Me and My small world

All Alone

2011-07-22T13:07:00.002+05:30

What all things a person generally do alone? The first thing that strikes my mind about doing something alone is bathing. I don't know why this silly thing of bathing came first, but that's true isn't it. Of course we never allow anyone to be with us inside the four white walls of the bathroom, not even a peep through the hole :). Then I thought of sleeping. No matter even if you sleep with hundreds of people around you, once you had closed your eyes, no one except your mind comes with you. This could be because your brain sleeps and does not know who you are with when you sleep. What else most of us do alone? Before proceeding further, by the word - alone - I mean you are not accessible to some living soul near you whom you know. We do lots of things alone without getting into the fact that it is being done all by ourselves. Such instances would be reading a book. I have never seen a book read by more than one person at the same time. Even in Group Study, we do have our own brain understanding the concept all alone in a corner. And as well said in a proverb - too many hands spoil the broth - Cooking done by a single chef is tasty comparitively. Though the benefits of group work has got more value, nevertheless work done singlehandedly gives you more exposure as well as has its own values. We do shopping alone and I find many people around who have come for shopping all by themselves and they seem to enjoy it just like me. Though we do have our confusions in the final selection, but we get time to ourselves to look around without wanting our dear ones to wait outside the trial rooms when they are just not interested in our madness. Travelling alone - I have done this many times from the time when I had to reach home from college. Usually sleep engulfs me or music fills my void or a novel would keep my eyes focussed. A recent pastime of mine is people watching without being noticed that I am watching them. It is a good time pass and it does teach me many things out of which the first would be patience and to enjoy the calmness amidst the rushy life. I have heard from my mom about one of her favourite author{Forgot his name :P Sorry mom} who just keeps on travelling and travelling and he has gained enormous knowledge out of it and great happiness. The point to be noted is that he travels alone. Inspired by him, my mom has many times wanted to just put on a bag and step out of the home and never come back for a year atleast. But the hard and the compelling truth has somehow stopped her as well as me. What is easy for someone we see is not that easy for ourselves. Many have asked me how do u pass time with a novel and sitting all alone in your room. Even I have somethings which I can't do easily all alone, which is EATING.

I can cook food for myself any number of dishes. Even last week I prepared 4 varieties of dish for lunch just for me. When I said this to mom, the first question she asked me was - "To whom have you cooked all this for". Cooking food alone is not a problem. The thought of eating the prepared food alone just kicks my mind out of nowhere. Today for the first time, I had tried preparing Upma. I had missed adding the salt owing to the time missed when Mom had said salt in the recipe procedure. But the hunger overtook the taste buds and finished the upma. Where was I? - Ya eating alone. Staring at open space with a plate filled with food in hand, checking out the wall clock so many times in between the chewings, thinking how fast the food can be gobbled - this is all quite different but not that difficult. The idiot box gives company when I have the presence of mind to switch it on rather than looking at the mirage of myself in the black screen. The same presence of mind to open the book inside the bag and start reading it came a little late while sharing the table with a stranger in the food court of a shopping complex. I was atleast checking out the kids and the families around me to pass time. The poor lady who sat opposite me just could not lift her eyes from her plate and I could feel exactly what she felt at that time. But something stopped me from striking a conversation with her. Also I had at that time almost done with my lunch and left the place wishing that she too have a good lone lunch.

Similar instances of eating alone happen when your lunch partner in office is on leave and then you are left either to join someone out of the ordinary day. I wonder how some persons enjoy having their food alone daily though they do have choices to join someone. I have personally watched one guy in my office who regularly eat alone listening to news in the idiot box. I guess I had to take a lesson from him how to enjoy doing that. I don't have any hard feelings in doing this eating thing without anyone's company, neither do I always need someone around when my stomach growls. But the art of enjoying it - I got to find out the mystery soon, which I will. Happy weekend to all !!

Women and Dress

2011-06-27T11:42:00.002+05:30

Debates, discussions, arguments, conclusions are good way to know one person's thoughts and ideals and they are always healthy time pass for brain too. Once while talking to a close friend, there arose a question from him - why does women dress provocatively? He was trying to get answers and justification for this act of women. I started giving him logical reasons for this by initiating that it is her wish to dress in such a way. He was not convinced. Then I too started digging deep down in my brain asking myself why do I dress the way I dress? Do I provocate or invite looks when I pass by? Am I sending wrong notions to men around me by the way of dressing? The answers to all these questions convinced me but not my friend. He is still in search for his answers. I had promised that I would help him may be after reading this blog lets see if his logically bound brain has stopped searching.

Comfortness - The level of comfortness is the first criteria I look in a dress when I wear it. Apart from my taste, the comfort zone today is decided by people around me. It is the same for any women. When she buys a new dress, she checks if she looks pretty in that to her own eyes. Her taste comes first. Her close circle of people comes next, whose opinion she matters most. I am very sure many girls would have discarded buying a dress though liked by her very much, just because of the fact that she gives more importance to her peer's taste. I don't say this wrong because in turn when people around her are happy she is more happy. But this logic does not suit always. May be for a dress, she can choose other's opinions, coz it is just a dress. There are other things/situations where my decision takes the final upper hand to make me happy rather than the opinion of people close to me.

Next to comfortness, the climate also decides what I wear. In a cold country, I cannot wear clothes that barely cover me up. Also in a sultry atmosphere like chennai, I cannot always roam clad up in a 6 yard saree or the completely covered Salwar with dupatta. The theme of the place is another factor - I avoid wearing jean when I go to temple{where I rarely go} not because I see it inappropriate but for the simple reason that still in India there are few traditional conservative sect of people who do not allow people in jeans to enter the temple premises and I wish not to be left alone outside guarding the sandals. Similarly there are places where wearing western attire seems more appropriate to me.

Coming to wearing revealing/provacative dresses - Who defines a dress to be revealing/provacative? A chudithar{mind it with dupatta} is OK, a neatly pinned up saree is fine, loosely fit clothes are perfectly good - what else a burqua covering up the entire body is 100% covered. On the other hand, a skin hugging t-shirt is not OK, tightly fitted jean is not OK, deep neck Salwar is a strict no - no, a glassy transparent saree - omg no way - that is a big sin. If she goes ahead doing it, she will be looked down like a Slut. She has invited deep trouble all to herself as prying eyes are upon her from all directions in all places wherever she goes. No matter if that is her taste and these clothes are more comfortable than anything she wears. This does not mean that she can be the victim for crimes. And anyone can whistle at her and pass comments and try to come in her private space. How can I forget those cruel eyes which can scan and rape a girl just by their looks? Who gave them those rights? Who has taught them that if a girl dress up that way, she is a free museum article to be looked? Forget about looking - no women is going to be melted when you look at her the normal way you see anything. Why going beyond limits? Why making her uncomfortable? Dress is a dress, thats all. If she wishes to close her skin, let her do it. If she does not wish, let her do that also. Let her define her own level of decent dressing.

It has been taught and deeply rooted in the minds of everyone that men and women are not equal and there are always different laws for both the gender and the fairer sex ends up having the strict rules ever designed. The attitude and the look has to be changed. Right from the young age why are not everyone taught that men and women are equal and every one needs the same level of respect and the rules. In Indian Peak summer, a man can dress up in shorts and sleeveless but why not women can do the same? She does not go out bare body, she know the level of decency in dressing. When he wears a low waist jean and a t shirt reaching his hips, he is a cool guy but when she wears something in the no - no list, she is called a slut, she is a dark spot in the country which defines culture and she has forgetten all the traditions. I feel like uttering all the bad words I know at this point of time. But for the sake of not making my blog a place for garbage, I shall restrict my language.

Can the Slut walk happening all over the world started first in Canada and then in major cities like New york, London, Sydney and soon to happen in Delhi brings a change in the way this issue is looked? To give a small intro to those who are not aware of the Slut Walk - a cop in Toronto gave a statement saying that women should be more careful in dressing to avoid the unnecessary crimes happening against them. To show their opposition and to bring awareness that attire should not be deciding factor, women all over the world have joined in this Walk in which they wear the so called revealing and provacative dress. In a week's time, curses started blowing towards the canadian cop and heated arguments why is the walk named Slut Walk? Is the walk needed? What is the use of this? Is there going to be a change? As far as my perception, of course there will be a change. Nothing turns up in a day's time. Revolutions and oppositions like this alone can let others know that something wrong/unjust is happening to the fairer sect of the society. Leave out joining this cause, let us atleast be aware of such incidents and let us take an initiative starting from our home to teach the young boys to give due respect and equality to girls no matter what they wear. Let the dress be not the deciding factor for a women's safety.

3 in one

2011-06-09T11:10:00.001+05:30

Its been a long time, that I have written about my books. This time it is quite a complexity to write about each one of it. So here it is 3 in one. All three of them were specimens on their own context. The first one is by Michael crichton where he talks about The Terminal Man. A computer genius getting unusually violent at times is diagnosed to be psychiatrically sick by a team of expert doctors. As a part of treatment, they implant a machine inside the man's brain which according to their 21 rhesus monkeys shoud counter attack the seizures making him violent. The genius becomes a man-machine. With the additional brain implanted in his body, he starts to control his brain. He begins enjoying the counter attack given by the machine involuntarily and voluntarily tries to achieve that pleasure by invoking seizures at regular intervals. He slowly moves towards acting like a psychopath who can kill anyone at his sight when he is being attacked. Does the doctor team help him recovering from this wierd scenario or will they accept their defeat? 250 pages of pure science and pure technology needed my brain to be fully concentrated on the novel and nothing else. A few times, I had closed the book with so much confusion. I appreciate that Crichton enriches with me so much information and particularities related to human physiology and anatomy, but then my brain has a limit especially after a tiring day in office. It was quite challenging for me to get into myself what the author has intended to say. In that way I would say I quite enjoyed the book and would definitely read many of such genres of books.

The second novel was started immediately after Crichton in order to have a light read. It was a short story kinds of some 50 pages. 3 months back I was struggling so much to read a few pages in tamil, but that day I finished that 50 pages in 30 minutes. The novel is about and named Jothi - a twenty something women who is so happy about her life and was so excited about her marriage found dead in her room on the previous night of her marriage. You may be thinking that the novel is about to find whether it is suicide or murder? That is what not said in the story. You may ask what else is about? The author just tells the 2 possibilities about her death and gives reason for 2 possibilities as well. Which one should I take and calms down my thinking? Wrong book at the wrong time was mind boggling and too much after a totally science fiction novel. Was a different experience altogether.

The recent one is Eppothum Pean("Always Women"). I tried so much not to read this book. Stories with sad ending never attract me yet happened to finish the novel in 3 nights. When in bookshop only, Mom and me found out that there will not be any pleasantness in this read. But the author's magic and the title's name was like magnetic power and it pulled me. Thankfully it didnot suck me inside it like a black hole. I was cautious that I should not get disturbed by this novel and I succeeded as well. It is as usual about the women's sufferings and the numerous conditions put upon her life in every stage of her life. I am not sure if the things said in the novel still happens in this century because I found many things irrelavant to my present and in the world around me. I am grateful to people who made my world irrelavant to things happening like this in each and every corner of the world. I have nothing more to say and not much to quote from the novel. One thing alone I wonder about is how come as a man, the author could go this deep inside a women's mind and write exactly what she feels? Not once or twice but everytime every minute what the protagonist thinks is said from the mind of the author though inspite of being a man was 100% right and crystal clear. It is always natural that when a women narrator tells about women, you get more intimate towards the character rather than when the same is said by the opposite sex. But in this novel, Sujatha Rangarajan managed to tell more minute details about the XX chromosome much better than anyone whom I read till date. Thats where the success of the novel lies even after 25 years.

I have finished the En Iniya Iyandira(My lovely Robo) novel as well in the past weeks in office :P. So the title of the blog is quite wrong. Loved the Juno Dog like anyone who have read it. Nothing more is needed if a pet like that is gifted. Got only 2 more books left to read. Will grab some more books this weekend or join the library soon :). My weekend has already started and wish all my readers too a soon and a happy joyful weekend. Wish I have something to tell on Sunday morning to the ever intriguing question - How was the weekend?

B'day

2011-05-25T12:33:00.001+05:30

Yet another year goes by in the birthday calendar for me. I am here far away from family yet enjoying the special day of my life just the way how I used to always. Started this habit of wearing saree to office on birthdays from the past 2 years and managed to do it this time as well - Thanks to mom, uncle and Dubai Postal Service :) Usually when I open my notepad and think to write a blog, words keep flowing and I don't stop unless someone in the next desk complains of the repeated key strokes made in the keyboard. But today I feel little different - I don't have anything to say - nothing to complain as well. Is it a good sign that I stopped thinking so much or is it that I am hiding something? :P

One good thing I am and I have started doing from this birthday is I am going to put aside a few bucks from my pocket every month for charity. I should thank my buddy who celebrates his birthday with me for inspiring me to do this. Happy Birthday to you as well young man. Ok chalo I shall tell you all about the birthdays I celebrated all this 25 years of my life. I don't think when I turned one, there was this big hush and party bustle. So my first 3 - 5 birthdays should be like any other days in year. All the 14 years of school life, never had been a year when I went to school celebrating the day. I have many times requested mom that I would celebrate 5 days later which is June 1st so that I need not wear the regular uniform and I can give sweets to all and get a birthday song sung by the whole class. But as you all know, mom is strict and has somehow all times, has deceived me well :) But then being simple is the mantra in our home and I don't have a single regret for it. I was never fond of birthday gifts and parties. So it didnot made any much difference.

There were some years I remember when I used to celebrate at my aunt's place. My aunt had that time owned a bakery and she would order for me a special cake. I would be so excited to check out how my birthday cake is made. I remember standing inside the dark oven place where the baker would be very neatly icing my cake :) Nice to see my own cake baked and getting ready for me na. Once or twice I celebrated in my granny's place where my uncle make sure that I have my best day. Later when in college, the usual bumps session and the surprise thrown by friends in hostel made my day. I remember the super surprise water balloon birthday which my cousin arranged for me 4 years back. With eyes closed, I was taken into a room decorated well and darkly lit. Once I entered, some 4 souls started hitting me with water balloons and i was like screaming and shouting. That was a lovely birthday I had of all times. Thank you Akshaya dear :)) and She gave me on that day a cute cute teddy - my tuffy which I miss so much today.

Stories and histories apart, I am thankful to all who has made my birthdays till today wonderful and will be always be close to my heart. Thank you guys. And one more thing - my gift to the girl who is celebrating her silver jubilee birthday is this.

Angel in my life

2011-05-08T19:05:00.003+05:30

People who read my blog and who know me personally are well aware how close I am to my mom and the priority I give to her in my life. What other day would be most appropriate than today to express my gratitude to my mom and to let myself reminded how much gifted I am. I am sure everyone have their own kind of bond with their mothers. But very few like me can hold every type of relationship with a single person. Yes - name any relation - friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister, kid, companion, shopping mate, guide, teacher, philosopher, enemy, stranger - name anything and I see that in my mom. She is everything to me many a times and I am what I am today because of her. Wish you a very happy happy Mother's day mummy. Not alone on this day, but I would like to wish and thank you all days of all years for being the way you are.

You have always been my inspiration and will remain to be. You had pulled out my maximum strength and let myself know about my own capabilities. The trust of yours alone had taken me to great heights. Your expectations upon me have been the positive vibrant for me always. The never give up attitude of yours in fighting for a beautiful life for your kids - I can never make people understand that fight with my silly words. But I can feel that and I understand that completely. A small thank you would never be enough for all that sacrifice and for all that toil. Let me just make u feel proud today by letting you know how much I owe you and what difference you had brought in me through this blogpost.

I remember the days when I recite my lessons to you from the first page to the last page. If I said something wrong, I wish to recite it again from the first so that I finish it error-free and you used to be so patient enough to listen to it any number of times. I look up to your patience always. And the nights when you used to sit beside me with pin drop silence at home not to disturb my studies and the early morning wake up when I had to attend my extra curricular classes. Never had been a day missed by you to wake me up at the right time - be it when I was a kid, when I was doing my schooling, when I was in college and even today - more than my alarm I trust you. Even after well planning, Akka and I never get to sneak silently out of the room in our childhood. Though your eyes used to be closed and we think you were sleeping, but you are always awake in your brain for us.

It was your continued effort,care and love that made my immune system a little stronger than I was earlier. How much I have troubled you by falling sick every week and you got to carry me every saturday to hospital and the never stopping puking of me. I am really sorry mom - I didnot know what to do that day to keep myself healthy. And how funny I was to keep nagging you every day with my 7 o clock crying and telling you some 100 times a day that its boring. The change today you had brought me - I am healthy enough to take care of myself as well as you :) and It is now you who has turned to tell me that it is boring :)

The way I look today as a matured women - my features and my complexion - I am so proud to resemble you. I feel more than happy, when someone tells me that I am a twin of my mother, though it s not true 100%. I miss those night outs we used to do talking about everything under the sky. Usually the talks start with the family issues then it just moves to the nature of men around us, slowly to next level of feminism. Our topics of talk had touched many a times about communism, socialism, capitalism, globalization, Local, Indian and world politics, History of India, History of world, civilizations, religion, epics, literature, art, books, architecture, debates, reviews, singers, auteurs, artists, writers, singers and of course romance. What have we missed talking about mom?

Over a period of time we both have both acquired similar taste in many aspects - be it listening to Vani jayaram's song, or watching KB's movie some 20th time, or shopping for a beautiful kurta at a minimum price possible or getting tired of people criticizing our way of life or criticizing ourselves and our own actions or gaining enormous energy to roam around doing errands for others in the family or the style of organizing and planning everything we do or striving to be independent and self dependant at any cost or crying and consoling each other thinking about our lives or laughing madly and enjoying small things around us. We have become quite inseparable over the years.

Apart from the books I read, The knowledge I gained from you is countless and you never stop to surprise me by giving me facts and figures about the world. The Wit and the wisdom installed in me by you had redefined the way of my thinking. You are my best as well as my worst critic at times :P. How come you have never felt tired of explaining me the solution to the same problems for which I come to you every now and then. You had always pampering answers to me for everything or atleast you show me the way to find out or at the minimum you be a silent listener to me. And you can never stop your brain thinking about your children. How many times akka and I have asked you to stop living for others even if it was for us and to start living for yourself. You remain the same mom and you can never change and is that nature of you makes you that great?

The vibrant I see you in your eyes whenever I skype call you and the big smile that reach your lips everytime you see and you cuddling me - I wish to get you as my mom every time I get born in this world and get your love the same way I do today. People call me sometimes that I am over pampered but am I mom? I guess no - I have not been taught by you to behave so that you got to reprimand me anytimes. And I shall never give a chance to get upset with me and I will try till my last breath to make you proud enough. I am sure only then I will be cajoled by you like this. :)

And finally It would not be fair enough if I miss to thank my chithi and my periamma who at times have taken the role of my mother and have given me the same care, love and affection. The responsibilities you have taken and the steps volunteered by you both, and being by my side whenever I need support, the motherly touch and the concern for me - I am grateful to you both as well. Neither me nor my mother can repay for what you have done to us. Wish you both a very happy Mother's day. Thanks for being there always for me.

Memories to Cherish - Part 4

2011-05-05T14:51:00.003+05:30

Its been quite a while that I recollected my wonderful memories. Today I have this small piece of memory little alive in my grey cells and I am going to make it eternal by giving it a shape. There are lots of games played nowadays by kids amongst which most of them are one or the other way related to the gadgets like playstation, videogames etc. But when I was a kid we never had great knowledge about these gaming consoles and yet we had so many options to pass our time.

The most favourite and the top one which I have played is the cooking game. We hold small sizes of cooking dishes made of handmade clay/wood/steel painted beautifully. The miniature vessels range from a dummy stove, cooking pots, Idly cooker, serving plates, spoons and almost a replica of many things in our Live Kitchen. There is two variety in this game - one is to use the edible products like sugar, salt, dal, rice which are stolen from mother's kitchen without her knowledge. And the other is when the chance of stealing fails, we opt to go for the easily available sand and clay :). Especially when it is more planned and played by experts like my cousins in my maternal granny's home, we used to play with the edible stuff and I remember once we prepared channa dal idly and it tasted so yummy. We also used to make our own clay pots/vessels by mixing right amount of water to the clay, knead it well, then give a proper shape, dry it, then reheat it. Those vessels will be prepared on the first day of summer vacation and they will last for 1 month :). There was a lot of commotion one day in the backyard and all the uncles gathered and scolded us kids like anything since we had used real fire to cook using grass and sticks and there caught a little fire in the bushes and everyone had to run away from the spot. That ended our little adventure with cooking using fire and after that everytime we used to play without fire and water. The imagination alone had driven us to play the game for hours together.

I lived as a part of a big joint family with my grandparents and my uncles till my high school. Our house was quite big and there is a small terrace in the first floor and we had walls left to us to scribble anything to our wish. Every evening back home after school and of course only after our eating/homework sessions{mom is strict} we used to come to this terrace and simulate the school environment at home. The simulation has a variation - we become the teachers and the students of our class are just plain imaginative souls wandering here and there. There are so many walls and each of us have our own green boards{the walls were painted green}. We decorate our board with colour chalks and start teaching. Our parents never say no to this game alone, coz in due course of this game we would have revised our lessons twice :). When there were lots of cousins at home, the younger ones become the students and we tend to get prizes/school trips/gifts from our elder cousins when we excel ourselves in the classroom. My maternal granny's home atmosphere is different. They have painted one wall in their home - black and it is dedicated till today for the teaching game for all the kids to come :) to use as a black board. Next time I visit my granny's home I should take a snap of this corridor, where I had spent hours together. I remember we had our separate note books, homeworks for this home-school sessions. What a wonderful time they were. The images of them are still etched and I am sure it will be in all my cousin's memories. Thank you so much guys for giving me a great childhood.

And the next in the list is the one which I hate to play I got to be a part of it since I will not be left alone by my playmates. It is the wedding game and we kids used to decorate ourselves and recreate the wedding scenario using bedsheets and shawls. I will be the scape goat most of the times and be made the bride and my groom used to be a little younger to me. What a great embarassment that day for both of us to play that game. I remember, we both used to cry and try to run away somewhere whenever this game is played. It brings me a sweet smile today recollecting all of them now. I didnot have great interest in this game, So I had purposefully deleted many memories of it long back from my brain. :p

There are lots other indoor games which I used to play with my aunt,uncles and cousins and to name a few of them - we used to play with a rectangular board(pallanguzhi) with cowry shells, Board games - snake and ladder, 8X8 Ashtapada, Bank, Monopoly. We also used to play so many word games which will enrich our vocabulary and refresh our memory. Antakshari and Dumb Sharats were inevitable in family gatherings and during relaxed weekends.

How could I forget the ever entertaining card games which used to extend for hours together round after round. I have played cards with so many so many relations including my granny who used to be our favourite partner and she used to play it with so much concentration that she ends up winning many times. Today she has become so old, that sometimes she forgets the tricks of the game. The varieties of card games improved with age and till date long distance journeys never get complete without them. On top of it, mom also used to give me company in card games sometimes when I am alone at home. Yes we both play cards - just the 2 of us. But I was never been allowed to be a part of the game when my uncles used to play with real money. Even today if I call my uncles for a game with money, I am sure they will say that I have not grown up to do so. :))). The cheatings done while playing and the fights following it -- Gosh they were just awesome and I would love to go back once to that day and play it again.

Apart from these, at school, just like any other kid - I had also played hide&seek, running and catching, colour catch, koko and other varieties of running and falling over one another in the process of catching. I was never a sports girl and I knew nothing of serious sports and I am just lucky enough not to arrive last in the running race. So my pastime never included any physical work like playing cricket,football etc but mostly the ones which I said above. Also even as a kid, I could never stay in the sun and I have avoided many times playing with my sister who is exactly the opposite of me and love to enjoy the sun's rays on her skin. Rest apart, these memories today took me to those days of unlimited entertainment and pure fun. I am sure each and every one of you would have your own stories like this to share. Don't let those thoughts get fade away - you will definitely have a great time to share them with your kids and grandkids. Let me also know which one favoured your list.

Heads Win Tails Loss

2011-04-17T03:45:00.003+05:30

She has tossed the coin thrice. It appeared head to her always from where she saw it getting tossed. It was very clear to her that she will never get a tail. That was the confidence level she had in herself. The first time, the coin went up so high so high that when it came down, all of a sudden the swirl happened. There she saw the tail for the first time. The expectations were shattered and the confidence and trust built upon were broken down. Self pity and guiltyness engulfed her. She gave herself to loneliness and calmness. She wished her eyes become dry some point of time and she wished her heart stops beating. She shut herself within a room closed by an iron door with many locks locked multiple times from inside as well as from outside. The keys were safely hidden in a deep forest. She never wished it to be opened anytime. Seeing the tail on the coin was so touch because it has fallen from a great height. Also the time gap between the coin tossing and the coin result was huge, that she had totally forgetten that she had tossed a coin and was waiting for it.

Thus went the days of closed doors where no body was given permission to enter. The heart became cold and the brain became the super rules. Years went by and one day the door got opened? When was the door open? and who found the keys to the door. It was her who secretely said the place of the key. Not only did she help finding the key but also opened it from inside. The doors opened, the breeze started flowing in. There were rains pouring, there were bright sunny days and there were even cold winter. She enjoyed each and every climate in that year. But with always a fear within herself. The room was lit up once again with the beautiful sunshine coming inside through the door. Happiness knew no bound and was waiting to spread each and every corner of the room. She - the owner of the room could not believe if it was real or an illusion. She tossed the coin once again and again wished it to be head. But nopes - it was tail again. THe person who found the key didnot find it to release her from the closed door, but instead to hide it again inside the deep sea to which she herself is not accessible. How funny the second chance has slipped away from her hands. She was yet again fooled. The culprit and the cruel soul has played the game against the poor girl and she was deceived not by the coin this time, but by the bloody scoundrel. She can neither turn the coin upside down nor hit the deceiver. She ran far away and she kept running in search of the key. She didnot find it but in her journey she found some isolation. She found peace within herself. She stopped believing in fantasy and she stopped waiting for her dreams come true. Rather she stopped dreaming. She woke up from her dreamland and she feared to return back once again. She learnt the reality thoroughly not to fall again for illusion.

But did it end there? No the heart of hers - ever beating one failed to accept the truth. Her heart wanted to change her destiny. She wanted to change the fate written for her. Her emotional decisions though proved wrong twice she could not stop yearning for the head to appear in the coin. She got prepared to toss the coin third time. Again with her experience, before tossing the coin, she was very sure that she is not going to be deceived and also made sure that she got her result immediately. She didnot want the coin to go very high up in the sky. One more beauty of the third time tossing is before she came to know the result of the coin, she was given a hint that she is going to loss the game. Did she run away from the place before knowing the result? Nopes she wanted the pain to intrude her, coz she is now used to the pain. She could not live without pain. She still had the small belief that what if it turns to be a head? what if luck had favoured her? what if the doors can be opened again? The coin went high up there and it didnot make her wait for long time. She waited every micro second wishing for the head to appear. At the same time, she knew very well that her coin will never return a head. May be she has started to bet upon the tail. And she was ready to accept the tail also - be it anything. Walking with a coin(tail) by her side is better than walking alone. This made her to toss the coin confidently. And you know what happened - the coin was as usual tail and it didnot stop there, the coin was stolen from her. She was not lucky enough to keep the coin as a souvenir. She cannot find solace with the coin. She would be more than more than happy if she was allowed to hold the coin for sometime, though she has to give the coin away someday. But no even that does not happen. That is against what is written for her. She is destined not to reach the coin - for that matter not to touch the coin even. She was just said the result that it was a TAIL.

Later she found that the coin she tossed always had tails on both sides. What a cruelty? She has tossed the wrong coin every time. Again - the same circle of crying, hiding herself within darkness and what not. One thing has happened strange this time - her ever right thinking brain has frozen today. As usual her heart was crying and even the brain was not able to take control of the situation thus leading her to a state of blankness.

Will she find a coin again to toss? And will she get a head? Firstly even if she is given a coin - will she believe the coin has 2 sides? And of course will she participate next time in the game of tossing? I don't think that she will have guts to face the game. Not because she does not want to win the game but for the fear of losing again. The third time the coin was stolen. Next time she herself should not be stolen to unreturnable land. Let her be given strength to dwell in her own unlucky lonely land without having hopes or expectations. Let her not be disturbed by anything happening around her and her heart cry till the end it can and let her brain be frozen for months to come. I am not sure she will come back and recover from the loss but I am very sure that this is all nothing but the period of repentance for something very cruel she has done. The sin she has done and the curse she has got upon her will never go coz that is her destiny.

தமிழில் என் முதல் பதிவு

2011-04-14T23:48:00.002+05:30

நான் பலரிடம் கேட்க நினைக்கும் கேள்வி இது - நீங்கள் எந்த மொழியில் சிந்திக்கிறீர்கள் ? ஒவ்வொருவரும் தங்கள் தாய் மொழியில் தான் 90 சதவீதம் சிந்திக்கிறார்கள் என்று ஒரு கருத்து உண்டு . ஆனால் நான் பாதி நேரம் என்னுடைய தாய் மொழியில்லாத ஆங்கிலத்தில் தான் சிந்திப்பேன் . ஏன் அப்படி என்ற கேள்விக்கு என்னிடம் பதில் கிடையாது . மீதி பாதி நேரம் என் தாய் மொழியிலும் சிந்திக்கிறேன். என்னைப் பொருத்த வரைக்கும் அது போதும் . எந்த மொழியில் சிந்தித்தால் என்ன ? சிந்தனை நன்றாக இருக்கும் வரை . என்னுடைய தமிழ் உச்சரிப்பைக் கேட்டு எத்தனையோ பேர் என்னை கிண்டல் செய்ததுண்டு ; ஏன், நான் தமிழில் தான் பேசுகிறேனா என்று கூட கேட்டதுண்டு . அப்படி கேலி செய்த சிலர் நான் ஆங்கிலதில் நன்றாக பேசுகிறேன் என்று சொல்லுவது உண்டு . எது எப்படி ஆக இருந்தாலும் சரி - நான் தமிழில் எழுத காரணம் , என்னால் எந்த மொழியிலும் என்னுடைய கருத்துக்களை சொல்ல முடியும் என்பதை எனக்கு நானே சொல்லிகொள்வதற்கு தான் . தமிழில் நான் எழுதும் போது தான் தெரிகிறது , இந்த மொழியில் நான் எவ்வளவு பின்தங்கி இருக்கிறேன் என்பது . என் தாய் மொழியில் நான் எழுத ஆங்கில எழுத்தக்களைப் பயன் படுத்த வேண்டி இருக்கிறது . அதற்கு அப்புறம் , ஏதோ ஒரு மொழி மாற்று கருவியின் துணைக் கொண்டு தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்குக் கொண்டு வருகிறேன் . இதில் எத்தனை எழுத்துப் பிழை , எத்தனை சொற் பிழை !! என்னுடைய இந்த புதிய முயற்சியைப் படிக்கும் அனைவருக்கும் எனது சிறு வேண்டுகோள் - என் பிழைகளை மன்னித்து , அதைத் திருத்தி கொள்ள எனக்கு கண்டிப்பாக உதவ வேண்டும் என்பது தான் .

சரி இன்று நான் எழுத போவது என்ன ? நான் படித்த தமிழ் புத்தகங்களைப் பற்றி . கடந்த 1 வாரத்தில் நான் 2 தமிழ் புதினங்களைப் படித்து முடித்து விட்டேன். தமிழில் வாசிப்பது இது முதல் முறை அல்ல! ஏற்கனவே ஒரு முறை வீட்டில் பொழுது போகாமல் இருந்த பொது அம்மாவின் புத்தகங்களில் இருந்து - யாரும் யாருடனும் இல்லை என்ற அற்புதமான படைப்பை ரசித்திருக்கிறேன் . நடந்து முடிந்த புத்தக கண் காட்சியில் புகழ் பெற்ற தமிழ் எழுத்தாளர் சுஜாதாவின் புத்தகங்கள் சிலவற்றை வாங்கினேன் . இங்கு துபாய் வரை அதை சுமந்து வந்திருப்பது வீணாகவே இல்லை. அதில் ஒன்று - பெண் இயந்திரம் , மற்றொன்று - நில்லுங்கள் ராஜாவே . அவரது எழுத்தை பற்றியோ , இல்லது அவரது புலமை பற்றியோ பேச எனக்கு வயதும் கிடையாது அனுபவமும் பத்து . நான் ரசித்ததை மட்டும் இங்கே பதிவிட விரும்பிகிறேன்.

பெண் இயந்திரம் :
இந்த புத்தகம் வெளி வந்து ஏறக்குறைய 25 வருடங்கள் இருக்கும் என்று நினைக்கிறன் . ஆனால் அன்றைக்கு நடந்த அதே சம்பவங்கள் இன்றும் பல பெண்களின் வாழ்கையில் நடக்கிறது என்று நினைக்கும் பொது என்னால் இந்த உலகத்தில் மாற்றம் என்பது நடக்கிறது என்று நம்ப முடியவில்லை. எத்தனை நாள் தான் இந்த பெண்ணின் வாழ்கை போராட்டத்தை பற்றி எழுத்தாளர்கள் எழுதினாலும் , அவள் படும் பாட்டை சொல்ல இந்த நூற்றாண்டு மட்டும் அல்ல ஆயிரம் நூற்றாண்டும் போதாது என்பது தான் நிஜம் . இயந்திரமாக மாற்றப்படும் பெண் தன்னுடைய வாழ்கையை தானே செதுகவது , அதில் அவள் நேரிடும் தடன்கங்கள் எல்லாத்தையும் சுஜாதா அவர்கள் உணர்வு பூர்வமாக நமக்கு தந்திருக்கிறார் . கடையின் இறுதி வரிகளை படிக்கும் பொது , என் கண்களில் கண்ணீர் வர விலை என்றாலும் , என் மனதால் நான் அழுதேன் . ஒரு நாள் முழுதும் மனம் மிகவும் அலை பாய்ந்தது . சோகத்தில் அம்மாவிடம் புலம்பினேன் , பிறகு எப்போதும் போல இதுவும் கடந்து போகும் என்று மனதை தேதி கொண்டு அடுத்த புத்தகத்தை எடுத்தேன் .

நில்லுங்கள் ராஜாவே :
இந்த புத்தகத்தை படிக்க எனக்கு ஏறக்குறைய 3 நாட்கள் ஆனது -- நேரங்களில் சொல்ல வேண்டும் ஆனால் 3 மணி நேரம் . தமிழில் நான் படிக்கும் மூன்றாவது புத்தகம் இது . இந்த வேகத்தில் படித்தேன் என்றான் , சுஜாதாவின் எழுத்து எனக்கு மிகவும் பழக்கப்பட்ட எழுத்து என்று தான் சொல்ல வேண்டும் . இன்று ஆங்கில கதைகளை படிக்கும் போது கூட நான் அகராதியை பயன் படுத்துவது இல்லை . ஆனால் சுஜாதா பயன் படுத்தும் ஓரிரு ஆங்கில வார்த்தைகளை நான் புரிந்து கொள்ள அகராதியை தேடுகிறேன் . ஒரு மனோதத்துவ கதை இது - ஒரு மனிதனை யாராலும் அடையாளம் கண்டு கொள்ள முடியவில்லை . தன்னை தான் என்று அவன் நிரூபிக்க அவனிடம் ஒரு ஆதாரமும் இல்லை . அதை தேடி அலைகிறான் . அவன் சொல்வது பொய் என்பதற்கு ஆதாரம் இல்லை . அவன் நிஜம் சொல்கிறான் என்றால் அதை நம்ப யாரும் இல்லை . அவனை பைத்தியம் இல்லை என்று மருத்துவர் சான்றிதழ் கொடுத்து விடுகிறார் . ஆனால் அவருக்கு ஏன் இவன் இப்படி நடந்து கொள்கிறான் என்று ஒரு சந்தேகம் எழுகிறது . சுஜாதாவின் புகழ் - கணேஷ் வசந்த் இருவரையும் மருத்துவர் கூப்பிட்டு விடுகிறார். இந்த முடிச்சை அவிழ்க்க முயலும் போது , திடுக்கிடும் ஒரு தகவல் தெரிகிறது . கடைசியில் அவன் தனது அடையாளத்தை பெற்றானா ? மற்றும் எழும் பல கேள்விகளுக்கு எளிதில் புரியும் வாறு , மிகவும் யதார்தக்மாக பதில் சொல்லிருக்கிறார் சுஜாதா. படித்து முடிக்கும் பொது மனதில் ஒரு திருப்தி . ஆனால் நேரம் தான் மிகவும் ஆகி விட்டது . தூங்க வேண்டும் . காலையில் அலுவலகத்திற்கும் செல்ல வேண்டும் . அதனால நேற்று இரவு கதையை மீண்டும் மனதில் ஓட்டி பார்க்க முடியவில்லை . என்றும் என் நினைவில் இருக்க இன்று எழுதி விட்டேன் என்னுடைய இந்த வலைபக்கத்தில்.
இத மாதிரி நிறைய படிக்க வேண்டும் . நிறைய தெரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்ற இச்சையுடன் எனது முதல் தமிழ் முயற்சியை இத்துடன் நிறுத்தி கொள்கிறேன் . எப்படி இருக்கிறது என்று படிப்பவர்கள் தான் சொல்ல வேண்டும்.

Missing my way!!

2011-04-13T13:48:00.005+05:30

Today for the second time, I got delayed by an hour to reach my destined place in Dubai.

The first time was on my first day in Dubai in the evening when I had to return back to my hotel from office. First day morning was smooth. I had a few people known to me who had kindly directed me how to get to office. So in the evening too I had waited for that kind friend to help me out. Unfortunately I couldnot find her. Neither I had my mobile number activated nor I could do a call to her from anywhere. I had two options infront of me - wait till the person come back or hop into a taxi. The second option looked less time wasting and little exciting. Hence walked out of the office and then waited for the taxi. None of the taxis stopped. I was wondering if I am waiting at the wrong place for the taxis. So I crossed the street and waited at the opposite side. Still none of them stopped. Later on I came to know that the timing when I had waited for the taxi was closing hours for a particular shift. A kind lady at the bus stop advised me to cross the road and go near the Metro station where I the taxis may stop. Ok, so now I need to find where is the Metro station? It was just infront of my office, but I didnot see that the other day. Hence walked walked unnecessarily taking a round about way for 20 minutes and reached the station. Again the same - none of the taxis stopped. It was already 45 minutes from the time I stepped out of office. I was cursing all my stars and was looking dumb in a new land waiting for some soul to pick me up. The kind soul finally reached. Thanking my stars again, I hopped into it and gave him my address. When I had relaxed a bit in the taxi - the next alarm rang. It seems there is so hotels in the same name. What an ill-luck!! I asked him to drop me at the hotel which he knows. I was sure that the two hotels would be of the same management and the hotel staff would help me in reaching my right hotel. My intuition was right and I reached my room after nearly one and half hour from the office, which usually takes just 10 minutes :).

And today it is the second day. I had missed my office bus owing to my extended sleep hours. Instead of taking a taxi, I took the RTA bus which took me on a day of sight seeing in Dubai. I know the shortest route from my home to my office. I am also aware that the RTA buses take a longer route. But today it was too much. The bus stops at all places in both sides of the road {Note both sides coz they take U turns after U turns to let me know what is there in both sides of the road} in all the areas near my home as well as near my office. This way in the morning - I was sight seeing the Consulate offices in Dubai, the unbuilt flyovers, the unopened Metros and so many new roads to office. At the end the surprise was the bus didnot take the final road to my office. Instead it just bypassed it and stopped 2 km away from it. I had to walk all the way back to office and this all took me 1 complete hour of ride in Dubai on a beautiful drizzling morning. Thankfully my mp3player had power and the long trip didn't make my empty stomach to fall sick after all those u-turns. One first thing which brings me smile even after a delayed morning is the beautiful pink & purple flowers laid all along the footpaths in Dubai. The fresh flowers can cheer you up very well plus the sound of small small birds coming from no where. Nature has its own way of bringing peace to your life, only if you wish the Nature to disturb you. Now I am happier if I dont find my route, rather I wish to explore new routes and new paths and experience new and lively days rather than the monotonous way of life.

A twist again!!

2011-04-05T16:48:00.001+05:30

Three months back on the eve of Christmas when I landed on the city of Chennai, I had relaxed so much thinking that my life atleast for the next 1 year is going to be little same and i didnot expect any kind of surprises nor any more expectations from life. Coz I was very sure that expectation will ultimately lead to some or the other slight frustrations. So as usual I was content with what I had got and was happy. There passed one month so well that I got slowly settled down, adjusted to the new office as well as personal atmosphere around me. Then came the knock at my office door giving me an opportunity to travel abroad (UAE), which I had requested some 6 months back in Hyderabad. The excitement and the euphoria in life started again with me packing my bags and leaving the country for the first time.

Preparing to fly across borders happened in a spur of moment. Convincing family and surprising friends were done so fast that I would have definitely missed announcing my departure to many people out there. I hope they don't curse me whom I had missed. I could not recollect now what all I had planned and what all I missed before the travel. The first time travel to International terminal, first time filling up of immigrations forms, the time waited for the visa to get stamped, the midnight flight, the midnight landing on a totally new place, again immigration check, safely cuddling up in an alien land with the relaxation that I landed safely -- gosh the emotions I had gone through - it was just awesome to recollect now after nearly 20 days.

Now I am in this country of Oil in the work front. But I just feel like I am in India - the weather, the resources I get and the comfort with which I commute everyday. There is nothing much a big difference in my life - thanks to the country of comfort. The first thing what my friends had asked about Dubai - How is Dubai? How different is from India? Did you like India? Do you like Dubai more? I tell you all, I love my place - whereever I am. I can make any place comfortable to me. The process of making it comfortable just takes time. May be it took me one month to get peace and settled down in Chennai. Here it took me half a month - that's the difference. The difference and similarities - I shall come up with another post some day, though I don't find much.

I am just convincing myself that any change is better for my monotonous way of life. I met new people, made new friends, getting accustomed to new environment and now wishing for some dormant period and a ever smiling week :).

Happy Surprises on Weekdays

2011-03-02T15:54:00.003+05:30

My days from Monday - Friday usually is a routine just like many others where I go office and after a day's work return home, have home food and sleep after night surfing in the TV/reading a book. But today and yesterday were a bit different than the rest. The reason is I am back in Hyderabad for a official trip and the week is going fantastic till now. Yesterday at 4.pm in the evening, I had this sudden surge and overwhelming desire to hit Coffee day and treat my taste buds with the chocolate dripping brownie. I can't resist myself to such sudden cravings. I rarely feel eating chocolate - and yesterday was one such day. I was fortunate to have my sister giving me company to Coffee day. We ordered that Sizzle Dazzle Brownie and it was just really fire and ice meeting together. The chocolate brownie filled with nuts and the dark steaming sauce dripping in the sizzling plate with a vanilla scoop on the top -- it was mouth watering. I tasted and enjoyed thoroughly each and every spoon of it. I was like over-excited and put a hot spoon of the sauce in my tongue and it burnt my tongue and I can feel the difference in the tongue even after 24 hours of eating that. :) :) After this wonderful desert, ma and my sister had a nice roaming in the craft village near by and the day ended with a finger-licking KFC dinner treat.

Today is more exciting than yesterday and a bit surprising even. Before the surprise, a small recap - I am a small fan of Michael Crichton books. The speed with which his story moves enthralls me. Some years back, when my cousin was clearing his old book shelf, We(me and my sister) had borrowed(read as:need not return) few old books of Crichton, Sheldon. One book is the "Sphere" novel by Crichton. 3 months back, I got hold of the old novel and started reading it on a journey from Secunderabad to Chennai in Charminar Express. Missed the book in the train itself due to my negligence and felt so bad so bad in losing a precious book. It was a wonderful book and I tried searching it almost everywhere I could, in Chennai but with vain. Tried buying it online even, but ended up reading a e book format. The passion to finish the book was so much that I downloaded it to my phone and kept reading whenever I find time Finally, after all these days, today when I was roaming around in Hyderabad, I found this second hand book shop close to our old home. I was damn sure that I will not get the book here too. But to my great surprise - the book was there and that too in a throw away price. I was thanking the book storekeeper so much and smiling the whole time from then. I shall finish the last few pages left soon - may be again in a similar journey from Secunderabad to Chennai 2 days later. Ain't I so lucky today?

People who read my blog might be knowing that Landmark store at Somajiguda in Hyderabad is my favorite place in the city. How can I not go there after coming all the way to Hyderabad. Yes this time I hit the shop and got another new novel about which I would come up with a different post altogether. Wish, my 2 more days in hyderabad go smoothly with more surprises and luck favoring me :)

Street Harassment

2011-03-01T11:44:00.003+05:30

Came across reading about this issue in TBG's blog as well as another link in Facebook. So thought of pouring out my views and my personal experience on this. I wish to find the first person on the world who has given the rights to a guy/who has taken the right himself to harass women on public places. That person has to be crucified. Those who try to misbehave with the fairer sex think themselves as some super heroes and take liberty to enter into the other's personal space. They can't justify their act for any valid reason. Ogling at women in super markets, in parking lots, trying to get their hands upon women in public transport, commenting upon looks while walking on a busy road etc etc - the list could be endless. I am very sure that not even a single women in India is spared from all this.

I remember an incident during my college days when I and my friend were travelling in bus from our college to the main city. We were seated in the front in ladies seat. I was close to the window and my friend close to the aisle. Then there was this guy who tried to misbehave with us. We were quiet for some time to ignore him - no use, then complained to the conductor about him - no use, tried hitting him with our bags - no use, a kind aunty came forward and stood near us after which he could not come close to us. We finally ended up joking within ourselves that even if there is a women doll made to stand in the centre of the bus, they will not stop ogling at it. This happened 4 years back. Why is this still so fresh in my memory?

Another Incident, Once, it was close to 8 in the evening in Hyderabad and it was a holiday and MMTS stations were pretty deserted. I usually get inside the ladies compartment in trains, but since it was late and the train which came didnot have a separate compartment, I got inside the general one. The crowd looked decent except for a drunken fellow who started to show off. The travel was just 15 minutes, but it looked to me as if I am crossing a 15 hour journey and tried to avoid him by moving close to the door. He followed again, but could not cross his limits as I had to alight at my station. Not even a single soul in the train tried to stop him from following me inside the train. I had witnessed this kinds so many times - once a women had removed her sandals and hit a guy so fierce fully since he had misbehaved with her. Another time a friend of mine slapped hard on a person's face which had given a full palm impression on his chin. She ended up having a pain in her hand for
2 days, though.

True, that Counter-attacking persons who violate our privacy is the only way to safe guard ourselves from these road-side romeos. But to how many people shall I go and teach/hit personally? Especially when they are drunken, whatever geetha upadesh, I give him -- its just going to cost me severe. For the fear of these incidents, I stopped using bus transport most of the times. I can carry pepper sprays, compass needles, a umbrella, wear a high heel, appoint a body guard to handle them, but what is the use? Are they going to stop? I feel sick to tell this that some guys in my college{who were engineers with a big NITT tag name} had ogled and passed comments on my MOM in front of me at a college festival. Should those guys be taught what is right/wrong? Or don't have the decency to keep their mouth shut and eyes at the right place?

The issue of harassment is not going to stop unless men are taught the basic sense to respect women and leave her on her own terms. Ignoring them and being un-reactive most of the times had helped me, but not always. If the genetic make of the X chromosome is faulty then I don't know how to deal with it.

Can't a women stay ALONE?

2011-02-25T14:47:00.000+05:30

How do you stay alone in a home? Don't you feel scared? Are you OK to travel alone? Why are these questions asked to single WOMEN in a big city like Chennai? And especially these questions are asked by close family members and a few friends who know a very little of us and the smirky looks given by neighbours. I can understand that it is a matter of concern they try to give us. But I just wish to tell to everyone out there who ask us this question -- We are OK and we are totally totally FINE by ourselves and we do NOT need any kind of sympathy look upon us. Please stop telling us that there are dangers everywhere when we go out alone. We can take care of those dangers and of course we are genuinely aware of them.

But then why are these questions not asked to a MAN? Is it because he is sexually stronger than WOMEN or has every single Men in this country has learnt some kind of defense art? I just despise those people who do this gender biasing even in this century. I have known lots and lots of women who stay alone and who are just enjoying their life. We too want to do the same in our own ways. So please spare me with these silly questions from now on. I guess people out there are just jealous of our freedom and our independence. They try to inflict a kind of guiltyness inside me for which I am just going to give a damn. Next time, when someone try to ask me "Is your mother staying alone when you are out of city? or Are you staying alone when mom not in city?" --- I can appreciate if it is a concern for us but not if it is going to be non-stop nonsense.

We are grown up people who know the good and bad of the city. We know to guard ourselves from expected dangers. We know the best & safest route to take to home. We of course of aware of which transportation is suitable for us. Even if it is for a life totally, we can stay alone and remain single. It is a decision made by us and made only for us. And we make sure that this decision of ours is not going to disturb anyone's life out there.

So come on people, WAKE up -- Please do not intrude into other's privacy. Don't try to act over-smart when you are not supposed to do anything. Stop giving smirking looks at women who live her own life and on her own rules. Treat her the same as you would treat her when she stays with a son/husband. She is in no way less than anybody else just because she has decided not to depend upon anyone. Leave out supporting them, you can atleast be not discouraging to them. You can all think that just by answering everyone why dont I just move on? No I cannot answer every damn soul I come across, coz those questions make my mood off. The very thought of those ignorant questions give me a pathetic look on them. There are few nice people with me who genuinely care about us when we are staying alone. I hope all becomes as matured and understandable as them.

Madras Memoirs - I

2011-02-11T18:20:00.000+05:30

My earlier post about the uneasiness I face to fit in the city I reside had so many comments from a variety of friends. Some even felt that I am so much frustrated in life that I am not able to digest the basic things in India. At the same time a few felt the same way I feel and could match with what I wrote. And a few said that in due course of time, everyone get used to all such things. I tell everyone of them strongly that "Getting Used" is definitely not a solution to any problems. It just makes you weaker. But I agree that fighting against the system is really mad because as an individual you dont match the opponent in this case. What I finally concluded is to enjoy the good things I come across and this post is about those small small happiness which I am going to cherish as memories of Madras.

First thing, I am really really lucky to find a home - a decent 2 BHK very close to my office which is hardly 2 Kms from my door. In my initial days here before buying my Aviator, I used to walk back to home from office with my earphones plugged in and enjoying the breeze of this sea-city. It was amazing to walk alone with just happiness that you are enjoying this moment and thinking of nothing else. And Of course I was the slowest walker in the road in those times :P

The extensive network of railways connecting the corners of the city enthrills me much. Whenever I had to travel, I am relaxed now a days as I know for sure the time take I am going to take to reach the destination. The trains are never delayed here and are more frequent than in hyderabad. I know that Delhi Metro neatness and Mumbai Suburb frequency can't be compared to Chennai local trains, but I am happy with this. The trains keep you away from traffic and also from pollution and I can also travel safely without someone in a close proximity.

I used to hate beaches because everytime I go there, I end up sweating like a pig and returning home with a dark tanned face. But after our last trip to Mahabalipuram my entire view of beaches changed. We had a fantastic time by playing like kids on the sea shore in an isolated beach (fishermen's village). We built our own small sand castles{of course they crashed in the 2nd wave :P} and got us drenched inspite of mom's warnings. I would love to visit that place again sometime and get totally drenched from head to toe. The beach was so neat for a change and there were not many people, other than the fishermen who took so much pain to start a small boat and we saw live fishes being caught from the sea. The blue sky and the blue see captured that day with my eyes will stay alive for years to come.

And the language - I no longer have to interpret everything for my mom here as she is far-versed in Tamil than me. Also as it is my mother tongue I am obviously bound to like this city. I dont know the reasons for this. But as everyone say, many people's thinking language would be their mother tongue. I guess its mine too many a times and I think this would help me to achieve one of my resolutions for this year.

I can travel to my loved ones' home as and when I need. Its just a night travel and even less than that in many cases. The geographical closeness let me travel in weekends and have a nice time. If not in chennai I would not have seen all my loved relations in the same month I got settled in this city. Thanks a lot to Chennai for that.

I am also happy that my mom likes this new change. She is happy and so I am happy. She has got her own space in life and we are trying to make that as comfortable as we can. I wish there is a sequel to this post soon. Till then, happy weekend to all.

The changing face of Metros

2011-01-24T15:45:00.003+05:30

Does the city, where we reside belongs to us and are we entitled to use the term "My" city? I am not sure about this because though this Metro has been a haven to many people, I somehow don't want to be too connected to this city. And I dont want my identity to be related to this place called as CHENNAI in the map of the world. I had come to this place to make a new home for myself and seek peace for my ever-rambling mind. But all I had faced in the last one month is not peace but more tension to my boiling spirit.

As many of you might know by now that I had got recently transferred to Chennai - the land of tamil speaking population, which is also closer in geographical terms to my relatives. I cannot give myself a solid reason now to tell why did I shift here? Me and Mom had a huge discussion for this transfer taking into account the + and - ve aspects of the decision. You will not believe me if i say that we had put down in paper, a comprehensive comparsion chart between Chennai and Hyderabad before the shift. The 3 points which we feared the most was 1. Climate, 2. Traffic and 3. People.

Although the climate hasn't turned worse till now and we havenot travelled anywhere far to struck up in a heavy traffic, we can never be invisible to people around us, who are ready to provoke us when the chance is grabbed. Say it anyone - neighbours who would like to interfere in our daily way of life, auto drivers who charge heavily and speak so rudely, the internet service provider who speak so well in the beginning but end up giving us a wrong bill, the cable TV operator who fail to submit our papers in time, the mobile operator who end up giving us a totally faltu number and never activates a new connection inspite of repeated requests, the 2 wheeler showroom person who doesn't bother to give us full information which we need and the list could be endless if I have to be 100% pessimist.

I am scared that my attitude might change in midst of these kind of people who haven't got the least attitude towards fellow citizens.Leave out the respect, why dont they do their assigned work well? Why does it we got to push them/call them so many times to get our work done. No one whom I said above belong to any government concern where the system expects us to bribe them to do their work. Every damn person belongs to a private concern and everyone out there whom I faced tried to either cheat me or get away easily without doing what is needed.

It is so sad to see the state of how things run in this city. When a person is ready to get fooled, he is sure will be cheated by anyone. You got to be more cautious in getted doomed by these petty criminals. There cannot be a seen a tinge of sincerity in the work they do. But the expectations of them is really high. The basic attitude seems to be wrong somewhere in their minds. If not for a stretch of < 2km everyday each auto driver would not try to charge me different rates for the 1 week. I can understand their economic situation, but do they have to rob me. don't they have any standards to follow?

I guess this is the reason, why many Indians fly away abroad, unable to withstand the lack of honesty in people around them. Does this happen to everyone who settle newly in a city? Or does this happen to women alone who try to individually put up a home for herself? or Does these things shouldn't be allowed to bother one's life? or Can awareness be created to people making them understand that a slight misdoing in their work can affect people indirectly? Or Does Metro city runs only this way in India - Is this a hard written fact?

I am ending this post with all these open ended questions to which I find a answer soon. But I fear "getting used" to this way of life, as I strongly believe that getting used is the worst solution for all problems.

Welcome 2011 – My resolutions

2011-01-01T19:35:00.002+05:30

As anyone else does, I too want to take some resolutions for this New Year.

1. The first and the foremost resolution for the year would be that I got to get strength and energy and so much endurance to fulfill all the below resolutions.
2. Gymming – My first day of the year saw me cycling for 15 mins, the first thing I did today morning. I wish I do the same every day and stay fit.
3. I would like to read so many books. My target is atleast 50 and to achieve it, the first step is that I had bought two books today in Odyssey.
4. I am planning to learn a new language this year – some foreign language. Give me some tips to choose a language to learn.
5. I got to control my anger a little as I am getting so much frustrated when things go wary and out of order. This way I am sure, I can reduce the tears I shed often.
6. I am going to plan for at least 2 vacations - One plan is under progress now and the other is a small vacation as of today. Apart from this I wish I plan for 2 more vacations to rejuvenate myself from the daily chores of life.
7. In the last year, I had closed the doors to romance in my life twice mercilessly and the coldness in my heart has grown so much that none can enter the four walls that have been built so strongly around me. But this year, I got to definitely break the wall and be a little ease so that romance and love embrace me and last forever.
8. Do less shopping – Got to use the new clothes and things which I have bought till today. If I use them all, I am damn sure I need not shop for anything new this year. I had done enough in 2010.
9. Rather than spending more I would like to give to the dire need and do a bit of social service to my level possible.
10. And of course, like last year and more than last year, the last resolution would be to write many posts in my blogs and note down all the happiness and sadness I experience. Planning to write a different genre of writing – may be I would either write in my mother tongue or try out fiction in my blog.

Alvida 2010

2010-12-31T17:09:00.001+05:30

2010 will be a definitely memorable year for me and my family for many reasons. The year was so much stressful and to pass each day, it required lots and lots of patience and endurance for me. There were happy days and sad days just like any other year, but when I sit down and wrap up the whole events of the year, I can remember the nights spent thoughtfully rather remembering the wonderful times I had. Let me try not to make this post a pathetic and sympathetic one. The first good and happy thing to share with my blog is the number of books I read this year. I would like to list it down with their names and their authors.

1. The moving finger – Agatha Christe
2. Random acts of heroic love – Danny Scheinmann
3. A Peculiar Chemistry – Kitty Ray
4. A thing beyond forever – Novonel Chakraborty
5. The man in the Brown suit – Agatha Christie
6. Only in London – Hanan-al-shaykh
7. Right Fit, Wrong shoe – Varsha Dixit
8. I too had a love story – Ravinder Singh
9. Evil under the sun – Agatha Christie
10. Simple things make luv – Komal Thakur
11. Nothing can be as crazy – Ajay Mohan Jain
12. Roots & Shadows – Shashi Deshpande
13. That kiss in the rain – Novoneel Chakraborthy
14. Should I or Shouldn’t I – Neetu
15. It happened that night – Akash Verma
16. Clive Avenue – T.S. Tirumurthi
17. Peril @ End house – Agatha Christie
18. The Lavender House – Wendy Robertson
19. Mango Coloured Fish – Kaveri Nambisan
20. Things falling into place – Linda Taylor
21. Case Histories – Kate Atkinson
22. The Great Train Robbery – Michael Crichton
23. The Dark Holds no Terror – Shashi Deshpande
24. Where shall we go this Summer – Anita Desai
25. P.S. I love you – Cecilia Ahern
26. Keep the change – Nirupama Subramanian
27. Love Story – Erich Segal
28. Solo – Rana Dasgupta
29. Johnny gone down – Karan Bajaj
30. The River Between – Ngugi wa Thiong
31. I had forgotten the name of the book and the author :P

I am thankful to the time and the British Library which has given me the chance to read a wide genre of books in this year. And I am really happy to have enjoyed reading these many books except for the last book whose name and author I had forgotten so easily.

The next happiest thing happened in 2010 was my sister’s wedding. Though the wedding was delayed many months, I would like to remember only the joyous 3 days of wedding and nothing more than that to avoid making sad faces every now and then in my every sentence.

I would definitely be happy to tell you all that I have completed my post- graduation in 2010 and my studying phase in life has come to a temporary stop this year until again I rejuvenate it with the hope of adding a doctorate degree beside my name.

The most joyous moment of the year would be the vacation days I had taken this year and had visited many tourist spots - Srisailam, Jaipur, Agra, Mathura and Delhi. I have shared my travelogues with this blog which would be definitely reminding me time and again about the happy days I had.

Compared to previous years, this year, I had watched many good movies both in theatres and in my television. Had engrossed in the habit of checking for good films regularly in television at 9 pm and were lucky many days to grab one. I have never maintained the list of movies I watch and this would be one among my to-do list in the next year.

On the personal front, 2010 saw me transferring a little more responsible than earlier, though I still remain the same crying girl when I don’t find solutions to my problems. As I face new difficulties in life every day, I become stronger and find new answers to them too. This is the year, when I turned almost to a single-parent child and this is the year when I can really compare myself between periods of time. Now at the end of this year, I can proudly say that the volume of tears I shed has reduced to a great limit. I wish I reduce it year by year.

On the professional side, 2010 taught me many things technically as well as on the managerial front. I got noticed and appreciated well for the work done and I am looking forward for an even better upcoming year @ my office.

How could I forget writing about my weekend dance classes which I enjoyed the maximum. The rhythm and the beat to which we dance inside the four walls to the tune of the dance teacher’s voice was just awesome and I used to be really really excited every week to learn new things. 2010 was the year which showed me my stamina to dance and my interests in pursuing it to a next level. Though I could not continue learning for the past one month, I am sure I will soon find a new dance teacher @ my new location in 2011.

Healthwise, except for the month of December during which I am suffering a terrible cough, I was happy to say that I was fit, thanks to the nature and my lifestyle. Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year. May health, wealth and happiness embrace you in 2011 :).

K & K

2010-12-22T15:02:00.002+05:30

The though of writing this post came to me when I had to part with 2 wonderful persons I met in my life. Both their surnames start with K and I am not sure if I can reveal their names in my blogspace. It would be good if it is this way as K & K. I met these two guys in my office as my team mates and they have now become as friends rather than colleagues and will be for long time to come. This post is more about treasuring the memories which I had shared with them and a small dedication to these 2 guys.

Let me introduce the first guy to you. I met this guy when I was first inducted to my project in my company. He was a year senior to me in the team and I still clearly remember the day and the scene of our first introduction. The first help he did to me was identifying some training portal in our office intranet site. The friendship with him was like instant and I started feeling so comfortable asking him anything right from day one. I am good in making new friends but not close friends. I choose them very carefully just like anybody. But this guy can be close to anyone and he has this awesome talent to attract anyone. After the first meet, he had helped me so much so much that I cannot repay him neither my family can. As I was new to Hyderabad, any small help regarding the place was rendered by him at any hour of the day. We slowly became neighbors in the office cubicle apart from being team mates. He had given me so much space that I can even fight with him if our ideas contradict. Also I can share with him all my personal and professional life taking him as my confidant. I used to do all work related things which he used to say but not some silly stuff. I used to postpone it and he used to hate that so much and we end up in a fight. But, slowly in these three years, he understood me and started calling me as lazy and making me fun instead of fighting when he needs any small work from me. I had given him in turn so much space in my world that he never hesitate to give me Supari, ask for a casual treat, or involve me in any kind of personal boyish conversations. A selfless friend who can do anything for someone who ask him help and a joyous person to be with. More responsible person for his age when I compare with other guys I met. If you allow him, he can lead your life also. You should be kind of careful with him. Just joking – I meant to say he can give you advice on anything he knows. He also has the sweet character of telling that he does not know this or that on which he doesn’t have knowledge. Very few guys accept their ignorance on matters. We had shared some wonderful moments in office chatting in sametime (internal chat) even though our cubicles are close enough to talk in person. I am so lucky to meet him in my life and I am definitely going to treasure this friendship and all those times we shared forever no matter how far I go from him.

Ok now I got to stop writing about the first person and start the next as I am very sure when my second friend reads this, he will be so restless to read about him. Yes this person is exactly opposite to the one about whom I had mentioned a few lines back. Our first meeting was in an office internal team meeting where I was introduced to him by my manager. He was a bit late to the meeting (oops sorry, I can’t forget that!) Soon after the meet, he flied to onsite and our initial conversations were only through sametime mostly about work and about technical difficulties I face. He is a very reserved person and it took me almost one year to make him comfortable when he speaks with me. But he changed with due course of time. Now, I would say that he has so much right to ask me anything personal or professional especially he would be the first to ask me treat for a small thing like rain in my hometown, for the feats which I achieved some 5 years back, for my post graduation completion even before my results are out and the list for the reasons for he asking me treat is endless. He had devised some 10 reasons when I gave him his pre-final treat. A technical guide he was to me and whose wavelength I matched with and I could understand whatever he speaks. I mean he used to tell only 4 words in a sentence that he wish to speak and the rest you got to discover it by yourself. He doesn’t take too much pain in anything in life. I would not use the term careless, but I would put it as light-headed. Next time when someone ask me quote for being cool I would rather say cool as my friend instead of cool as cucumber. He is a big fan of Sachin and we have shared very good moments in office talking about cricket matches. He hates my mother tongue and never foregoes a chance to pull my leg when he grabs a chance. It was so easy to share anything with this person so casually just like talking day to day affairs. A very simple human being with not much interest but some deep passions and he never gives up any task thinking that it is impossible. I am really happy that I got mentored by him during my initial days of learning in IT field.

I wish I hold the friendship and contact with these two persons in this life or any more lives to come if such any exists. And I shall wish for the well being of them and their family. Hey you two guys out there, Thank you for everything you gave me all the 3 years and I wish you success, prosperity and good health in all your new ventures in life.

Journey to North India - 3

2010-12-16T16:49:00.000+05:30

Day 4, 5, 6 – Delhi Days: November 3, 4 & 5.

A proper planning for 3 days was done prior visiting Delhi – One day for local Delhi Sight Seeing, one day for Mathura & Agra and the another day for only shopping in the country capital. One our first day in Delhi, we visited Akshardam temple – a wonder piece of architecture and intricate carvings. The place was so neat and so beautiful. Everywhere I turned, I could find sculptures depicting Hindu mythology. After the great chola temples, this is the first temple seeing which I was awe struck and fell short of words to describe the beauty of the construction. We spent nearly 2 hours in slowly viewing each and every pillar of the temple. The ceiling inside the temple had so many layers within telling many stories. The temple was surrounded by huge elephant carvings – a variety of elephants and stories related to them. A lotus garden carving with the fountain was also so elegant in the outside. I could take only a long shot of the temple as photography was prohibited within the temple premises. Coming outside, we took the Metro to Karol Bagh and spent nearly 4 hours shopping on the first day itself. From Karol Bagh, aunt took us to Paalika Bazaar did a good bargain on all the goods we purchased there. Time flies away so fast when we roam in the streets and in that mild chill weather of Delhi, walking on the roads was superb. We did a little circle in the Connaught Place and took an auto back to the hotel for our hot and spicy Tamil food waiting for us.

Day 5: Rather telling me as a devotee to Lord Krishna, I would like to be called as a fan of him. Meeting his birth place was like a dream come true to me. The day 5 of our trip saw us traveling to Mathura which is on the way to Agra. Our Punjabi driver took us in his Indica cab to show Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra. Our first break in the cab journey was Vrindavan where there was a beautiful Krishna temple inside which I can take numerous snaps. Never before and nowhere else I had a chance like this. Beautifully adored and decorated Krishna and Radha gave me many poses for my camera. The black face of his still lingers in front of my eyes. I just loved the idols over there. Next we went to the actual birth place of Krishna. All my life till now, I had enjoyed hearing stories of Krishna, his birth, his pranks and his upbringing. So it was so much thrilling to go see those places in real. The myths and the stories I have heard were built upon these places and I was so lucky to have seen these in my trip. Many would have known that Krishna was born inside a Jail and I saw a baby Krishna idol in a dark cell for which daily pooja was going on. We bought some beautiful souvenirs in the Mathura temple premises. I bought a glowing Krishna baby statue and other pictures of him for all my friends. I finally settled for myself a very very tiny Krishna statue which goes inside my wallet. 

Once outside Mathura our excitement started pumping up as we were heading towards the wonder of the world. The white glamour held for us was open to our eyes after a short walk. The place was unusually less crowded to our lady lucks. What do I say seeing the Taj Mahal – an eternal beauty? I am not good in describing such wonders in my blog. We took lots and lots of snaps focusing it from all angles and in a variety of poses. I took a small video covering the walls of Taj and its precious stone carvings. The white marble with rubies and emeralds was so soft and serene. A symbol of love it was for Shah Jahan and the image of it lasted for long time in our minds and souls. We spent a leisurely time of 3 hours in the Taj mahal premises and then headed to Agra fort. We hired a guide who explained us again the history of the fort. We caught a glimpse and a distant view of Taj Mahal from Agra Fort. There were many places inside the Agra Fort I could relate to the scenes in many movies which I had seen, especially Jodha Akbar. The Agra fort could be a little more neat and maintained well being a heritage monument. At the entrance of Agra Fort and Taj Mahal, I bought a few more souvenirs to treasure the memories in tiny things. Our day 5 ended after a non-stop ride from Agra to Delhi thanks to our driver’s driving skills we reached safely and securely to our hotel room.

The next day was the festival of lights and Delhi was lit up with all lamps and people getting ready to invite the goddess Lakshmi to their homes. And we were also getting ready to spend our last day of our vacation as much enthusiastically as we can. We called our relatives and shared our diwali wishes and got ready as early as we can in the morning to do a one –day Delhi Sight seeing. Our first alighting was the President House and the Janpath road. We saw the Parliament houses and the long roads in Delhi which I have seen in TV during the Parades till that day. Next we went to pay our homage to the Amar Jawans in the India gate. A foreign tourist over there wanted to take a snap of 5 of us as we were so colorfully dressed on the day of Diwali.

From India gate, our guide took us to Qutub Minar. We walked inside and recollected our history lessons seeing the Qutub Minar and of course my metallurgical theory at the sight of the Iron Pillar. Compared to the monuments we have seen so far, though these were less rated we did not want to miss them in our tour itinerary. Our next place to visit was Lotus Temple another beautiful architecture – a replica of the Australia’s lotus opera. A small meditation inside gave us some more energy to continue our journey inside Delhi. Our trip was unluckily prior to President Obama’s India visit and because of that Raj Ghat was closed for security reasons. My mother was terribly upset as she was a true Gandhian and she had come all the way to Delhi to visit Raj Ghat. I had promised her to bring her once again back to Delhi to fulfill her wish. Hopefully I should keep my promise. Indira Gandhi’s martyr place was also closed. The driver took us through the roads in which our politicians stay. He dropped us in Red Fort entrance and gave us time all by ourselves to explore Chandni chowk and Red fort. We walked in the crowded streets of Chandni chowk searching for a big bangle market similar to the one showed in the movie of Fanaa. Sad I did not find one such but had a good walking exercise through out. In the evening we entered Red Fort and our trip ended seeing the sound and light show inside Red Fort which was kind of boring and too shivering to sit in the open arena. We returned to our hotel, packed our bags, checked out and reached the Station to catch our return train at correct time. One thing I felt so bad in Delhi was the man pulled richshaws. I wish the next time I visit Delhi there are only Metros and no more human pulled vehicles. I can’t see them pulling us for their living. I am sinned sitting inside the richshaws a couple of times and I don’t know when I will get rid of those sins. 

As my aunt and cousin headed towards Tamilnadu, we booked the direct train from Delhi to Chennai. I, Mom and sister got down at Warangal and after waiting for 4 hours for our next train to Hyderabad, we missed the train and it was a tragical and perfect ending for our adventurous trip to travel with all our huge baggage in a bus to MGBS Bus station in Hyderabad. Altogether the trip was a success and we had enjoyed thoroughly hour to hour. Though there were some misunderstandings and difficulties among us it was a pleasure to have a 5 day vacation amidst our busy daily routine. Wish to have many more vacations like this. Finally I completed my first big travelogue and if you are interested I can share personally the 500 snaps which we took to your mail ids. Drop your mail ids in the comments section.

Journey to North India - 2

2010-12-16T16:48:00.000+05:30

Day 1 – A train journey I would never forget. October 31st 2010.

The early morning wee hours of day 1 of our journey saw us wrapped up warmly in the station of Kacheguda waiting for the Jaipur train to arrive. Nowhere else I had seen the ticket checker checking our tickets in the platform of the departure station itself. I realized the reason for this only after boarding the train. It was jam packed with very little space to breathe. There was no kind of normalcy prevailing in the compartments. I cursed all my stars to start my journey in midst of this crowd. But slowly we got settled down and had a little sleep. There were so much fights and misunderstanding with the co-passengers. Yet we managed to enjoy the journey playing some journey games and reading and non-stop chatting in our language which irritated most of the others in the train. While we could understand Hindi, they were left helpless other than to stare at us talking in a language which none of them could understand.

Jaipur Memoirs: November 1st

Day 2 saw me getting down in the pink city of India. I should say honestly that the city was clean and less polluted. We contacted the Railway accommodation centre and got a big room to freshen up ourselves. And then we booked for one-day sightseeing tour package in Rajasthan Tourism Office which was in the Jaipur station itself. As we had very less time before the tourist bus started, so much of commotion within ourselves and it so ended up in a first fight of the tour between mom and aunt.

The Tour package we opted was a Full Day Tour from 9.00 A.M. to 6.00 P.M by a Non-A/C bus charged 200 bucks per person. After a small breakfast in the bus, we alighted at the Birla Temple – the same white marble one which I had marveled for his cleanliness and the architecture. The guide who accompanied us for the tour was very strict with the timings and that has irritated a little at times. But as time passed by, we got used to his constant bugging and his watch. Our Second monument to visit for the day was Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace) in which there was hundreds of windows in the front. The palace was also slanting a little towards the back. When I had asked why the reason was that the ladies in the palace those days used to have a view of the city without being watched by others. I don’t have anything to say on this stupid idea of keeping women within four walls. Our tour itinerary included only the Front View and I was sad that I could not visit the Mahal inside. But took a couple of snaps and proceeded to the Observatory aka Jantar Mantar. Had a recap of all the physics and measuring instruments studied in school days. Two foreigners from Singapore gave us good company in Jantar Mantar and it was astonishing to listen to the details of Jantar Mantar how in olden days, the calculation of days, months, star positions and astronomy were studied.

Next, we went to the City Palace – a private palace owned by the King’s generation. It was damn costly to have a view of it and hence we had seen it from outside. Thus we saved a few time to check out the local people and colorful shops outside the observatory and infront of the City Palace. I saw a snake charmer first time in life and he was making the snake to dance to his music. They were all dressed so differently with all those multi colored turbans. After buying some souvenirs from there, the guide took us to some Rajastan crafts & arts gallery. We had a live demonstration of how the peacock and elephant patterns in dress were made with natural colours. It was a pleasant morning and we headed to our next tourist spot – the Jal Mahal. Here, I had the chance to ride on a camel and take some beautiful shots which I could treasure for long. It was so nice to sit on a high place on the camel’s back. While I was enjoying the height, my poor sister was scared to hell and got down immediately. The City Palace was so calm and serene in midst of a lake. I breathed fresh air and enjoyed the cool breeze hitting my hair and face.

Satisfied well with the beauty of the city we had seen so far, we moved next to the magnificent forts – Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort and the Amber Fort. The Madhavendra Palace inside the Nahargarh fort had seven portions looking exactly the same as the other. Each portion had a big portico, so many rooms and a long corridor with many windows on both sides. We turned to kids playing there and running the whole corridor and hiding from each other. All five of us had a very nice time in that palace giving all royal poses for the snaps. We had a quick lunch which was surprisingly tasty in the Nahargarh fort. Then we went to the Jaigarh Fort where there were lots of monkeys than the tourists. We walked so much to see the giant cannon kept protectively. We also heard the story of the treasure unraveled from inside the Jaigarh Fort during the emergency period by Indira Gandhi and the then queen of Jaipur.

As time moved on, the strength in our legs slowly got reduced and there was just one monument left for us to enjoy before we rest for the day. It was Amber Fort and there were thousands of tourists flogging into this fort on the day when we went. All those Diwani-Aaam, Diwani-Khaas, King’s private room, Queen’s Palace gave us the total history of those days and the sophisticated life which the royal family spent. The Sheesh mahal – the hall of mirrors inside the fort was gorgeous and there were so many mirrors in a single hall which reflect the sun rays in all directions lighting and warming up the room inside magnificently. We also saw an arrangement for cooling up the rooms using repeated flow of water on the sides of the rooms. I witnessed a very aged foreigner in wheel chair interestingly listening to the stories of Indian rulers inside the Fort and he was taking a video of the entire palace. He would have definitely traveled so far and waited long years to visit this world heritage site. I am proud to say that our country has so much marvelous architecture to wonder about. That ended the Jaipur sightseeing and we were back in the station to catch our next train to Chirawa.

Day 3 in Pilani: November 2nd

The train journey from Jaipur to Chirawa was terribly cold inspite of wearing so much woolen stuff. We managed to get separate compartment but the mad guys next to us were constantly trying to assault on us and show their heroism. My mom was in constant fear throughout the night when she guarded us sacrificing her sleep. Thanks to our stars and karma we reached safely in Chirawa station – a small one in the North Western Railways. Outside the station, we boarded a Jeep to reach Pilani and lodged in a safe room recommended by the BITS. The next day morning was the D-day and I and my sister went to present our dissertation. Mine turned out to be a horrible day answering to all those questions by the professor. She was just making me appear as an ass who knows nothing of the project I did. I had managed to finish the formalities of forms filling up and submitting the reports. Thankfully I had secured a Fair grade in it and passed the course with Flying colours. After our work in the BITS institute, we immediately left for Delhi. To reach Delhi, we first took a cab to Loharu and from there boarded a train to Rewari. From Rewari, we took the next train to Old Delhi Railway Station. The journey was tiring and at night 10 o’ clock, we checked into our cozy hotel room in Delhi. We had booked this hotel room earlier and it was close to a Tamil Restaurant. Both our boarding and lodging were secure as we had some Tamil contacts – thanks to my aunt. Day 3 ended with a good night sleep and the adventurous trips in trains and running in the stations ended for all good.

Journey to North India - 1

2010-12-16T16:40:00.002+05:30

Pre – Trip Plans:

The plan to visit North India in the November of 2010 started as early as I had enrolled for my M.S couse in BITS Pilani. As a part of curriculum I will have to travel to BITS Campus to submit and present my dissertation. As the work is just for one day, I had combined the trip of visiting Jaipur & Delhi.

Ever since the dates for my viva was booked, the twirl and twist happened in my life was just “too much” to be put in a word. To my great surprise and joy my chithi(aunt) and my cousin(Akshaya) promised us(me, mom & my sister) to join the trip amidst their big schedule of Yoga competitions. After spending considerable time with Indian Railways website, I had managed to book tickets via 2 routes
1. Kacheguda(Hyd) to Jaipur
2. Secunderabad to Agra and Agra to Jaipur

You may ask why 2 routes. Though planning well ahead say nearly 75 days, I could get only WL tickets via the 1st and shortest route because my vacation fall around the dates of grand Indian festival of Lights.

I was just happy that my return tickets are confirmed. I started writing this travelogue in the train and it was just so fun to write as usual. Hope my readers also enjoy with me.

Day Zero: October 30, 2010

The day before the travel – Gosh it was just amazing if I look back now. All of my 30 days before the journey started with checking the PNR status. I had tried all my possibilities available with India Railways to get my ticket confirmed. You may not believe me if I say that I met some CRO of Kacheguda station to do some ticket confirmation through emergency quota as I was traveling for an educational purpose, but that ended in utter failure. Yes of course there is a legal option in Railways to do so and I had done earlier in Southern Railways.

My eyes got open when my cousin and aunt arrived at Secunderabad from their hometown to join us for the trip. Both of them never hesitate to travel in train for longer duration. They were just awesome companions for train journey. Both were so weird that they don’t waste time for a small span. They kept doing something or the other like reading, stitching, planning for sister’s wedding etc etc throughout the day/night. Coming to my day before the journey – I had to complete some final work of my dissertation, a complete packing for the trip, checklist of important things to be taken, doing a bit of last minute shopping, discussing about some wedding events that was soon approaching when I had done the trip and the day never ended.

The tickets slowly moved from WL to RAC and we decided to take the route from Kacheguda to Jaipur though it was RAC and though the 2nd route we had confirmed tickets. We did not want to waste time in journey – it was a matter of hardly 4 hours extra but the final decision was made by mom for some reason I don’t remember now. The whole of day zero went in packing and repacking. Afternoon I had completed my project work. In the evening, when I reached home to take a bit of rest before the journey, I was reminded how stupid and careless I had forgotten to take a copy of the presentation from my office harddisk. Rushed to office which is nearly 15 kms from home in a busy Saturday traffic and it took nearly 2 hours of my precious time. What would you call me if I say you that I did a small shopping in midst of all this. The day 1 of my journey was about to begin…….

Happy Weekend

2010-11-21T21:51:00.002+05:30

I am so happy right now. This song is making me happier. An old song from the tamil movie – Aaha in which the hero sings so happily after meeting his love. Why does such romantic songs always written for male characters in the movies? Does a woman not feel this much happiness and love when she meets someone so exciting in her life. I have become so romantic in the past 48 hours. Is the effect of loneliness or watching good movies in the weekend? The weekend was all together fun in spite of sending bye to sister and mom who left a week early prior to my sister’s wedding leaving me alone to attend office for 3 days next week before I join them. Oops, for the first time in this space I am mentioning about my own elder sister’s marriage. She is moving to the next stage in her life – getting the love of her life all in a week’s time from now. And as usual the great Indian wedding started off with so much excitement and pompous arrangements. I have shopped to my heart level best and planned to look best in the 3 days coming up.

Watched Harry potter 7 – 1st part 3 hours back and was slightly disappointed by the slow pace of the movie. Though lots of things said in the book was covered in the movie, I still felt that there should be only one 7th part and not part 1 and 2. I did not hear the famous Harry Potter music but ogled and loved the look of Harry. He is just Harry to me and definitely Radcliffe. Only with his lightning scar on his forehead, I love him. Ron and hermoine were just good as usual. Nothing more to tell about the movie.

Finished a book in 3 hours of time – “Keep the Change” by Nirupama Subramanian. Cried along with the character of Damayanthi while reading, but ended up being so much enthusiastic after finishing the book, that I ate the whole lot of rice left as if starved for a week.  It was just a plain contemporary Indian writing to which any working girl in South India can relate to. Lots of expectations yet constraints, yearning to be outspoken yet traditional and I loved the pace of the novel. Looking forward to a great week ahead. Will be sharing a few of my sister’s marriage celebrations in this space once I am back. Btw my travelogue to North India is not getting my precious time dedicated to it. Wish to have more time to spend it lazily as well as usefully.

Guzaarish – a plea

2010-11-20T22:05:00.002+05:30

I like watching movies alone (don’t ask me why) and I am kind of getting used to it. I am going to add the wish of seeing a movie all alone in a theatre to my bucket list of wishes :) after today. You get a nice feeling attached to life after watching a very few movies. This feeling can’t be expressed in words, but can definitely be by tears and the Guzaarish movie did it. After reading the story line of the movie, I was very sure that the director is not going to deceive me much. It has been ages since I got my expectations fulfilled after watching a movie. This post is definitely not going to be a review sort of thing. It is those 2 and half hours I was with Ethan Mascarenhas and the time I lived close to his life.

There would have been definitely many stories which had come up this way and we had heard the issue of Euthanasia in our newspapers now and then. But this is my first experience in seeing it in characters played wonderfully by none other than the charming and handsome magician – Hrithik Roshan. Ethan Mascarenhas – what a beautiful name it is first of all. Not even for once did I get bore in the movie hearing so many times everyone saying Mr.Mascarenhas. A magician taken revenge by his rival and becomes paralyzed for the whole of his life. The actor with ever-dancing legs is tied to his 4X6 inch bed and 30X60 inch room for a long period of 14 years. His caretaker Sophia – Sofeeah(that’s how Ethan calls her) is such a dedicated lady who never takes a day off in her 12 year career. He applies for a Euthanasia petition to the Indian Justice Department, to get the right to die just like any human being has the right to live. Ethan Mascarenhas did not give up his hope in the first year of his accident. After living with it for 14 years, he had come to this decision. Did he succeed in that? If you love emotions and you can just be moved seeing a person in the screen cry and if you enjoy watching heart touching stories, then you should definitely watch this movie in the screen.

Ethan’s Guzaarish to let him die and his appeal to go with his decision - Am I with him? Yes I am. I vote for him. I cannot see him suffer, no matter who ever it is. Rather than the suffering, let them sleep peacefully for long. There are so many arguments going on in this World whether Euthanasia is legal or illegal. Who cares? Who else apart from the guy who suffers has the right to his life? Nobody but he/she can feel the pain. I have come across so many such people in life and I cannot do anything but cry for them. The same happens with many around us. I saw so many people coming crying out of the Guzaarish movie. Tears were in the edge of the eyes for many one like me. Death should be natural as contrast to birth in this world. I am not into the funda of dying when you are suffering but individual cases like Ethan Mascarenhas can be definitely and uniquely given different judgement. Why do we need to have a generalized idea of Suicide and Mercy killing are just not acceptable. Live is too short and just so beautiful that every damn soul wish to live it with dignity and grace. I just wish to end this post saying the same words from the movie – Life is too short and let us not repent for anything that made us smile and try to make it a little more worthy.

Mr. & Mrs. Iyer - Romance in midst of Violence

2010-11-16T11:35:00.003+05:30

Don’t look away; don’t look away….. Does this lyric remind you of something? Can a movie be this heart warming and soul touching to us? The movie I am talking about is Mr & Mrs.Iyer directed by the award winning. I started adoring/loving/being mad right from the day I watched it first. I wish to watch movies alone in a closed room with no disturbance. I guess this was the first movie I watched that way sometime before 7 – 8 years at my cousin’s room and I must say it was a pleasant watch. After that night, many nights I have dreamt about meeting such a guy in life who is close to the character of Rahul Bose in the movie.

After all this years, why am I suddenly writing about this movie? Coz I love writing about things which I love, about movies which I adore and about persons whom I admire. As it is a very old movie, I shall just give a glimpse of the story and the characters in it, though I cannot finish the blog in fewer words. Raja Choudary, a wild life photographer promises to be of help to a new mother who travels alone in a bus with her kid somewhere in the North East to catch a train to Calcutta. The mother is none other than my favorite Bengali Actress – Konkana Sen Sharma. Meenakshi Iyer (pronounced with a double e) as she is named in the movie is an orthodox Tamil Brahmin who lives with her conservative in-laws. As promised, Raja helps the mother to calm down her hungry crying kid and he is good with kids also apart being a professional photographer.

On the way, the bus stops due to a road diversion. In due course, the scene changes to a river bed where the bus gets halted as there has been a guy killed by some religious fanatics and violence starts protruding in that area. The curfew has been on and the passengers are strictly prohibited to leave the bus. But our photographer gets ready to leave the bus asking Meenakshi to take care of the rest of the journey all by herself. When asked why, he reveals he is not a Hindu as his name says, but his real name is Jehangir and he cannot risk the lives of others by staying inside the bus in the Hindu Locality. Can you imagine what Meenakshi utters when she hears this? “OMG….I drank the water he drank”…. Such an ignorant lady she is but then cursing her stars, she gets into the bus.

Before Rahul aka Raja alias Jehangir gets his bags, a gang force opens the bus and kills an elderly couple. That was really unhuman to kill them just because their names were Khan and Fathima. Mrs.Iyer when approached to reveal her religious identity saves Jehangir by introducing him as Mr.Iyer. Here the story takes a wild turn and gets more than interesting than expected. What made her to do this in a spur of moment? She who repents for drinking water from the same bottle he drank just because he is of a different religion had humanity and respect left with her for a person’s life. Nothing is more important than the life of a person. Is this statement really true? I am not going more into this now.

Coming back to the movie, as the curfew will be for longer time, the passengers walk to a nearby town for a night stay. Since all the available rooms were already full, Mr & Mrs.Iyer get shield in a forest guest house with the help of a patrol police officer. Meenakshi complains that there is only one room and no vegetarian food. Hahaha it was so funny and innocent of her to cry like this in the mid of a forest. I wonder as to whether such people like Meenakshi exist even today? I say this because she is a post-graduate and she cannot act in a silly way after all the intelligence she has got from her religion and from her upbringing. Both of them somehow adjust and manage to make a plan to reach the station to get a train to Calcutta with the help of Police officer. On the night before they start, Meenakshi witness the cruel death of a guy by some violent mob. She gets so panicked and Jehangir comes to her rescue. He is so calm and so caring. Gosh I just love the character of him. The friendship they build during the journey ends in the railway station where the real Mr.Iyer comes to pick up Meenakshi and the movie ends with the lyric – Don’t look away; don’t look away as Jehangir walks bidding bye to both of his new friends.

The scenes at the forest guest house, the acting of Meenakshi when she was asked about their marriage by the co-passengers, the photograph shots taken by Jehangir and to the top of it the minutes spent by them in the train – all were just amazing. Though the movie stresses the violence prevailing and the losing of humanity in the minds of our people, I was just focused on the part played by Konkana and Rahul Bose. They are just too good for the role of co-passengers. The feeling of untrust towards Rahul Bose is just crystal clear in the eyes of Konkana and the love and care she feel from him is just awesome. I love the attitude of Rahul Bose. I wish they both come together again in another such movie.

Ladder 49 - A movie review

2010-10-25T15:48:00.002+05:30

Saw this movie when telecasted in the air last week. English movies are capturing my attention and time so much in these lonely days at home {Mom is out of station}. So many thoughts ran in my mind after math the movie. The plot or the story to be more apt is about a fire fighter. The movie did not have any bang and sophisticated openings of the hero. Neither did the hero look so good and dashing as how the Indian heroes look if they play the role of a life saver. Jack Morris – of Ladder 49 team of the Fire fighter’s club gets trapped in a huge building crashing slowly as fire engulfs him inch by inch. His colleagues and his Captain are in constant touch with him through Radio and they are trying their very best to get Jack out of fire. In the last few minutes amidst fire, Jack starts re-collecting the proud and cherished moments of his life.

Jack is not shown as a hero in the first scene. He is just like any other person who has just qualified to be a fire – person. He has not saved any fire-victims yet. He is a trainer in the Ladder -49 squad. His colleagues make fun of him for being so dumb. He slowly learns the art of facing the fire and the tips and tricks to safeguard him and the rest of the lives when facing a fire accident. Initially he even cleans the office rooms and the lobbies as his part of work. The way his character has been structured from brick 1 should be appreciated. Jack has so much fun in the Fire Department office, ogles at women in the super market, tries to woo someone and win her heart. He gets married to the women he fell in love with. The wedding is so grand with all his friends and family present. He gets slowly experienced in his work and has hands on in the field.

With the slow improvement in his career starts the problem in his family too. The seriousness of his career and the risk he takes everyday whenever the fire alarms buzz creates a great fear in the mind of Jack’s wife. She is not able to live daily with the fear whether or not her husband will come alive home that day. She urges him to give up the fireman job. But the humanity which Jack has and the zeal to save human lives becomes the high priority for him. He somehow consoles his wife and keeps moving with his personal as well as professional ladder. Years pass and they get 2 kids. Nearly 10 years time has passed and he recollects all his cherished moments when he is at the verge of dying inside the fire erupted apartment. The happiest days – the day of his marriage, the day when he becomes father, the 5th birthday of his second child, the day when he was awarded and honored for his service and many more parties he had with his colleagues and his wife.

The movie ends with the ever – feared Red car arriving at Jack’s home announcing his death. Many scenes were touching and it just reminded me again and again that humanity is still left in the hearts of so many people around us. The whole world has not turned altogether selfish. There are still numerous selfless people like Jack who doesn’t think twice to put their own life first to save others. I salute them and honor them with whole heartedly. I can do only this and I shall remain selfless to the extent possible. The movie gave me a strong lesson that just because others are selfish in this world, it does not mean that I got to be also in the same way. I just had to stop and think about these numerous self less, life sacrificing fire fighters, army men and so many others who should be our idols and I wish to see many such movies to remind me often that humanity is still left in this world to embrace.

Enthiran - from my eyes

2010-10-07T17:42:00.004+05:30

I sincerely advice the die-hard core fans of Rajnikanth not to proceed reading this post further. The post also has some spoilers – Read it on your own interests.

The last time when I watched Rajni’s movie was such a great experience. The movie was Sivaji and it was my first ever experience of watching a movie on the first day first show. I accompanied my cousin and I guess I was the only girl in the whole movie theater. But watching Enthiran was not that easy for me. I tried booking tickets for the Friday evening show but to our great dismay, I could get only 4 days later. The day was Tuesday – not a weekend to enjoy the movie first of all. I was little tired when I stepped out of office. Thanks to the day’s traffic, I managed to reach the multiplex well ahead in time. The expectations from my end to any regional movie are really high after watching some really good movies in English. But I don’t want to miss the fun in hearing to my native language comedy and dialogues written by late Mr.Sujatha. On top of it, who doesn’t wish to see Shankar’s movie.

Coming to the movie, did I enjoy it? --- Yes I did like the first half of the movie. About the second half, I got little tired of watching machines ruling the world. If a man controls a machine no matter, how sophisticated the machine is – I can watch it. But if one and only a machine is acting on its own – please spare me. I cannot watch it and I have avoided watching so many English movies because of this reason. I cannot think that it is the man who made that machine when I watch the machine doing all sorts of magic. A human touch is what I wish the movie should have.

I accept that the visuals were great and the animations and the new technology implementations were brilliant. And as per the story I can also admit that the movie is totally a science fiction and I am not ignorant to ask questions like -- Why this? How could it be? What is the logic? -- for any incidents happening in the movie. But I cannot stop myself to ask why does a Robot which reads Rig Veda, all the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, the rights & wrongs of the world cannot think twice before starting to love Sana, the fiancee of its own creator. Thanks to the writer who justifies this act of Robot in the scene when Chitti tries to kiss Sana and he says that it is not betrayal but only love and instead it asks Dr.Vaseegaran to do a sacrifice for his research. After all the same old saying – All is fair is love and War is given as the answer.

Again, no one else can answer to the not so simple question of – “Does God exist?” As simple as how it is answered in this movie. It was really wonderful to hear to such a rational reply. I should also admit that the pre-intermission sequence when Robot doing a complicated pregnancy got me goosebumps. But the non-stop fights and the hundreds of same face were quite tiring and I can’t resist myself to look at my fastrack more than necessary. It is just a one-time watch to know what the hype is all about and nothing more than that. I wish to watch more movies like Inception in which I am bound to use my brain and not like Enthiran for which I can simply leave my logic bound mind behind at home. It is true that I hooted and howled just like any other Rajni fan for the opening sequence but it is also truer that the movie did not impress me as much as I wished it for.

Where shall we go this Summer - A book review

2010-09-16T11:20:00.003+05:30

This book is penned by the Sahitya Academy Winner - Anita Desai who is also the mother of the Booker Prize winner - Kiran Desai. I have come across these authors many a times, but reading their writing for the first time. I am not sure if I get the right thing what the author intended to say. My understanding of the book is right here for u to read. A very small read of just 150 pages made me feel so much for the plight of so many women who get used to their surroundings without any complaints. Sita - the protagonist of the novel alights on the Manori island with a baby in her womb and with her daughter and son on the Monsoon of 1967. She escapes from her daily routines of the busy Bombay life and tries to soothe her nerves down in the breeze and pleasant weather of Manori. Situated in Manori, her father's home has turned now into more or less a place which has only dirt and dust enveloped around it. The narration does not tell you clearly why is she fed up with her life and what was the reason made her run away from her responsibilities. The clarity in the reasons is dull because, those were not considered as some big issues in the Society we live.

Was she able to find the peacefulness and come out of her solitude in that island? Nothing happens dramatic in Sita's life at the end of the story. Her loyal and truthful husband Raman comes and takes her back once again to the same life. No domestic violence is thrust upon Sita nor is she losing her independence. But the daily chores of the kids fight, maid servant's duel, neighbour's gossip, the hurried city life - these all were few reasons for her escape to the island. To her dismay, the magical island then, didnot succeed now in giving her what she wanted. After sometime, she learnt that hiding all her fears and complaints and being silent to what all happening around her is the only thing she can do. Sita slowly gets used to her life and returns back to Bombay with her family. Is she happy in doing this or does she have no way other than doing this? No matter how many monsoon comes, she can only run away for a while from all this. She had to return back again to the same chores and she can only wait for the next monsoon to answer to the question - Where shall we go this Summer?. How many of us are like Sita who cannot express which suffocates them and not able to find the proper get-rid for it? We get used to complaints and fears and we live with it in this fast - turning life.

Am I insane

2010-09-16T10:56:00.000+05:30

What do I want? Why is my mind not ready to accept anything which I come across and be cool and calm? Rather it is just wavering from one wish to another wish and trying to make myself look upset all the time. The wierd dreams of getting married or something related to marriage has been haunting my early morning sleeps for the past 4 days. How come I get these dreams regularly when I am least prepared to get married now. Is it true that mind always searches something to be sad and to be upset? If so it is happening with me. I have nothing to worry so much right now. In spite of it, I am like - yuck I dont want this kind of happenings with me. I want to be cool and do something about this kind of thinking. Is it because I hear so many news from so many people who are getting married. Am I becoming jealous about them? or is it the strangest thought that arose in me that i will remain unmarried for long years to come? But why is this marriage a big issue with me now? I have been saying all these days that I dont want to get married soon. I want some more time. But I am sure why I want that much time. To find the right person? To make myself face some new person? or To get accustomed to new environment. No body is forcing me to think like this. Something is missing in life. I lost some grip of life to which I was clinging to till now. What is it? It is really difficult to find that and make myself clear. May be I know that and I am not ready to accept it. Hence I guess I am just writing all this rubbish out here. I will have to definitely accept the fact that I will not get what I wanted. But what do i need? no body except me can say that. I dont want to "get used" to this sort of mentality, coz getting used to is the worst solution to any problem. Hopefully something different should happen to get me out of this feeling.

Books, books and more books

2010-09-13T17:10:00.001+05:30

I have never been this crazy about buying and reading books all my life till this year. Might be I was never alone before and I had never this much time for myself earlier to spend in reading a book. From September 2010, I am going to allocate every month a little % of my Salary to buy some new books. My mom and sister do that regularly. Let me also try to do them. Hopefully I should read them all and enjoy reading. This post is about some of the places in this city where I get to grab some nice books. You guys should have noticed the Mahogany Wood Shelfari Shelf widget added in my blog. I am planning to buy a book shelf of that sort.

The best pastime for me and my mom during the weekends is to visit Landmark and browse through the books and the movies. From the starting of this year, January 1st, not even a month has passed without we missing the visit to Landmark. We were really thrilled in our first visit to see the huge hall with so many racks of books orderly placed under different genres – Indian fiction, World fiction, Bestsellers, Romance, Arts, Cookery, Literary fiction and more and more. It is just amazing to see some sale going on for the books for this month. I was lucky to get hold of the Nobel award winning book – One hundred years of Solitude for a good offer and I am reading it presently. Hopefully I should understand that literature at least to a range of 5 on a scale of 10. I have put my eye on so many other books which I had planned to get the next weekend. I and Mom can spend even 4 hours in Landmark without getting bored until we can bear the chillness of the air condition over there.

The British Library where we hold a family membership is another favorite hang-out of ours. It is a small library, but an ultra-modern one with new technologies, though with less number of books compared to the huge collection at Landmark, but I get to read rare and interesting books. The librarian and the assistant over there were so kind last weekend that they let me inside even without a library card.

During weekends, we hunt through out the new city for the old books stalls and the books which mostly I get are for my mom who reads so much of Mills & Boons. I like helping her out in the shops but I take extra caution not to touch any of those books. My hands are kind of allergic to that dust and the state of books. But then, I got my entire set of Harry Potter collections from these old book shops and they are not second-handed to my luck. They are of course pirated versions and I am sorry for it but I can’t afford the whole lot of original series.

Trip to Srisailam

2010-08-30T16:04:00.001+05:30

It has been nearly 3 weeks after I am writing here about my trip to Srisailam. The monsoon showers in the catchment areas have filled up all the reservoirs of the state where I am residing. Having confirmed from a resource which said that the gates of Srisailam have been opened, we planned to view the beautiful dam site. We did not want to do a night stay in an unknown city; hence we decided to start early for the trip and return back on the same day. As per our schedule, we took the bus to Srisailam from Hyderabad’s Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station at 6’0 clock in the morning of August 14th. After my 3 year stay in Hyderabad, this was my first visit to MG Bus Station, as I never wish to travel by bus to any place. I always prefer trains rather than the state road transports. But this time, we had no other choice as the route had nearly 80 Kms of ghat section.

The Nallamala forest was just amazing and the weather was so pleasant. We reached the dam site by 12 after the zig zag cross ghat roads and the bumpy rides. The reservoir was nearly full but the gates have not been opened and I was so upset that I could not view the magnificent water gushing out of the gates. We had our lunch which we had taken from home in A.P Tourism Hotel. Surprisingly, the tourism facilities were neat and we spent much time in the back corridor of that hotel. From this place, we had a spectacular view of the reservoir and the Nallamala hills behind it. We went for a rope-car trip down the hill and a boat ride till the dam. The tourists were very less in these areas as most of the people were very eager to see SriSailam temple. We preferred enjoying the nature rather than standing in long queues to enter the sanctum sanctorum. I took lots of snaps and even after slowly visiting each spot, we had lots of idle time and we had to wait wait and wait and do nothing else to pass time. Finally as the clock struck 8, we boarded the bus for the return journey and reached home safely at early morning 3. The ride was quite a different experience and a bit tired too. I will have to upload the snaps in picasa soon.

Case Histories - A book review

2010-08-12T17:32:00.002+05:30

It took me unusually long time, nearly 6 days to finish this novel – Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. The read was quite complicated for a difference. Similar to the other books, I lend from library, this story is also set on the land of English. The author presents us in the first 40 pages with 3 case histories. Case 1: A 4 year old girl – Oliver Land goes missing from the tent where she was sleeping with her sister. Case 2: A 27 year old young lady – Laura Wyre is murdered brutally on the day she was helping at her father’s office. Case 3: A new mother – Michelle kills her husband with a garden axe out of frustration created when her husband wakes up the sleeping kid. Michelle lands up in prison and the kid goes missing. These 3 incidents take place at different time periods. Nearly after a decade, army person turned private detective – Jackson handles these 3 cases. The whole story is about closing these 3 cases and finding out the culprits behind the 3 tragedies.

I have read many mystery stories where a single mystery is solved. But this is the first time where I get to read 3 mysteries getting unfolded in the same book as pages turn one by one. Usually the curiosity of finding the culprit lies within me if I am reading. But more than the eagerness, it was the brilliance of the author which enthralls me much. How difficult it would have been to link 3 stories into one. In the course of finding the murderer/kidnappers and the reason behind it, Jackson’s personal life is also narrated to us. The agony which he faces after his divorce and a painful past which keeps tormenting him now and then is also beautifully put in words in between these 3 case histories. I would rather consider it as 4 stories in a 500 – page book.

Even when I was in the final chapter and when the author has finished revealing the hidden facts, I was left in a state of thought as to who killed whom and how did Jackson become successful in his feat. After a while or rereading a few lines from the chapters before, I got satisfied with the theme. It was a complete pleasure in finding such different genres of books and the time to read them till late night. It was nearly 12 when I finished it yesterday. {I am OK compared to my mom and sister who sit till 3 to finish a book}.

I don’t want to write about the minute details and compile a list of the characters of the book as I always write in other reviews. The intention behind each case history is quite simple, but the way it was presented to us is like a simple fruit salad with 4 fruits presented in a very beautiful bowl and presented with a surprising and finger licking topping. The read was tiresome though but will remain in my memory for a long time. Do grab it for sure if you come across this book.

Day 7 of Positivity

2010-08-05T17:00:00.003+05:30

Here is the 7th and final day of this theme of Positive moments, with a small story at the end.

1. I was happy to see the National Treasure Movie once more in Zee studio, the movie which I had seen many times. I never get bored seeing the same movie again and again, if it is a favorite of mine.

2. Thanks to the traffic in the road – I had a small nap in the bus on my way to office. Finding out positivism even in a terribly struck traffic is really cool.

3. I am thankful to all my friends who are with me making my life more lively and happy.

4. I am thankful to my parents for what and how I am today.

5. I am thankful to the nature to let me live in this world and breathe every minute.

I complete my 7 days of Positivity with this. The experience was really different and I had enjoyed thoroughly doing this. It has increased the way I look at things and the optimist in me has grown up well. I would like to quote a story from Mahabharat at this moment. I am not sure why I am narrating this at the end of this 7th day. It might be the effect of optimism and positivism. Once Yudhisthira and Duryodhana were asked to go individually and find how many good people and how many bad people are there in the city. When Duryodhana returned back from his survey, he was so much frustrated and came up to a conclusion that every single person in the country is bad. But when Yudhisthira went for his turn, he found that all persons are good and said that he could not find a single bad person in his country. This shows that good and bad – positive and negative all lie only in the eyes you look from. A healthy and optimistic way of life is what we all need and so be positive at all times and be happy.

P.S : I am too happy that this is my 50th post in my blog.

The Dark Holds No Terrors – A book review

2010-08-05T14:22:00.003+05:30

Nowadays in British library apart from the books written by British authors and apart from the plots set in the English land, I also find books written by Indian authors and set in our own native land. These books help me in enjoying a light read and I can know many stories happening in our country. In that way, during my last library visit, I picked up this novel by Shashi Deshpande. Having read another novel of hers, I was quite confident that this book is going to be again a nice one and it turned true. The story is about Saritha – a doctor, mother of 2 kids – Renu and Abhi, wife of a not-so famous writer - Manu, daughter of orthodox parents and a sister of late brother Dhruva.

Has anyone come across a mother who hates her daughter so much to an extent that she detest to remember about her daughter even at her death bed? Saritha aka Saru has such a strong hearted mother. She was always found fault for her doings right from the time she entered this world. It was not her mistake to be born as a girl to those orthodox parents who wanted a boy instead. Even after getting a boy, Dhruva as their second child, Saru’s parents never stopped scolding her. Dhruva was 7-8 years old then. He used to be so afraid of the dark and always gets comfort when he sleeps with Saru, rather than sleeping alone as instructed by his mother. One rainy night, Saru takes an adventure to go to the outskirts of the city. To her dismay, Dhruva follows her and gets trapped in a mushy land and fall into a pond and give his life. For this unexpected tragedy, helpless Saru will be blamed and called as a murderer by her mother for whom Saru is already a burden.

Saritha gets used to the atmosphere of unloving and uncaring parents. She moulds her future all by herself and joins a Medical college, gets married to a literary fanatic- Manohar in spite of much opposition from her mother. After nearly 10 years, one fine day in her clinic, a relative of hers breaks the news that Saru’s mother passed away a month ago. She gets shattered to hear it and decides to confront her father after a long time. The run – away daughter from home did not have the chance to meet her mother even when her mother was dying. Saru’s personal life with Manohar was also not good though it looks complete from outside. She lives a very bland life and always toils herself so much for the family of 2 children and for a husband who earns much less than her.

Manohar never cared to talk to Saritha about her mother or father or her late brother or about that tragedy. The night when Dhruva left this world haunted her dreams day and night even after 10 years. Though theirs was a love marriage, Manu and Saru lead a life which is full of adjustments done from Saru’s end. Manu never ever thought of upbringing his career and remained as a literary professor. He was enjoying all the comforts given by Saru who never missed to attend her patients in the morning and attend him at night. The care, love and affection which he showed towards Saru when he was courting her – all slowly faded out completely after 10 years to such an extent that he did not know where he is wrong and what is his mistake. An irresponsible and a total fool he has turned out.

Saru’s world remained dark and she had none to pour out and complain to. Even when she tried to explain her difficulties to Manohar – he did not consider them as great things and silently forgotten them. All of a sudden, one day Saru packs her bags, leaves her kids and reaches her father’s home. The author has put this scene in the first page of the novel and shows Saru as a hesitant lady to open up discussions about her mom or her husband. Neither did her mom forgive her nor did she give a chance to her to explain what happened on that stormy night of Dhruva’s death.

After so much hesitation, Saru confronts her father one day asking him so many questions – “Why does mother always think me as the one who killed Dhruva? Why didn’t she wish to see me at her last days? Why didn’t she love me as she loved Dhruva? Why should I live with the guilt of unsatisfying mom throughout my life? Why haven’t I given a chance to prove myself to her?” To all these questions, her father did not have answers. Later when her father receives a letter from Manu asking Saru to return back, he understands that her daughter is deep trouble. He helps her to talk about all agony Saru had kept within herself all these years. Saru blurts out the truth to her father that Manu behaves so violently with her in bed at night. Her father tries to console Saru and advices her not to be resilient but to face anything boldly.

The realization that Saru gets after nearly a fortnight stay in her father’s house is that it is her life that she is living and she has to live no matter how many hurdles come. She has to live for her own happiness by forgetting all about the past. “It is my life and I have rights to live in my own way”. She gets the courage to face the Dark, now that she knows that The Dark Holds No Terrors. The novel ends there and the author did not tell what Saru did after that. I somehow like this kind of ending where I can use my imagination for Saru’s life. Wish to read many more novels like this.

Day 6 - 7 Days of Positivity

2010-08-04T12:23:00.002+05:30

It is now becoming a kind of regular habit to think of happy moments happened in a day, which is really helpful to forget the pain caused due to a muscle strain after a work out in Gym. The moments which are going to be cherished in this space for long time are here.

1. During my college days, apart from the friends around me always, I had a very special friend at my aunt’s home and she is my sister-in-law whom I call her Anni. After a long time we both had a nice 15 minute chat over the phone and I am happy for it.

2. I am really thankful to the Web and the Internet access available to me to which I seek help from for any small reliable information at any time.

3. I love to try new dishes in my kitchen and me and mom gets so enthusiastic in preparing it. I am happy that we could come up with a tasty and mouth-watering Vegetable Soup. It was raining outside and the hot soup satisfied the taste buds very well.

4. I am thankful that I am a member of British Library from where I could borrow a wide genre of books. I have completed my last novel – The Dark holds no terrors and now reading Case Histories by Kate Atkinson.

5. I am thankful to my gym instructor who helped me to become a little more flexible than yesterday. The exercises were good to do but the after effects were too painful though.

7 days of Positivity - Day 5

2010-08-02T15:29:00.002+05:30

Thankfully it was a weekend and I felt nice moments to write down here for the 5th consecutive day. Here they are;

1. My sister asked me and my mom to shop for her friend’s engagement. I was happy to find a lovely cream white cum Blue sari for her and a salwar material. Really happy to shop for someone else rather than for myself. A different experience altogether.

2. Every weekend – both Saturday and Sunday I have my dance classes during which I had to wear a cotton sari for the practice sessions. I had only one which I used to wear every day but, now I am happy that I own one more of the same type, a pink color one which suited me well.

3. The novel – Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton was too exciting that I finished reading it @ my workplace. To my surprise, the next novel – “The Dark Holds No Terror” by Shashi Deshpande is also good to read and I am happy for it.

4. I am really happy that finally my butterfly puzzle has got its shape and it looks like it is going to fly at any time. It is so realistic and looks colorful and fantastic. The moment when I placed the final piece on the board to give its final look, we clapped with excitement. Thanks to mom also who helped in the course of finishing it. The credit goes to her too.

5. My to-be soon bro-in-law was too kind in treating us in a new restaurant on Saturday. The food was pretty decent enough for a first time taster there and I am really thankful to him.

Day 4 of Positivity

2010-07-30T18:09:00.000+05:30

Writing down good moments continuously for the 4th day is getting tough, but I had somehow managed to come up with the following list of 5.

1. We have a gym at our office premises and special timings have been reserved for ladies from 3 to 5. I knock the gym down quite regularly but with frequent misses. I am thankful to my concern to give me an opportunity to take care of my fitness too. Working out in the gym really enhances my senses and make me feel good for the day.

2. The monsoon shower in Hyderabad is making the climate so chill and I had a chance to enjoy it without an umbrella in the morning hours of the day. Me thankful to the nature for it.

3. I am grateful that I get to eat sumptuous and tasty dinner every day prepared readily by my mom when I reach home. Yesterday’s dinner was little more special with the freshly prepared lime pickle.

4. I am thankful to my shopping sense which made me buy a cute bracelet long back. I found it deep inside my box yesterday and wore it. Got the idea of buying a similar piece in Gold very soon.

5. Got my salary today and so happy to see my balance really high for the day and its Friday – Obviously a day to be happy to start my weekend. Happy weekend to all. Cheers.

Day 3 of Positivity

2010-07-29T10:55:00.001+05:30

I am first of all grateful to write down 5 happy things for the 3rd in a row. Here is today’s list

1. I was happy to look at the first collage of photos which I made for my blog. I felt it really cute to put all the pictures into a single frame. Do let me know how the collage looks. The link is here.

2. After the summer, I alter my wardrobe shifting my daily wears from cotton to synthetic clothes. This monsoon, I had bought a brasso material and I was grateful to the tailor who had given it a decent shape with no alterations required further.

3. Anything newly learnt is exciting for me and in that list, it is the concept of Balance Transfer this time. A polite lady from SBI customer care together with my friend helped me understand it. Thanks to both of them.

4. I left from office a little early and had managed to get a long night sleep in this lovely weather. The sleep helped my senses to calm down and rejuvenate better after a bitter day.

5. I was happy to learn that I am entitled to a bonus component in my salary which I will get in a couple of days. Finally the happy news was revealed by my manager.

Wish to keep writing happy moments for 4 more days to come 

7 Days of Positivity - Day 2

2010-07-28T10:33:00.001+05:30

This theme of Positivity, I had found later that it had its origin from Preethi Shenoy’s blog. So I would like to thank her too for letting the bloggers enjoy writing about their happy moments. I am quite late in posting my happy moments and these account to the things happened a day before when I am writing them. Coming to the day 2, here are a few moments for which I felt happy and thankful to people who made them happen

1.Every one who returns from onsite in my team gets a bag full of chocolates and yesterday was a day when we all had a feast of nearly 8 varieties of Danish chocolates. I was happy that I could grab as many as I could before the pack goes empty.

2.After the three books, which I had borrowed from the library, I am thankful to find an old book, The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton and to read his fiction set up in 19th century.

3.Got a chance to meet up a friend of mine who got married recently and felt happy for her and congratulated her for a new phase of life. An another college friend of mine gave me a surprise call at the end of a bitter day at office to share me her marriage news over the phone and personally invited me. More wedding bells heard this season.

4.I am happy that my friends who had a trip to Lonavala last weekend returned safely and securely in midst of monsoon showers and wet weather. Thankful to my friend who took pains to buy me nearly 4 – 5 types of chikki. They were yummy.

5.I am indeed so happy to see my butterfly puzzle taking its shape and it is nearly 75% completed. The butterfly looks so real with its vivid colours and what fantastic shades of blue and green.

7 days of Positivity ---- Day 1

2010-07-27T10:45:00.002+05:30

I borrowed the theme of this post from Priya’s blog. The main idea is to jot down 5 things which made u feel happy/grateful every day starting from today for a week. If you don’t find such things, you can simply be grateful that u got 3 times food. Finding out the happy moments and treasuring them by blogging can give you nice feelings to last for long time. It is also said that optimistic way of life is good for long health. I believe that sharing happiness will definitely multiply it and return it back to you. By seeing someone happy, you also tend to forget your sadness and be happy, as the positivity is contagious. As I always write down in this space, I do want to remember only happy thoughts in future. This could be the perfect way to do it. I do not blog at night and hence I shall be putting down the things which made me happy the previous day and here comes today’s list.

1.I am happy that my dance class went fine yesterday and I have completed learning the first item in Bharatanatyam – Pushpanjali. I am yet to practice it some 100 times before I become extremely comfortable to perform it on a stage.

2.I happened to watch the movie – Inception in PVR yesterday afternoon and the movie was too good and a feast to my brain. Dream within a dream, so many levels/layers of dreams, extracting a thought from a dream, inception of an idea to another person via his dream – all that fiction made a complete movie and I felt so happy to watch it with my sister who joined me after a long time.

3.The monsoon showers which made its presence felt the whole day was more than enough to make me smile whenever I stepped out of house. My eyes were fortunate to get a drop of the rain into it. The moment when the rain drops fell in my eyes were just amazing to recollect.

4.I was happy for my sister as she was lucky to find a beautiful colored designer sari at Kalamandir. I had the chance to view and feel so many colours, fabrics, designs; --- wow I love the sari shops. Her wedding is nearing and we three(me, mom and sister) at home talked about her marriage day costumes and I was really really happy that I am the organizer for all such stuffs 

5.I wore a new t-shirt yesterday and I was happy that it suited me the whole evening for the shopping and I was happier that it was bought at a very reasonable price in the sale going on @Lifestyle.

Careers for a change

2010-07-27T10:28:00.003+05:30

Of late, I have wondered what other careers amuses me and I have listed nearly 10 professions which I would like to pursue apart from being a Softie..

1. Doctor -- The field of Medicine has fascinated me the most right from childhood. Be it any specialist, I just honour them for saving life which is the most precious
entity in this universe.

2. Dance Teacher -- Dancing wow the rhythm and the music, coordination of the whole body and the gracefulness, the emotions shown without words. I shall definitely try to master one form of dance in my life and wish to teach kids and help them enjoy the elegance and happiness out of dancing.

3. Marriage/Party Organizer -- Organizing an event is not a piece of cake and not any less if it is a marriage, I am all set to enjoy cum plan it well and I would definitely like to take the whole burden from the bride and groom's family members and make it a memorable day for the couple.

4. Personal Assistant/Secretary to a business Magnet -- I am kind of excited about this profession, where the secretary is like the right hand cum left hand of a ever-busy business person. I shall be the inner - credit for his/her success and can boast of his/her achievements.

5. Glass cleaning in a multi storeyed building --- I would like to experience this work atleast once. The huge glass buidings and the long rope hanging from the terrace to which I shall cling to and clean square by square -- Can you imagine me like that? The thrill of the height and the difficulty involved in it is attracting me.

6. Librarian -- I would love to arrange the books and have a catalogue of them only in an airconditioned library :P. Also, I shall get to know a milllion author names
and have access to read them at my desk Arranging, Organizing are just good time pass careers for me.

7. Photographer - What more needed when the frozen memories of the minute are captured excellently in a camera and when the beauty of nature is explained without words. Mastering the skill of photography is yet another desired profession of mine.

8. News Reader - Every morning and evening I shall look spic and span and read out from the tele-prompter with my crystal clear voice the news happening around the world from the idiot box. This is another profession which I would like to lay my hands upon.

9. KinderGarten Teacher -- Kids -- their smile, their unanswerable questions, thier cryings, their pranks I love all these. I wish I have the patience of a KG teacher to open a PlaySchool.

10. Writer -- I want to keep writing blogs like this for years to come and be encouraged to do this. Apart from blogs, I haven't in my wildest dreams thought of
writing something fiction. But would like to test my imagination some day.

So do you have any such list of yours? If so I would definitely like to hear about them.

Ten to One --- Tag

2010-07-26T12:21:00.003+05:30

No body tags me. :( and I am hence picking up the tag myself from blogs I read and the ones I find interesting. And I am passing it to all who reads this.

Ten how’s:

1. How did you get one of your scars? After a 5 minute search on my hands, feet and my face, I could spot a scar on my right thumb. The scar was created after some kind of plastic surgery performed to remove a small white foreign substance beneath my skin. The surgery was performed to avoid an evident scar but still a light scar stayed.
2. How did you celebrate your last birthday? I cut a cake @ my office, gave a b’day treat to my friends, got a gift and had a pleasant time having a nice dinner at a wonderful ambience on the shores of Hussain Sagar Lake.
3. How are you feeling at this moment? I am so much excited that I am doing a tag and I will be posting 3 posts today. Yes I love blogging and giving shape to my thoughts.
4. How did your night go last night? My last night started with a feeling that I had put up some extra weight. Then I was also happy for my to-be bride soon sister as she purchased 3 saris after nearly 3 hours of shopping. My night ended seeing the second half of the 3-idiots movie.
5. How did you do in high school? I was the topper in my school, in my town, in my district and stood 5th in my state. I am thrilled to remember those memories and really shocked today to know – “Was it me who did all that?”
6. How did you get the dress you’re wearing? I am right now wearing a parrot green colour chudithar which my aunt and mom shopped for me. They do a lot of shopping for me apart from what I do for myself.
7. How often do you see your best friend(s)? Hardly twice a year.  I wish I see them more often. But then I do keep in touch to forget the distance.
8. How much money did you spend last month? My Credit card statement shows exactly how much I spent and I did spend a lot more. I spent 30% of my salary apart from the regular household expense.
9. How old do you want to be when you get married? 27-29
10. How old will you be at your next birthday? The answer is within my blog and find it out for yourself.

Nine what’s:
1. Your mothers name? The name of a river in the land of Cholas.
2. What did you do last weekend? Danced, Watched a movie, Had a fight with sister, and Shopped with family.
3. What is the most important part of your life? My relationship with loved ones.
4. What would you rather be doing? Completely wrapped up in my bed either with a novel or sound sleeping in this lovely weather.
5. What did you last cry over? 48 hours before. When I realized I uttered some words which I should not have said at any cost even after being provoked so much. I cry a lot if I come to know I am wrong.
6. What always makes you feel better when you’re upset? Talking to my mom and my aunt. They make me feel really really better if I am upset.
7. What’s the most important thing you look for in a significant other? Must be active and intelligent.
8. What are you worried about? Nothing significant to list in this. I am glad for it. Touchwood.
9. What did you have for breakfast? Cornflakes & a glass of milk.

Eight you’s:
1. Have you ever liked someone who had a girlfriend/boyfriend? Yes.
2. Have you ever had your heartbroken? Yes.
3. Have you ever been out of the country? No.
4. Have you ever done something outrageously dumb? Dumb – Yes. Outrageously dumb – I could not think of any right now.
5. Have you ever been back stabbed by a friend? Yes.
6. Have you ever had sex on the beach? No!
7. Have you ever dated someone younger than you? No!
8. Have you ever read an entire book in one day? Yes quite a few Indian fictions when I had the time at a stretch to complete the book in a day. I wish I do get enough time like that more in future.

Seven who’s:
1. Who was the last person you saw? My friend Sidhu, sitting beside me at office.
2. Who was the last person you texted? Chaitanya, another friend of mine.
3. Who was the last person you hung out with? My mom, sister and her fiancée.
4. Who was the last person to call you? A close friend of mine.
5. Who did you last hug? I never hug anyone.
6. Who is the last person who texted you? Again Chaitanaya, to whom I replied.
7. Who was the last person you said “I love you” to? I haven’t said it since a very long long time.

Six where’s:
1. Where does your best friend(s) live? She lives in bangalore and He lives in Hyderabad.
2. Where did you last go? A sari shop.
3. Where did you last hang out? Movie in a multiplex.
4. Where do you go to school? Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu.
5. Where is your favorite place to be? Necklace Road & British Library.
6. Where did you sleep last night? On my bed in my room here @ my Hyderabad home.

Five do’s:
1. Do you think anyone likes you? Yes I do!
2. Do you ever wish you were someone else? Na… I am so happy that I am myself and grateful for who I am now.
3. Do you know the muffin man? No I dont. Going to google it now.
4. Does the future scare you? A little.
5. Do your parents know about your blog? Yes. My mom is a regular follower of my blog.

Four why’s:
1. Why are you best friends with your best friend? He and She accept me for what I am and never think twice to correct me if I am wrong. I have 2 best friends.
2. Why did you get into Blogging? I was feeling alone, I love reading, I love writing, I liked to know new people and make friends.
3. Why did your parents give you the name you have? My sister’s name is Vinupriya and my grandpa felt that my name also should rhyme with it and hence the name.
4. Why are you doing this survey? It’s quite a long time that I had come up with some posts in my blog.

Three if’s:
1. If you could have one super power what would it be? I would like to create a atchaya pathiram to serve the whole world – a mythological food bowl whose content never reduces at all how many ever times u try to empy it.
2. If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you? I would change my grand parents’ mindset to have allowed my mother to complete her graduation.
3. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring 1 thing, what would you bring? I would like to carry with me the Hope that I will be saved one day.

Two would-you-ever’s:
1. Would you ever get back together with any of your ex’s if they asked you? Hmmm yes, I have did that.
2. Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love? Yes if I have no other option left.

One last question:
1. Are you happy with your life right now? I am very much happy. No complaints. No regrets.

Peril @ End House

2010-07-13T13:54:00.002+05:30

Nothing has enthralled me so much till now than finishing a Agatha Christie novel in less time. @ End House Monsieur Poirot, Christie's famous Belgian Detective widely remembered as a short guy with a sharp mustache accidentally gets involved in solving a murder mystery even after his retirement. I really felt so bad that I didn't read a book for the past one month or so, due to my sheer laziness and nothing else like priorities, reasons, work etc. Wanna direly get rid of that feeling, hence went to library and got 3 books as usual -- one is Agatha Christie, other is Indian Fiction and the third is a story in the English Land. Peril @ End House by Agatha is one of the stages where Poirot's intelligence is showcased. The plot was same, the characterization was same, the country atmosphere was same and with our same Poirot this time, a different puzzle to solve. In the course of the novel, all the characters are being suspected for the murder except a few who has clear alibis for them. In the end, the surprise was that to-be victim character herself was the assassin. Through Poirot, the author tells that any mystery is like a bundle of puzzle pieces and each has to be fitted in its right place to give us the final shape. Also, organizing the things, planning out properly, noting down the events happened, writing down the doubts as questions all help in solving the problem so easily. How simple it would be if Poirot's logic and wit is applied to all matters of life. Yet another time, it has been proved that Poirot's Grey cells can match none. Alas, my Grey cells could never succeed in hand before to guess the criminal. I have read so many Agatha Christie novels till date, but every time the excitement has never been less than before. The thrill and the eagerness to know who killed whom and the motive behind it and gathering the proofs to prove the murderer guilty--- all help in spending my nights so well that I tend to forget the time more often :) I am looking forward to read such exciting books.

My Sins Against Gender Stereotypes

2010-06-30T17:13:00.003+05:30

Happen to see this tag in IHM blog. Have you all wondered at any point of time in your life that why are some things meant for men and some for women. Though there have never been reservations for the gender in Education and Job anywhere in the world, there have always been restrictions/differences for both men and women for one or the other thing. I am not here to post my biased views neither I am going to curse any gender for their so called stereotypism. It is just a funny tag and I have to just list down atleast ten things which I have ever wanted or done which my gender is not supposed to and here they are

* I wish to choose my attire without spending much time in trial rooms and in front of the mirror.
* With the soccer worldcup around, my nights would have spent in front of tv cheering so well for my team.
* Gone for atleast 2 bike trips till date.
* Reached women's hostel after 9 at my college days
* Wouldnot have missed the parties which my friends are having at late nights
* Would have Slapped two guys right in their face at the road for reacting too much about traffic rules.
* Hated soft toys especially teddy bears
* Lazily spent the weekends entirely by browsing in the same posture.
* Made more friends without any hesitation.
* Given more emotional/physical support to my mom.

As per the tag, who ever does the tag is supposed to tag twelve blogging friends or else you will be cursed to wear blue clothes pants if you are a woman and pink shirts if you are a man – for next twelve years. Hence I hereby tag

Nil
Sulagna
Sakshi
Aishwarya
Cathy
QMT
Mohit
Anbarasan
Shayon
TBG
Vignesh
Bee'morgan

Ravanan -- Not worth the hype

2010-06-28T17:15:00.000+05:30

In midst of so much hard feelings at heart and in spite of a heavy downpour, I watched Ravanan - the much hyped and the latest tamil flick directed by many movie-goers' favourite Mani Ratnam (Mani sir from now on). I had booked the ticket 3 days back for the opening day's evening show. Planned to go with mom but unfortunately she had to stay back and I took my uncle instead who happened to be in Hyderabad for a totally different reason. Coming to the movie, by this time many of the net-surfers would have read about the movie. A friend of mine has even downloaded the torrent of the movie (my deepest sympathies to Mani sir if he gets to know of this.) The whole movie is a feast only to the eyes and not to the brain. Based on the plot of the ancient Indian epic - Ramayana, the movie starts with the kidnapping of Ragini(Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), wife of Dev(PrithviRaj) by Veera aka Raavanan(Vikram). Seeing her courage, Veera fails to kill her in 14 hours rather end falling in love with her before the 14 days forest-arrest. The story line is not so attractive and it is very clear what happens next. Also the dialogues by pathetic Hasini makes me wonder whether I came for a Mani Sir's movie, coz his movie dialogues are usually soul-stirring. A village based desi-story never impresses me no matter if the story is good and no matter if it is directed by Mani Sir.

I liked a few scenes in the movie and they are in this order:
1. Ragini jumping in the athirampalli falls ( I have been there to that waterfalls place :))
2. Ragini's prayer to Lord Vishnu ( I love that form of lord vishnu - the one in which he lays down on his palm)
3. Ragini's costumes(only the salwars she wears in the movie were just amazing)
4. The pre-climax bridge duel(something new I have seen in the recent times)
5. The climate and the weather shown in the climax and in the entire movie. (The rain and the chillness always prevailing in the forest land was so nice)

I wished that Ragini could have jumped along with Veera to show her love on him and to prove that Dev does not deserve her. But nothing sort of that happened in the movie. Thanks to Mani sir that he did not show that Dev & Ragini joined at the end and lived happily. Lord Ram never tried or persuaded Sita to stay with him and never will Dev get Ragini after using her as a bait.

I had booked for the Hindi version of the movie in IMAX screen 2 days later and had to watch that also in shivering cold. I direly wanted to get rid of that Suhasini's dialogues and hence went for the Hindi version too. Comparing both the versions of the movie, Vikram's acting was so nice than that of Abhishek, who is just staring in the film rather than showing out emotions. Vikram as Dev in Hindi did his part quite well. About Ragini --- she danced well and her courage was too much to jump in that falls :) A chemistry lacked between her and Dev(Prithviraj), good they both had just a song together. Kudos to Santhosh Sivan, the cinematographer who made me sit in the movie hall twice for the film and the direction was good - the way Mani Sir said the story to us although there was not much to say. And how can I not mention about the maestro genius who enthralled us once again with his art of expressing everything in superb music. ARR's bgm was too too good to be put in words and I am not the one to review anything about him. Totally I was impressed and the Behene De will be in my playlist forever :)

It made me smile

2010-06-28T12:20:00.002+05:30

The month of June has been terrible till the last week but still I managed to bring smile in my lips. I would definitely want to blog them down here. After a long wait, I could open up a savings account in a public sector bank apart from my salary account. This I have been asked to do 2 years back, but could end up doing it only the last week. I am so happy about it. I should really appreciate the Manager(operations) at the SBI HPS branch to ease out of the proceedings of the account opening for me. For a change, the SBI staff were really kind. I had a very bad day at the same branch some 2 years back when I had to take a Demand Draft. I have been asked to run between counters to fill a form. That was really pathetic for the staff to take nearly 15 mins to give me a form. But after this 2 years, the scenario there was completely changed. At the reception, a physically challenged lady was seated to help everyone. What a fantastic woman she is. She was able to guide me with the minute details for every silly question I asked her. Plus, she never changed her tone and answered so softly to everyone's queries. And the lady at the Operations desk was just too good. I had to meet her again the coming week for a favour. Hope she helps me by just following the bank procedures and not expecting too much from me. I was really happy to be back home with my account details after the 2 hours in the bank :)

A friend of mine gifted me this Photomosaic. This is basically a Jigsaw puzzle made up of 1000 pieces. He has been so kind to choose this gift when he travelled from US and the joining of these puzzles has been my pastime from the last two days. I have completed 15% of the puzzle and it is coming out so beautifully. I could easily spend 3 hours at a stretch on this puzzle making and I am just loving it. One more puzzle is on its way to Hyderabad :) which I myself ordered it online @JigsawJungle.com. The act of joining these puzzles gives me more patience than ever. The 1000 odd pieces are just scattered and definitely not missing. To solve them, it is just a trial and error, more patience, little brain to find it out and place it in the right place. The smile and happiness that engulf me when a long-searched piece is found can not be put in words. It is a wonderful feeling and my mom tells that life is also just the same as this puzzle, where the solution to each problem lies around us but is just scattered and spread at different directions. How true life's complications coincides with a simple puzzle game. Fantastic isn't it?

One more thing which has knocked my door to bring me smile is that my final C.G.P.A for my M.S came a week back and I scored 83% which is far beyond my exam preparations and I am so much satisfied with it. I also had a nice walk in the necklace road with a cherished friend of mine for an hour on a weekday(24/06). The talks, laughs, pranks and the cool breeze made me really rejuvenate and forget the miserable days. I shall try to make that walk once in a fortnight atleast from now on.

I am waiting for a few more things to happen which will make me smile and giggle a lot. Will wait patiently for it and keep my blog updated :)

It's not the same anymore..........

2010-06-07T13:45:00.001+05:30

Can something be erased from memory just with a snap of a finger?. If this can be done, I wanna apply it for the last 4 days of my life. Never before I had or Never again I can bear this. I just wish I can act in this life of mine thinking that nothing has happened. A wierd fantasy land might help me soon to do all this. I don't want anyone's help to overcome from this type of feeling. Rather I will try my best to fight with myself to remain as cold as possible. But is this right? Or will it help? I am scared that I shall lose belief in many things in this world. I was not in a state of confusion this time. I was very clear in what I spoke or what I thought. The truth is that I didnot have any choices to get perplexed this time.

I could have avoided all that happened and all the words. If I had done that this time, some day later I may think myself as a coward. I could have been spared of only the incident and not the outcome. I am bound to digest the fact and the fact is so much concentrated with no trace of coolness/tenderness in that to soothe myself. Due to this, I am no more the same as yesterday. I hope I dont turn to much cruel and develop hatred because of all this. The sooner I recover from this, the better it will be for myself and people around me. There are many choices to make the recovery.

I can indulge myself in more books/ more work/ more music.
I can surrender to the silent phase in life by being so cold from within.
I can seek the help of someone special to pacify my anger and to cool down my hatred. May be I got to find that special person :) or I had already found and still hesitant to seek help.
If not will therapy help me? Yes but only if I totally need it. I think I may not need it. This blog of mine shall always remain such a special place to me to help me in all this painful days :-)

Horizon is blurring

2010-06-01T16:55:00.002+05:30

I read this beautiful line daily, "The biggest lie in the planet: 'When I get what I want, I will be happy." Do you want to speak this lie often or you are ready to face the truth? I never knew that truth can be this bitter. The things which we always dislike ends up being the truth. Getting a mango to eat u like is great but getting it always reduces the sweetness of the fruit u want. The thing which I like to culture in myself and in many others is to get satisfied what I/we get. I mean this only for materialistic things and not for experience and knowledge. No body can sit idle and be happy after finishing just 5th class. Learning should be never-ending. Apart from the knowledge, you can always say 'enough' to any thing. When you start saying enough for the materialistic things you possess and start enjoying what you have presently, life is a bliss. Often we tend to forget what we have in our almirah and search for the same in the shop. At the same time, I never stop working and earning money. I can never do that. I realised that I cannot stop wishing for things as I am not a ardent follower of Gandhi and I can never be also. I would also never say to stop running behind your dreams provided your dreams are within a limit. Who draws the limit? It is upto each one of us to do that. We can either remain greedy or remain intelligent and distinguish ourselves from the rest of the cribbers. The limit/boundary we want to reach becomes blurred as we approach it. Try hard not to erase the line and try to enjoy within the line always. Never crib when you have given a chance to draw a limit. There are many who are not as lucky as we are.

Once I attended a Gandhian talk given by a great Philosopher. I was very curious to know how to lead a Gandhian life. He started asking us when will be get satisfied and how much money will make us lead a peaceful life instead of cribbing. A few people in the meeting came up with amounts like a crore, 10 crores, a million etc. But the speaker made us understand at the end that we all will never get satisfied with that amount even after getting it. When we get that, we shall crave for double the value. Except for a handful and easily countable number of people, all else in this world are like that only. Why else would Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani keep on increasing their profits quarter by quarter? Why else we would expect increments by a margin of 5-10% every year? Why else would the gold rate increase every fortnight? No body today as far as I have come across have said "This is enough for me; I dont want any more". But can we eat 5 kgs of rice in a time? Can we wear more kg of gold than our weight? Certainly No... There is a limit to everything. We can always draw a limit to what we need and strive to get that. Once we cross that limit, we tend to draw the next limit rather than enjoying what we got.. "We" includes everyone in this planet. I am not going to exclude anyone not even me in this. This is how we are. But if we think a little more and start saying enough a number of times, rather than cribbing and being greedy, we can make heaven at home.

Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!!

2010-05-25T12:30:00.003+05:30

The thought of the birthday cake, a lovely bouquet and all new new things to be worn and getting decked up and going to office --- how can she miss all those enjoyments coming once a year...So, in spite of a very damn cough, today morning, she turned hyper active and started smiling the time she opened her eyes. It is the young lady's birthday today and she is enjoying it with all her friends wishing her now and then. Messages in her inbox wishing joyful year and cool handshakes and wishes from dear ones are making the day. And she is yet to receive so many calls. Hope no one forgets it. The girl is turning 24 and she has grown up so much and no one will call her girl but woman. Naa she is still a kid to her mom and will be always special to few. Wish her a very Happy Happy Birthday and I am giving her a tight hug to keep her smiling the rest of the year......

Grass is green on other side of the fence

2010-05-21T16:55:00.005+05:30

Yesterday I was reminded again of the proverb, that the grass on the other side will be always green. Though I know this proverb right from my school days, why am I forgetting this now and then and start cribbing about life. I know very well that money is not everything in life and I know clearly that only hard work can get me success. But still then, my mind goes wavering and start jealous about things which I cant achieve at this point of time and can never do it for years to come. The reason could be the economic situation I was and the restrictions as a middle-class person should have been nearly 7 years ago. There could be lots of reasons for it, but the truth is my hard work was not enough for the feat. Many around me think that I have succeeded well in life and have reached a few feats unachievable by others. Me and my mom together dreamt myself to be a physician rather than being a software engineer who I am today. The sight of the clean hands and the white coat and the steth amazed me a little more than the guys who earned more in less time by doing very intelligent work with the computer. If I had thought and foreseen that I would write a blog on my career shift and crib about the other side, I would have studied a bit more for my medical entrance. :) But with the 2003 cricket world cup around, does anybody think that I could have scored more than 97%. Today, I have loop holes to escape questions from everyone, but at the same time, I should be able to satisfy myself too.

I should also be contented with what I get today. I am happy with my life. I am so blessed to get a monthly salary with which I can eat, sleep, drink, do a lot of things which many in life can't do. I am also contented that I got a lovely family and lots of caring friends. I am proud that I am doing the 2nd best job I could have chosen. I can also raise my collars and say that I pursue my hobby of dancing after all this 23 years of life. Even at this moment, I have the full interest to learn any new things to keep me occupied. Then the most important of all things, I have not got bored in life in the past 5 months. To be frank, I don't have enough time to finish off my novels and write a blog post on what all I read and what all I come across. I am also excited about my post graduation getting completed in 6 months for sure{ I passed my 3rd semester officially}.

So since I am happy about all this, I should not crib/cry/remain sleepless thinking that I could have done that/this. I could have been a doctor. I could have been sent to states for my post graduation. All is past. No regrets again. If I do this once again, I am a foolish girl and I dont want to be tagged like that. I want to live in the present believing strongly that the other side of the fence will be always greener than the side where I stand. But I dont like the colour green and I am happy remaining yellow. :)

Words.....

2010-05-18T13:46:00.002+05:30

How much can words hurt you? Can they pierce your well-guarded mind like a lightning?. Well in my case the words coming out of the mouth as well as the words written on a piece of paper can do equivalent harm. I dont feel any difference in them. They have hurt me and touched my soul equally. Very rarely the books I read make me feel and make me think a lot. Today when I was reading a novel, suddenly all my senses were confined a single thought of misery and it took me nearly 30 mins to come out of the feeling. I just wished to erase that moment when I read those lines. It is a misery of a young girl faced in her home where the fairer sex is considered as good for nothing living beings. It was not exaggerated much. But the situation and the culprit words striked me and had shaken me so much that I felt really a chill down the spine. The experience was indeed a new one to me. I craved for some nice chocolate to get rid of the feeling. I drank so much water and tried to forget the incident in the book but with no vain. After nearly half an hour and a gentle cribbing about the book to my friend I was little relaxed. In this whole morning episode of my life, one thing I am again remembered is that I am just so so so sensitive and get easily emotional. Is that the reason, the fairer sex is marked as the weaker sex too??? I feel ashamed to accept this fact. But I can also think that I am just so cared about everything. When you see others in pain, you should always feel sad for them rather than being happy or being untouched. And just by feeling its not enough. You should always take the initiative to make others happy. I guess I learnt this in my Moral Science class. But why am I writing all this here in this post where I just want to explain myself more and make me cheerful. Its all the things which I ought to remind myself again and again. Never Ever think of hurting others by words. I guess I would have forgotten this, hence I am faced to hear all words which I dont want to, coz what u do is the reason for all what you get.

I also had a very bad weekend listening to some words I dont deserve to hear at any cost. I am not going into details of why I got to hear them and why I ought to fight with him, since sometime later, when I read these words, I donot want to cry. I have a strong conviction that this also will pass and will make me stronger a bit than yesterday. And with my 24th birthday coming up in a week, I dont want to spoil my week recalling all these cruel words and doing much thinking. Wish to have a peaceful week ahead.

Do I have to SAY?

2010-05-03T13:48:00.002+05:30

Pre:Script:
Almost all the sentences below will start with 'I' and end with 'I' and I am sure this will be kind of a boring posts to many. It is one of those times, I just wish all these are put in words and re-read by me again and again and so I cannot help posting this. Ur genuine comments are always welcome.

Life is full of contradictions and so am I. I felt again a lot of mixed emotions last week. So many kind of thoughts engulfed me in a week. I am reminded once more that I tend to lose my temper so easily and get to a mood of upset from which it takes a really long time to come out. I have been adviced to show my emotions out and I am also said some other time that it is better to hide your emotions for the larger benefit of self and others. The choice has always been mine and have been encouraged to choose among anything to show myself matured. But in the midst of these choices and decisions, somewhere I get lost to convince my choice to others whom I mostly dependant on for my happiness. Convincing others --- the thought comes when I need others to accept my feelings and when I want others to look the way I look. Its not always right. It is a terrible mistake if I ask my neighbour to dress the way I want. But dont I have the right to ask people look at my life the way I want? Truly speaking, I am really bad at convincing people be it a small party to be given to my colleagues which I think of procrastinating always or be it any life altering decison. This is one of my weakness I am trying to forego. Rather foregoing, I just want others to understand without me being the one to explain things. I know its kind of exaggerated wanting from mine. No one can guess what my brain is thinking unless they are put in words. Its so bad na, that the words which come out of our mouth and the eyes showing the emotions are the only 2 things from which others can find u out. I need some more kind of extra things to show my emotions, rather than using words at the momentous times. They can be wrong. Many a times, words put at the right time were totally wrong and totally meaningless, never intended to show or prove myself and my thoughts. I am trying hard not to repeat that kind of thing anymore. When I am given a keyboard or a pen, and when I am asked to express, I can do it far better and strict to my thoughts rather than being contradictory. But I really create a mess when I am asked to answer someone face to face. Rather than being true to myself, I end up in being good to the eyes of others, which at later point of time upsets me. I should learn the habit of being true to myself and true to others at the same time, which I know will never happen. But trying to achieve that feat is the essence of living and will be in my to-do list from now on.

My trip to Chennai

2010-04-22T13:42:00.004+05:30

I have been away from this space for quite a long time. I am getting slightly bored of reading so much articles as well as writing them down. The laziness in me and the time available for squeezing my blogging time to my schedule is also getting little difficult. But as I always do, I want to keep this as a bookmark of all nice and not so nice incidents in life.

After nearly 4 months gap, I made a plan to visit my state. I would rather not say it as home coz I didnot go to my home. My home has become my dad's home and the home over here in Hyderabad has become mine gradually. Such was the distance and the gap has been widened. The reason for the drift might take another huge post, but now its only about my trip to Chennai, the most humid city I have known. The trip was for initially just 2 days coz I didnot want to miss my weekend dance classes. But later I was ready to forego it for the sake of enjoying my land for another 2 days. I say it my land because people over there speak my mother tongue. I dont have any other sentiments towards it. Rather I just detest - totally detest its climate. I am not used to get sweated every minute of the day. I dont have energy to travel long time to reach different places in the city. I am not financially sound to pay the autowallas who really demand so much and we cannot bargain with them. At the same time I cannot travel in the local buses as I just hate the bus crowd.

The four day stay -- 2 nights in an a/c hotel room and 1 night in my uncle's place helped me forget the woes of routine life for a while. The intention of this trip is to watch IPL Match in Chennai. As the IPL matches have been shifted from Andhra{courtesy: Telangana issue}, we had this idea of why not watch in chennai, being ardent supporters of CSK. I had other reasons too like visiting my cousins, uncles, aunts, friends and of course shopping {How come I can think a trip without shopping}.

We had a nice treat given by my uncle on the first day. The reason for the treat is that my cousin has got admission to NUS for his Ph.D and has got a job too after the successful completion of his bachelor's degree. The same day was the IPL match -- the 50th match in IPL season 3 -- CSK Vs DD. We had got a right vantage point to see all the players. Viewing the match under the flood lights was awesome as usual. But to my bad luck, I could not see the team whom I support winning. In spite of that loss, all 10 people of us had a nice time.

The second day, I had been to Panagal Park, TNagar & Pondy Bazaar{These are all the famous shopping spots in Chennai}. I didnot shop much as I went to a bad mood in some silly thing which is not worth mentioning here :). Chk out my mehendi hand picture and tell me how is it? I had this done in Panagal Park road side... I had this chance to see the Elliot's Beach(aka Besant Nagar Beach) on the second day of my stay there. For a change, the beach was clean. Wow, chennai people are changing. I hope the shops and the crowd dont make the beach line dirty any more.

The third day morning after meeting one of my friends, I went to Spencer{one of the earliest opened Malls in India} - a huge shopping mall with all types of shops. Spent nearly half day there and then I was lucky this time - Mom bought me a gold jewellery, after spending nearly 3 hours in the jewellery shop. We all were very tired, rushed to hotel, checked out and took our baggage and then went to my uncle's house to see his new - born kid. The kid was soooo cute. I didnot have heart to bid bye to the baby but the trip is over and I am back to my state and back to my office without much tiredness. :)

I will miss my Pen!!!!!

2010-04-05T16:21:00.003+05:30

Many will not believe me if I say that I love exams and I adore the feel of writing all things I know in paper. In the last exam of my under graduation, I was writing the full 3 hours and I didn't want to part and bid adieu to my answer sheet. But its time now to give a permanent bye to all those stuff related to exams. Again in life, I will not get a chance to write down my roll number and subject name on the answer sheet. I need not be on time to the examination hall. I will never feel the shake in my heart while receiving the question paper again. The sound of the first bell and the last bell will not make me cross-check the time in my watch. I may not be visualising the silence in the rooms, the minute whispers between the friends, invigilators munching biscuits and drinking tea in the smallest cup, turning the paper some ten times without knowing anything, holding a expressionless face.. All this came to end yesterday. And yeah, I will not be writing any more exams for atleast 3 years from now. I had completed all my written exams for my Masters degree and just a semester of thesis is left pending. I sincerely hope I pass this sothat I need not appear again for it. I know I am making a fuzz of this so much, but the open-book exams made me lose trust on myself. And after my postgraduation, I have no idea of doing further research in the near future.

I shall definitely miss all those tensed times and the continuous reminders from Mom to study. But I also feel a sense of relaxation, a great burden lifted off my shoulders. It is like a mixed feeling as usual for me. I feel both happy and sad. Happy that I need not toil myself. Sad that I have grown up so much today and I have finished my role as a student writing exams. I have never been late to exam hall all these days. And I usually face the exams with a little light-head than others. But the M.S exams were totally bizarre. Those made me get very wild dreams that I missed my exam and I had arrived at the wrong exam hall. I need a break from all those dreams and I direly wish that I dont get any such dreams again.

Shopping..........

2010-04-05T15:55:00.003+05:30

I have been reading about Shopping recently. Today I thought that I should write my views on this wonderful past time for most of the girls and a few guys in the world. I don't know why there is a gender gap in this regular activity. I mean why does some men hate shopping and why does some women are being criticized so much for it. Like we brush, like we bath, like we eat, we too have to dress up. So shopping is not a sin and women who love to shop should never be looked down. Personally I have felt so many times, that a walk to your favorite store can rise up my mood. Read from web tat a research revealed many women still remembered their first pair of shoes than remembering their first kiss. Why is women so much obsessed with shopping? See u get a new thing - u feel happy. When a new baby is born -- Parents are so much delighted. On getting a new job - the college passed out is on the cloud nine. Similarly be it any new and fresh thing, people tend to forget their worries and be happy and they are entitled to it. The thought of possessing a new fresh thing for yourself is like something you achieved. So I guess its nothing wrong to shop provided u don't rob some one's purse or bankrupt yourself. There is a full stop to any sentence. Similarly for any wishes, there is a limit. The same holds true for shopping also. U plan to buy a pair of shoes and a pair of trousers, but u end up getting 3 pairs in each is not fair. It cannot be justified by anyone and I will not be on that side of the coin. But u get one pair in each after a long search, those moments are really nice. Drawing a line between shopaholic, spendthrift and being sensible is the key point to catch out here. Once you know the demarcation, you can enjoy your life without being criticized by anyone. Also you will not be crying on the day of your credit card statement being dispatched at your door step. So with all this in mind, throw your hands out and shop to the fullest. Have fun.

If I were....

2010-03-18T12:57:00.014+05:30

Got to see this from Harini's blog and loved doing it in my blog.

If I were a month, I'd be freezing December.
If I were a day of the week, I'd be Saturday.
If I were a sea animal, I'd be a Nemo Fish. Its so cute.

If I were a time of the day, I'd be either Sunrise/Sunset. Both are amazing.
If I were a season, I'd be Rainy season.
If I were a planet, I'd be red planet Mars.

If I were a direction, I'd be East.

If I were a piece of furniture, I'd be the sleeping couch.

If I were a gemstone, I'd be dazzling Ruby.

If I were a liquid, I'd be Water.

If I were a tree, I'd be a Bamboo.

If I were a tool, I'd be the Pastel brush.

If I were an element, I'd be cool Air.
If I were a kind of weather, I'd be Cloudy & Windy.

If I were a place, I'd be London.

If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a Flute.

If I were a color, I'd be Red.

If I were an emotion, I'd be Excited.

If I were a fruit, I'd be the juicy Apple.

If I were a sound, I'd be the soft & secret whisper.

If I were a bird, I'd be the graceful Dove.If I were a material, I'd be cool cotton.

If I were a food, I'd be the butter Chicken.

If I were a taste, I'd be Sweet.
If I were a car, I'd be the luxurious Lamborghini.
If I were a scent, I'd be the Rose fragrance.

If I were an object, I'd be the wrist watch.

If I were a body part, I'd be the Eyes.
If I were a flower, I'd be the Jasmine.

If I were a facial expression, I'd be a calm, relaxed & serene.

If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be the infant boots :)

A Ray of Hope

2010-03-16T12:07:00.003+05:30

How hard is to fore-go a relationship and make a new one? I am talking here about the so called soulmate, life partner, better half and any other word u find similar to it. Is it as easy as changing your dress or your irritating job? Or is it as hard as facing the demise of a long lasted relationship? Even in death, we forego a relationship. When the heart beat stops in medical terms, u break up all the bonds with that human being. He/She is no more a living one. You know clearly that that person is not going to come back to your life anymore. How hard you try, how much effort the whole world puts together, no never, the life can't come back. The memories of them alone remain with you forever without haunting you.

But its not the same thing when u break a relationship with a loved one. How should it be taken to heart if the person opposite you cannot be touched and or you have no rights/limits to be in his/her premises. Can the situation be handled so easily? Or there books to teach us the way to act in such kind of environments? Do people earlier who had passed such phases have left clear advises for us?. I am sure that such things even if they exist cannot make up for the pain and gloomy feeling left around us.

The aftermath of a lost relation, the truth and love proved wrong yet again by life makes u lose the confidence level on any decision you take in future. A slight doubt or a hesitation and an uncertainity prevails with your decisions. When will you overcome from all this? Life will be no longer the same one as before. But yes it will be different and a new one. Not only the beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but also your world. The way we try to cope up with the world without our dear ones pulled away from us for eternity, so do we need to try to live even after the deceiving relations also. The ray of hope can never stop shining upon us unless we hide from it.

விண்ணைத் தாண்டி வருவாயா [ Will you cross the skies for me?]

2010-03-10T15:09:00.006+05:30

This is the first time in my blog that I am writing about a tamil/telugu movie I saw recently. The post has spoilers about the movie. So readers plz continue at your own will. I have been waiting to watch this much-hyped movie since very long time and the wait did not go fruitless. After hearing to the story scene by scene from my mom, I happened to watch the movie only in my computer. [ :( the movie didnot release in Tamil in Hyderabad and I have the least intention of watching the same in Telugu].

Karthik{can someone plz tell me the magic in this name}[Simbu], an engineering graduate who is interested more in movies and aspires to become a film - maker. Jessi[Trisha], born Malayali, a MCA graduate, software engineer by profession, elder than Karthik, confused at heart just crosses by Karthik. That moment was enough for the guy to fall in love with her. Is it really really true that a guy can fall in love in a second?????? Karthik and his family are the new tenants in Jessi's home. He proposes to her saying the usual Gautam Menon's dialogues "I am crazy about you blah blah blah" very soon on a day when they were casually talking. The much surprised rather than excited Jessi starts the relationship with a big NO. Her words are always oxymorons. How can she start a relationship with a NO! If it is a NO, dont u think its an end. No, its not an end but the start. She likes Karthik but she doesnot want him to love her. She allows him to come near her even to the verge of having a smooch, but then she says its all wrong. She wants Karthik to be a friend and be with her always, but not marry him for the fear of her father. She is not given the right to decide in her life, whom to marry, but she has the courage to walk down the altar on the day of her marriage, saying she is not yet ready to tie the knot. After this, Jessie comes out for a date with Karthik to a coffeeshop coz she felt so doing like that but she is not ready to confront her dad supporting his love. Gautam has not taken the least effort to justify Jessie's character. When Karthik points out Jessie's faults of why is she behaving like that -- neither loving him nor going away from him, she just walks away from him with no explanation. By ignoring him and walking away from him without giving any explanations, she expresses her inability and weakness. She is not ready to take a chance in her life, since she clearly know that its not going to happen. Then why the hell did she tell him that she too like him? Its true that she like him, but no guts to express her feelings and stand by her words. So Jessie in the first place should never have fallen in love. Is it?? Even after saying initially YES to Karthik's love, Jessie finally break up with him and move away from him. Leave out the skies, she is not even ready to cross her parents to come for him. விண்ணைத் தாண்டி அவள் வரவில்லை.

Of all the women in the world, why did Karthik loves Jessie? Of all the happy ending love stories, why did I like this sad climaxed movie? I dont know to put in words the exact reason, why I liked this movie. May be because, I have seen myself in Jessie's words and in her life many a times in the movie. Also, I can relate the movie to so many real life stories known to me. Its so real that today's women want to fell in love, but could not keep up to it for so many reasons. I know guys out there would curse Jessie for breaking Karthik's heart and curse me also for backing up Jessie's acts and liking this heart broken love story. There was an instance when Jessie ask Karthik --- "why did u come to my life? If not you, I would never have had this troubles". Yes, if not Karthik, Jessie's life would have been smooth. Is it so?

Love & Romance cannot be shown more poetically than this romantic director - Gautam Vasudev Menon, and that too with Rahman's melody, any one can enjoy the sequence of shots and songs. I would say that Trisha and Simbu had done 80% justice to the characters. But I am bound to say this, that the dialogue delivery by Karthik is pathetic. I feel the same expression in his words for all the emotions. Chinmayee's voice is fresh, superb and soft but for Trisha, it didn't suit that well. I am used to Trisha's old voice. In the end, altogether I am happy to know that Tamil people{plz include me also} enjoyed the sad climax rather than being so dramatic as in the land I am staying.

You realise you are grown up...........

2010-03-05T17:07:00.002+05:30

On your birthday seeing the number of candles on ur cake.
When someone asks your year of birth though it is considered indecent to ask someone their age especially to women.
Sometimes when you will be addressed as Madam with so much respect in places where u might not expect.
At times when you are expected to hide your tears since crying often is always accepted as kiddish.
When a school kid calls you aunty in local transport or in public places.
You dont need someone to accompany you to a movie theatre.
Also when you will be left all alone at home with the belief that you can stay and take care of the house and urself with no one around.
Occasions where you are capable to cook for the whole family and even your grandma appreciates the taste of food.
You no longer belong to the gang of KIDS, TEENAGERS or ADOLESCENTS.
When your cousin phone up and discuss with you his future plans/ ask you suggestions based on ur experience.
On the road when the traffic policeman ask your licence to check if you are eligible to drive (>18 yrs).
You say to your mom confidently that YOU know what/when/how you are doing things, be it any decision you take --- either small / big and she accepts that :).
The sense of responsiblity increases for the house hold chores and you never/cannot depend on others for things to happen.

Memories to Cherish ---- Part III

2010-03-03T11:46:00.001+05:30

Got to get familiarised with the Holi Festival on the first year of my college. The juniors/freshers in our hostel were put up in a separate block so that we dont get ragged by our seniors at night too :) It was pretty new hostel and we had rooms with lockable cupboards. That was one thing our seniors envied upon us those days since the old hostel didn't have them. Coming to the colour festival, the first and the only Holi I celebrated was that on my first year of graduation. Students from many parts of India study together and hence we celebrate almost all festivals with so much enthusisam. Every festival we start playing from 12 midnight. We stay awake till 2 -3 and really disturb others in the hostel. I feel so sorry for those who were disturbed by us in those days. We had access to very few colours but to large amount of water. I remember that since we didnot have any colours, we had used some sketch pens and got some coloured water out of it. How silly of us to do all that stuff? It was definitely a great time. The whole night we were splashing water on each other and dragging people from their rooms and making them wet. But at the end, all the hungama got silenced when our warden came out and gave a growl. By that time, we had almost finished the water in the all the blocks of the hostel. I am sure that we had the least thought of saving water that day.

After that day, I had no chance of playing with colours for 2 reasons. Firstly we Tamilians, never celebrate that festival, Secondly, I am a bit scared of the multi-coloured faces. Whenever I had to travel outside on the day of Holi, I go out with so much caution and fear in my heart. I had heard some awful news of injury and accidents on Holi days where unknown people tease others taking the name of colours. The fairer sex is always the weakest and the most targeted. Festivals are meant to bring people together. Let us vow each other to make them more meaningful and more enjoyable rather than hurting others' feelings.

Team Outing

2010-02-26T14:37:00.002+05:30

This weekend is going to be a little different from the rest, coz I am off to an office team gathering at a resort near by. The event has been in discussion from the past 2 months and is going to happen tomorrow finally. The team outing is basically to have an interaction with our peers outside the office more socially and get to know each other better. We are totally a team of 50 members out of them we hope nearly around 40 will turn up. Every year we have this kind of interaction during which the company sponsors the minimum possible budget to our team. We do a car pooling to save on transport. Breakfast and Lunch buffets are ordered and a few games are arranged. The main goal of this event is somehow lost due to different perspectives. First and foremost is people never want to meet their office peers on a Weekend. I am very sure that many turn up to the event coz it is made almost a mandatory one. :) Otherwise, who cares to travel up and down 2 hours on a sunny day to go play some really funny games for the purpose of satisfying others in the management. But this is yet another initiative to build more rapport with each other. Lets see how much we gain from it.

And sunday mom will be back in Hyderabad :) and then comes the colour festival. I have booked tickets for a movie too. Will come up with a separate post for Holi & the movie soon. Till then, wish all a Happy & a Safe Holi.

Down with cold :(

2010-02-23T12:02:00.001+05:30

The climate in hyderabad is changing slowly. Everyone here has already started fearing the extreme summer laying ahead of us. Before that, as usual the change in weather has made my immune system little weaker again. Last friday I was not even able to utter a single word when I got up from bed. [courtesy: The mango juice I drank the previous night :( ] . I had this strange feeling that I could not even call and tell my boss to avail a day off. But after some kind of home remedies, I went to office. I made myself stronger a bit not to waste my weekend at bed. And yes I didnot waste it. Thanks to my sister who joined me to the MNIK movie. The movie turned OK but not worth writing about it. Not a single dialogue, a single scene, a single song, a single stare/expression impressed me to write a blog post on it. But it just helped me to pass my time.

The cough and cold is continuing this week and the AC at office is aggravating it. I am getting chilled up minute to minute. With mom not at home, I am getting this strange feeling of loneliness grasping me at times. Trying to spend my time a little wisely to get rid of that feeling. Got to go for a luncheon treat today and read the novel of the week 'Only in London'.

Honesty is next to best policy

2010-02-12T15:57:00.004+05:30

TBG - The Bald Guy has tagged me for the second time. Earlier I had ignored it since I didnot want to answer the list of questions. This time, I have tried my whole best to be honest about these 10 things about me.

1. I am sad to admit that eyes can shed tears for any silly reason. Be it swallowing a tablet, watching a emotional movie/sympathetic person/ even a sentimental advertisement, a stern grin from my dad, a tear from my mom's eyes, anybody in my family crying etc etc --- the list is endless. If you ask me to cry this moment, I can imagine some sad thing and start pouring my tears. But I have improved a lot these days to keep my tear gland intact.

2. I can easily say 'Its boring'. I do and have done crazy things at times to get rid of boredom and enliven myself. To say a few, once I called Airtel customer care at quarter to 12 and chatted for no complaints from my side, I decorated my face and had gone to bed many times, I shuffle my neat wardrobe and rearrange it when I have nothing to do at home. And many more things can be added to this list :)

3. I am a die-hard fan of Harry Potter movies. Have the energy and patience to watch them over and over again 24 X 7. The fantasy land enthrills me and take to a new world whichI am so fond of inspite of knowing it very well that reality is far far far away from all these magic.

4. I am proud to say that I am beyond expectations in my academic front. I stood first in school continuously right from std III to XII. Plus I scored State-Fifth in my XII standard board exams. And in my undergraduation, I was the Out-Standing student in my department and was awarded a gold medal by Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. The photo with him is one of my most treasured photos.

5. My earlier ambition in life(during schooling) was to become a doctor. I ended up choosing software engineer as my profession for which I have not repented much till date. I hope I dont do it in future also, coz I say to myself so many times that I cannot waste my future trying to rewrite my past.

6. 8 out of 10 people love rain and would like to drench in rain and feel the nature's love on us. But I dont like to get drench in rain for the fear of nasty cold and other health problems. My doctor says that my immunity power is little less from birth. The proof for that is I had to be taken to hospital every saturday till the age of 5. So I like to stay away from rain. But if I get the chance to be outside my home during rainy seasons, I do this ---- After the rain, I stand under the tree, shake the branches well so that the rain drops fell on me. WOW that is a wonderful feeling I love the most.

7. I am little pessimistic in my way of looking at many actions at the first time though I know well that being optimistic is a good virtue. This is due to the lack of trust on others upon whom the outcome of the actions depend on.

8. Jack of all trades - Master of None. This proverb suits me. I have tried my hands in a variety of facets in life ----- Glass/Tile/Canvas painting, Dancing, Swimming, Veena playing and yeah blogging too. I donot know abc of sports except that I watch Indian cricket a lot.

9. At times, I contradict my own ideals and thoughts to prove myself right especially in a talk-duel with guys. In simple words, I am a little egoistic girl. Hard to forego it.

10. Even after 23 years, I cannot sleep without hugging a doll/pillow. I feel so uncomfortable when I had to sleep in my relative's house or in train without them.

And in turn I am tagging few more:

1. Karthik
2. Saranya
3. Aishwarya

A decision

2010-02-09T15:01:00.004+05:30

How tough is a decision? Does it depend on the situation or it depends on the user who views the situation. A person who is very clear in what he/she wants and what he/she does not want and who knows very well what is good for all and what is bad for him/her can take a decision very easily. Does this statement hold good and take care of all possibilities of decision? I am not fully aware of it. A decision can be as simple as choosing a flavour of an icecream. It can be a very crucial life altering one. Does the decision also depends upon the variety of choices given to the decision maker?? Of course it matters. Show a kid a dozen flavours of ice-creams and ask him to choose exactly one. If the kid's favourite flavour is Butterscotch - it is easy to choose. But imagine if the kid likes vanilla,chocolate and pista as well. What will be chosen? Exactly same situations happen many times in life also. The earlier the better the decision taken is better. If the kid chooses the icecream flavour after 2 hours, there is a chance that the icecream melts to milk. :) Similarly, there is nothing to think for long time and then come to a final end. Take it today and take it now and take it at once. I am not on the side of decisions taken without a second thought. All outcomes of decision can be thought and analysed in a few time. Procrastinating a decision will help u in no way. It can put the matter to silence at that point of time. But when it erupts, who knows it could end up in an earthquake or in a volcano.

And never ever repent for any decision taken in life. There should not be a sentence from you saying that "I could have done that. If I had done that or if I had taken that path, might be it would have been easier". Such lines are never going to make u go to the past. So stop repenting and save time instead. For any decision there are 2 sides --- One that is very easy and the other is very tough and which most of the times tend to be the right one. Are you going to take a decision which is going to be easy or u going to make one which will keep u happy and make u feel comfortable in the long run but yet tough. The right decision may at times doesnot give u happiness. Happiness is nothing but the absence of sadness. It is just a choice and u can be happy if U want to be and even if u take a tough/difficult decision. So come on face the fact and embrace life with open hands and do not hide from the world postponing things and live in virtual reality. Choose the Right decision though it looks tough. No Pain; No Gain.

Examsssssss

2010-02-01T18:17:00.001+05:30

Gosh!!! I got my exams in a week. Yes I have to write 4 papers of which 2 are more technical, 1 is just theory and the one is about technical communication. All these 4 become part of my internals for the 3rd semester of my post-graduation. I am trying to understand quickly a few concepts in the 2 techincal papers but in vain. Nothing gets into my mind unless I read it for 3 times minimum. But the exams are just 4 days away and the syllabus is huge. This is the last time I guess I will be studying this much in life. Because my Main exams are open-book, that I can take my books happily inside the exam hall. And the final semester is only project work. And ya, I have no intentions of studying further. So just one last time I am going to wake up till 2 at night and have a duel with my books, think about my course content & syllabus most of the time of the day except during sleep, check out old question papers, take notes in a more orderly fashion as I read, and listen to lectures at office also and all other wierd things for a week.

Will not be posting any new posts until next monday.. Wish me luck for my exams...

Swaymvar Rules

2010-01-29T12:08:00.002+05:30

I am the only GIRL in my team of 7 members. One among them direly wants to get married but couldn't find a bride. He asked me one day very casually what qualities does a girl expect from her groom. This conversation ended in a friendly note but not so perfectly. But later I thought why shouldn't I analyse this a little deep and that come out with a blog and here it is.

My Swaymvar Rules:
1. As far as I perceive girls should be broadminded and unprejudiced. The vital thing which to be looked in a guy is that he should treat women as equal partners in every other facet of life, be it personal or professional. When a guy really respect this idea of mine{Not for the sake of words}, he can be definitely appreciated. I don't think I am any less than a man in anything. What's wrong for me, being a woman, must be wrong for any man too...And what's within his rights as a man, is within my rights too despite the fact that I am woman. Sometimes I feel these words are more apt and complete in hindi as follows:

मुझे नहीं लगता मैं किसी मामले में पुरुष से कम हू !
और इस हिसाब से औरत होने के नाते जो बात मेरे लिए गलत है वो पुरुषो के लिए भी गलत होनी चाहिए !!
और मर्द होने के नाते जो बात उनके अधिकार में सही है वो औरत होने के बावजूद मेरे अधिकार में भी सही है!!

2. I wish to be financially independent and love to earn my living. I don't mind who is earning more in the family, but definitely both should contribute to the income. Self-support is a must and no one has rights to deny it from each other. Working women can be equally inspirational as men to their son/daughters.

3. IQ Ratio ---- should be definitely more than me or at least equal to me. I don't want to be a teacher explaining him so many things which I understand and which he doesn't. Sorry I don't have enuf patience for it. It is acceptable for me to say to him that "I do not know" and I am ready to learn from him. I have enough guts to
accept that I am wrong and ready to change myself. But as far as I know men's thoughts, nearly a huge percent of them will not have such guts to accept the fact that they don't know so and so things. So let his IQ ratio be at least high to compromise it.

4. I believe that my actions and only mine will decide and alter my fate & future. At this stage I can never go to some temple and pray to God, make a wish and wait for things to happen for me. So I want him to be an atheist or at least a rationalist.

5. I look forward upon him as a guardian for me and keep me away from this evil, cruel and selfish world. Yes I want a person who is more responsible than me and a little strict as I know that I tend to become kiddish many times. {what to do, my parents and others at home have pampered so much and made me a spoilt brat}

These are other rules which are not-so important but are always added advantages.

Age, Height, Weight ---- More than me plz
Non-Smoker ----- I don't want to treat his cancer in old age.
Not Money-minded --- I want to spend the money I have and not run behind it for life.
No abroad settling ---- I can not be away from my mom for long.
Not a reserved personality -- Let him also be talkative.

All things said make an ideal life, which can be lead only in a dream or read as a story. Expecting everything in the same person is out of my hands, coz I know I don't have the power to animate and design a man's brain. STRONGLY WISH I can create it just like the software I develop. Hence I am also ready for compromises unless and otherwise it does not attack or offend my self-respect and self-esteem. I will not want anything at the cost of losing myself or foregoing my individuality. The "degree of compromise" is the knot at the end which one can never define concisely in advance.

Train Journey in India - A bliss

2010-01-21T12:28:00.001+05:30

Like me, there would be so many people who have a fascination towards travelling in train. I had started travelling in train from the time I was just 28 days old kid from my grandma's home. As a kid I should be so much excited that day, but till date, the excitement hasn't reduced a bit.

There are so many reasons as to why the train journey is such an entertainment for kids, teenagers, bachelors, adults and elders. Its a pleasant travel for kids where they can roam around a little and get to eat something every one hour. The antaksharis and word games played can make the long and sobre journeys enthusiastic. There are so many stories and real life incidents, where bachelors fall in love with a girl met in train. And the endless discussions done with a stranger about Indian politics, educational system, IT industry, farmers' plight, world economy, globalisation, global warming, natural disasters etc. Needless to say how funny it could be, if an elderly uncle travels alone and gives you lectures on where towards the younger generation of India leading. I am sure that anyone travelled in train would have come across such uncles. You can meet wierd and sometimes fantastic personalities in the train journey. Some get to see long-met relations in the stations as the train crosses their city. Some make friendships in train which will last only till the last station most of the time. Some of us hardly speak a word with the co-travellers in the whole journey. The rattling of engine, the baby crying at the next bogie, uncle snoring above your berth, aunty giving uncomfortable gestures asking to switch off the lights soon, passengers moving here and there, smart yet stout ticket checkers, food sellers and above all, the engine driver who dont sleep even when the whole train is dead silent --- all of them make a pleasant journey which for few can leave a permanent mark in the memory.

There are many other sad sides of train travel. Of course, there is always 2 sides in a coin. But let them not be in my blog. I would like you readers to share any other happy memories which is so blissful in a train journey.

Arbit posting by bored banu!!!

2010-01-18T12:39:00.005+05:30

I get easily bored. Especially on a weekend, when I dont have any agenda for the day. If I look back now what I did the past two days, I have nothing to say except for sleeping. I slept so well (the effect of tablets). It was as if the 2 whole days was in a dream. The sleeping syndrome continues today even at office :(. It turned out to be not so good weekend. My dance tutor was little busy, so I could not enjoy dancing. My sister was out of town, so I didnot have a chance to chat much with her. My Credit Card outstanding was too much, so I didnot dare to go out shopping. My exams are nearing which makes my weekends not so happy, coz I shall be constantly reminded of the big books which need to be read by me :(. And top of it, My mom was not so eager to do anything adventurous,which left me doing nothing other than sleeping.

But then, I visited my library which was unusually crowded. I also had a walk in the Necklace road which was also damn crowded. Alas, why is it every place too full of people and why is it that I detest seeing them? I dont know.. might be I am not comfortable being amidst all of them. Waste answer.. I know but that is the extreme of my boredom. I dont want to even think of answering or analysing myself why I am like this.

One good thing I did was reading a beautiful article on Sunday magazine --- An enigma called happines. I thought of writing a blog on this topic but again my so called enthusiasm is lost somewhere in my dreams and here I give you guys a link to read about it.
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/01/17/stories/2010011750050100.htm

Memories to Cherish --- Part 2

2010-01-12T15:27:00.003+05:30

Recollecting old memories be it happy or sad will definitely bring a smile on my lips. I guess its true to many of us. I did my schooling from KG to Std XII in the same school. The teachers in that school had so much influence on me and my character. I am proud till date to say that I got educated by many efficient teachers. Among all of them, my english teachers always have a special place in my heart. Many a times, I have heard people saying that students from little towns and those who study in their native tongue have a tough time learning english. I am not into both these categories. Even then I have little difficulties with English till date. I cannot proudly say that I am very well - versed in this. Though I read, write, speak this foreign language fluently I still fumble for words at times.

Today I would like to share some pleasant memories which I had with all my English teachers. This posting could be a little boring for many of you. I ask your pardon for that. Blogging is one way of preserving my memories. Hence with the help of few of my school friends I have got minute details for this post.

Any kid would have grown up singing rhymes. Ms.Clara was my Rhymes cum Eng teacher in my lower and upper kinder garten days. You guys know what I didnot know my Rhymes teacher's name till long time because she was always called as "Rhymes Miss" throughout the school. Such a sweet lady who used to dance and sing with all the kids year after year. A kid with a Jolna bag longer than her height dangling in her shoulders --- can you picturise me like that???

Ms.Shanthi was my 1st Class Eng teacher and Ms. Uma succeeded her in the 2nd class. It seems I was not good at studies till my 2nd class. My close friends would never believe this statement. But it is true. Once Ms.Uma had said that I am very diligent in class and studies. May be her words had affected me so much that I turned to be a student who had never complaints in school later.

Ms.Chandra -- how can I forget this bold and beautiful lady who taught me in my 3rd class. She used to participate in talk shows and inspired a little to talk more freely in public I should say.

It was very difficult to find out who took English for me in my 4th Class. Finally we friends concluded that it was Ms.Jhansi who is notorious rather famous for her pinches she used to give us. I dono if u people had this habit of collecting broken small pencil leads. Me and My school gang hunt for that in our school grounds. We take empty Reynolds Pen and use it as a holder for our pencil leads. One great way of saving the cost of pencils. What a stupidity !!! :)

My 5th Clss Eng teacher is Ms.BegumBanu. She is a gem of a woman in her appearance and she does this strangest act of carrying a coffee flask(red color I remember it clearly) to class every day. I am very sure of these details because there was a girl called Mercy Vimala who mistakenly broke that flask and Ms.Begum hit her black and blue. We were really scared of that lady. :(

I came to know about the difference between the words 'House' and 'Home' for the first time via my 6th Class teacher Ms.Savithri. She kindled us to read Young World and used to recite stories from it many times. I can visualise her in a yellow saree and black blouse. Till then I didnot know that colourslike yellow and black can be matched. (sorry I cannot stop myself in noticing people's costumes)

I studied in a co-ed school all my life. But if you ask me few guy's name in our school, my answer would be only one maximum two. Such a strict and waste rule they had that guys and girls should never talk. I was like a favourite student to many of my teachers. But to my dismay I was only 2nd favourite to Ms.Mullai, my 7th class teacher. A guy named Balaji was her first fav and I used to envy that person at those days. Time have changed so much that now Balaji was one among the guy whom I know well from my school and a good friend too, though we are not in frequent touch.

Lots of controversies in finding my 8th class Eng teacher. So I shall tell instead, about Ms.Sheela of whom I dont have any words to write. I just adore her for her simplicity, for her versatility in the language, for her strictness, for her character, for her wonderful handwriting and for her so many inspiring ideals and thoughts. I just miss you Ms.Sheela.

Now comes Ms.Girija, my 9th Class teacher with whom I just remember one bad incident. Sorry Ms.Girija. You made me cry in the class for one hour. The reason is that I made my mom write my notes instead of me writing it myself. Of course there was a reason behind it. But you just tore the pages and made me write again with tears. :( Poor girl banu. Anyways cheer up now....

The famous Ms.Arasi ---- Gosh I have so much to write about her . I will need a separate post for her alone. Thanks to her, she made me understand grammar in english perfectly. I owe her for that. Her real name was Azhagumani Arasi (it means Beautiful Queen) and she took English in my 10th Class. Memories of Ms.Arasi link between her and my sister mostly. Those are big stories which I dont thnk I will forget in life.

Finally Ms.Ponrani(Gold Queen) my 11th and 12th class teacher. Kudos to her I stood 2nd in English in my whole state in Std 12th. Without her I could not have accomplished that. She was the one who inspired me and encouraged me to write so much and frame sentences clearly when I speak.

It is so true that I have never taken any of my above teachers for granted. I always had a small fear for them coz many of them were very strict when it comes to academics. Ms.Arasi did not talk to me for long time since I scored less once. Ms.Begum had hit me so many times. Ms.Ponrani's words are enough to bring tears to your eyes. But today when I look back, I am grateful to all of them in my life. The word "Thank you" is not enough in the least way. OED should come up with a bigger word to gratitude them. I OWE A LOT to all my English teachers.

Sleep Tight.....

2010-01-11T14:51:00.002+05:30

Ever wondered what this phrase meant? I get to see many wishing 'Sleep Tight' along with the usual phrases -- Good Night and Sweet dreams. Whenever I come across a new term and when it is repeated some 3 to 5 times and when I dont understand completely what does it mean, I get slightly uncomfortable with my knowledge of words. Also I fear that some terms could mean offensive and hurt the reader. Hence, I dont use it myself unless I find the meaning of it. So, I get to search on this term 'Sleep tight' today. My google research goes this way.

The phrase is nearly in practise from the late 20th century. The first citation of this phrase is as early as 1866. In her diary Through Some Eventful Years, Susan Bradford Eppes included:

"All is ready and we leave as soon as breakfast is over. Goodbye little Diary. ‘Sleep tight and wake bright,’ for I will need you when I return."

In 1968, it was also used in a song by Lennon and McCartney as

Now it's time to say good night,
Good night. Sleep tight.

Good night and sleep tight are so rhyming that it soon got spread so fast. But why to sleep tight? Is it something related to the person sleeping is wearing tight clothes while sleeping.. No.... its not.. There was one notion -- Earlier days, the cot, in which people sleep had ropes on it and those ropes had to be tightened before sleeping. You would have come across such cots in ur grandma's house or in some movies shot in a village home. The origin of the word has a link to this idea, but no it is not the final conclusion.

After much research, the OED(Oxford English Dictionary) team concluded that by the time the phrase was used among people, rope-strung beds were replaced by metal-strings. Hence there is no link between sleep tight and cots. 'Sleep tight' just means 'sleep soundly'; put it in another words the meaning of 'tight asleep' is 'soundly asleep'.

Finally I am happy to know the origin and meaning of this term today. Will be using it from now on in my sms. :) without any fear.

Bye Bye 2009!!!

2009-12-31T12:14:00.001+05:30

Another year comes to an end. When the days were full of fun and frolic, time would have run so fast that seldom we get to notice it. But when they were with tears, how hard we try to push it forward, it goes with a dead slow pace. So it all depends on our view to make time vanish faster or slower. Nevertheless it does fade away. At this juncture, I would like to remind myself by blogging some of the interesting and memorable things happened in 2009. If I try to recall and tell which would be the best days in this year, it would be

* Those lazy weekends during which I was sleeping till my tummy growled for food and then waking up to drink nearly 250ml of Bournvita with Sunday Magazine in hand.
* The long 2-wheeler drives done alone in the Necklace Road.
* The happiness I felt, when I got my first Promotion at my workplace.
* The moment when the treadmill showed that I lost 300 calories in a single day :)
* The month when I completed reading 6 books.. That was really an accomplishment as far as my reading speed is compared to that of my mom's and sister's.
* Watching songs in tv till 3 am on a saturday. Only songs, nothing else.
* Mindblowing shopping did for attending 3 of my friend's marriage. I would have shopped more than the brides[hehehe]
* Cheering with full energy at the Hyderabad Stadium on the day of India Vs Australia 5th ODI.
* Bunking Office and went to watch 3 Idiots movie[feel good movie it was]

Apart from these best moments I also had some good moments of meeting my school mates after nearly 6 years, getting new friends online, watching a tamil movie alone in Prasads theatre and blogging.

I direly wanted to(just wanted to and not exactly had) have a total hang over once in life which was not so good moment as far as my values are concerned. It was heights of stupidity on the day when I missed my mobile in a auto along with my bag. I regret so much till today for that. And my dad's visit to my home made me realise how cold my relationship with him has gone. There were also days when I cried endlessly in 2009 and got loads of advices which I detest to recall. I can never go back to those days and rewrite them but its so true that happiness is not full unless a sad day is faced. Looking back at those days now make me feel little more experienced in life and urge me to think on future seriously. But hold on, can I do that? Finding out tomorrow's secret in advance is not the rule of my Life's game. It would be best neither to over-plan nor over-react on how 2010 will be. So, I am ready to welcome with open hands whatever awaits me after thanking all that 2009 has given. I wish all my blog-readers too strength and energy to accept all that comes in life. And Finally, wishing a very happy and exciting fun-filled NEW YEAR.

Stress Management

2009-12-29T18:51:00.001+05:30

This is not a posting explaining/advicing how to overcome stress in life. But its my experience in a training session I attended on Stress Management. First of all, I am very clear that I am not that totally stressed out to attend this session. I had to complete some mandatory hours of training in my office and this was the one left with vacant seats and suited my timing. I was very sure that I shall doze off in the first half hour of the session, but no there was something else for me in that. The trainer was a lady who captivated the audience with her brilliant speech and tactics. She started the session asking us some simple but thought provoking questions like --

What is the first thing u do once u get up?

Do all of us spend some time atleast half an hour daily only/specially for ourselves?

How many of us do exactly end up in our current profession out of our own interest?

What makes us smile and happy at the end of day?

Have everyone of us identified the priorities in our life?

Are we ready to face the toughest of toughest situations?

How much are we satisfied with what we have got so far on a scale of 1 - 5?

The one best thing was that everyone attended the session was not asked to answer to all these questions. We just need to answer to ourselves which was most important. The trainer pointed out to us the difference between the stress and worry. Life cannot be without worries but it can be made stress-free for sure. Worries should never be built upon. Identifying the stress and accepting the fact that the situation is a PROBLEM needs guts. When the problem is spotted, then there is the choice of solutions. Picking the right choice is another crucial decision. When we are clear of these facts, every day will be crystal clear - either black or white without multiple shades of grey.

Enchanted ----- wow I thoroughly enjoyed it..

2009-12-21T17:36:00.002+05:30

Anyone gets happy reading fairy tales and hearing to all that phrases "once upon a time", "lived happily ever after", "forever and ever", "cruel witch", "beautiful princess", "brave prince" etc etc..And I am among that anyone. When me and my sister started reading books, the first book we hunted for is all fairy tales. At that time, I used to think that fairy tale is just one story written by some author. My sister used to say that it is a very good book and I believe her blindly regarding these books. Because till today I strongly have the notion that if my sis suggests a book, it can never go wrong. It so happened last thursday also when she said that Enchanted is a good movie.

Ya true it is... What a imagination these Walt Disney guys have in them to bring a fairy tale clubbed into the modern life of NewYork. I dont know to narrate a fairy tale, hence the introduction of all characters come like this. There is a beautiful princess(Giselle)in the land of Adalasia. She dreams of her Prince(Edward), whom she meets one day in a forest. Both decide to get married immediately. The Prince's step mother is evil, cruel, selfish and witty queen(Narissa). In order to save her throne, she send the princess to the real world where there is no true Love, so that she can never come back. Hence Giselle lands up in Times Square, New York through a manhole. Knowing this, Edward and Pip(talking squirrel) comes to real world from the fairy land in search of Giselle. Here Giselle meets the cynical divorce lawyer(Robert) who stays with her daughter(Morgan). Nancy is Robert's soon-to-be fiancee, who loves fantasy.

Giselle looked exactly like a Walt Disney's cartoon with charming face, cute eyes and wearing lovely dress everytime. What happens in the rest of the movie is a open-book for any adult who has read so many fairy tales. The climax in which the queen poisons Giselle with a red apple and then the statement "Only a true love kiss can save her" all that are so fantastic(read as fantasy oriented). In those 2 hours, I felt I stepped into a disney world and enjoyed it for some time and came back. There was a scene in which Giselle leaves her shoe back and get a sword to kill the queen in order to save Robert. And that same shoe fits Nancy's legs and Edward take Nancy to Adalasia. Can I imagine such a thing? Absolutely not. Hats off to those creative minds.

I donot know about all, but many of whom I know wish that there is a fantasy land somewhere in which all wishes come true and we live peacefully day after day. Of course such a world should exist and is existing in each of our minds. That thought keep us moving and give us energy to face this tough life with a smiling face daily. Movies like Enchanted brings a day of thorough happiness. Its true that Walt Disney corporation's Value & Principle is to MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY.

Memories to Cherish.......Part 1

2009-12-14T15:30:00.000+05:30

Learning to dance is one of my long cherished dream. I learnt Bharathanatyam - the classical dance of my state when I was a kid for 3 and half years. I remember the evening classes which I used to attend on mon, wed and fridays. I had 4 uncles who used to take turns in dropping me in the class and picking me up. Somedays I will be lucky to grab a cone-icecream on my way home, when MY DAD comes to pick me up. I used to wear pink color salwar and maroon colour dupatta. My guru was a old man who used to call me as "araikapadi" (the smallest measuring cup), as I was the only one short in my gang of 5 dancers. It brings a broad smile at my face, imagining myself so short in that dance salwar. Gone are the days when me and my dance friends used to hunt for that vaadam(the Indian Almond) fruits in the garden near my dance class. Those moments were really wonderful and will stay in my memory for life long.

But I was so unfortunate that I had to forego dancing after my first stage programme. I didnot feel much till I was 21 that I missed something very important in life. But then I thought why shouldn't I start learning dance again? Inspite of so much fun and mockery made at me, I did not quit searching for some dance institute in this Telugu Country. At first I was ready to learn even Kuchipudi and found a guru. To my dismay, she was constantly busy and couldnot help me out.

Last weekend again due to my boredom, I sought the help of Google Uncle. I was lucky to find a Art Institute where they teach Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Yoga, Western Dance, Vocals etc etc. And there I became again fortunate to start learning this wonderful art. Yes I started my weekend Bharatanatyam classes again :)

I sincerely wish that I should be hale and healthy not to miss a single class from now on. I also wish that my Guru takes me heights. And most importantly, I also wish that I should be financially stable to continue to dance, especialy in this recession time.

Mobile Dependency

2009-12-04T14:10:00.003+05:30

Joel Engel and Richard Frenkiel --- if I get chance to meet these 2 guys, I shall definitely fall on their feet and thank them profusely for making my life depend so much on this communication channel. Now, Can I imagine a day without my mobile? A big NO without any second thoughts. My day starts chking out the time in my mobile if I get up before my alarm rings. And of course finding out if any missed calls or messages which I had got in my sleep. I hate being disturbed during sleep through messages and calls. In spite of that why dont I switch off my cell phone at night. Because somewhere deep in my heart i dont want to feel isolated from the world. Yes I dont want to be lonely and cell phone has become my companion these days so much that I feel its part of my family.

Thanks to these high end mobiles I listen to my favourite songs for nearly 4 hours in a day without which my day never ends peacefully. And then the never ending calls with my mom and my friends. I love talking and keep on talking. There was never a day in these last two years that I have missed talking in the mobile. Be it my mom, my family, my friends, my colleagues, some wrong calls, my helpers like plumber, electrician, internet providers, airtel, icici customer care and those promotional calls etc etc... I feel I miss one finger when I miss my mobile or when my mobile is out of charge. Many a times it so happened that way. Those days were really night mare to me. But what to do, I am not Ms.Perfect always though I wish to be one. I think many of us feel like so closely attached to cell phone. Cheers to all of those and happy weekend.!!!!

Cloud Nine Minus One by Sangeeta Mall------ Book review

2009-12-02T18:26:00.003+05:30

I had to travel nearly 24 hours from Hyderabad to reach my hometown. I usually read a book during the journey and I succeed to complete this book in the weekend trip. The postmortem of the book follows here in my blog.

On Cloud Nine --- a state of blissful happiness, thats the meaning. After a small search with Google Uncle, I got to know the origin of this term. As always, there are controversies for the origin of this phrase too. One reasonable explanation is that the US Weather Bureau divided clouds into classes and each class has nine types. The ninth in the list refers to cumulo-nimbous cloud which is likely to cause good amount of rainfall. So when a person is "On Cloud Nine", he is all set for extreme happiness just like the cumulo-nimbuos clouds pouring out rain. But Sangeeta Mall choose not to be extremely happy. She wants to come one step down from Cloud Nine and experience the Minus One Stage herself and also the readers of course.

Shruti Malhotra turned Shruti Narayan live in Philadelphia with her husband, Kailash who is a theatre play-writer and their two kids - Isha and Rohan. She is happily settled as an NRI, looking after a Writer's Colony and not allowing her past clinche her present life. She has a dear friend Xenia at her workplace with whom she does not hesitate to share even the darkest secret of her life. Kailash handles and calms down the super excited Shruti every time with his mere looks. They do share a perfect Chemistry which helps in holding their marriage life just like a fresh bloom even after 15 years. The family is all set to enjoy their summer vacation in Spain this year. But time has planned something else for them in India. Kailash receives a invite to Delhi to attend a conference on theatre plays. So they change their holiday plan and land in India in the hottest month of the year. At the same time, Shruti also receives an Email inviting her for the 20th anniversary college reunion in IIM Bangalore, which she has deleted without a second thought. Its because she is not ready to face her dear friend Priya and her ex-boyfriend again both of whom she has ditched 20 years back. Her guilt, her strongly veiled heart says strictly no and could not accept or expect such a reunion.

The face is really the index of the mind and its so obvious that Kailash gets to know about the reunion and commands Shruti to reply to the email. With so much butterflies in her stomach and with so many doubts, questions and flashbacks, Shruti reaches the IIMB campus. Its really difficult to return to past life and look back the old memories if they are not good. What happens in a reunion? The families of the good-old friends meet together, have a diplomatic intro and a few lectures and nice lunch, boring dinner and little enthusiastic games for the kids. Apart from these out-shown activities, within each there runs a whole flashback which they wish
never to come across.

The gold medalist in Accountancy from the Delhi University cracked the CAT and made up to be one among the 5 girls in IIMB 86-88 batch. She slowly made good friends in the India's Prestigious B-School and her identity turned from Shruti to Shruts and finally to Ruts. Even before 20 years, the college didnot escape from the clutches of drugs, booze and smoke. One of Ruts friends was Priya Pathak, the ultra modern girl who turned out to be a nymphomaniac. Ruts never tried to change her but has always accepted Priya for what she was. Jaggu and Ruts fell in love at some point of time, for which Priya never gives a damn. Jaggu, Ruts, Rats(Ravi Saluja) and few others enjoyed college life as any other IIMBian did. The usual lectures, assignments, night studies, treats, terrace talks, rainy days, hot pakodas, tasteless mess food, road-side coffees, exams, rude and cool professors, campus tree shades, new buildings, city's climate all become the discussion topics in the 2 yrs.

Priya Pathak hates guys for no reason, but never stops to enjoy sexual relations with them. She ditches nearly 15- 20 guys in the college. To all this non-ending nonsense, Ruts never gave her point of view to Priya. But as far as Ruts life is concerned, there is always Priya's intrusion in Ruts decision. At the same time Ruts never stop lending shoulders to any other's problems. She was always kind and shared emotional bonding with her friends. She succeeded gaining Priya's confidence and learn about her teenage failed marriage. Yes Priya's hatred for guys started in teenage when she fell in love with a guy in her colony and marry him by eloping away. The end is a tragedy where the guy ditches Priya for the sake of family and the colony people end up in curses for Priya's parents. The incident has made Priya to test guys and handle them as puppets in her hands. She does not leave even Professor Sen for that matter. She gets into a sex scandal in the college during which Priya and Ruts friendship broke like a glass. Ruts and Jaggu also have a break up for some reason or the other.

People forget the past, bury their memories and plant a huge tree on top of it as if these memories are not going to shoot up at any time. But it is these memories which remain as good fertilizers for the huge tree. Yes exactly the same happened with all these IIMB students. Rats and Jaggu gets married to two people differently. Priya remains unmarried, but adopts a girl and live her own life as she has always did. And so did Ruts.

Somehow Ruts get courage to confront Priya and Jaggu. Meeting your ex after 20 years that too when you dont want your loving husband to know all about him is a really different feeling. Shruti manages to overcome all these emotions. In her 2 day stay in IIMB, Ruts come across so many incidents. - Jaggu ends up in a smooch with Ruts, Rats asks for a favour from Ruts to stop his divorce, Ruts and Jaggu help their classmate recover from a heart attack, Kailash gets to know of Jaggu and Ruts old affair, Priya gets clear of her misunderstanding with their old Professor, Ruts arranging Priya's marriage and Ruts coming out of her guilt feelings.

Altogether I felt that it was a good novel to pass my time during travel. And I started the habit of underlining few sentences as I read which I always wanted to do. This way I can re-read those lines in future. The novel neither bored me nor did it get slowed down at any point of time. Thanks to Sangeeta Mall for making my trip memorable for days to come.

'Almost Single' ---- Book Review

2009-11-24T19:10:00.003+05:30

Inspite of disturbing so many people in the train by switching on the lights till late night, I found time to finish my 3rd novel of the month --- "Almost Single" by "Advaita Kala". The Novel's title is one of the most discussed topics these days in magazines. The story is from a women's point of view and I like such stories basically. The reason may be because I am a woman plus I feel so close to the characters in the novel when a lady author narrates a novel. With this mind I bought the book from Landmark. Did Advaita Kala steal my heart? To be true, she has done 75% justice to the novel, but she did not sweep me off my feet.

There is no serious and thrilling plot in the story. Its about 3 friends - Aisha, Misha and Anushka who fell as victims of being Single in a society where girls are looked down if they are not married before 25. Precisely the age has come up from 21 to 23 and now to 25 these days. Thanks to few literates in the society for that. All three girls are working in Delhi. The Protagonist - Aisha works as a Public Relation Manager in a 5 - star Hotel who had a recent break up with her boy friend. Anushka is a married woman but she files for a divorce with her husband Anuj, who is a good friend to Aisha too. Misha also had many break ups earlier in life. To get rid of their Single status tag, Misha and Aisha desperately wants to get married to a rich person preferably an NRI(too much expectations for the girls) and uploads their profile in the web community. And Anushka wants to forget her hubby. I envy their friendship because all three gives shoulders to each other at any odd time of the day. Misha is Aisha's early morning advisor and Anushka for the late night advises. Aisha as usual like any other hotelian has a terrible boss. Aisha with her friend's support tries her best to keep her life lively and occupied. I again envy them for their coffee gossips in Barista (Because I am a strict no-no to Caffeine and dont get moments like that) during which their talks keep rounding only about guys and how to get married.

Aisha gets to meet a guy in her hotel and after a few meets, the guys falls in love. Not actually proposing takes place but Aisha gets only a hint from him. Aisha even carry her astrologer number in her speed dial to get to know about her lucky marriage stars. Her mom constantly give tips to her about choosing her attire to impress guys. Her aunt always comes with a list of guys marriage profiles. Aisha is too worried that in one year she will be crossing the twenties but still single. How does she ends up removing the single status from her profile? Did she managet to find her own expectations in life? Did her parents and relatives stop pestering her for being alone? Did Misha get a guy? Did Anushka move with her life after the divorce? At the end Advaita Kala, the author answers all this but it was more like a chapter coming to end and not the novel. The story ends so abruptly which was not purely justice to the reader. Also I didnot get the complete feel and lamentations of Aisha being alone. She could not decide what she wants in life. Also may be I didnot personally get hooked to her loneliness. Just because she is not committed, she does not stop enjoying life. She realises it at the end of the novel that she has not wasted her life indeed by not marrying all this time.

Its true that a girl cannot be 'single' in her life without overcoming problems from her relatives and from the society. Will the society stop pitying and gossiping about such girls? Will the relatives and parents stop pestering their kids to get married? Will girls be stopped from betrayal from their husbands/lovers? Finally Will girls get satisfied what they get in life? Answering Positively to all this Will questions will make life indeed really beautiful.

Finally I am not totally against marriage and getting committed. I do love to be the one and only one for a guy. But it shall happen on its own and at the right time. Unless that time, I feel it should be fair on part of the society and the relatives to stop talking about other's lives. When such a thing happened for Aisha, her life really turned happy. I am myself waiting for such moments to make this beautiful life more more happier.

What special on a Weekend???

2009-11-16T11:26:00.002+05:30

Weekends are always seen forward most excitingly right from the start of the week. But what so special on these days? For some it could be the days where you need not face your manager and your colleagues. For a few people it will be a single day rest after a 6 day tiring job. They wish to be within the four walls in their couch(of course with the remote in hand). Guys take it a chance to meet their friends, have a drink, watch a movie and chat endlessly. Not to forget about the girls who spend so much time to groom themselves so that they look pretty decent the whole week ahead. But Girls also do roam and have fun together with their friends. And I see a few batsmen and bowlers near my home who forget hunger, books, parents, rain, sunlight and dust. They do make a nice pasttime to viewers like me on a weekend. A few other sincere studs could be giving their exams, attending extra special tuitions and thriving hard to fulfil their parents' as well as their dreams. For a few unlucky guys, weekends could be another working day like the 24X7 available medical practitioners, weekend support group and business people. Some lucky fellows wish to roam in the city on a weekend agenda like shopping, purchasing gifts, trying out a new restaurant, cooking something different, visiting a library, having a dentist appointment, surfing in the net, reading a book, enjoying a rain, having a long drive, talking endlessly to friends/relatives over the phone, swimming, dancing etc etc. Be it anything you do, saturdays and sundays are always entertaining provided you spend it as you like. It may sometimes turn out to be a boring one but the decision is always yours to make every weekend a cherished one or leave it just like another day in this precious life of ours.

2 States - The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat

2009-11-09T10:31:00.002+05:30

Chetan Bhagat -- the name looks familiar isn't it. The author favoured by the youths of India. I have read all his earlier novels in a single stretch a year back. They were quite impressive which made me buy this novel immediately a week after its launch. It came out to be one of the most lovable novel I have read so far. I felt so comfortable with the author's narration and went so engrossed into it, that I read a few pages even at my office desk :). And this became the first novel, which whilst I am reading I forgot where am I and literally laughed aloud. Such good is the humour part of it. Hats off to Chetan for that.

The story as the title says is about a Marriage. Its not ordinary wedding but a wedding between two states - TamilNadu and Punjab. The protagonists of the novel - Krish and Ananya meet in IIMA - one of India's prestigious B-School. Ananya - the most beautiful girl in the college and Krish - a stud from IIT. I dont know how come all authors choose only beautiful girls in their story. Why cannot a IITian fell in love with a normal looking girl? I could find only one stupid answer for this question. Every girl is Ms.World in her lover's eyes. Beauty lies in the beholder's eyes. May be that could be the reason Chetan has described Ananya's beauty so much.

Ananya, the intelligent beauty is bit weak in one of her subjects for which Krish comes as a free tutor. After few meetings in college canteen, class room and in Hostel room, Krish discovers that he cannot be a JUST FRIEND with Ananya. Of course who can hide all his emotions and feelings when a girl gives right to a guy to be with her almost most of the time in a day. Why is the guy felling in love and why the girl accepts his proposal --- all this is not part of the story. The main thing is they fell in love with each other soon. And they dont stop there. They will be in a live-in together relationship for the 2 whole years which flew off very soon in some 50 pages. They also get a good(highly paid) job in their placement sessions. Nothing else till now but the scene of Krish's actual proposal to Ananya for marriage is little dramatic but the humour wins my heart.

Actually speaking, the real humour of the novel starts on the day of convocation. Ananya's parents from Chennai meet Krish's mom from punjab. First meet between parents is always a disaster in love stories. The same formula here too. Krish and Ananya could have eloped away for a marriage but for some sentimental and emotional bonding choose to win each other parents' hearts too. Is that possible in this situation where punjabis hate to the core the Madrasis and Tamilians dont trust anybody other than themselves? Yes Chetan made this possible at the end and ofcourse Krish too. Rest of the novel is just how Krish gains the trust of Ananya's Parents and how Krish family starts liking Ananya. It would not be fair enough to reveal everything in the review. I liked a few scenes and frowned a little too at a few places. Pros and cons always go hand in hand. I would like to end this review saying a little more about the protagonists.

Ananya comes from a traditional Brahmin family, where culture, tradition and all those big words mean a lot. If Ananya can expand the list of her traditional rules, she will definitely add to it all these ---- eating chicken, drinking beer, having a live-in relation, wearing shorts in guys hostel. She has a valid reason to do all these things. According to her, she is right. Thats what mattered her a lot and thats what made me like her character a lot.

Krish on the other hand is a easy - going guy to whose character I did not find anything special except for his boldness to HIT his own father. I wish, the author could have impressed me a more by carving Krish's character a little more different. I would have enjoyed the story more if Ananya has narrated the plot instead of Krish doing it.

India Vs Australia 5th ODI --- Rajiv Gandhi Internation Stadium Hyderabad

2009-11-06T18:52:00.001+05:30

It would be pretty late to publish this post, but there are lots of reasons why it was postponed.

It was the first time I went to watch a ODI in a stadium and it turned out to be a terrific one to be cherished for a lifetime. I had been to the same stadium to watch a IPL match - Kolkata Vs Deccan. What magic do these camera men have in them to turn a sobre and dull looking stadium look like a lovely International ground in the TV sets at our homes.

Everything started good for me yesterday right from collecting tickets a week before, transportation to the stadium, finding a decent neighbour in the stadium, getting a correct vision to the pitch. Thanks to the perfect planning done by none other than my Mom. The day ended pretty well with no much tensions except for shelling out a few extra bucks to the auto fellow while returning home.
I had a vision earlier that Indians will lose this match. This I say so because Dhoni to whom I am a great fan will always love to end any series with a thrilling end (which I hope will be in Mumbai). My vision turned true to my dismay. Yes like any other Indian in Hyderabad, I also direly wanted the home team to win the match But we lost the toss and bowled so badly and allowed the Aussies set a huge target of 351, which our so called batsmen could not achieve.

The first half of the session was indeed a boring one as there were no wickets falling till nearly 25 overs. But I enjoyed identifying the players in the ground. (Jee Bharke Dekha Sabko)!!!! That was the only entertaining part and a few good fielding done by the Indian Players.

The half an hour break session was like a 2 hour wait :(. Lucky I was that my mom was beside me to chat with. Then started the superb batting by Sachin. I was on top of the world for every 4 and 6 and enjoyed thoroughly with a TIRANGA. Watching Sachin's record break of 17000 runs and 45th ODI hundred live was worth spending nearly 1K and 10 hours of time. I literally cursed 3 batsmen - Gambhir, Yuvaraj and Dhoni. They could have been a little more responsible.

In the Post-Mortem session of the match in office today, my manager gave a comment that "Ravindra Jadeja should be hanged" for a worst run-out. hahaha. I could never imagine such a comment.

After seeing such a crowd of nearly 40000 ardent Indian cricket fans in the stadium and a huge lot from their homes, I had a thought ---- Why is Cricket not our National game??? Be it our National game or not, it will remain my favourite pasttime for years to come.

ஆய கலைகள் 64 --- 64 types of art

2009-11-06T16:00:00.004+05:30

Every Tamil person should have heard of this term "ஆய கலைகள் 64". When I googled a little, I found the origin of this word. It seems that the 2 Hindu Mythological Characters -- Krishna and Balarama have learnt all these 64 types of art. They should be really brilliant isn't it? True, that Art is always fascinating - For any act to become an art, it should be done in a proper way. 64 such forms of Art have been classified below:

1. Toilet Make-up, toilet and use of beautifying agents
2. Painting the body, and colouring the nails, hair, etc.
3. Decoration of the forehead.
4. Art of hair dressing.
Dressing
5. Art of dressing.
6. Proper matching of decorations and jewellery.
Music and Dancing
7. Singing.
8. Playing on musical instruments.
9. Playing on musical glasses filled with water.
10. Acting.
11. Dancing.
General Education
12. Good manners and etiquette.
13. Knowledge of diffenrent langguages and dialects.
14. Knowledge of vocabularies.
15. Knowledge of Rhetoric or Figures of Speech.
16. Reading.
17. Reciting poems.
18. Criticism of poems.
19. Criticism of dramas and analysis of stories.
20. Filling up the missing line of a poem.
21. Composing poems to order.
22. Reply in verse (when one person recites a poem, another gives the reply in verse).
23. The art of speaking by changing the forms of words.
24. Art of knowing the character of a man from his features.
25. Art of attracting others (bewitching).
Domestic Science
26. Art of cooking.
27. Preparation of different beverages, sweet and acid drinks, chutneys, etc.
28. Sewing and needle work.
29. Making of different beds for different purposes and for different seasons. Physical culture
30. Physical culture.
31. Skill in youthful sports.
32. Swimming and water-sports.
Games
33. Games of dice, chess, etc.
34. Games of chance.
35. Puzzles and their solution.
36. Arithmetical games.
Art of Entertaining
37. Magic: art of creating illusions.
38. Trick of hand.
39. Mimicry or imitation (of voice or sounds).
40. Art of disguise.
Fine Arts
41. Painting in colours.
42. Stringing flowers into garlands and other ornaments for decorating the body, such as crowns, clapnets, etc.
43. Floral decorations of carriages.
44. Making of artificial flowers.
45. Preparation of ear-rings of shell, ivory, etc.
46. Making birds, flowers, etc., of thread or yarn.
47. Clay-modelling: making figures and images.
48. The art of changing the appearance of things such as making to appear as silk. Pet Animals
49. Training parrots and other birds to talk.
50. Training rams and cocks and other birds for mock fight. Professional Training
51. Gardening and agriculture.
52. Preparation of perfumery.
53. Making furniture from canes and reeds.
54. Wood-engraving.
55. Carpentry.
56. Knowledge of machinery.
57. Construction of building (Architecture).
58. Floor decoration with coloured stones.
59. Knowledge of metals.(Metallurgy) :)
60. Knowledge of gems and jewels.
61. Colouring precious stones.
62. Art of war.
63. Knowledge of code words.
64. Signals for conveying messages.

I am very sure that there are lots more to learn for Krishna and Balarama in this 21st Century.

P.S: The post is based on google research and not with reference to any Reliable resource and comments are always invited for further improvement.

சரஸ்வதி அந்தாதி

2009-11-04T19:14:00.001+05:30

படிக நிறமும் பவளச்செவ் வாயும்
கடிகமழ் பூங்கமலக் கண்ணும் - துடியிடையும்
அல்லும் பகலும் அனவரது மும்துதித்தால்
கல்லும்சொல் லாதோ கவி.

ஆய கலைகள் அறுபத்து நான்கினையும்
ஏய உணர்விக்கும் என்அம்மை - தூய
உருப்பளிங்கு போல்வாள்எம் உள்ளத்தின் உள்ளே
இருப்பள்இங்கு வாரா(து) இடர்.