST" jeans. I have also heard about it and the best part is these days you very rarely can get the high waist (what I call normal waist jeans), so I too have them, or so I thought. Because today I saw yet another teen boy who was wearing the actual low waist. Believe me or not, the moment I saw him (I was walking behind him), the first thought that came to my mind was: "Oh my God, this boy might have lost the button of the jeans and he forgot to put on his belt, its going to be very embarassing for him, should I inform him?". But then I realized, ooops, thats the low waist jeans !!!

I wonder, is it not uncomfortable to keep that thing hooked on to your waist. The back pockets are almost near your knees and the boy looks much shorter than he actually is. But thats the fashion, dude (another slang). And the same boy appears in formal attire, he becomes a man. But another point here. In this office of mine only, I have seen a man wearing a "low waist formal trouser". He thought he is looking so cool, but I started hating him from that day, for his dressing sense.

My friend once told me a saying: "Eat what you like, wear what others like". Be presentable please. Low waist is ok, but not so low that the other person is worried if he/she is going to witness an embarrasing moment any time now. And please, no low waist in formal trousers atleast.

* Thats just my point of view. I may be tagged as backward or conservative is this respect. Whatever.

Disco..khisko...

Hmmm.. I once wrote about the lost melody and stupid lyrics in Hindi movies these days. Well, another example. "Disco wale Khisko, aji Desi Beat Bajani..", "..fikar hi gham ka papa hai.. chewing gum hai chabbi ja, handpump hai dabbi ja..." . But I am liking the second song (remix version) these days because of its beats and more so for its video. Saw this movie.. Dil Bole Hadippa, this weekend. Nothing new, just a typical of Yash Raj Movies (except the Switzerland locales). India-Pakistan "friendship", NRI boy-village girl, they fell in love, my daddy greatest concept, Punjab, thousands of colorful dancers, girl's ever inspiring speech (thank God, less of glycerine this time). So, nothing new, but ya, refreshing to watch after heavy dose movies like Kaminey, Love Aaj Kal...

By the way, Dil Bole Hadippa, Kaminey, Love Aaj Kal, Kambakht Ishq, Do knot distrub, Aagey se Right, Love Story 2050, Quick Gun Murugan, Wanted, Aloo Chaat...movie titles are a bit weird...

Now the movie for which I am most eagerly waiting is the 3 Idiots. No, not because I can relate to the title, but because it is based on the Indian Bestseller- Five Point Someone, by Chetan Bhagat and also because Amir Khan is one of the 3 idiots (I think he is playing the role of Ryan). This is one novel which each Indian student or youngster loves, till now I have not met anyone who disliked the novel. Just pray that the director could make such engrossing movie out of that novel (else it would be a big disaster). And just now read on Wikipedia (while googling- Yes, Wikipedia has answers for everything, I wonder how) that "it is loosely based on 5 point someone, though it is denied by Hirani (Rajkumar Hirani- The director)". The director playing safe, huh...

Whatever, lets see...

Another Week gone...

Hmmm.. another week went by and yet another weekend as well. From past few weeks I had always been looking forward to the weekends. Thanks to loads of work at office. Last weekend was rocking and different. Went for some serious shopping all alone for the first time in life (serious shopping means, not the grocery item or usual stuff) and I must admit, its horrible to shop alone. Somehow managed to buy a pair of sandals, formal shoes, jeans, two formal shirts. Thats it. I am not a shopping freak, you know... hahaha.. No, but seriously I hate shopping. And whenever I tell this to any male friend of mine, I always get the same reaction- "What?? You serious?? Your husband would the happiest person on the earth...". Incidentally met another friend-cum-colleague and helped him also in his shopping and finally a good simple dinner.

Next day, met my school friend after almost 8 years... It was fun. Kept on talking and hopping from one place to other (since we were shoo-ed away from the restaurant and the ice-cream parlour :)).

This week, also I had some great time. My partner in crime in my pranks, Puzaa, and I suddenly decided to plan another prank on our usual victim (Sweetu). According to that plan, I was in Jaipur on a secret visit to see a boy for matrimonial purpose, and I indeed liked him. So much so that I may even say yes to him. She again, yet again believed us (this was the 4th time she had done this mistake). On top of that, another innocent person was caught into this. I must resist to write who this person was. But believe me, I had no intention to play that prank on him. Rather I was telling him about this thing and somewhere he lost the link and rather believed that I WAS in Jaipur. My God !!!

Next day he reached my home and eagerly enquired for me from my mom and he was furious when the truth was revealed to him. When he SMSed me, I could not stop laughing. But hey, I apologized to him very sincerely. Next, when I revealed this to Sweetu, she sweared that she won't believe me even if I would actually get married. Although she must know that Puzaa wanted me to continue with this till both of us reach Jaipur on Diwali. I have promised her that this was the last prank on her (but with a small "Terms and conditions applied", which I am sure, she did not listen). I said "this is the last prank of "bachpan" on you". Bachpan word must have lost somewhere. Hehehe.. I know this might have infuriated both these so very innocent victims, but thats the fun. This is what makes this moment different and memorable from other normal boring and usual moments. I am sure that they would remember me always for these stupid pranks....

Ok, I promise, I will try not to play any such prank in future. Rather I am waiting for my victims to surprise me with some of their prank on me... Lets see....

They are Back...

Phew...!!!!!!!! Finally, yesterday I could talk to my papa and today I could talk to my ma after almost 12 days. No, no family quarrel, just that they were on their foreign holiday (I and bhabhi have started calling "foreign" as "phoren", and now ma-papa are officially "Phoren returned") and their happiness can be felt in their voices. They are refreshed. Had been to Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok.

So much they want to tell and express, and so much we want to know. But these distances... Mobile phones have cut down the distances but still, there are situations when you want to sit and talk face-to-face.

The funniest incident I have come to know about their trip: Bhabhi had messaged them the names of the choclates that we wanted. But the shopkeeper was not able to understand them at all. English VS Chinese kinda situation. Finally ma suggested papa to handover the phone itself to the shopkeeper. Let him read the message and get the Choclates... Finally, our choclates are waiting for their proud owners, at Jaipur.

And these SMSes will never be delivered when you desperately want them to be delivered. Bhabhi suggested that I should tell them to get an IPOD for me from Bangkok. I messaged them, with the complete name, model and the approximate price. BUT, the SMS did not deliver. Before I could realize this and re-send the message, they were already on their way back to India... SAD...

But no issues. Atleast they have enjoyed and had a completely different experience of their life and an unforgettable vacation. Now they are back. And I am happiest because now I can resume my long phone calls with ma-papa :)

10th Year of the "Blogger"

Hello Bloggers,

Found this news item in the ToI, Jaipur Edition today (24th August, 2009), so thought of sharing...

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The 10th year of the ‘blogger’
A little-noticed anniversary of blogs finds India a force to reckon with in cyberspace
Saira Kurup TNN

A personal diary or a daily pulpit; a collaborative space or a universe of rumours — attempts to define the blog probably outnumbers its roll call on the web. And 10 years down the line, it’s growing and mutating into different avatars. Never mind the different definitions. The blogosphere is basically can be seen as a popular online venue for coffee house conversation in text. A decade ago, Peter Merholz jokingly split Jorn Barger’s nerdy term ‘weblog’ into ‘we blog’, which then simply became the ‘blog’ we know today. This happened with Evan Williams’ launch of ‘Blogger’, a web-publishing software exactly 10 years ago today. Later, Williams was to found Twitter. But the blog has changed much from the early days. “The first blogs were text-based; there were no videos or pictures,’’ explains Ashish Chopra, director of communication and PR of the Indian Blog and New Media Society. “As the net bandwidth increased over the years, the content also became rich.” Simple text has given way to photoblogs, vblogs (videos), moblogs (posts from mobiles), audio bogs, podcasts, microblogs and more. Blogs have gone from being personal diaries or opinions to first-hand accounts of breaking news stories and other matters. “The earliest bloggers wrote on technical stuff. Now the content is diverse — films, celebrity diaries, fashion, religion, cooking, marketing and politics,” adds Chopra. India’s earliest blogs were probably posted in 2001, he says. The Indian capital’s first blogger group, Delhibloggersbloc.com, was founded by Priyanka Sachar who goes by the name of Twilight Fairy. She recalls, “When I started my blog in 2003, I did not tell colleagues, just close friends. Few knew the term ‘blog’. We had to spell it out.” It was a small community and everyone knew each other. “Now, blogging is the ‘in’ thing,” she says. Many of the original bloggers have stopped — it was a hobby and they simple gave it up. “Now, it’s different; people are making a livelihood from blogging,” says Sachar. The profile of the blogger has changed as well. From 20-somethings with loads of free time on their hands, to senior citizens, housewives and even young children. The Indian blogger is on a par with the global trend, says Chopra and many feature among the world’s leading blogs now. Renie Ravin, founder of the 10,000-member Chennai-based blogger network Indiblogger.in, says the Indian blogger appears more mature now. Blogging has also diversified into various Indian languages. This was borne out by a 2009 report on the state of the blogosphere by Ravin and Gaurav Mishra of 20:20 Web Tech. Based on a survey of 7,895 blogs, it showed that 92% of Indian bloggers use English; Hindi is the most popular Indian language (52%), followed by Tamil (19%), Marathi (9%), Telugu (7%) and Malayalam (5%). But in the final analysis, the fate of a blog depends on the content. “If you don’t have good content, people will not come back to your blog,” says Chopra. “Have a blog with a specific focus,” advises Ravin. Sachar says it helps if there is audience interaction. With improving bandwidth and widening net access, Indian blogs are sure to multiply. But will they improve in quality? “We will see more convergence of services. Friendfeed is already doing that by aggregating content and updates from blogs, social networking sites, etc,” says Chopra. The newest trend is micro-blogging, but the downside, says Sachar, is that the “frequency of blogging has come down because we say everything in short messages.” But those who keep a sharp eye on the blogpulse will continue to twitter and chatter because, as Sachar says, “it’s like a cellphone. Soon, it will be strange not to have one.”

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Mind Flu...

Few weeks ago, we Indians got another phenomenon to talk about. Swine Flu. Now I don’t remember where did it all started from (may be America), but this is something all of us are talking about at-least five times a day. And thus has started new chains of forwarded mails, jokes, cartoons, new and fancy kind of masks, debates etc etc.
In our offices, if someone just says that he/she is not feeling well or is down with fever or sneezes by chance, God save that soul. The entire office would start cracking jokes about that fellow having swine flu. The other day, my friends at office were planning to cough and sneeze exactly on faces of their bosses, so that they may grant few leaves.
Mails regarding how swine flu started (showing it started from America and their love for Pigs- few photographs of Americans playing with pigs), what swine flu is all about, how to take precautions, what are the symptoms, kind of masks to be used etc have become common these days.
The effect of which is that anyone with fever for more than 3 days or with the problem of cough, is running to the hospitals for the free medical check-up. Irritated with this and not being able to handle such huge turn out of patients, the Karnatka state government published three levels of symptoms and mentioned it clearly that anyone showing third level symptoms only to take up the test, others will not be entertained. But in the same state, if we see the pattern of deaths due to swine flu, patients did not bother in the first two stages and by the time they found out the third level, it became too late and they succumbed to the flu. Now anyone anywhere dies of fever is reported “suspected swine flu” patient, creating a panic situation in that city. The government itself is creating panic and at the same time advising the citizens not to panic. In short, everyone is confused.
Doctors are telling which type of masks to use, but you can find road side vendors’ also selling “some” masks on the traffic signals and people are indeed buying them. I doubt if these masks may actually help anyone and whether or not they are new/ sterilized. Swine flu may affect someone’s body but with all those rumors, panic situations, unavailability of drugs, proper masks and information, this swine flu has become a Mind Flu. Wish that we come out of this as soon as possible...

Observation 3

This is an observation that these days I not only make when I am travelling in my cab but every where. KIDS.

I don't know if the kids these days are actually so cute or we have started observing now only.

I don't know if it is the natural charm of the kids or the dresses and various accessories these days that make them look so cute.

I know they are more mischievous than us, but they "look" so dumb, stupid and yet cute in whatever they do.

Last month when my mother was here, I noticed a Toy Mall. A big showroom exclusively for kids. I decided that we would go in there (although we have no one as of now in our family for whom we can buy any of these things). And the moment we entered in the showroom, I was awestruck by the range of toys and accessories for kids. My God. There were these miniature battery operated bikes, TV (an actual TV) in various colorful shapes, thousands of toys, soft toys, gadgets.. And the best of all, which I had seen for the first time. A washing machine for kids. Another elderly lady asked me if this machine actually washes clothes. I curiously enquired about it with one of the sales girl and she confirmed that it actually is a working washing machine for kids with a capacity of 2.5 KG. That was awesome.

There we saw the typical of kids. One such boy got hold of a car and was running it on the floor in a corner, making sounds of the car with his mouth. The moment sales girl asked him to hand it back to her, he just took the car and refused to give it back to her and started running here and there away from the sales girl...

We decided to sit on a bench kept just outside the showroom. We would see that the parents were taking their children to this showroom to buy something and the children were so excited that they were hopping up and down, wearing the best of their clothes. Some of them were coming out happily for they were given what they wanted but few were coming out crying because they were not given what they wanted.

Anywhere I go these days, I can see such bubbly kids with chubby cheeks that I often wonder why we were so skinny in our times. I still remember that the younger kids of the family would mostly wear clothes of their elder siblings. But now all of them have separate wardrobes with all sorts of colorful clothes and accessories.

I am not saying that I had a bad time as a kid and that it was unfair to me that I didn't had such cool clothes, miniature TV, washing machine, beds, etc. But now when I see all these things, I wish to go back to the time when I was an infant and want to grow up again!!!

Strange...

Well well well.. I am back to blog after so many days, rather weeks. Lot many things happened. I shifted from the PG to a flat with my colleague-cum-friend. We spent almost 2 weeks to make the place comfortable for us. Bought TV with cable, got the net connection, gas connection, mattresses, utensils, and many other things... What was the hurry to do so? My mother was coming to stay with me for a week.
Here is what was strange about her visit. I was so very happy that she is coming to stay with me, but was worried about it as well, because I was not sure if I have made the place comfortable enough for her. She was travelling alone by plane for the very first time. But the moment she came out of the airport with the trolley and spotted me, there was this kid-dish smile on her face, an indication that she had no problem during the flight. When she came, the first thing that she noticed was that my flat didn’t have any balcony. That meant that she would have to be confined in the two rooms throughout the day when I would be in my office. That made me sad because I know that she cannot sit at one place for long. Then, being bachelors, mattress on the floor is the best and the most luxurious bed. But she was having difficulty in sitting down and getting up every time. I left my mobile with her so that she could at-least talk to her usual gang. She can now watch her serials without any disturbance. With a bachelor’s point of view, I had tried to make the place as comfortable as I can, but my mind would always keep wandering back to what she might be doing at home, when I am at office. I would call her after every 1 or 2 hours just to know that she is ok. Although she would always sound as if she is having a good time here, but I would want her to go back as soon as possible since I knew that she is not at all comfortable here. That is how parents are.
Then we went for some window shopping one Saturday. That was the best day. With no intentions to buy anything, we entered in a shop, Soch. Within 40 odd minutes, we ended up buying 7 sarees!!! Then wandered here and there, did some heavy bargaining with road side vendor for wooden carvings. Finally was the time to go to Hyderabad to visit my brother for Rakhi. There she got ample space to stretch herself and rest, which relieved me as well. Had fun on Rakhi. Very excitedly booked the tickets for Love Aaj Kal. Went to watch it but all of us came out with the same expression – “the movie was such a crap, over-rated and over-hyped”... Just the songs were good. Then we did some shopping for papa. Finally was the time to part again. Mom had to go back to Jaipur and I had to come back to this boring place. Once back to our destinations, everyone started feeling bored. First day after I came back, I was missing her so badly because in the previous week I would literally run up the stairs to find her standing on the door waiting for me. Now there was no one.
But my parents had no time to get bore, because they had to prepare for their first foreign holiday. I just wish that they have a great vacation and I am already eagerly waiting for their photographs!!!

Retirement...

My tauji, my father’s elder brother, retired on 30th June, 2009, yesterday. He stays with my parents. His wife is no more in this world and he has no kids. But then, he love all the kids of our family like a father.
I called him up to congratulate him. I asked how many years of service. I had to make him repeat. 38 years. My God!!! And I was celebrating the completion of my one year in the job, in the same company where I joined a year ago as if I have conquered the Mt. Everest. 38 years of untainted service record. It sure calls for a celebration and yes, it was arranged and he was getting ready for it. My father will also retire the next year. And I have, since my birth, seen him in the same bank.
I sometimes think how they managed to stick to the same company for so long. Many answers and many reasons. May be they were never so ambitious; they were never so insecure; they had limited spending; they invested in a planned way in few but secure means; they never had such stiff competition at work place; the companies also made them a part of their family. So many reasons to stick to the same company for so long.
As oppose to these reasons and the temperament of our elders, we always live in the environment which is full of tensions; we are over ambitious, which if not fulfilled hurts us; we are so insecure that each day I pray to God to save my job, which I can lose without any fault of mine; why is it that I would feel jealous and pull down of any of my peer who is ascending the success ladder; why do I invest my limited salary in so many places for future that for my present, I have to think twice before spending; why do I have to pretend myself in my social circle to maintain it; why do I buy expensive phones, clothes and dine at expensive hotels and cafes just to remain the part of the herd.
I remember that my father finally bought his own house in the year 1998-99, but most of our generation tries to own a house and car in early stages of life so that we have ample time to pay back our loans. Most of us are re-paying at-least 2-3 loans and credit card bills by now.
Even after retirement, we may not retire, for we would have left so much mess behind us to clear. But I wish that my elder generation do retire in the true sense. CHEERS!!!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Yes, it was my birthday few days back, 27th June. Don’t ask the age.
Celebrated with bhaiyya and bhabhi at their place. It was short but again a memorable trip. Bhabhi tried her best to prepare those dishes which I normally miss being away from home. Chole-Poori, pao-bhaji and finally, gatte. Cut the cake at 12 midnight, when all three of us ran to change from our rag-type clothes to good presentable clothes, for we were to do the photo session at the cake-cutting-ceremony (we actually put on some deodorants as well, as if the camera is going to capture the smell also). Got an external hard-drive of 320 GB and a suit as gifts. The hard-drive is so sleek and trendy. All of us fell in love with it. Friends called to wish (if they had not, I would have murdered them). My mom was trying to remind me of my age, typical of mom. Clicked each others’ photo and few using the timer technique and smiling just at the moment when the camera would capture the photo (now we are trained to smile at the camera running on the timer). Next morning went to watch New York, first most sought-after movie after some disturbances between the producers and the multiplex owners’ associations, when no movie was being released. The movie can be considered ok types. It was going good. John and Katrina played their roles nicely. But the logics given by Irrfan Khan were totally unconvincing. Neil Nitin Mukesh. What to say. Initially was good, but at the end, the most annoying acting by him. By yes, I liked the concept. Not based on WTC 9/11 attacks but what happened, to whom after that, which sent the shiver down our spines. It was scary. Could not even imagine what such people would have gone through. The torture, the humiliation, the treatment; what was shown in the movie could have been just the tip of an iceberg. And it became a blame game. The FBI told that they had orders from their seniors, their seniors told that they had orders from the government, the government officials told that they were ordered by the President. And the President simply said that “I never ordered for such torture”. But they were tortured and the world knew. I still remember reading news about such jails in USA after the attacks. If I knew this, I can’t believe that the President of that nation was not aware. He could have stopped all that as soon as he came to know about it.
Anyways, back to my birthday. After movie, we were roaming in the mall. This roaming proved a bit expensive for my brother since two of us bought 3 t-shirts and made him buy 2 shirts for himself and again a photo session. Copied few serials like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Prison Break, Byomkesh Bakshi and movies to the hard-drive. My joy was coming to an end. Bhabhi prepared besan laddoos. And I have to say. They were almost same to what my mother prepares. Finally, I am back to where I never wanted to come.

The End...

I was working in my office at 4 p.m. when I got this mail on my official mail ID. It said “From: The GoI” and the content said to watch the news (on any National or International channel) sharply at 8 p.m. IST. I was puzzled. Then the same mail came in my other mail boxes as well. Alarmingly I asked my colleagues if they too have got such mails. They had. All of us were puzzled. But had no idea as to what this was all about. After office, we were going home in our cab, when all of us could see that everyone on the road is rushing somewhere. May be to watch the 8 p.m. news. This is serious, I thought. I reached my place and sat in front of the TV to get some clue. All the news channels were highlighting to watch the live telecast of something at 8 p.m. I called up my parents. The line was busy, but I got through. They too were tensed.
Finally 8 p.m. arrived and our common room was packed. The news channel directed us to NASA press conference which was packed with media persons from all over the world. The President of US and UK and other nations were there along-with NASA’s top authority. The Chairperson of NASA cleared his throat and the room felt silent. He said “THE WORLD IS COMING TO ITS END”. WHAT!!!! Did he actually say that? There was a sudden uproar everywhere. The man waited for next 2 minutes and started again. He explained that “our planet is going be hit by 3 meteors after 14 days and the impact will not be on one city or nation but the earth. This fact was checked and re-checked in the last one week and finally confirmed”. Each of his words were hitting our ears but making all of us deaf. The earth is going to collapse... How is this possible? 3 meteors and they were identified just a week back. And he said that we, supposedly the most intelligent race- mankind, cannot stop it from occurring. “So, do whatever you want to do. Don’t go to office, pray to God, stay with your parents, meet your friends, eat whatever you want and don’t bother to pay or collect your money since everything is going to end”.
My knees were becoming weak to support my body to get up and run to my parents and brother and bhabhi, my friends, who all were posted in different cities, to those people whom I was fond of. I could not think anything. I was sweating. Then suddenly I decided to call my parents and brother. That all of us should come to one place and die. But all the lines were jammed. Another idea clicked my mind. I decided to run to the nearest cyber cafe and book my and my brother and bhabhi’s tickets to home. I will take my friend’s credit card to book them; I anyway don’t have to pay her back. But the cafe was closed. I could see that the roads which had deserted a few minutes ago was flooded with mad rush from all the directions. Meanwhile, I was trying each second to make the call. I went back in my room to pack my bag and rush to the airport. I reached there in 5 hours. It was mid-night. The auto driver did not take money and I knew why. But there was a curfew at the airport. By that time phone lines were getting clear. I called up my local friend and asked him to lend his bike so that I can go to my brother. He did. I bid him goodbye and thanked him to lend me the bike. It was 5 a.m. when I started on my journey. Reached his place at 6 a.m. the other day. By that time he has already tied up with our cousin who too had to go to Jaipur to be with his parents by his own car. Without waiting or talking we started driving towards Jaipur, driving turn by turn and on the maximum safe speed. We reached there and bhabhi’s parents and brother had also come there and then we had nothing to worry. 4 out of 14 days had passed. We talked and talked; hardly slept. We met all our local relatives by calling them at one place. Bandwidth of phone lines and internet has been increased to maximum. So, daily would talk to all my friends for hours.
Finally, the day arrived. We prayed in the morning and waited. Then, we saw it coming. The sky went dark. The breeze was now a hurricane. We held each other tightly. It hit us and we saw each other for the last time.
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And then I woke up full of sweat and heart beating faster. It was my ugly dream which was the result of watching too many Hollywood movies like these.
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Compare...

Dil Diwana, Bin Sajna ke....
Hai love mera hit hit soniye...
Aey Zindagi, gale laga le...
Aa khushi se khudkhushi kar le...
Daiyya re daiyya, dass gayo papi bichua...
Zahreeley (Rock On)... (The most annoying song I have ever heard in past few months)
Inn aankhon ki masti ke...
Beedi jalaile, jigar se piya...
Kabootar ja ja ja...
Dil kabootar khana hai...
Chup tum raho, chup hum rahe...
Shut up and bounce...
Hope you could make out the difference in the songs listed. If not, try and sing them one by one. Just few songs which make me wonder where the melody is. Why are the singers shouting at top of their voices? Are we supposed to listen to the song/lyrics or the band, which is supposed to be the background, supporting the singer but now is in the foreground? Lyrics... Did I say lyrics? Where are they?

Take few examples:
Marjani marjani (Billu), Dil mei baji guitar (Apna Sapna Money Money), Mind blowing Mahiya (Cash), Vacancy (Golmal Returns), Pappu can’t dance sala (JTYJN), Dance Pe Chance marle (RNBDJ), Zahreeley (Rock ON...sorry, but can’t stand this song), Talli hua (Sing is King), Chaliyaa (Tashan), dard-e-disco (Om Shanti Om)...
Now, another set of example:
Aane wala Pal ek sapna hai (Junoon), aey zindagi gale laga le (Sadma), Suno zara, suno zara (Bada Din), All the songs of Rajshree productions (except Main Prem ki Diwani hoon), Hum na samjhe the, baat itni si (Gardish), songs of Zubeida, Parineeta, Yes Boss, Guru, Iqbal, Qayamat se Qayamat tak, Chandini, Lahme, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Dil Hai ke maanta nahi... and endless songs of yesteryears by Lata Mageshkar, Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle, Udit Narayan, SP Bala Subramaniyam, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik...
Last week, I was reading an interview by Kumar Sanu, where he too expressed the lack of melody in today’s music. I was surprised to read the comments by the readers. They called him “jealous” of new generation since they were the reason for his downfall. Agreed that he too had the nasal voice but can’t deny the melody, if we are comparing his nasal singing with Himesh Reshamiyan. Not that all the songs now a days are full of drums, there are few songs which touch our hearts but they are so few of them. Kal Ho Na Ho, Parineeta, Taare Zameen Per, Devdas, Jodha Akbar, Sanwariya, K3G...
Ishq Kameena, Tu sala kaam se gaya, Kambakhat ishq, Bhootni Ke, Hoth Rasiley, Tha Kar ke, Marjani, Pappu can’t dance sala... Make sure to read the words in bold. Someone please find the meaning in these songs. They surely make you dance but easily forgettable. Ever wondered why you can remember the songs which were made far before you were born but can't remember clearly the one which released last year...

Nostalgia...

I mentioned earlier that my cab comes too early in the morning and that all of us struggle to take a quick nap. But yesterday, none of us slept. Why? In front of us, there was this school bus, in which I saw a kid (must be in 2nd or 3rd standard) looking like a young Harry Potter with similar spectacles. He was reading a NOVEL, mind you, not a textbook, but a novel. My God. When that young I just knew the spelling of novel. I read COMICS... That started us on our journey back to childhood and our time pass. I will just write down few of them. I am sure, those reading this would also go back to their memory lanes and start missing those days badly:


1. Comic books of Chacha Chawdhary, Pinki, Billu, Champak, Motu Patlu, Bankelal. 2. Then some adventurous comic books like Nagaraj, and Super Cammando Dhruv. And there used to come advertisement on radio as well: “Raaj comics paish karte hai Super Cammando Dhruv ka naya karnama- Pralaya.. (James Bond type music)". Moreover, at times, these super heroes would come together in one comic in one story only. That used to be blockbuster hit as if Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan are coming in the same movie.
3. Those limited TV shows for which every Sunday morning we would get up early and arrange our meals and other chores to match them.
4. Starting with Rangoli in the morning, for old songs and just 2-3 new songs towards the end.
5. Then take a bath and get ready for Mahabharat/ Ramayan. Even the starting of Mahabharat is fresh in our minds. Mahaaaaaabharat... and then. "Main Samay hu..."
6. Cartoon shows. Duck Tales, Tales Spin, Donald Duck, Jungle Book, Aladin and so on. Uncle Scrooge, his three nephews and his swimming in his treasure. Ballu- the pilot, Launchpad, Mogli, Radha, Bhalu, Baghira, Alaadin, Jinni...
7. One of our cab mate took onus to remember the jingles of these shows. But of course, no one can forget the jingle of the Jungle Book and my friend took out her mobile, in which she actually had stored the Jungle Book jingle.
8. Then came the EPIC. CHANDRAKANTA, in which no one would die. We would THINK that he/ she is dead but would re-appear out of nowhere. And the most popular- YAKKU...!!!
9. Potli baba ki, Alif Laila.
10. We faintly recalled legendary serials like Hum Log and Nukkad.
11. Today, while talking to my bhabhi, I recalled, Flop Show.
12. Somewhere, I was recalling few songs which were repeated almost daily. Mile sur mera tumhara..., ek chidiya-anek chadiya...
13. And the famous Doordarshan tone, which can make anyone sleep, but not now.

Phew, these were just the time-pass things. So many old advertisements are still afresh in our minds. But before we could start discussing them, we had reached our office :(

Observation 2

Here I am with my second observation on my way to and back from Office.

Dogs.
Before I start this post, I must say sorry to all the dog lovers. But I hate dogs. More than that, yes, I admit, I am afraid of dogs. They are so unpredictable. Have learnt since childhood that the men’s best friend is a dog, but that dog is friend with only his owner. I have been in such situations many times where the dog of my host is sniffing me from top to toe, its heavy tail wagging and hitting my legs and the dog is growling at me, while the owner very coolly tells me to relax, “kuch nahi karega”. In my mind only one thought is going round, “kuch kar diya toh kya karogey aap”. So, sorry folks, but I don’t like dogs.
So, the observation that I had made during my cab rides are the dogs- stray and pet dogs. Ever since I have landed in this city, I have read four cases in newspaper and seen one case on television, where the street dogs have injured someone very badly. Bengaluru is famous for its street dogs. While my cab enters a new lane, the lazy sleepy dogs would all of a sudden become alert and chase our cab till we reach the end of “their territory”. But once we become the frequent traveler of that street, they no more care for our cab. Another peculiar thing to notice about dogs is that they each belong to a street. If some other dog of neighboring street dares to enter into another street, the owners of that street would unite and make sure to drag the intruder out of their area, scaring him enough so that he never ever dares to re-enter.
Apart from street dogs, yes, I have also become familiar of few pet dogs. Hard to say whether the human owners are taking their dogs on walk or vice-versa. One dog that I almost daily encounter is a big black German Shephard, high enough to reach just below the waist of its owner. Another dog is the complete black version of the “Vodafone dog”.
Today I decided to count how many dogs do I encounter on my way to office. In total, I counted 93 !!! Only two pet dogs, rest all street dogs. None of them looked lean or thin. And I always thank God that I am inside my cab, safely away from the deadly paws and jaws of these dogs.

UNFORGETTABLE ...

As soon as I entered my PG, my room-mate’s sister broke the news that she could not get through the IBM recruitment process. I was left speechless but still managed to console from my end. I am very bad at consoling people especially in situations like this. Instantly it reminded me my placement time. How grateful God had been on that day and the most unusual thing that He did to me. So, thought of sharing it with you.
It was 1st October, 2007. My 3rd semester papers got over 3 days back, and I had already relaxed a bit. I was searching for my original mark-sheets and other documents, because 3rd October was the D-Day for me. Day 0 of our campus placement and I was to appear for the very first time for any company. Other friends of mine had already been a part of few pre-placement filtration tests and had been unlucky. On face of it, I was pretending to be absolutely cool. But I know how nervous I was to face my failure.
That day, I realized that I do not have the original mark-sheets of my 1st and 2nd semester and neither do I have their photo-copies. My father confirmed it. In the evening my mother called up and said that they are visiting me tomorrow and getting it to me, since 2nd October would be a holiday and courier won’t deliver it. I resisted once but I knew that I need them at this time, so succumbed to their persuasion. Next morning they came. We chatted for sometime and my father went to Delhi to his friend’s place. My mom checked my and my friends’ coat, shirts, buttons, and files and if anything required final touch. In the evening she took me to the temple. She made me sleep early without thinking much about next day.
The D-Day arrived. All of us (all the girls of the PG) got ready, prayed and my mom distributed prasad to each one of us. I left my mobile with her for contacting me. We entered college at 8:30 a.m. First pre-placement talk with Wipro left me disappointed since I was not eligible. Next was 3i Infotech. Process was simple. First level has to be cleared on the basis of CV short listing and then the interviews. First list of students came. My name was announced once but not in the repeat call. I was furious. I had a technical background as well as my specialization suits the profile. I had lunch. As soon as I was about to storm the panel’s room, my friend told me that another list has come and only my name was there and that I am being called for the interview. Before I could realize anything, I was facing the interview. First one was a cake-walk. I cleared it. For the second round, I had to wait till I was just the last one to be interviewed. Before I could go in for the next round, I saw the company people saying that since the list have already been prepared, no more interviews. But my placement co-ordinator arranged for it. I was disheartened but still maintained my composure. By the time, it was over; it was already 9:30 p.m. Almost 13 hours were over. My parents called me up on my friend’s mobile and told me that they are coming to see me at the college and then go back to Delhi, since its already late to go back to Jaipur. I met them and said good-bye with a heavy heart. I reached the waiting room on 5th floor and...
My friend tried to explain me something while talking to her mother on phone. I could not get it, but she was happy. Then I located sikgurum. She too was happy and talking to her mother. The moment she saw me, she declared that both of us have made it to this company. WOW. She was kind enough to disconnect her call and let me call my parents to stop the car. But they had already stopped. I ran downstairs to find chinchu. Hugged her and ran to find my parents entering the college!!! The watchman had allowed them to enter. I threw my heavy bag somewhere and hugged my mom. I could feel that she was crying and realized that tears were trickling down my cheeks as well. Then hugged my dad. He was overwhelmed. Immediately he called up my brother. He was so happy that he could barely speak apart from congratulations. This is brilliant. Now enjoy...and so on.
This was the most unusual gift that He gave me. Someone’s parents ON the campus at the time of PLACEMENT and on top of that, at the time of announcement of RESULT and again, their child appearing for the first company and getting lucky!!!
Thank God, can never forget that day and your gift of placing me in the first attempt and sending my parents at the right place, at the right time.

Observation 1

Hi, good "early" morning. Well, there are so many things that I observe while coming to office and going back to home, thanks to our cab. Every ride is equally same and yet different. Same, because of the same route, same traffic, same bumps, same time, same fellow passengers etc etc. Different because of finding new potholes in the road (or no road), new latest model cars and bikes on the road, traffic jams in unbelievable places and how our deft driver takes us out of that jam and so on.

There are so many observations that I make on my way. But won't burden you with all of them at once. So, would share them with you one by one.

Observation 1:

School Kids.

Some sleepy, rubbing their eyes, some full of excitement; some lean & thin, some obese; some very cute, some not so cute; some wearing carefully ironed uniform, some just got lucky to find the crumpled uniform in the cupboard. As they wait for their school buses, we also pass them everyday in our cab. They don't know me and I don't know them, but still, if any one of them is missing on some day, my mind automatically starts making wild guesses. The kid might be sick today, or today might a school holiday, or may be going on a picnic.
Now the observation, rather two observations.
The kids are either accompanied by their mothers or fathers or some are brave enough to wait for the bus alone. Mothers are always worried about something. You can make out from their faces. Have you completed your homework, have you taken your tiffin box, are you wearing right uniform and shoes, did I miss any note in your diary, are your nails trimmed, why has the bus not come as yet... The list is almost endless. Fathers are almost indifferent to the situation. They would standstill while the over enthusiastic kid is trying to tell his activities in the school. The fathers wait more impatiently for the bus to arrive than the kid, except for few of them.
The next observation. As a kid, my mother made sure that I and my brother carries our school bags and bottles by ourselves. But now, the mother or the father carries the heavy bags and the bottles and the kid is either carrying nothing or just a little handbag for may be a drawing book or extra accessories. The exceptions are the kids going to the government schools all by themselves on their foot. The excuse is that the kids are already overburdened with studies and they are too small to carry heavy bags. These “overburdened” kids have to just carry their bags from their flats to the pick up point, then they get on to the school bus, get down at the school and thats it. The other poor kids who manage to attend school somehow, carry everything by themselves and travel all the way to school on their foot. Why are the parents over-protecting their child by carrying their bags, even keeping their books and copies in the bag a night before. Let the kid handle it himself. He should know what to keep in the bag. Parents need to monitor them and help them out rather than making them focus solely on studies and get highest marks.
And yes, how did I forget this. The uniforms of the new age private schools are becoming more trendy. In my time, we had typical of white, or blue skirts in summers and steel gray in winters and white shirt. I got my first wrist watch when I came in 8th standard. But now, they are wearing the latest wrist watches. All this makes me feel how old I am. Aaaah !!!! It hurts.
Well, these are the two (or three) observations about the school kids. More to follow. CHEERS !!!

Nice short story...

Hi.. after a long gap (not very long). I had been unusually busy in lot of work at office. So much so that I worked even on weekend !!! Lot of work, some useful, most of all crap. But I am proud of my multi-tasking, that I could manage to take time off for Gtalk and a bit of Fwds management. Baring few of my friends, conversed with all.
Today, while I was still busy, my friend pinged me on gtalk once. Could not see what has been written there at first (my boss was sitting next to me, how can I?). As soon as my boss went back to his place (right beside my seat), I quicky read what was there in the tiny blinking chat window.
Sharing the beautiful short story with you people:
Once I had to walk on a rope bridge. It was very high, I was scared. I saw my friend on the other side and called him out for help but there was no reply . I somehow managed and crossed the bridge. There I was shocked to see my friend holding the end of the broken bridge...sometimes we think why our friend is quiet when we call for help.... he may not help you in crossing the bridge but he might be holding the broken bridge for you ... just trust your friends in every situations, bcoz they are your real asset.
Hope you like it. Will be back asap.. Till then, keep well.. CHEERS !!!

IF...

Yesterday when I was coming back home walking from the cyber cafe after office, I looked at a kid with her parents and I thought if I would have been at home with my parents, my life would have been fun and without any tension. This word “IF” stuck in my mind. And then I questioned myself with so many IFs. Jolted down few of them... (Please add IF in front of all of them yourself)
1. I would have been at home with ma-papa.
2. I had free unlimited supply of world’s best chocolate.
3. My height had been 5 feet 8 inches and a better face.
4. I had office only 2 days a week that too with the privilege of working from home.
5. My account always had Rs. 5,00,000 balance (more than that is always welcome and this would have fulfilled most of my “normal” wishes).
6. My laptop would catch unprotected wireless network of my unaware neighbor and the movies would download within half an hour.
7. I had free membership of the best video and book libraries.
8. I was a privileged customer of King-fisher airlines and could travel without any fare being charged all round the world.
9. I could own a nice flat in Dubai and live there with my dear family.
10. I can roam about freely with my friends without any worry of getting married (I mean if the society would not care for all the girls and boys to get married).
11. I would have done my engineering from IIT and MBA from IIM and would have been working in Google (that does not mean that I didn’t love my institutes, they were great and I learnt and gained a lot from them).
12. I could taste the best of food and (non-alcoholic) drinks from all over the world.
13. I had more patience.
14. I could sing in decent voice (thankfully, I can dance now).
15. I knew how to play guitar or flute or for that matter any musical instrument.
By this time, I had already started smiling to myself and then I entered my PG and point # 1 was instantly out and all the others also came trashing. There is another word which normally accompanies IF, that is BUT. Or you can say in Hindi, If is Agar, you prefix it with "M"; that is But in Hindi.
“But” seemed to me like a gate-keeper to hold me from going into my fantasy world. Aaaaah...!!! What will God lose if those 15 wishes of mine (at-least those 15 initially, more are yet in my mind) gets fulfilled?

Gtalk & FWDs..Official Life Lines

Yesterday when I reached home and started reading my novel on the laptop, I wondered whether I saw an orange light blink in the lower right corner of my laptop. But no. Immediately I realized that its the hangover of using Gtalk in office. The day I get just 3-4 forwarded mails, I am deeply hurt. "My friends forgot me...!!!!!!!". These two are our lifelines in the otherwise boring office.

Day in the office starts with signing in for the attendance and then open all the mail IDs I have. Company ID, gmail, rediffmail, and yahoo. Then sign in to gtalk. Day starts on a cheerful note if there are mails and forwards to be read. It looks gloomy if no mails are there. Due to unusual office hours, I reach too early to find anyone online. But after breakfast, all those hi's and hellos welcome me on my seat.

If get any forward, the normal ritual is to read it. If you like it, forward it to your usual group of people or else delete it. But if it is too good to wait to forward it, tell the contents to your friends who are online or bother the one sitting next to you.

If by chance the server is down, and the Internet connection is out, we never bother to call the technical team because I am not getting my boss's mail or for that matter other official mails, but because my GTALK is not working and I can't concentrate on my work. Some companies are very generous to allow gtalk to run on the systems (I am thankful to them), but few are not. Although more than finding out new ways to improve our productivity and company's revenue and business, employees of those unfortunate companies are busy to find out proxies to access gtalk, other personal mail ids, blogs, orkut (the most popular one to be searched), and other social networking sites. Afterall, our parents always preach us that we should be socially active. What say ???

Thank you my dear company that you had atleast not banned these two important Life-lines of your employees. I hope my management is not reading this. How can they allow an employee to be happy?? Long live the inventors of Internet and chat engines.

Animation...

Hi... Another weekend passed by. This time, I was indeed busy on Friday and Saturday. But Sunday... "My Dear Sleep". And yes, I once again watched Madagascar-2(Escape to Africa). Its an animated movie and I am always ready anytime to watch any animation movie. Few of the good ones that even you can watch are: Madagascar-1 & 2, Wall:E, Surf's up, The Polar Express, Stuart Little- 1 & 2, Kung-fu Panda, Ratatouille, Ice Age-1 & 2, Shrek-1 & 2, Cars. They are so logical. No loose ends of the story. And yes, they actually have a story and teach you a lot in fun way. No vulgarity, and no songs, and can be seen with the family. These are the traits missing in most of the Hollywood and Bollywood movies, or for that matter in any non-animated movie (I don't know what do we call those movies which are not animated).

If we notice, in most of the animation movies, animals or otherwise non-living things are the main protagonists and its not only about making you laugh by looking cute or making strange sounds, they show various emotions. Wall:E is a story about a robot, who falls in love with another robot and how he follows her, takes care of her, even gets hurt (I mean, his wires and motherboard are mishandled), but ultimately rescues her and the mankind.

Madagascar is about four friends, a zebra, lion, giraffe, and a hippo. They are inseparable, and whatever comes their way, they are there for each other. Eventually, giraffe and hippo get married. I wonder, how their kids would be. In Stuart little, a rat has been adopted as a second child by a human couple and provide him with all amenities as their human kid (small versions of bed, brush, chairs, car...). The story of Ramayana and Hanuman is also made in animation form. Its not slow and covers almost all major events and is fun to watch.

Came to know just few days back, while surfing the internet, that the first animated feature film was made way back in the year 1917- The Apostle and since then each year there had been atleast 8-10 animated feature films released in various parts of the world. And I thought, its the recent development.

So, anyone please suggest which one to watch next.....

The Shock...

Yesterday evening I got the “small” shock of my life (I mean, not that big a shock to ruin my life, but enough to ruin my night). I came back home after office and hurriedly settled myself with my chocolate biscuits to finish off my novel- The Associate, by John Grisham. I bought this novel from Odyssey just like that, while scanning through so many fiction novels in the shop. Since when I bought it, I could find it mentioned in magazines, newspapers, Internet and so many copies displayed in various book-stores. I was feeling very happy to have made the right choice to chose this book, for this is much talked about novel these days.
This is the story of a very young and bright law student, Kyle McAvoy of Yale School of Law. Had nice noble plans to start off his career with the offer from the biggest law firm up his sleeve. But he bumped into FBI agents, who claimed to have known his dark past, of an alleged rape which took place in Kyle’s apartment, by his fraternity brothers, in front of him, though he was too much on booze to realize it, five years back. They knew every bit of his life. Though he was not the one who committed the crime, but he was present on the scene. These “FBI” guys had a deal for him. This deal is talked through one Bennie (or whatever his real name was). You follow our directions or face the trial. All this blackmailing on the basis of a video of that night, which these guys showed to Kyle. He agrees to face the trial. He reads out the first page. Turns to the next. To his shock, all the other pages are blank. There is no trial. These men are not FBI guys. They are thugs, working for “someone”, who has unlimited money, power and manpower. This was the biggest twist I had ever witnessed. Well written, and so engrossing. He is left with no other option but to follow them.
His each breath is being heard, each step is being followed, and each move is being recorded. In his own apartment, he has 3 cameras, mics at various places, the blackmailer’s men can come and go out of his apartment any time, without his knowledge. He is forced to join the biggest law firm, get on to the biggest trial between two companies and pass on the secret information out of his own firm.
He reports to Bennie many times. His life in the law firm is sucking. He finds himself a girlfriend. Then some twists. He decides to get out of this. Involves his father; who is also a well known principled lawyer, his friend, Joe; who is one of the two main culprits, decides to hire a lawyer for himself, confides everything to the real FBI. His father solves the matter with the victim (the girl) so easily (I didn’t expect that, for Kyle was afraid throughout of how this girl will react once she comes to know of the video).
Everything seems to be going good. I was about to find out who was this Bennie. Who was he working for? Where did he mysteriously run away? After telling the truth in his firm, will Kyle be able to pursue normal life or he will be banned for life? Who killed his friend, Baxter, the main culprit? What happened to Joe?
Last 3 pages, excitement to its maximum. My room-mate asked me the story. I hurriedly told her in the briefest possible way (I am sure, she did not understand anything) and went back to reveal the secret.
BUT. The novel came to an abrupt end and I did not get any of the much awaited answers. How is this possible? Did I pick up the pirated copy, with so many pages missing from the original story? Is John about to introduce the second part of this novel like most other movies, I mean, a sequel? Never came to know what happened to that much talked about case, who was Bennie, and who was he working for. This disturbed me for long time. Still can’t forget this.
Wish someone give me the missing answers. The novel is well written till some 25 chapters, at times gets repetitive for the Bennie and Kyle meetings, introduced small but nice twists. Towards the end, the story fastened up the pace. But the end disappointed me. Would have been better with the answers. Anyone interested? I can lend you the “original” copy.

My most memorable holiday...

I know the title seems like the title for a school essay to describe your most memorable holiday. And I admit, it is exactly like that.
Yesterday, my friend called me to discuss and plan his family vacation down to South India, since I had already been to those places, where he is planning to visit. After talking to him, I went back to the memory lanes of that vacation of mine, by far the most memorable and loving.
We (I-ma-papa) planned for a 20 day trip in December, 2003 to Andaman’s and South India. You can get down to Port Blair (capital of Andaman’s & Nicobar) only from either Kolkatta or Chennai. So, we chose the former. Stayed over in Kolkatta for a day, visited few places and then set off for Port Blair flight (which was 8 hours late). The moment I stepped out of the plane, I had to pull off my jacket (it was a cold winter morning in Kolkatta) even before I stepped down the stairs. It was so humid. But 15 minutes after stepping on the island, I could feel better. Landed up in a decent hotel and in the evening were off to the “Kala Pani” jail. It was a horrifying trip there to see such small cells, in which almost 8-9 inmates were stuffed without letting them come out for as long as 4 days, not even to answer the nature’s call, the dungeon where they were hanged and where their bodies would fall, the oil grinding machine on which they were tied, with heavy weights around their necks, to crush the oil out of the seeds/coconut instead of bulls, the place where they were tied up and thrashed. Later, watched an amazing light and sound show. Was almost in tears throughout the show. Just walk down the jail to the vast water sports complex. The moment we stepped into the complex through vast gates, was welcomed by such cool and fresh air which had enough speed to blow off the empty chairs. Next day went in local sight-seeing. Went to watch the Chatham Saw Mill, Asia’s biggest saw mill. God, such a huge saw cutting such huge tree trunks!!! Then to the zoo, the coral museum and then the tribal museum. You click anywhere and will get the perfect scenic frame. In the evening, our driver, Ganesh, took us to Chidiya Tapu. A small beach, with such clean and still water, surrounded by full grown trees on 3 sides and the mountain on the 4th side. During that time, so many birds would gather on the trees (may be their home) and chirp continuously. Calm water with trees around and birds singing to mark the sunset. Perfect. Yet another day, we started very early in the morning to visit a far off island. Nothing great about the island but on the way to it, we could confront a tribe- Jharawas. Deadly and dangerous. Following the same life-style as we have read in our history books. Naked, self made weapons, hunt and eat wild animals (just for these tribes, hunting is legally allowed), dark and would attack you anytime. Our driver procured the special permission (which is mandatory for this trip) from the commissioner’s office and armed himself with lots of bananas. I asked him curiously the reason for so many bananas, he said casually, if attacked, I will offer them bananas and try to distract them so that we can escape. What???? Do we have chances of being attacked and killed by tribal family in the most ancient style of murder? Yes. That’s why all the tourist cars pass the area with police protection. One armed policeman in the first car of the convoy and the other in the last one. All the drivers are trained and have different types of horns in case someone have been left behind or have been caught by the tribal or got some problem with the car. We travelled by zig-zag road, throughout which policemen would stand guard after every few kms. Then loaded our cars on ferry boats (which can even load buses) and crossed the sea and back on road. But saw just one jharawa man, who was traced back into the forest by one of the policeman, as he was ready to puncture our tyre with his bow-arrow. Stayed overnight in a small village and the smallest hotel. Again started back to Port Blair and this time our car was stopped with a complete family. More than excited, I was scared. They looked so horrible. Since a policeman was in our car, so obviously, I was “legally” not allowed to click them but my driver tried to give me enough time but with a word of caution of not using the flash or else we will get in trouble. But I got so engaged to watch them that I could not handle my camera and I missed the shot. I know that was stupid of me. On our way back, stopped by to walk deep into a forest to visit the Mud volcano. It was still burning hot with bubbles and we were standing on top of it. Wow. Next day, we first went to a Botanical garden and then to one of the islands famous for viewing underwater life- corals. We are not allowed to litter any garbage there. We pay security amount for each plastic bottle we take and get it back when we show them; any one missing, you are fined. I swam in the Bay of Bengal (the divers took me, of course, I am not a swimmer) and saw so many beautiful fishes and corals. Such clean water, I doubted if I am in India.
Well, I can go on and on. Still the second part of my journey, South India, is left. But enough heavy dose for all of you.