1) CODE: 02PEB
By:- Mandy
Living in a room full of books
Have you ever lived in a room full of books?
I have. All my life.
A room full of not only books but magazines (read, half-read and unread), newspapers (current and old), books, notebooks, scrapbooks and whatever else humanity has till date created out of paper. My 'recently read' (ie. read sometime in about the past 2 years and still liked) library of books continuing over two shelves. My 'currently reading' heap of books (bought, gifted and borrowed) around my pillow. The past few days' newspapers and their supplements of every conceivable kind (which I forget to routinely take out). Newspapers that are literally pages of history - containing a stray interesting article, or every time me or any of my friends got published (kept in almost-neat, napthalened stacks below my bed). 3 dictionaries. And the stool beside my bed (which in some prehistoric time belonged to mom's pretty dressing table) is heaped with... let's see... a script of Utpal Dutta's Dilli Chalo (eek, wasn't that returned to Powell a year back?), a couple of half-read pujobarshikees (Anandamela and Desh), some Sociology notes (heavy, alien stuff!), a Sanjeev Kapoor cookbook (make a nice bedtime read after a dinner of half-boiled bitter Maggi, na?), my poetry folder, my last year's slam book, Rabindranath's Golpoguchho (was tutoring sis Kabuliwallah last evening), Linda Goodman's Sun Signs (Gangs I know you're fuming baby!)... and a few unliterary things. And then of course my (mostly untouched) shelf of school books and material, just by the computer (deliberately placed there to instil virtue in me, but just like the alarm clock which gets thrown on the floor instead - doesn't work!)
Living in a room full of books would depress just about anyone (when in good mood my mom calls my room paperwallah's store, but then when in bad mood she calls it garbage dump - so isn't that better?). Not me. This is my world - this is where I've always been, grown up from the dark, scrawny little kid to the suave, ambitious bitch, maybe a little imbalanced. Been Red Riding Hood, been George from the Famous Five, been the Lady of Shalott, Frodo Baggins, Dorian Gray. Been Bonolota Sen and sometimes the hyacinth girl. In some tipsy moment, even been Geraldine from Christabel, Lolita, Prufrock and a few more 'unconventional' identities. Only one thing remains constant - this is where I've always been.
A few months back, I had suddenly discovered myself a thorough extrovert - walking up to new people, talking, making new friends, hanging out more often than staying indoors. Something I had always seen myself doing, but in my dreams. In reality, it was uncomfortable, I tell you. It was somehow not me. I was living someone else's life. Not mine. All those months, weeks and days seem so unreal now. Those faces feel like a distant memory... a detached memory... a detached dream from some heady midnight long ago. Even the boy who made me fall in love... where is he now? Thinking of whom? Lying in whose arms?.... And where am I?
I'm back to my own place. Where I began, where I'll end. To the centre of my universe. To the strong moth-eaten aroma that comforts and shelters me and my paranoic fits. The aroma whose molecules have merged with my blood and my sweat and the scent of my hair, down all these years. To my room full of books.
Rock on baby, yours forever..
2) CODE: 03PEA
By:- Flashgordon
Six Questions to go and we were still at the sixth place….......
The Corporate Quiz was an annual event held at this North Indian City. A Basketball stadium full of people! Unheard of for a quiz. Either they market it well or this is the only entertainment in the city. 3 B-School teams and 3 Corporates fighting it out in the final after 4 rounds. Started with 165 teams and finally . Big prizes at stake…
Last Buzzer Round!! Jinx (my quiz partner) did not even keep his fingers on the buzzer. In fact he was not even talking to me after a Dumb C round setback (yeah, the quiz had other rounds too) that cost us heavy. “Yeh quiz tho gaya, How could you screw up that Philips punchline ?“He was livid We were a big name team from Mumbai; but now losing to some not so famous teams; save two. Dreaded going to office the next day.....Same old cubicle, same boss, and absolutely nothing to look forward to.
The last round questions were on the buzzer…10 for a right ; negative 10 for a wrong one. Brand Related Questions. But not “strictly” as we found out soon.
Who has a house in Bangalore by the name Arzoo?" Arzoo-as-in-Arzoo.com??? I buzz." Sabeer Bhatia! . We score. " Next one- If u see a person named Sherry in a cricket dressing room…." (Easy Full toss! There’s only one Sherry I know.......Our own Shakespeare Sidhu" " I buzz again –"Navjyot Singh Sidhu." ..Got it!! Slightly better now; we are at fifth now. TOI team were the current leaders by miles. They had scored heavily on the gimmick rounds. IIM L were at number two playing safe in the last round like most others. I took advantage of this and answered the next two.
All eyes in the packed Basketball Stadium the venue were now just on us. Just 2 more questions to go and we the team who were lying sixth had answered all the past 4 on the buzzer.. We are fourth now. Talk about high-drama.
I’m like a man possessed now…adrenalin pumping. ..Its like you are swinging at everything in the slog overs of a match and somehow everything is connecting in the middle of the bat !!
Then the quizmaster starts this weird question " Bengal Indore Jaipur; Orissa, Oudh Rajasthan.... What "brand" name do you get from this?? "
My little grey cells tingle Poirot-like -----A jingle, a product marketed in those areas? No! Oudh it cant be; and half the names are states and others cities. Seems it is a deliberate attempt to get some acronym right; ..Acronym??!! Yes, that’s it.. (All this data processing was in about 3 seconds I guess ;-))
I grabbed the pen and scribbled B-I-J-O-… and buzzed.Audience hasn’t quite figured what the question was about. They looked stunned when I buzzed. Jinx is staring at me as if I’ve gone nuts. I take the microphone and say " Bijoor- That’s your name, sir!"
Harish Bijoor the quiz master looked especially happy. (Heights, some plug .Quiz master's name as a brand !!! ) Audience gave us a thunderous applause! We were third now ; just 5 points behind IIM L who were at second now and looking like Ganguly facing a Glenn McGrath Delivery.
C'mon man, I try get Jinxx pumped up too..Last Question- Fingers on the buzzer "The new Videocon Logo has 2 E’s which signifies something, what??". Jinxx springs into action this time ..Buzzzzz "Energy to Electronics" ! We get it !!! 6 out of 6 last qs on the buzzer with all other teams looking on. Unbelievable ! We do High Fives !!
We don’t win but end up Runners Up pipping the IIM team; quite a comeback.
"We get the Bikes right??" Suddenly that thought hits Jinxx. Yeah!!!!!!. We win an Enfield Electra Bullet each!! Cool !! The winners get a laptop each…
There is then a lone wolf round where each guy in the top 2 teams (total 4) undergoes a Mastermind Style Rapid fire round. I beat Jinx & the TOI guysto top this and win the Brand Mahaguru title & a Furniture Set from Pinnacle Saporiti worth Rs 80,000 !!
Not bad earnings for an evening's work, eh??? Smug thought!
Prize distribution was elaborate. Hell lot of prizes. Big Red Turbans tied on our heads and we were carried around the stadium around the stadium in a Camel Cart.
Some Girls, Mgmt Students asked for my autograph!!! A few wanted to stand with me and pose for a photo (Mom/Dad what a pity you weren’t here).
My first brush with celebrityhood !! Page 3 , here i come !! (Actually Page 3 of a local Hindi paper had my snap the next day; trophy aloft; and looking like a contradiction of cultures- Red turban & black Rockband TShirt!!Bina mooch ke sardar )
Reality struck after we were back in the Hotel- We have the bikes but can we use them???
Jinx had never graduated beyond his tricycle in his childhood and though he knows even the year in which Harley Davidson set up shop in Milwaukee; cannot for his life actually ride even a TVS moped!!
My line of thought was different. My KB 125 which often ran out of Petrol (well, a bike does not start by optimism alone) had to be pushed to the nearest Petrol pump with my own bare hands. But pushing an Enfield?? Alas, I’ll have to first spend some money on a Bull worker and the Autobiography of Arnold Schwarznegger first!
We made the decision !! We had to sell both our bikes …. The officials told us that we could not exchange it for money. Sponsors wont like it…
And thus started the Saga of the unsold Bullets - Alternatively titled Zen and the art of Motorcycle Disposal.
3) CODE: 21PEA
By:- Jay Menon
A great marriage
FEB 5th 1975: she was looking very beautiful, all dressed up in typical kerala style bride, he was also a handsome young man of about 29.He an engineer, first rank holder in whatever he touched, a very intelligent chap....and she who is a final year
economics student, who hates to study, studying just for the sake of it......a typical kerala style arranged marraige: they might have met at the maximum 3-4 times before marraige...not more than that.
Her family was really big-she had 5 brothers and 1 sister on the other hand his family was the typical example of family planning system-he and his sweet sister. She was pampered like anything as she is the youngest in her family, so at the time of going to his house after marraige...she was crying like anything (as we see in movies), anyway her BIG B's (pandavas) accompanied their little sister to his house. His parents were also very loving and caring kinda people so she was comfortable all around.
She began to be the sweetheart of that family, her mother-in-law was much more comfortable with her than her daughter and her father-in-law a very sweet man who loved her a lot.
A cute incident : one day FIL is fixing up bricks near the long wall, somebody asked "what are you doing?" he replied "my daughter-in-law is getting bored, so i thought i can make some platform with these bricks, so that she can stand on it and watch the people going on the road", I have never ever heard FIL helping DIL to watch smart looking guys going around the house....and look who is helping him fix those bricks.....his one and only SON. This is really a cute family.
Then she became pregnant, her health began to deteriorate, she was vomiting like anything, she was hospitalised, doctors began to have doubts whether it is really a child inside her womb or is it some GROWTH ( at that time there were no scanning facilities), but then her gynocologist was damn sure it is a child inside her. She kept on vomiting and the only way she was having food was through a tube connected to her nose, and that too just glucose. All her family members told her to abort the child because they were not able to see her in such a pain, but then she and her sweet hubby decided not to do that. Then on
FEB 4th 1977 a baby boy was born to them, mother was around 26 kilos and the baby was about 4 pounds ( a fatso), the intresting part of that baby was that he had a small cute teeth when he was born(thanks to all the health drink and glucose his mumma had )....... everyone was congratulating the mother for taking lot of pains to get this sweet baby. Now that baby is a Lawyer who is doing his MBA , who is writing this post, just to show how much he loves his parents for all the pains they have taken for making him what he is now. I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD (acha and amma thats what i call them), just take a look at those sweet couple and their fatso baby).
4) CODE: 24PEA
By:- Jammy
A Gentleman’s guide to your wife’s sari
OK, I accept I iron her clothes. Who doesn’t? Just because I don’t have the courage to take her head-on and fight for my rights, you can’t call me a coward. I am quite a brave guy. The other day, I even helped a cat come down a tree. Not to mention, the Red and White Bravery award I got when I was all of ten years old. It is another thing that I refused to climb the Elephant on which I was to be paraded during the Republic Day parade. Guess, I was scared.
Talking of ladies clothes, I can safely (and unashamedly) say that I am now an expert. I might not have the intricate knowledge required to be become a Ritu Beri (and to top it, she is a lady) but I sure can hold my own in a world of hen-pecked husbands. Wonder why we men are known as hen-pecked. I have never seen a hen peck her husband.
The aim of this guide is to help other fellow husbands like me tackle the issue safely. BTW, I am planning on turning ‘Agony Husband’ and offer solutions to men suffering from the after-effects of marriage. Simply put, I am planning to help men suffering from a sudden bout of identity crisis.
In this post we will discuss only the Sari.
A very sexy attire. Traditionally Indian. Very laborious to wear (According to a AC Nielsen survey done on 10,000 Indian males, more husbands help their wives in wearing a sari, than removing it. I think, I was the 9,675th husband).
Saris are six meters of pure fun (sometimes cotton, sometimes silk). The material doesn’t matter because whatever tips you read now …you are going to forget it…and one fine day feel a Kancheepuram silk between your right thumb and index finger and say: “Nice cotton…it is so good that it doesn’t even feel like cotton.”
If your wife has decided to wear a sari to office…you better be ready to buy a car. Rekha and I have never been serious about buying a car (it is another thing that we never had money serious enough to buy a car). But in the last six months we must have decided to buy a car, the next day, at least four times. That’s the number of times she has worn a sari to office.
“We need to buy a car,” she would tell me early in the morning.
“Yes Rekha, as you say.” I would meekly surrender even as I keep my face in the newspaper.
“Santro or Zen or anything that is small enough for the two of us,” she says. (More recently it has been Getz)
“Yes Rekha.”
I know it is coming. It is only a matter of time before she breaks the news.
“You know what?” an excited Rekha asks.
“What?”
“Today I am wearing that green sari,” she breaks the biggest news of the day.
She has some 15+ saris and I don’t remember the color of any. I pretend to remember the sari and burst out: “Yeah…that’s a neat one. Last time you wore it…you looked like a Goddess.”
“I did?” A blushing Rekha questions me. She is pretty modest. But I can also notice a spark in her eye that means “Dare to say no!”
I have mentioned here that she has 15+ saris. Wonder if that is a good thing…for I believe the more the number of saris a lady has…the more she is respected in the society. What will all her friends think of her now? Only 15 saris? That is…she would be repeating her saris after every two years and four months? Shame…shame…puppy shame.
Once your wife decides to wear a sari…there are certain things that are understood. You are not getting a decent breakfast…neither is she going to pack lunch for you. She doesn’t want you to drop her…instead will be taking an auto rickshaw. You don’t have to pick her up in the evening because she can’t sit on your stupid two-wheeler (this is the same girl who would have loved your Yamaha, while dating because it provided so much intimacy).
Once decided, she will take an early bath (and that is 6 a.m.) and start the process…matching of the blouse takes half an hour because there is always the other blouse (the one that is the color of the sari’s border) that goes better.
When she starts wearing the sari, a helper/assistant is required. This is when, there is a call “Hello! Anybody home? Can somebody come and help me please?”
I know she is referring to me because there is nobody else in the house…for the next 30 minutes I help her decide the angle, the straight lines, the curves, the folds…blah blah…
She is dressed up like a Barbie by 8.30 a.m. and decides to leave. Just because her sari would crumble…I don’t even get that hug that has been my consolation for the last six weeks. Sob…Sob…I hope Rekha reads this…and gives me a good hug. (God…I should have been in Sales).
5) CODE: 29PEB
By:- Neetie
It was a day, afternoon when we both were coming home by school bus. And when our stop came we both get down from the bus. It was very hot, a July noon. Sun was giving more heat. We were walking on the street holding each other's hand. Everyday he used to say bye to me 1st then go to his home. When my home was few steps far. we left each other’s hands and said bye to each other and both were looking back till both were vanished. After coming home, get clothes changed and wash face, and relax. Put head on cool pillow and close eyes. And suddenly everything changed. I was seeing his face in front of me, holding hands, saying bye. Opened the eyes and there was none. Then have a nap. I was reminding those wonderful moments of life which will always in heart. Wow those days were so soothing and relaxing. Everything seems so fresh and easy. And if there is any problem always feels that he is always with me. It feels that the whole life may spend like this moment. Sharing notes and books, doing favours, saying bye, keep smiling whenever u see him, any big thing is so tiny if he asks for that. Those saving money for friendship and b’day cards.
Hmm nothing left........... Nothing........ All things really happened or I was just dreaming. Those chocolates and cards were so precious. He is the most important person in ur life. More than urself, more than ur family, more than ur dreams. Only he matters nothing else. And no one else. When see back really wonder and ponder it really happened? Because life is totally different from that dreams and now
After school then college. Hmm more freedom and more hangouts with him, those sharing icecreams and pizza. Sipping coffee in heavy rain with shivering hands. Oh….got late… mom will scold me….papa will kill me if he get to know I was with you. Sitting on bike holding him, and saying I m so scared. Then pray to God and make a mannat that I ll go to temple if everything will be all right. And after getting in home, nothing like that, everyone is cool. And calling him hiding urself with slow voice, ya everything is fine. Nothing happened. Those making wishes and going to temples, church and gurudwaras… and making heartly wishes. God please don’t make us apart. I cant live without him. And writing all ur dreams in note and dropping in the box and assuming that God will read it and will grant everything we want. Lighting those candles in church and ………
All is memories….just memories….
6) CODE: 31PEA
By:- Deepak Jeswal
Married on the 5th of July
On a sultry July evening they married. She was a young, demure, shy girl; he was ten years elder, handsome and with a permanent government job. Being the eldest of the daughters (and second only to one elder brother) of a large family, she understood responsibility and duty. Still, she was not prepared for the immense family burden that came her way; her first, nervous attempt at kneading the dough was a disaster of titanic proportions.
Yet, despite these initial glitches and occasional hiccups, the couple settled down to their married life. It was an archaic time; television, internet, telephone and even gas had to still enter the households. Their entertainment was a long, satisfying walk of the Connaught Place, an odd Raj Kapoor movie, and an infrequent dinner at the Madras Hotel.
The next year they were blessed with a cherubic baby girl; so beautiful and divine the baby had a natural beauty spot (mole) on her chin, as if the Gods themselves wanted to ward off the evil eyes. Five years thence, the stork delivered another girl, a petite dusky angel!
By that time, he was well entrenched in his foreign services, and was traveling all across the globe. Their marriage strengthened, as their position enhanced. She saw a world that she had only dreamed of; he, found bliss in his small world.
Ten years later the stork beamed again; a son, this time. Life was perfect!
Though never in abundance, money was adequate, more so because he had mastered the art of savings; also, he always sacrificed his personal needs to make way for the basic necessaties of his wife and children. He ensured the children always wore the cleanest clothes, and studied in all the good institutions. She guaranteed that they were given all the requisite moral compuctions and character strengths.
Time passed on; the girls matured into educated, smart and strong-minded individuals, while the son- somewhat a dreamer- just scraped through. Eventually, the girls were married off to respectable households. The son settled into his career. Several years later, he retired, having fulfilled all his compulsive duties and obligations.
Over the years, his obsession with savings was often, and very wrongly, confused with miserliness, but his meticulous planning and prudence got them a house in time; got the daughters married off in style; and got his son settled. His motto is to live well (every modern equipment finds a place here), eat well (fruits are never a shortage here) and wear well, but not overspend unnecessarily.
Today, the couple is living a generous and luxurious retired life; enjoying the indulgence of time and relaxation, and still ensuring that their son never faces any shortage ever!
They might not sound unique or different from the many couples that live this world; they may seem so ordinary. Yet they are the best, and the greatest…because, they are my parents, who got married on this day, in1957, on a sultry day.
Happy Anniversary, Papa and Mummy!
7) CODE: 32PEA
By:- Pranav
Vignettes from life
Not in the order of chronology or importance:
Vignette 1: Meeting a friend (after many days of inertia and f-ups on my part) having decided to meet on the spur of the moment, being lost in own worries and thoughts - till reminded in the very typically sweet way that I was being unsocial:-). It started out by reaching there in a totally preoccupied mode, almost sad, desolate and itchy sweaty. Sitting at a (surprisingly) empty Barista, talking, walking down the promenade watching the sea waves run to the rocks and suddenly losing purpose going back, sitting down, watching more, talking, getting comfortable, becoming progressively happier and for a moment forgetting all (ok almost all)silly worries accummulated over the week. Feeling kinder towards the world after that...:-). Thanks, buddy..was almost therapeutic
Vignette 2: Seeing a dog with 3 feet, hobbling and wagging its tail to everyone who cared to look at it. Buying the dog a paav and then suddenly feeling guilty, looking at the 2 beggars sitting not too far away. Dropping a few coins there to assuage my guilt - but was that enough/appropriate? I dont think so/dont know.
Vignette 3: Not recent - theres these three blind people that sit on Platform 5 of the Andheri station who sing - and very well at that. So much so that its almost a pleasure to be standing there sometimes. Please drop a few coins if you happen to be there - its an honest effort to live life. Dont know if they're there in the day - I've been around there only late nights.
Vignette 4: A crowded local train, a young couple sitting, the wife in obvious pain from something, the husband studiously ignoring her, looking embarrassedly away, obviously concerned too, but turning once to say, 'acha chup raho, bas station a gaya'. Wonder why? The typical male macho thing about not appearing concerned about your woman in public?
Vignette 5: Listening to some horrible downloaded music from Frank Zappa and Jean Luc Ponty (ok, its me who's horrible in his appreciation of classics...:-) ), alt+tabbing to the media player to see what it was that was causing so much pain and seeing that it was a 19.5 minute piece and rolling my eyes heavenwards. This one is going to be deleted for sure!
Vignette 6: causing a lot of hurt inadvertantly and unthinkingly and spending oodles of time agonising over lost/lessened friendship and trust. Especially since this was one I was really really looking forward to. Why doesnt someone invent a Selective Memory Eraser? Especially because 'sorry' doesnt work anymore or is simply not enough.
Vignette 7: Biking back from lower Parel, reaching Marine Drive, about to take the turn toward home when it starts Raining. Peeling away from the turn and biking up to the end at NCPA, taking a U-turn and then all the way on to Walkeshwar road, and then a u-turn again when it ended. Totally happy!! And wet! Thank heavens the car is in dilli:-) Getting incredulous stares from watchmen in the building, giggles from the kids, smiles from the maidservants and awwwws from the aunties - all hanging around the little garden in the building - which incidentally I have'nt gone in yet over the one year I've been here.
Vignette 8: Having no mobile phone since the last 2 days (yes people, the 'P' has finally gone in for repairs and yes, 5 days after the warranty expired) and ummm..feeling lonely and cut off and happy in turns. Expect to be back in the loop by Monday. Enjoying till then but miss not talking to my parents coz I ummm...dont remember their number (oops!! but in my defence, they just changed their number - yet again and they never seem to be at home to pick up the landlines, the happening couple!). Making a decision to backup all contact data on the comp - coz dont even remember the numbers of friends around who could lend me an extra mobile:-(
Vignette 9: Ummm...eating some heavenly Baskin Robbins icecream at...of all the places...the gym...:-S...move over fruit juice, egg whites and protein powder..:-))))
Vignette 10: Doing nothing on a Saturday. And having nothing to do on a Sunday. yaay? or damn? Whatever...just dont feel like. Enough of hanging out (thank all ye gods my hanging-out-crowd doesnt know where my blog is;-) ) for some time. Feels good to be alone again - for a while atleast. Am I selfish? Enough happened over the week - mostly bad, some good - to bother about it too much.
8) CODE: 36PEA
By:- Sadik
Amazing life….Moni was so right when she said…”Life is like a thread….just when we leave it all straightened up and free of knots, we find it all so jumbled up again…” but can we always straighten d thread….? Wish I knew…
U know folks, I love life… and I want to love people…but the honest truth is…u can’t!!
U just can’t survive if u want to be a “good with all” person… My worst nightmare is if I let some1 down… I have this (annoying, for some) habit of saying NO to people on their face..if I feel I can’t fulfill a commitment…I just can’t say “yes” just for d sake of keeping someone pleased and then keep them waiting to the point of frustration… Some even call me rude..or evading responsibilities… but why don’t these people see that every single commitment that I have ever undertaken has always been successfully accomplished… I hate people who seem so sugary n considerate and then leave u in mid way…
The truth is I have always been disappointed with people… bar a select few handfulls, the entire world seems to be made of worthless and senseless folks who have d sheep mentality crammed deep in their rusty minds. But oh!! It wasn’t at all my intention to write a blog criticizing people… d trouble is there’s so much in my mind…I don’t even know where to start….
Ok if u feel this is already too terrible…please do shut out this useless window..coz it will do nothing but waste ur invaluable time…. But if that’s stocked aplenty let’s carry on…
I want to ask all u wonderful people out there something…. Do u ever feel like that u r starting to SEE THROUGH people, right through…Does it ever feel that u just can’t identify yourself with anybody coz u see right through them… what they r like, what kind of thoughts and actions they r capable of, what r they most likely to say.. what would they behave like…?all seems entirely too predictable… and when one starts seeing through people it’s hard to respect them… and without respect, there can be no relationship……
Do any of u ever feel this way?… I just feel so detached sometimes… like when everyone is laughing their heads off over some outrageously funny joke.. I just see each of them n feel amused observing what everyone’s going through…
I feel like I don’t live in d real life situations anymore… nothing moves me..or affects me, anymore.
Imagine this… someone is angry with me and accusing me and criticizing me to his/her hearts content… making it a point for others to hear n get to know d allegations… and I just stand and listen…psychologically too tired even to fight my case or offer a reason… coz I can just read through what that person is doing n why he’s doing so and I don’t give a single damn about it… People read this silence as an admission of guilt… but I feel that’s just a kid who’s lost a toy…no one can fight me mentally…
So u c, what I m trying to say is…I have crossed the barrier of understanding so far that now I sometimes feel I understand too much… I don’t need to understand everything… when someone’s done something wrong to u, u r supposed to be angry… u r supposed to “take revenge” not “understand” y that person did what he/she did!!!
U know, people(selfish and conceited as they usually are) often mistake this non-action as weakness… they feel they can do whatsoever they want coz hamein gussa to aata hi nahi….
When I was a kid I saw a programme on TV where prospective brides n grooms were asked what they wanted most in their spouse… and 90 percent of them said “he/she sould be understanding….” Now I m not so sure.. understanding every single person isn’t just such a great feeling after all!!!
I do realize that this blog has turned too boring n I definitely had no such intentions.... the words keep coming to my crammed to capacity brain…and I don’t want u innocent blog-civilians to be victims of a “terror”izing mind out on rampage… so I guess this is where I shall end… and to all u victims…. Do try n answer me if u have any…
9) CODE: 44PEA
By:- Ektz
Sweetness follows…
Sometimes,
people can be so sweet, that i find them impossible to resist.
Oh, did i mention, i have a sweet tooth!!
Well, inspite of that fact, i also have resentment towards constant flatterings and charms. But hey, sometimes, Ember [Thats what i'll call him, so that i dont have to get in fuss of names, or even Initials for that matter! he is the one that i hopelessly love, and also know how hopeless it is!!] he also turns sweet.
Of course it will just be a momentary thing, something that has been done unknowingly even, or else he wouldnt have done that in first place if he knew he was trying/acting sweet. something to do with Monster male egos, eh?! Well, wouldnt get too deep into it, cause i also come with monster egos. heh!!
So yeah, the sweetthing that i was showered with today, was first his silence on phone. Of course, its usual. He is not that of a conversationalist when it comes to romance. Not me either, so its cool and comfortable for us to just be there with each other and spend hours in silence, doing either nothing, or our own things. But its largely a comfort zone for both of us. Feels like home in those situations.
But this time i was angry, things werent going right from sometime now, he was behaving detach, or rather, IS behaving detached. I was angry for the silence that was making me uncomfortable for the first time. And after a while, i lost it. My temper that is. I blurted out in a not-at-all-nice [mean] tone, " If you don't have anything to talk about, then why you are calling me up in first place??"
and here it goes, the sweetest thing that he says, that makes me shut up, with a smile on my face...
"..umm... I just wanted to hear your voice..."
I just hope the effect stays on for atleast an hour , before another call
10) CODE: 49PEA
By:- Akshaya
Visits and Journeys
The last few days of the previous year and the first two days of this year have been fabulous for me. Things have been better than I could have asked for. Times like these are meant to be remembered for life. It would be an understatement, if I just say that I am so thankful to the two fellows who chose to spend some time here with me. They were two of my best pals. One is abhaya whom the bloggers probably know for his 'Basket Case' and the other is Prof aka Rahul Sharma.
They might have exercised some options about where and whom to join at the new year, but what they chose was a gift to me. We had a rollicking time here at Pune. Its not about what we did together, but about what we felt when we were together. One thing I learnt is that you dont necessarily look as happy as you are. The real pleasure is way ahead of the visible pleasure. Sometimes, without saying anything, you can communicate and without listening, you understand. And it happens with people who are precious.
One important part of being with your best pals is that you can be yourself, absolutely yourself. You dont need to be detached from yourself. You dont need to pretend to be happy, you dont need to laugh out loud, you dont need to say it all. It just comes out in the most natural way. And the nature is never loud, its always calm and beautiful. Dont you agree?
Times have passed since we met the last time and things have changed too. People have moved on around us. Some have gone past us and some have been left behind. But the true affection remains unchanged. It passes the test of time effortlessly. When you meet, you know that the moments to follow are going to forge you all again into a bond that wouldn't ever break. I wish that thought passes the test of time.
While I was waiting for the two chaps, I thought a lot about what I would like to discuss. But some of it, I couldn't even say. I was wondering why. And I know some of what they necessarily wanted to communicate also could not come out. Some things are just too difficult to come out of you. Life throws such tantrums at you. Its ironic but, its life. The stranger it is, the better it is! The urge to explore never dies out!
Time will pass, we'll meet up again sometime later at some other place and we'll again make merry. We'll again try to open our hearts and say it all. Some would still be hard to come out, some would come out and leave its fragrance all over us, some would just be evident and written all over us. I'll wait for those times.
One thing that surprises me is that, this time, we were quite agreeable to thoughts we would have thought came to us as a realisation. Maybe its collective intelligence, or maybe all of us have taken steps into the same direction. Or maybe whichever direction you take, the lessons of life remain the same. I hope this small get-together will help us realize that life has been equally strange to all of us in its own way, that we need to look around more and more and never lose the urge to grow beyond our present-self.
This visit was a stopover in the middle of our respective journeys. A stopover which was required to re-estabilish ourselves and re-assure us in our minds. It was a vertical step in the middle of a lateral walk.
The journey must go on. And so should the visits.
Thanks to you Abhaga and Prof for that wonderful time. Lonavla and Panshet could never have been as lovely as they were in your company!
At this point of time, I feel like singing - 'Zindagi, Mere ghar Ana, Mere ghar Ana, Ana Zindagi' Yes...once more!
By:- Mandy
Living in a room full of books
Have you ever lived in a room full of books?
I have. All my life.
A room full of not only books but magazines (read, half-read and unread), newspapers (current and old), books, notebooks, scrapbooks and whatever else humanity has till date created out of paper. My 'recently read' (ie. read sometime in about the past 2 years and still liked) library of books continuing over two shelves. My 'currently reading' heap of books (bought, gifted and borrowed) around my pillow. The past few days' newspapers and their supplements of every conceivable kind (which I forget to routinely take out). Newspapers that are literally pages of history - containing a stray interesting article, or every time me or any of my friends got published (kept in almost-neat, napthalened stacks below my bed). 3 dictionaries. And the stool beside my bed (which in some prehistoric time belonged to mom's pretty dressing table) is heaped with... let's see... a script of Utpal Dutta's Dilli Chalo (eek, wasn't that returned to Powell a year back?), a couple of half-read pujobarshikees (Anandamela and Desh), some Sociology notes (heavy, alien stuff!), a Sanjeev Kapoor cookbook (make a nice bedtime read after a dinner of half-boiled bitter Maggi, na?), my poetry folder, my last year's slam book, Rabindranath's Golpoguchho (was tutoring sis Kabuliwallah last evening), Linda Goodman's Sun Signs (Gangs I know you're fuming baby!)... and a few unliterary things. And then of course my (mostly untouched) shelf of school books and material, just by the computer (deliberately placed there to instil virtue in me, but just like the alarm clock which gets thrown on the floor instead - doesn't work!)
Living in a room full of books would depress just about anyone (when in good mood my mom calls my room paperwallah's store, but then when in bad mood she calls it garbage dump - so isn't that better?). Not me. This is my world - this is where I've always been, grown up from the dark, scrawny little kid to the suave, ambitious bitch, maybe a little imbalanced. Been Red Riding Hood, been George from the Famous Five, been the Lady of Shalott, Frodo Baggins, Dorian Gray. Been Bonolota Sen and sometimes the hyacinth girl. In some tipsy moment, even been Geraldine from Christabel, Lolita, Prufrock and a few more 'unconventional' identities. Only one thing remains constant - this is where I've always been.
A few months back, I had suddenly discovered myself a thorough extrovert - walking up to new people, talking, making new friends, hanging out more often than staying indoors. Something I had always seen myself doing, but in my dreams. In reality, it was uncomfortable, I tell you. It was somehow not me. I was living someone else's life. Not mine. All those months, weeks and days seem so unreal now. Those faces feel like a distant memory... a detached memory... a detached dream from some heady midnight long ago. Even the boy who made me fall in love... where is he now? Thinking of whom? Lying in whose arms?.... And where am I?
I'm back to my own place. Where I began, where I'll end. To the centre of my universe. To the strong moth-eaten aroma that comforts and shelters me and my paranoic fits. The aroma whose molecules have merged with my blood and my sweat and the scent of my hair, down all these years. To my room full of books.
Rock on baby, yours forever..
2) CODE: 03PEA
By:- Flashgordon
Six Questions to go and we were still at the sixth place….......
The Corporate Quiz was an annual event held at this North Indian City. A Basketball stadium full of people! Unheard of for a quiz. Either they market it well or this is the only entertainment in the city. 3 B-School teams and 3 Corporates fighting it out in the final after 4 rounds. Started with 165 teams and finally . Big prizes at stake…
Last Buzzer Round!! Jinx (my quiz partner) did not even keep his fingers on the buzzer. In fact he was not even talking to me after a Dumb C round setback (yeah, the quiz had other rounds too) that cost us heavy. “Yeh quiz tho gaya, How could you screw up that Philips punchline ?“He was livid We were a big name team from Mumbai; but now losing to some not so famous teams; save two. Dreaded going to office the next day.....Same old cubicle, same boss, and absolutely nothing to look forward to.
The last round questions were on the buzzer…10 for a right ; negative 10 for a wrong one. Brand Related Questions. But not “strictly” as we found out soon.
Who has a house in Bangalore by the name Arzoo?" Arzoo-as-in-Arzoo.com??? I buzz." Sabeer Bhatia! . We score. " Next one- If u see a person named Sherry in a cricket dressing room…." (Easy Full toss! There’s only one Sherry I know.......Our own Shakespeare Sidhu" " I buzz again –"Navjyot Singh Sidhu." ..Got it!! Slightly better now; we are at fifth now. TOI team were the current leaders by miles. They had scored heavily on the gimmick rounds. IIM L were at number two playing safe in the last round like most others. I took advantage of this and answered the next two.
All eyes in the packed Basketball Stadium the venue were now just on us. Just 2 more questions to go and we the team who were lying sixth had answered all the past 4 on the buzzer.. We are fourth now. Talk about high-drama.
I’m like a man possessed now…adrenalin pumping. ..Its like you are swinging at everything in the slog overs of a match and somehow everything is connecting in the middle of the bat !!
Then the quizmaster starts this weird question " Bengal Indore Jaipur; Orissa, Oudh Rajasthan.... What "brand" name do you get from this?? "
My little grey cells tingle Poirot-like -----A jingle, a product marketed in those areas? No! Oudh it cant be; and half the names are states and others cities. Seems it is a deliberate attempt to get some acronym right; ..Acronym??!! Yes, that’s it.. (All this data processing was in about 3 seconds I guess ;-))
I grabbed the pen and scribbled B-I-J-O-… and buzzed.Audience hasn’t quite figured what the question was about. They looked stunned when I buzzed. Jinx is staring at me as if I’ve gone nuts. I take the microphone and say " Bijoor- That’s your name, sir!"
Harish Bijoor the quiz master looked especially happy. (Heights, some plug .Quiz master's name as a brand !!! ) Audience gave us a thunderous applause! We were third now ; just 5 points behind IIM L who were at second now and looking like Ganguly facing a Glenn McGrath Delivery.
C'mon man, I try get Jinxx pumped up too..Last Question- Fingers on the buzzer "The new Videocon Logo has 2 E’s which signifies something, what??". Jinxx springs into action this time ..Buzzzzz "Energy to Electronics" ! We get it !!! 6 out of 6 last qs on the buzzer with all other teams looking on. Unbelievable ! We do High Fives !!
We don’t win but end up Runners Up pipping the IIM team; quite a comeback.
"We get the Bikes right??" Suddenly that thought hits Jinxx. Yeah!!!!!!. We win an Enfield Electra Bullet each!! Cool !! The winners get a laptop each…
There is then a lone wolf round where each guy in the top 2 teams (total 4) undergoes a Mastermind Style Rapid fire round. I beat Jinx & the TOI guysto top this and win the Brand Mahaguru title & a Furniture Set from Pinnacle Saporiti worth Rs 80,000 !!
Not bad earnings for an evening's work, eh??? Smug thought!
Prize distribution was elaborate. Hell lot of prizes. Big Red Turbans tied on our heads and we were carried around the stadium around the stadium in a Camel Cart.
Some Girls, Mgmt Students asked for my autograph!!! A few wanted to stand with me and pose for a photo (Mom/Dad what a pity you weren’t here).
My first brush with celebrityhood !! Page 3 , here i come !! (Actually Page 3 of a local Hindi paper had my snap the next day; trophy aloft; and looking like a contradiction of cultures- Red turban & black Rockband TShirt!!Bina mooch ke sardar )
Reality struck after we were back in the Hotel- We have the bikes but can we use them???
Jinx had never graduated beyond his tricycle in his childhood and though he knows even the year in which Harley Davidson set up shop in Milwaukee; cannot for his life actually ride even a TVS moped!!
My line of thought was different. My KB 125 which often ran out of Petrol (well, a bike does not start by optimism alone) had to be pushed to the nearest Petrol pump with my own bare hands. But pushing an Enfield?? Alas, I’ll have to first spend some money on a Bull worker and the Autobiography of Arnold Schwarznegger first!
We made the decision !! We had to sell both our bikes …. The officials told us that we could not exchange it for money. Sponsors wont like it…
And thus started the Saga of the unsold Bullets - Alternatively titled Zen and the art of Motorcycle Disposal.
3) CODE: 21PEA
By:- Jay Menon
A great marriage
FEB 5th 1975: she was looking very beautiful, all dressed up in typical kerala style bride, he was also a handsome young man of about 29.He an engineer, first rank holder in whatever he touched, a very intelligent chap....and she who is a final year
economics student, who hates to study, studying just for the sake of it......a typical kerala style arranged marraige: they might have met at the maximum 3-4 times before marraige...not more than that.
Her family was really big-she had 5 brothers and 1 sister on the other hand his family was the typical example of family planning system-he and his sweet sister. She was pampered like anything as she is the youngest in her family, so at the time of going to his house after marraige...she was crying like anything (as we see in movies), anyway her BIG B's (pandavas) accompanied their little sister to his house. His parents were also very loving and caring kinda people so she was comfortable all around.
She began to be the sweetheart of that family, her mother-in-law was much more comfortable with her than her daughter and her father-in-law a very sweet man who loved her a lot.
A cute incident : one day FIL is fixing up bricks near the long wall, somebody asked "what are you doing?" he replied "my daughter-in-law is getting bored, so i thought i can make some platform with these bricks, so that she can stand on it and watch the people going on the road", I have never ever heard FIL helping DIL to watch smart looking guys going around the house....and look who is helping him fix those bricks.....his one and only SON. This is really a cute family.
Then she became pregnant, her health began to deteriorate, she was vomiting like anything, she was hospitalised, doctors began to have doubts whether it is really a child inside her womb or is it some GROWTH ( at that time there were no scanning facilities), but then her gynocologist was damn sure it is a child inside her. She kept on vomiting and the only way she was having food was through a tube connected to her nose, and that too just glucose. All her family members told her to abort the child because they were not able to see her in such a pain, but then she and her sweet hubby decided not to do that. Then on
FEB 4th 1977 a baby boy was born to them, mother was around 26 kilos and the baby was about 4 pounds ( a fatso), the intresting part of that baby was that he had a small cute teeth when he was born(thanks to all the health drink and glucose his mumma had )....... everyone was congratulating the mother for taking lot of pains to get this sweet baby. Now that baby is a Lawyer who is doing his MBA , who is writing this post, just to show how much he loves his parents for all the pains they have taken for making him what he is now. I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD (acha and amma thats what i call them), just take a look at those sweet couple and their fatso baby).
4) CODE: 24PEA
By:- Jammy
A Gentleman’s guide to your wife’s sari
OK, I accept I iron her clothes. Who doesn’t? Just because I don’t have the courage to take her head-on and fight for my rights, you can’t call me a coward. I am quite a brave guy. The other day, I even helped a cat come down a tree. Not to mention, the Red and White Bravery award I got when I was all of ten years old. It is another thing that I refused to climb the Elephant on which I was to be paraded during the Republic Day parade. Guess, I was scared.
Talking of ladies clothes, I can safely (and unashamedly) say that I am now an expert. I might not have the intricate knowledge required to be become a Ritu Beri (and to top it, she is a lady) but I sure can hold my own in a world of hen-pecked husbands. Wonder why we men are known as hen-pecked. I have never seen a hen peck her husband.
The aim of this guide is to help other fellow husbands like me tackle the issue safely. BTW, I am planning on turning ‘Agony Husband’ and offer solutions to men suffering from the after-effects of marriage. Simply put, I am planning to help men suffering from a sudden bout of identity crisis.
In this post we will discuss only the Sari.
A very sexy attire. Traditionally Indian. Very laborious to wear (According to a AC Nielsen survey done on 10,000 Indian males, more husbands help their wives in wearing a sari, than removing it. I think, I was the 9,675th husband).
Saris are six meters of pure fun (sometimes cotton, sometimes silk). The material doesn’t matter because whatever tips you read now …you are going to forget it…and one fine day feel a Kancheepuram silk between your right thumb and index finger and say: “Nice cotton…it is so good that it doesn’t even feel like cotton.”
If your wife has decided to wear a sari to office…you better be ready to buy a car. Rekha and I have never been serious about buying a car (it is another thing that we never had money serious enough to buy a car). But in the last six months we must have decided to buy a car, the next day, at least four times. That’s the number of times she has worn a sari to office.
“We need to buy a car,” she would tell me early in the morning.
“Yes Rekha, as you say.” I would meekly surrender even as I keep my face in the newspaper.
“Santro or Zen or anything that is small enough for the two of us,” she says. (More recently it has been Getz)
“Yes Rekha.”
I know it is coming. It is only a matter of time before she breaks the news.
“You know what?” an excited Rekha asks.
“What?”
“Today I am wearing that green sari,” she breaks the biggest news of the day.
She has some 15+ saris and I don’t remember the color of any. I pretend to remember the sari and burst out: “Yeah…that’s a neat one. Last time you wore it…you looked like a Goddess.”
“I did?” A blushing Rekha questions me. She is pretty modest. But I can also notice a spark in her eye that means “Dare to say no!”
I have mentioned here that she has 15+ saris. Wonder if that is a good thing…for I believe the more the number of saris a lady has…the more she is respected in the society. What will all her friends think of her now? Only 15 saris? That is…she would be repeating her saris after every two years and four months? Shame…shame…puppy shame.
Once your wife decides to wear a sari…there are certain things that are understood. You are not getting a decent breakfast…neither is she going to pack lunch for you. She doesn’t want you to drop her…instead will be taking an auto rickshaw. You don’t have to pick her up in the evening because she can’t sit on your stupid two-wheeler (this is the same girl who would have loved your Yamaha, while dating because it provided so much intimacy).
Once decided, she will take an early bath (and that is 6 a.m.) and start the process…matching of the blouse takes half an hour because there is always the other blouse (the one that is the color of the sari’s border) that goes better.
When she starts wearing the sari, a helper/assistant is required. This is when, there is a call “Hello! Anybody home? Can somebody come and help me please?”
I know she is referring to me because there is nobody else in the house…for the next 30 minutes I help her decide the angle, the straight lines, the curves, the folds…blah blah…
She is dressed up like a Barbie by 8.30 a.m. and decides to leave. Just because her sari would crumble…I don’t even get that hug that has been my consolation for the last six weeks. Sob…Sob…I hope Rekha reads this…and gives me a good hug. (God…I should have been in Sales).
5) CODE: 29PEB
By:- Neetie
It was a day, afternoon when we both were coming home by school bus. And when our stop came we both get down from the bus. It was very hot, a July noon. Sun was giving more heat. We were walking on the street holding each other's hand. Everyday he used to say bye to me 1st then go to his home. When my home was few steps far. we left each other’s hands and said bye to each other and both were looking back till both were vanished. After coming home, get clothes changed and wash face, and relax. Put head on cool pillow and close eyes. And suddenly everything changed. I was seeing his face in front of me, holding hands, saying bye. Opened the eyes and there was none. Then have a nap. I was reminding those wonderful moments of life which will always in heart. Wow those days were so soothing and relaxing. Everything seems so fresh and easy. And if there is any problem always feels that he is always with me. It feels that the whole life may spend like this moment. Sharing notes and books, doing favours, saying bye, keep smiling whenever u see him, any big thing is so tiny if he asks for that. Those saving money for friendship and b’day cards.
Hmm nothing left........... Nothing........ All things really happened or I was just dreaming. Those chocolates and cards were so precious. He is the most important person in ur life. More than urself, more than ur family, more than ur dreams. Only he matters nothing else. And no one else. When see back really wonder and ponder it really happened? Because life is totally different from that dreams and now
After school then college. Hmm more freedom and more hangouts with him, those sharing icecreams and pizza. Sipping coffee in heavy rain with shivering hands. Oh….got late… mom will scold me….papa will kill me if he get to know I was with you. Sitting on bike holding him, and saying I m so scared. Then pray to God and make a mannat that I ll go to temple if everything will be all right. And after getting in home, nothing like that, everyone is cool. And calling him hiding urself with slow voice, ya everything is fine. Nothing happened. Those making wishes and going to temples, church and gurudwaras… and making heartly wishes. God please don’t make us apart. I cant live without him. And writing all ur dreams in note and dropping in the box and assuming that God will read it and will grant everything we want. Lighting those candles in church and ………
All is memories….just memories….
6) CODE: 31PEA
By:- Deepak Jeswal
Married on the 5th of July
On a sultry July evening they married. She was a young, demure, shy girl; he was ten years elder, handsome and with a permanent government job. Being the eldest of the daughters (and second only to one elder brother) of a large family, she understood responsibility and duty. Still, she was not prepared for the immense family burden that came her way; her first, nervous attempt at kneading the dough was a disaster of titanic proportions.
Yet, despite these initial glitches and occasional hiccups, the couple settled down to their married life. It was an archaic time; television, internet, telephone and even gas had to still enter the households. Their entertainment was a long, satisfying walk of the Connaught Place, an odd Raj Kapoor movie, and an infrequent dinner at the Madras Hotel.
The next year they were blessed with a cherubic baby girl; so beautiful and divine the baby had a natural beauty spot (mole) on her chin, as if the Gods themselves wanted to ward off the evil eyes. Five years thence, the stork delivered another girl, a petite dusky angel!
By that time, he was well entrenched in his foreign services, and was traveling all across the globe. Their marriage strengthened, as their position enhanced. She saw a world that she had only dreamed of; he, found bliss in his small world.
Ten years later the stork beamed again; a son, this time. Life was perfect!
Though never in abundance, money was adequate, more so because he had mastered the art of savings; also, he always sacrificed his personal needs to make way for the basic necessaties of his wife and children. He ensured the children always wore the cleanest clothes, and studied in all the good institutions. She guaranteed that they were given all the requisite moral compuctions and character strengths.
Time passed on; the girls matured into educated, smart and strong-minded individuals, while the son- somewhat a dreamer- just scraped through. Eventually, the girls were married off to respectable households. The son settled into his career. Several years later, he retired, having fulfilled all his compulsive duties and obligations.
Over the years, his obsession with savings was often, and very wrongly, confused with miserliness, but his meticulous planning and prudence got them a house in time; got the daughters married off in style; and got his son settled. His motto is to live well (every modern equipment finds a place here), eat well (fruits are never a shortage here) and wear well, but not overspend unnecessarily.
Today, the couple is living a generous and luxurious retired life; enjoying the indulgence of time and relaxation, and still ensuring that their son never faces any shortage ever!
They might not sound unique or different from the many couples that live this world; they may seem so ordinary. Yet they are the best, and the greatest…because, they are my parents, who got married on this day, in1957, on a sultry day.
Happy Anniversary, Papa and Mummy!
7) CODE: 32PEA
By:- Pranav
Vignettes from life
Not in the order of chronology or importance:
Vignette 1: Meeting a friend (after many days of inertia and f-ups on my part) having decided to meet on the spur of the moment, being lost in own worries and thoughts - till reminded in the very typically sweet way that I was being unsocial:-). It started out by reaching there in a totally preoccupied mode, almost sad, desolate and itchy sweaty. Sitting at a (surprisingly) empty Barista, talking, walking down the promenade watching the sea waves run to the rocks and suddenly losing purpose going back, sitting down, watching more, talking, getting comfortable, becoming progressively happier and for a moment forgetting all (ok almost all)silly worries accummulated over the week. Feeling kinder towards the world after that...:-). Thanks, buddy..was almost therapeutic
Vignette 2: Seeing a dog with 3 feet, hobbling and wagging its tail to everyone who cared to look at it. Buying the dog a paav and then suddenly feeling guilty, looking at the 2 beggars sitting not too far away. Dropping a few coins there to assuage my guilt - but was that enough/appropriate? I dont think so/dont know.
Vignette 3: Not recent - theres these three blind people that sit on Platform 5 of the Andheri station who sing - and very well at that. So much so that its almost a pleasure to be standing there sometimes. Please drop a few coins if you happen to be there - its an honest effort to live life. Dont know if they're there in the day - I've been around there only late nights.
Vignette 4: A crowded local train, a young couple sitting, the wife in obvious pain from something, the husband studiously ignoring her, looking embarrassedly away, obviously concerned too, but turning once to say, 'acha chup raho, bas station a gaya'. Wonder why? The typical male macho thing about not appearing concerned about your woman in public?
Vignette 5: Listening to some horrible downloaded music from Frank Zappa and Jean Luc Ponty (ok, its me who's horrible in his appreciation of classics...:-) ), alt+tabbing to the media player to see what it was that was causing so much pain and seeing that it was a 19.5 minute piece and rolling my eyes heavenwards. This one is going to be deleted for sure!
Vignette 6: causing a lot of hurt inadvertantly and unthinkingly and spending oodles of time agonising over lost/lessened friendship and trust. Especially since this was one I was really really looking forward to. Why doesnt someone invent a Selective Memory Eraser? Especially because 'sorry' doesnt work anymore or is simply not enough.
Vignette 7: Biking back from lower Parel, reaching Marine Drive, about to take the turn toward home when it starts Raining. Peeling away from the turn and biking up to the end at NCPA, taking a U-turn and then all the way on to Walkeshwar road, and then a u-turn again when it ended. Totally happy!! And wet! Thank heavens the car is in dilli:-) Getting incredulous stares from watchmen in the building, giggles from the kids, smiles from the maidservants and awwwws from the aunties - all hanging around the little garden in the building - which incidentally I have'nt gone in yet over the one year I've been here.
Vignette 8: Having no mobile phone since the last 2 days (yes people, the 'P' has finally gone in for repairs and yes, 5 days after the warranty expired) and ummm..feeling lonely and cut off and happy in turns. Expect to be back in the loop by Monday. Enjoying till then but miss not talking to my parents coz I ummm...dont remember their number (oops!! but in my defence, they just changed their number - yet again and they never seem to be at home to pick up the landlines, the happening couple!). Making a decision to backup all contact data on the comp - coz dont even remember the numbers of friends around who could lend me an extra mobile:-(
Vignette 9: Ummm...eating some heavenly Baskin Robbins icecream at...of all the places...the gym...:-S...move over fruit juice, egg whites and protein powder..:-))))
Vignette 10: Doing nothing on a Saturday. And having nothing to do on a Sunday. yaay? or damn? Whatever...just dont feel like. Enough of hanging out (thank all ye gods my hanging-out-crowd doesnt know where my blog is;-) ) for some time. Feels good to be alone again - for a while atleast. Am I selfish? Enough happened over the week - mostly bad, some good - to bother about it too much.
8) CODE: 36PEA
By:- Sadik
Amazing life….Moni was so right when she said…”Life is like a thread….just when we leave it all straightened up and free of knots, we find it all so jumbled up again…” but can we always straighten d thread….? Wish I knew…
U know folks, I love life… and I want to love people…but the honest truth is…u can’t!!
U just can’t survive if u want to be a “good with all” person… My worst nightmare is if I let some1 down… I have this (annoying, for some) habit of saying NO to people on their face..if I feel I can’t fulfill a commitment…I just can’t say “yes” just for d sake of keeping someone pleased and then keep them waiting to the point of frustration… Some even call me rude..or evading responsibilities… but why don’t these people see that every single commitment that I have ever undertaken has always been successfully accomplished… I hate people who seem so sugary n considerate and then leave u in mid way…
The truth is I have always been disappointed with people… bar a select few handfulls, the entire world seems to be made of worthless and senseless folks who have d sheep mentality crammed deep in their rusty minds. But oh!! It wasn’t at all my intention to write a blog criticizing people… d trouble is there’s so much in my mind…I don’t even know where to start….
Ok if u feel this is already too terrible…please do shut out this useless window..coz it will do nothing but waste ur invaluable time…. But if that’s stocked aplenty let’s carry on…
I want to ask all u wonderful people out there something…. Do u ever feel like that u r starting to SEE THROUGH people, right through…Does it ever feel that u just can’t identify yourself with anybody coz u see right through them… what they r like, what kind of thoughts and actions they r capable of, what r they most likely to say.. what would they behave like…?all seems entirely too predictable… and when one starts seeing through people it’s hard to respect them… and without respect, there can be no relationship……
Do any of u ever feel this way?… I just feel so detached sometimes… like when everyone is laughing their heads off over some outrageously funny joke.. I just see each of them n feel amused observing what everyone’s going through…
I feel like I don’t live in d real life situations anymore… nothing moves me..or affects me, anymore.
Imagine this… someone is angry with me and accusing me and criticizing me to his/her hearts content… making it a point for others to hear n get to know d allegations… and I just stand and listen…psychologically too tired even to fight my case or offer a reason… coz I can just read through what that person is doing n why he’s doing so and I don’t give a single damn about it… People read this silence as an admission of guilt… but I feel that’s just a kid who’s lost a toy…no one can fight me mentally…
So u c, what I m trying to say is…I have crossed the barrier of understanding so far that now I sometimes feel I understand too much… I don’t need to understand everything… when someone’s done something wrong to u, u r supposed to be angry… u r supposed to “take revenge” not “understand” y that person did what he/she did!!!
U know, people(selfish and conceited as they usually are) often mistake this non-action as weakness… they feel they can do whatsoever they want coz hamein gussa to aata hi nahi….
When I was a kid I saw a programme on TV where prospective brides n grooms were asked what they wanted most in their spouse… and 90 percent of them said “he/she sould be understanding….” Now I m not so sure.. understanding every single person isn’t just such a great feeling after all!!!
I do realize that this blog has turned too boring n I definitely had no such intentions.... the words keep coming to my crammed to capacity brain…and I don’t want u innocent blog-civilians to be victims of a “terror”izing mind out on rampage… so I guess this is where I shall end… and to all u victims…. Do try n answer me if u have any…
9) CODE: 44PEA
By:- Ektz
Sweetness follows…
Sometimes,
people can be so sweet, that i find them impossible to resist.
Oh, did i mention, i have a sweet tooth!!
Well, inspite of that fact, i also have resentment towards constant flatterings and charms. But hey, sometimes, Ember [Thats what i'll call him, so that i dont have to get in fuss of names, or even Initials for that matter! he is the one that i hopelessly love, and also know how hopeless it is!!] he also turns sweet.
Of course it will just be a momentary thing, something that has been done unknowingly even, or else he wouldnt have done that in first place if he knew he was trying/acting sweet. something to do with Monster male egos, eh?! Well, wouldnt get too deep into it, cause i also come with monster egos. heh!!
So yeah, the sweetthing that i was showered with today, was first his silence on phone. Of course, its usual. He is not that of a conversationalist when it comes to romance. Not me either, so its cool and comfortable for us to just be there with each other and spend hours in silence, doing either nothing, or our own things. But its largely a comfort zone for both of us. Feels like home in those situations.
But this time i was angry, things werent going right from sometime now, he was behaving detach, or rather, IS behaving detached. I was angry for the silence that was making me uncomfortable for the first time. And after a while, i lost it. My temper that is. I blurted out in a not-at-all-nice [mean] tone, " If you don't have anything to talk about, then why you are calling me up in first place??"
and here it goes, the sweetest thing that he says, that makes me shut up, with a smile on my face...
"..umm... I just wanted to hear your voice..."
I just hope the effect stays on for atleast an hour , before another call
10) CODE: 49PEA
By:- Akshaya
Visits and Journeys
The last few days of the previous year and the first two days of this year have been fabulous for me. Things have been better than I could have asked for. Times like these are meant to be remembered for life. It would be an understatement, if I just say that I am so thankful to the two fellows who chose to spend some time here with me. They were two of my best pals. One is abhaya whom the bloggers probably know for his 'Basket Case' and the other is Prof aka Rahul Sharma.
They might have exercised some options about where and whom to join at the new year, but what they chose was a gift to me. We had a rollicking time here at Pune. Its not about what we did together, but about what we felt when we were together. One thing I learnt is that you dont necessarily look as happy as you are. The real pleasure is way ahead of the visible pleasure. Sometimes, without saying anything, you can communicate and without listening, you understand. And it happens with people who are precious.
One important part of being with your best pals is that you can be yourself, absolutely yourself. You dont need to be detached from yourself. You dont need to pretend to be happy, you dont need to laugh out loud, you dont need to say it all. It just comes out in the most natural way. And the nature is never loud, its always calm and beautiful. Dont you agree?
Times have passed since we met the last time and things have changed too. People have moved on around us. Some have gone past us and some have been left behind. But the true affection remains unchanged. It passes the test of time effortlessly. When you meet, you know that the moments to follow are going to forge you all again into a bond that wouldn't ever break. I wish that thought passes the test of time.
While I was waiting for the two chaps, I thought a lot about what I would like to discuss. But some of it, I couldn't even say. I was wondering why. And I know some of what they necessarily wanted to communicate also could not come out. Some things are just too difficult to come out of you. Life throws such tantrums at you. Its ironic but, its life. The stranger it is, the better it is! The urge to explore never dies out!
Time will pass, we'll meet up again sometime later at some other place and we'll again make merry. We'll again try to open our hearts and say it all. Some would still be hard to come out, some would come out and leave its fragrance all over us, some would just be evident and written all over us. I'll wait for those times.
One thing that surprises me is that, this time, we were quite agreeable to thoughts we would have thought came to us as a realisation. Maybe its collective intelligence, or maybe all of us have taken steps into the same direction. Or maybe whichever direction you take, the lessons of life remain the same. I hope this small get-together will help us realize that life has been equally strange to all of us in its own way, that we need to look around more and more and never lose the urge to grow beyond our present-self.
This visit was a stopover in the middle of our respective journeys. A stopover which was required to re-estabilish ourselves and re-assure us in our minds. It was a vertical step in the middle of a lateral walk.
The journey must go on. And so should the visits.
Thanks to you Abhaga and Prof for that wonderful time. Lonavla and Panshet could never have been as lovely as they were in your company!
At this point of time, I feel like singing - 'Zindagi, Mere ghar Ana, Mere ghar Ana, Ana Zindagi' Yes...once more!
posted by anz | 11:26 PM
