Thoughts, stories, beliefs: A slice of my life

Dream. Dare. Innovate.

2011-08-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Afraid you are,
But fear is essential,
It enthuses you to take the plunge,

She lurks behind you, always. Like a bad dream.
Refusing to leave your side,
She leaves nothing unturned to ensure you remain defeated,
Just remember, “Rome was not built in a day”!

Resolute you remain,
Embracing her like your confidant, you begin your journey,
Step by step, bit-by-bit, you inch closer to your aspiration.

Slowly but steadily you get ahead of her,
Your zeal to succeed inspires you to test your limits,
You fall. You rise again. You march ahead,
You remain unbeaten.

You win because you dare to dream,
You dare to test your limits,
You dream to do the unthinkable,
You win because you conquered your fear,
Because you dared to take the plunge.

There is only one hymn to this circle of life,
Think different. Be different. Do Different.

MSD – what’s on your mind?

2011-03-23T03:59:00.000-07:00

As we all eagerly await the closure of the Cricket World Cup, there is only one question on every Indian’s mind– Will the Indian Cricket team bring home glory after 28 years? Will it, really? Truth hurts, but looking at the way India has performed so far, most of us are almost certain that India won’t win the cup that has been eluding the country for so long. Most of us, especially ardent cricket fans, get teary-eyed knowing that Sachin may not be able to fulfil his childhood dream and that this world cup will be his last. As he continues to delight all of us with his marvellous cricketing strokes and commitment on field, we all have a small prayer sealed in our lips – urging Dhoni’s boys to win this cup for Sachin!

We all still remember the statement made by Dhoni at a press meet when he said he would like to win this cup for Sachin. But, is the team really working towards achieving that. In a country where cricket is considered a religion, unfortunately garners a lot of unneeded attention, other sports and sportspersons are hardly acknowledged, why is it that the team fails to perform each time it is expected to win. Even after receiving so much adulation from everybody, why is it so hard for the team to perform? Why is it that the undying pressure of cricket crazy fans fail to make even an iota of differnce on the team?

With so many questions on my mind, I decided to write a letter to Dhoni, hoping that somehow he gets to read this letter and also reply to it.

Dear Maahi,

Dude, what’s up? All set for the quarter-finals against the defending champion, Australia? I am sure you must be reeling from a great sense of relief after your boys managed to beat the Windies under your leadership. Or are we unable to see the real picture here. Are you actually thanking your starts that gladly Zaheer, Bhajji & Raina took wickets at the right time without which you would have had to answer another set of questions about how India is losing its position as a top contender for the World Cup and is so not equipped to win this coveted title? Or are you wondering why Pepsi paid you less in your last endorsement? Or is a second honeymoon with Sakshi on your mind?

Really Dhoni, what is on your mind? I really would like to know if your heart sunk in shame when Ashish Nehra smirked after being hit for four in the final over against South Africa! Is that how your team reacts under pressure or is it some new tactic which the boys have learnt? I want to know what really goes through your mind when your team fails to win a match which they could have won easily. Do you feel bad? Or has it become a part & parcel of your life now? Have you gotten too used to the way your team tends to under-perform against leading teams? How easy is it for you to really keep your temper under control when you let minnows like Bangladesh come so close to chasing over 300 odd runs? Let me muster the courage to ask you this - Does the world cup really matter to you? I know, i sound like an arrogant and highly opinionated cricket enthusiast, but the truth of the matter is that i am angry at you Dhoni, very angry. I want to know if cricket enthusiasts like us desreve to see India perform the way it has against leading teams? Why is the passion to win games missing in our team? Why do our wickets fall like a pack of cards exactly at the time when the momentum is swinging our way? As the captain of the team i am entitled to ask you these questions and also entitled to receive an answer from you.

Why can we never proudly and confidently say that we can easily beat Australia in the Q/F’s? Why is the confidence only visible in your advertising campaigns? Are you ready to answer my questions? I have my fingers crossed for our quarter-final match against Australia.

Warm Regards
An infuriated Indian Cricket Fan.

She.

2009-06-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

1979 was the year. She arrived on 28th December’s chilly night. Being the first child, she was much loved and adored. She grew up with more than 10 nicknames to herself. She was grandmother’s apple of the eye. She was named ‘reshmi’- meaning soft like silk. She inherited some lovely features. Like mother’s beautiful sharp nose. A lovely figure. In fact, her lovely fingers still make me squirm every time I look at mine. She was family’s sunshine. The word ‘dainty’ described her best.

4 years later I arrived. Born in scorching May, I resembled a cute over-sized potato. Let’s not get much into how I looked. Let’s just say ‘broad’ described me best. Growing up, we didn’t really share secrets. We were busy with school, studies and our own set of friends. We fought. I remember very distinctly that it was me always who would say sorry to her. You see, the elder siblings always have an attitude problem! Anyways, i think both of us were too young to realize the importance of one another in our lives then. We were simply too engaged growing up.

She was extremely girly in every sense of the word. She didn’t fight. Unlike me. She didn’t argue with unknown men because they were staring at her while she played on the terrace. Unlike me. She was always very quiet, calm and docile. Unlike me. Like me, she didn’t roam around in shorts and a cricket bat in her hand. She didn’t feel jealous on having the attention being completely drifted to younger cousins of ours when they visited us. Unlike me. She never cycled because she was scared to fall and hurt herself. I, on the other hand went with my best friend (who happened to be a very cute boy. Quite a thing to do in the nineties!) cycling every evening.

In fact, we didn’t even look like sisters. The disparities were plenty. But despite all that, I remember how possessive I was of my sister. I remember how I hit a boy and then got beaten up by his sister badly because the tiny monster had the audacity to hit my sister. And years later I realized that I actually didn’t like her paying much attention to anybody except me. So when she started dating, my heart bled to know that she belonged to someone else’s.

Anyways, many years later we moved to a different state. You know it’s quite scary to land in an unknown territory not knowing anybody, not knowing the language, not having friends around. We didn’t have mobiles then so we could not even text our buddies and tell them how much we hated being apart from them. But the sudden change in our lives helped us getting close to one another. This was when we began sharing. This was the time when friendship sprouted between us.

We shared everything from chocolate ice-creams to clothes to latest crush stories and so many of those wonderful growing up experiences. I did more than she did though. I was always in awe of her. You know, she always behaved like the son of the family. She had the innate desire in her to be fiercely independent and stand on her own. She did extremely well in school and college. She was always very focused, very clear of what she wanted and how she wanted to lead her life. I loved that quality in her.

She never stopped until she got what was in her mind, what she wanted to have. I still remember how desperate she had become on not finding a job after she finished her graduation and her computer course. Soon fortune acknowledged her efforts and she landed up with a job. Her life took a new turn. She found work, love and much more. I was happy for her. She was such a wonderful support for dad. And then, I went far from her. To study. And then, few years later she got married. And then became a mother. And suddenly it seems so much has changed.

It is funny but it is only when we don’t have the company of the person that we tend to miss them so much. We begin valuing them more. Sometimes, I get this urge to sit with her and just chat randomly about any topic under the sun. With her having ample time by her side. Not having to worry about whether her son ate or not. Or about anything in this world. Time changes many things. But sibling love is something that simply grows with time.

She is missed in family dinners. She is missed when I fight with dad. She is missed when we need a sound mind. She is missed when I need to know what to wear. She is missed when we plan our next travel plan. She is missed when we eat her favourite dish. She is missed when we look at family albums. She is missed when it’s her b’day. She is missed always, every moment of our lives. She is precious.

She always was and still is my hero. Love you dearly, sis.

From the ashes, rose the phoenix!

2009-06-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

How many would have believed Pakistan would emerge as the T20 World Champions held in England this year? None. This is precisely why the men in green have been bestowed with the status of ‘knights in shining armour’. Pakistan’s win at the Lords has provided the team and most importantly the ‘game of cricket’ much needed relief from the muck that had lately been hounding them. Hence, glimpses of jubilation, relief and bravado were expected when Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Mallik scored the winning runs for their team. For the Pakistan team victory had not tasted this sweet in a long-long time.

Up against a formidable Sri Lankan team, Pakistan clearly was the underdog in this tournament right from the start of the Championship. Restricting the in-form Sri Lankan team to a meager total of 138, Pakistan moved an inch closer to victory. In fact this championship proved to be a renewal of sorts for the flamboyant Shahid Afridi who was largely responsible for the way Pakistan played in this T20 World Cup. Also, under the able leadership of Younis Khan, the players were able to renew their passion for the game which had been missing for a while.

Considering the amount of severity that the Pakistan Cricket Team had been through in the past, they could have easily let the game slip from their hands. But, their players maintained their composure well and didn’t let any event of the past affect their performance. The best net result for the Pakistan team and its players after winning the T20 World Championship is that the convincing win against Sri Lanka will help them approach their upcoming series with added confidence and self-belief. Like they say, ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. It seems that the Pakistan cricket team has finally found a grip on their game. Here’s hoping that they manage to keep the winning momentum and the team spirit alive for a long time.

Weight-loss tales

2009-06-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

(Before you begin reading this, I would like to tell you what prompted me to write such an impromptu post. I had not written for over a month and I was feeling extremely guilty for not paying the right attention that I needed to give my blog. So, when this thought hit me I decided to weave a nice little interesting story around it. This is complete work of fiction. This isn’t inspired from my life except the bit where I describe the characters insane love for food. Yes, I am a foodie and gladly I am not an over-sized pumpkin. I am just a few extra pounds! Hope, readers enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it and get the tiny message that I tried conveying. )

A friend of mine once said, ‘food is a matter too close to your heart’. I couldn’t have agreed more with her. It may sound very odd and a little uncanny to your ears but my existence does revolve around good food. I have received a lot of glares and strange expressions from friends and others on saying this but the fact is that I love to eat. My face just lights up on seeing good food. For me it’s not really about the quantity but the experience that matters the most. And strangely as you may come to think I didn’t see any reason to control this strange obsession of mine until I lost complete control over my cravings. Soon, my complete lack of control over my appetite began showing on my body. I began struggling, dealing with the hazards of my love for food slowly. I had begun to look like an over-sized pumpkin!

If mirror became my worst enemy, then the fear of being noticed by people in strange ways stopped me from stepping outside. The various nicknames given by friends, which used to earlier make me feel very proud of who I am and the way I am suddenly started to hurt worse than a break-up would! Constant reminders from my parents to do something about the way I had turned myself into only pushed me harder to do the opposite. And of course, regular doses of messages, mails and telephone calls, teaching me about the various ways by which I could get back to normalcy started turning me into one highly-depressed soul. If all this wasn’t considered good enough to motivate me by my so called well-wishers, that my mother started to bicker me telling me each day how she and dad would have to bear my responsibilities for life as no one would marry me. As if that was the only reason why women existed, I fumed. You see, the reaction time had expired for me. Now was the time to act, time for action.

Tired of all this, tired of behaving like a victim and most of all tired of not living life like I would have liked to, I decided to take the baton in my hand finally. Dieting was not a feasible option as I could not fathom living a single day of my life eating little or no food. The thought of living on a diet of soup and salad made my stomach churn in hundred different directions. It simply made me sick. How could I punish myself like that I wondered?! It was difficult for my family, friends and others to understand why I couldn’t even do such miniscule things to lose weight. You see, none of them loved food as much as I did and hence they obviously could not relate the pain and the humiliation that I was going through to even imagine how it would be if I actually began living on bland diets. And for someone who believed in eating king-size and eating large meals, it was nothing but sheer humiliation to start living on just a bowl of soup or one bite of wheat bread! And going to the gym was something that was too tiring, forced and expensive.

I was running short of excuses, options and time. Depression was adding to my woes as I began eating more to put off others. To simply revolt and convey that I didn’t care what everybody thought of me, that I was absolutely okay with the way I looked. But deep within I knew I had started to hate myself. I had started to hate everything about me. I didn’t like anything about me. I hated the way I looked, I became envious of the way others looked, I started hating life. And that’s where it started hurting me the most. Encouragement from family and friends did little help as I had completely refused to let any suggestions seep in my mind. Strangely I knew that something had to be done immediately but depression had spread like a terrible virus in my body and mind that nothing could motivate me to create a difference. But one fine morning when the maid servant almost banged the bowl of cornflakes in front of me and looked at me as I was a burden on this entire universe was when I finally stood up to shut everyone up forever. I decided to skip to lose the extra pounds that i had gained and getting back to living life my way. The first week was tremendously difficult. There was not even a single bone in my body that didn’t ache. Every morning I would think of an excuse to not skip. But looking at my over-sized self at the mirror each day and being reminded of the loathing and unneeded advice from people motivated me to finish my quest of losing weight.

And after a month I realized that, all it takes is the desire to make a difference to your life. Before I began skipping, forget others even I never thought I would be able to do it regularly. But I surprised my own self. I realized that no matter what technique you choose to lose weight you will never ever succeed if you don’t have the desire to see the difference in you. I realized that all of us are capable of doing a lot but because we have the tendency of under estimating ourselves we always take everything for granted. I am just glad that I gathered the courage to work towards fulfilling my desire which was not only about losing weight but more about living life on my own terms.

You will be glad to know that I am not an over-sized pumpkin anymore. Neither am I size zero. I am just the size that I am most comfortable in. You will also be delighted to know that I skip everyday and that my love for food hasn’t decreased even one bit. It is just that now I know when to say no and how to control my cravings. Because now I have the desire.

Luck by chance!

2009-06-11T00:40:00.000-07:00

Worldwide, the age old rule is that one must have a goal, an objective in life to succeed. Success can only be found when one is aware of the purpose of their life. Passed on to us by our forefathers, parents, teachers, we begin our journey of finding the right objective of our lives that has been meant just for us and then putting our heart and soul into fulfilling the quench of successfully completing our objective. Faced with many hurdles, we refuse to bow down to challenges as we must adhere to another age-old rule passed on to us from generations. And that is, the one who gives up is a loser and the one who braves the difficulties is considered the winner in the end. Believing blindly in this myth we continue carrying the legacy forward. In the end, some succeed and some fail.

The irony is that, the ratio of those who follow this rule, with a crystal-clear objective of what they want to do end up doing miserably in life in comparison to those who have absolutely no idea regarding what they want to do with their lives. It’s frustrating for the former group of people because throughout their lives they fight to get what they most desire for. But in the end they are faced with one question, ‘you weren’t lucky enough’. Yes, the fact is that this is where it starts and ends. I have begun to hate this four letter word – ‘luck’. I have begun to believe that there is no such thing called as ‘hard work’ and ‘believing in your abilities and dreams’. Because no matter how much you work hard, no matter how clear you are about what you want to do with your life, if you do not have enough luck backing your dreams, you will never-ever see them through. This reality hurts but gradually it starts to set in your system. That is because in reality, life doesn’t function on the basis whether people have set goals or objectives in life. It just functions on two words - luck and destiny.

So what if you are nice and friendly, you will still end-up having no friends. So what if you are intelligent and hard-working, you still will be considered inefficient and stupid. So what if you know all the answers, you will still fail. So what if you save day in and day out, you will still never have enough. So what if you only speak the truth, you will still be considered a liar. So what if you try and tell you story, you will still be labeled as an escapist. Confusing it may sound but that’s how life is. There is no such thing called the deserving. Because the ‘lucky ones’ have their monopoly set in this domain. I know very little of life but of the many people that I know, most of them have been through this vicious circle that life tends to treat the ‘less fortunate’ ones with. It’s so maddening to see some people just enjoy life without having to move an inch, without having to put in any extra effort. And then of course it is equally exasperating to see those who suddenly seem to have a totally different view-point about life when things start going in their favour.

Dreams, objectives, desires, hope, and all that seem to have no meaning in the end. Because, over-taking them is the monotony of our lives. That is because at the end we all want to be somewhere or be someone or lead a particular life that makes us bow down to life’s vicious circle. But the fortunate ones continue to enjoy in their realm. It doesn’t even matter if you listen to your heart. It doesn’t matter if you have led or are leading life in your terms and conditions, the less fortunate ones will always have sadness hovering on them. And it doesn’t even matter if you have the desire to be the change because something called ‘it was destined for you’ will take place in your life. The less fortunate ones can sigh on ‘life is like that’ as much as they want. For, that is their only way of finding solace.

But of all the mindless and negative chit-chat that I have done here, there is one positive that I have taken out – So, what if you don’t have luck by your side, consider yourself lucky if you have love by your side. And in case you don’t have both – may god help you!

In tatters!

2009-05-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

Weather Report for the day: The mood is overcast. It is likely to get worsened as the day progresses. The dark clouds of misfortune are looming to stay for a long time. With the humidity level rising with each passing hour, it is going to get extremely hard to keep the soaring temperatures under control. The big question is, what would the home crowd take respite in to beat the heat-blues? Tea, a big towel to wipe off their sweat or simply use their favourite swear words? Let’s see, the evening has just begun.

Pitch Report for the day: Does it really matter? I mean, come what may they are anyways going to under-perform? Ahem! Well, the pitch looks good for batting. Team winning the toss should look at batting first and putting up a good score of 180 on the score board.

Forecast of verdict for the day: The captain of the local team slowly whispers in the ears of his coach, “Mate, we will lose.” Coach tells captain, “Doesn’t matter, you can dance at weddings and try your luck in movies”. Captain simply chuckles.

Forecast of expectations of people of a cricket-fanatic state: None whatsoever. They prefer knowing what their local leaders are up to than wasting their time on a silly game.

Anybody with a reasonable amount of common sense would have guessed by now that i am talking about the extremely over-rated team of the first IPL season (thanks to SRK) and the most controversial team of the second IPL season – Kolkata Knight Riders. Before I continue saying what I want to say, I understand that cricket is an extremely unpredictable game and that even a good team can be on the losing side. But the lack of team-spirit and lack of camaraderie in the team forces me to say that even school kids could have put up a better show than how KKR has performed over the last three weeks.

Bengal needs respite. From the heat, from the daily humdrum due to the elections and from the poor performance of their much loved and their much adored team- KKR. It is true that nobody in India loves its sport as much as Kolkata does. But to see Calcuttans preferring to sweat it out in auto queues than rushing home to watch their favourite team play is a real pity. It is common to see such hate reactions from people when their local teams start performing poorly. It is common to see everybody even those with absolutely no knowledge about the game to pass severe judgments on the team and its players. But this time the situation is different. Everything looked to be jinxed right before the tournament began for KKR.

It all began with the renowned judgment of Buchanan to have multiple captains. When the topic aroused enough controversy to affect the performance of the team, Buchanan had the audacity to announce Brendon Mc Cullam as the captain instead of Sourav Ganguly. And that too when the team was in South-Africa! Bengal was fuming. Their trust had been broken. But it was too late. Newspapers and TV Channels had enough meat to go rattling about in the coming weeks. Thank God, KKR wasn’t playing in India for Buchanan would have been butchered to death by the locals then. It’s difficult to take the wrath from people especially when they have been betrayed.

I have never been an admirer of Sourav Ganguly. But I was truly upset to know that he had been declined his captaincy. Somehow, his statement after Mc Cullam was given the captaincy made me wonder why the Royal Bengal Tiger behaved like a Pussy Cat. Though the attention had drifted to the new captain, Sourav continued to be under immense pressure. He had a lot to prove like always. So when KKR played their first match and when they lost the precious wicket of Mc Cullam, every Bengali face displayed a hidden happiness, a hidden smile. They wanted their local hero to shut Buchanan’s mouth. I, for the first time in my life was cheering for Ganguly. Like millions of benagli’s I wanted that match to be the match of his lifetime. But to everybody’s dismay, he failed.

That was just the starting of KKR’s debacle. Looking back if the rain gods had not shown any mercy on them they would be still struggling to open their accounts in the IPL match table. I understand it’s easy to comment but their poor performance in every department is still incomprehensible. I don’t think even a miracle can save them now. For they have yet not played like a team in a team-game!

Kolkata has stopped hoping. It has plenty of other things to worry about. As of now I am praying for the last time that KKR begins their winning streak with their match against Punjab. I am ready to chew my own words. But the million dollar question is - Are they ready for the big match?

A broken life

2009-04-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

I last saw her radiant smile adorn her lightly painted beautiful face with colours during Holi as I touched her feet to seek her blessings. It’s a ritual in India to touch the feet of elders during festive times. She was fondly called ‘dida’ (grandmother) by every member of the residential complex. Dida joined us in our festivities and enlivened everyone’s mood with her upbeat nature. Till date, I had never–ever seen her pick a fight or argue with anyone. She was someone we all admired, adored and looked up to immensely. Dida was someone who drew an instant liking with everyone who met her for the first time. Even at her age she made sure that she participated with great enthusiasm in all the events that took place in our building. A teacher by profession she truly embodied a woman who stood tall every time a tough situation came before her.

Today, we miss her presence. She doesn’t smile anymore. Happiness has eluded her completely. She weeps every night asking god why did he do this to her. She is so broken from within that I don’t think she will ever be able to muster the courage and live life like the way she did months ago. And the biggest irony of her life is that she cannot reveal her emotions. That’s why she weeps so quietly. For it might take away someone’s life. Dida doesn’t live with us anymore. We have all been so appalled to witness the ruthless loss in her life that none of us know how to console her. Except being mute spectators we could really do nothing. Whatever has happened has reinforced my belief that truly we are puppets in the hands of god. One day we might have everything and all could be gone in the next moment itself.

I still get a lump in my throat each time I remember that dreadful night. It’s going to take me quite a while to forget what I saw. To forget her shocked face. There have been nights when I have woken up with absolutely devastating thoughts in my head. I don’t like looking outside my balcony anymore. It frightens me. The blue Maruti Car parked outside reminds me of him. Each time I gather the courage to look outside the balcony I feel pukish. And then I think that if it can be so devastating for me and everybody else in our building to accept the truth then how difficult would it be for her – for dida.

He didn’t matter to me. His presence hardly made a difference to anybody. But for someone he was the world. He was all she had. Newspapers had a story that promised to bring shivers down everybody’s spine. A boy died while getting into a running train. Aged 30 years, his belongings carried his wedding invitation cards. He was traveling with his aunt. As the train halted in an unknown destination he answered the call of his destiny and decided to go to his AC coach. As he struggled to unlock the closed doors of the AC coach with a laptop in one hand and suitcase in another he slipped and came under the wheels of the train. And was crushed to death. You know, this boy was a very bright chap. He was an IIT pass-out and held a very respectable position at work. I simply cannot believe and understand why god chose to give him such a harsh death. He laid there all night till the morning rays alerted the passers by who contacted his family later. He was dida’s only son.

His father had been in poor health for a long time and that evening when I just returned from work and saw people standing at the parking lot i sensed something had gone terribly wrong. I had just spoken to my father that I was on my way home and so a sense of relief embraced me on realizing that my parents were alright as I could see both of them standing from a distance. As I walked closer to facing reality I was confident that dida had lost her husband. Unable to control my anxiety I asked my neighbour, ‘Ki hoeche?’ (What happened). And what he said still resonates in my mind. I don’t have the guts to spell it here. What I saw I won’t be able to explain. Whispers of how everything happened continued till the time his body was taken to the graveyard. I faintly remember seeing Dida cry in the shoulders of her son-in-law. She disappeared soon. Still in high dismay we all gathered to pay our last homage to him.

There wasn’t a single person who wasn’t teary-eyed. We all just wondered what will happen to dida? None had an answer. We didn’t know how to console her. I immediately wanted to get home and drink a strong cup of tea. Actually I really wanted to smoke but obviously couldn’t do it. My head was spinning. I remember calling my dear friend and revealing my shock. For a week our building wore a very somber look. But like they say life must go on. We all have gone back to living our lives. Except dida.

Then, everybody said god has his own ways. I only ask him to give dida strength to face this loss.

Simple is rare

2009-04-08T03:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought how all our lives we tend to run after the most extra-ordinary things in the world? After all it is mankind’s innate desire to possess all the precious gems that make them do the most unbelievably bizarre things in the world! But it is the quest for the rarest things that make me wonder on the mere motive of our existence. For our tendency to ignore the simple things and yearn for an unfathomable dream that seems alluring only to our eyes beats the joy of leading a purely simple and blissful life. After all, what is left to achieve when joy chooses to cease our life due to our silly idiosyncrasies! Nothing but pangs of frustration runs through my body to see how easily all of us fall prey to the glaring atrocities disguised in the form of ‘good-life’. How all of us continue to misunderstand the difference between ‘virtual’ and ‘real’ happiness? Our inability to see the beauty of simple things sets the ball rolling for all our troubles. A pity that most of us tend to view this as an overtly unmotivated way to live!

What we fail to notice and accept is that the might of simple things is immense. What needs to be changed is our mindset. Over centuries we continue to believe in the assumption that a simple thing or product is plain and a rare thing or product is precious. It is ‘we’ who set rules of what is simple and rare. If you ponder for a while you’ll realize what I am trying to communicate. The joy on winning a State Championship Trophy and the happiness felt on receiving a diamond ring or cruising through the opulent lands of a magnificent castle is the same! Do you feel any different when you eat lip-smacking roll from a road-side stall to when you’re dining at an A class restaurant? Yes, the setting makes a miniscule difference but the end result remains the same. And that is in both places we end up filling our stomach only! I am still unable to unravel the mystery then why is simple plain and rare precious?

Infact, decipher this. The various intricacies of life that we have to deal with everyday make ‘Simple’ and ‘Simplicity’ the two most rare and valued thing in today’s time. Which means that mankind’s quintessential search of attaining the extra-ordinary is nothing but an attempt to armour their many follies. Simple living / Simplicity / Simple life scores above the rare because in simplicity lies a rarity. It gives us an opportunity to live life like a child again. It lets us embrace life whole-heartedly and makes us let go of our inhibitions. It teaches us that we don’t have to travel miles to touch the rare gem. Rather, just listen to our heart-beats well that always and only sways to the tune of a simple life. Because in simplicity lies ecstasy!

Divided, we are still!

2009-03-05T03:32:00.000-08:00

This thought whisked my mind while watching the final leg of campaigning of the popular reality show ‘Indian Idol’. Here, you had the three chosen one’s battling it out for votes at rallies and shows in their respective states. There was nothing wrong with what they were doing. They were merely following the format of the show and doing whatever they could to ensure that their dream soon echoes like a caller tune on the lips of every Indian. But this whole episode seemed both funny and appalling to me. Funny because I genuinely think that the verdict of most of the reality shows are for sure rigged. Yet, reactions of contestants on being eliminated appear to tell a completely different story. And what appalled me the most was how in the name of ‘state shining’ talent had to bear a silent death. What an irony, a talent show that crowns everything but talent!

After 61 years of independence, India’s diversity stands to be the problem. It’s not important if a boy or a girl sings and performs well. But what matters is if they are from the North-East, North, South, East or West! What is staggering is how this glaring division goes beyond the geographical boundaries. That a married woman though she sings brilliantly can’t imagine even coming close to winning because she has to match the embodiment of a perfect Indian woman. That the society is more bothered about her familial life than herself. That if you’re dark-skinned, fat and can’t speak good English, the youth won’t be able to relate with you. That if you have a cute face, your chances of reaching the top 5 is almost certain. That if you’re blind or if you have an ailing grandmother who has been wishing for your win since birth, you’re performance is bound to touch the chord of every single heart. That a certain ‘X’ factor is mostly found in guys & girls who are not musically trained but are extremely charming to look at. That if you’re from Punjab, MP, Rajasthan or Aizwal, I must vote for you because normally we don’t see much participation from that part of the world! That if you’re a girl, you are still considered an exception! I could just go on and on like this to picture the pitiful state of affairs that we are living in now.

I cannot fathom why do we continue to give preference to what state, language, community, caste, religion does a participant belong to? Why can’t an idol be dark, fat and yet a winner? Being fat or having dark complexion is no crime I think. But as the saying goes old habits die hard. It’s a shame that year after year we are letting this happen. This is not a personal attack on any state, community or to any contestant. My only point is why do we underestimate talent all the time. Why do we always uphold the minor things that has been mentioned above? Why can’t we for once uphold talent? Why can’t we break the rudiments of our highly-stereotypical society and create a difference? India is booming with talent from every corner. Yet, it is always about individuals, states and communities for us. A change in this pattern looks like a distant dream. This nation needs someone with a cape. Immediately!

I'm loving it!

2009-03-03T23:28:00.000-08:00

My best pal and I keep having this argument over social networking sites. Whether they are of any good at all. I personally have nothing against them. I think at a time and age when our lives are getting busier by the day, it’s only a boon to have resources like these that enable us keep in touch with our friends, relatives and even foes. It’s a great way of knowing what’s happening in lives of our friends. It’s also a wonderful platform for friendly gossips. I mean, who spoke about moral values while designing these social-networking sites? Also, most of these sites offer a variety of options to keep us active throughout the 8-9 hours that we spend in office. That is if you’re having an equally mundane and disastrous working life like mine! Okay, without drifting further from the topic, how many of us have had that radiant smile appear on our faces on finding friend requests from our long-lost school or childhood friends? I am sure the numbers are plenty. Even if we don’t really scrap or poke most of our friends all the time, somewhere down the bottom of our heart there does exist that sense of satisfaction of ‘being in touch’ with friends. But is the definition of being in touch changing?

What is interesting to see is how technological advances over the years have had a huge impact in the way we view, deal with and understand relationships. For the GenX generation, ‘relationships’ and ‘keeping in touch’ now work on the modus operandi of a Touch Screen device. Everything happens at the tip of a finger. We talk less and ping more. We call only when there’s urgency. We easily tell friends how we are feeling through our status message. All this and so much more by the mere click of our hand. Hence the resounding success of the numerous social networking sites sounds obviously normal. Though I enjoy every minute of my socializing, somewhere down the line it does hit me hard when I feel a void on not getting calls from my special circle of friends for over a week irrespective of the numerous friends that I have made online. A void that can only be filled by a call from my college or school friends. Or from that e-mail which I had been waiting for so long from a friend with who I resumed touch after she went to the United States for higher education after 3 years. It’s hard to express the bliss. I don’t know if this has occurred to the many like me, but I hardly feel connected to the people I scrap or poke. Most of the times I am obliged to answer because I am being questioned! Yes, i may sound extremely jarring but its true. I mean, yes I am updated in a better way than my friends in the sense that I know what x is doing or what z is up to but the point is it does not matter to me. Relationship / friendship is meant to be treasured and I personally feel that you can’t do it online unless you’re living abroad and cant afford calling your family and friends every week. Then, online interaction does a world of goodness. Otherwise, it keeps you connected but not from the heart.

I will share a very personal experience with you (that is, if there are any readers?) While I was away from home I had wished my parents would write me a letter. After much pestering, I received a letter from them during my third semester. As I read, I had tears of joy running down my cheeks. I cannot tell you how special I felt reading that letter. A hand-written letter from parents telling you how much they love you and how proud they are of your abilities is simply priceless. I don’t recall the innumerous times I have read that letter. Till date, the excitement and joy continues to be the way it was when I received it for the first time. Though couple of years later I helped my father open his yahoo account the letter from them remains my favourite. Nobody or nothing can match its place. That’s because it touched my heart. I mean ask yourself when it comes to sharing secrets how many of us disclose it as a status message or how many of us care to inform one of our school or college friends. None and I can vouch for that. The logic is simple your best friend or friends are just a call away. For mindless chit-chat or for passing your precious time, social networking sites top the list.

Like I said earlier, I have nothing against these sites. I am an avid Orkut & Facebook user but I do feel that most of us just care to leave a scrap or a message instead of calling and having a one-to-one conversation with friends. Letters don’t exist anymore. What I still miss the most is the smell of gum oozing from the sealed envelope sent by my friend. It’s a pity that our children would not get a chance to experience the joy of receiving the much awaited letter from their friend. They’ll have to do away with a scrap or an sms. Or maybe with that famous song by the renowned Pankaj Udhas, “Chitthi aayi aayi hai, chitthi aayi hai”.

I hate this rotten feeling:(

2009-02-18T03:16:00.000-08:00

It is one of those days where I feel completely at a loss of words. I am drained by doing nothing. My mind is wandering fast in thoughts that seem to have no determined route, destination or purpose. They don’t leave my sight for once. I am being continuously bothered by my mind. Mind that wants to progress but can’t find the right alternative, mind that wants to learn but can’t find a right guide, mind that wants to run away to doing what she loves without having to think hundred times about it. I have an incessant desire to move out of this rut and create my own identification. But time is running out on me. And I haven’t still figured a way out of this madness. Nothing seems to be working in my favour. I am for certain getting restless. My confidence is at an all time low. And I want an end to this miserable ‘professional’ phase of my life. How? I don’t know. If I had I wouldn’t be writing this post! (And reading the post below is also not doing any help...)

‘Smile’ your way through…

2009-02-12T02:49:00.000-08:00

Agreed that problems are a part and parcel of everybody’s life. Agreed that life is not a bed of roses. Agreed that things cannot always be hunky-dory. Agreed that nothing is easy to get. Agreed that the most desired dream/wish/fantasy hardly sees the light of the day. Agreed that not all friends last. Agreed that some pangs of depression never cease to leave us. Agreed that most of our bosses suck. Agreed that we never seem to have enough of what we love the most.

So, what’s the best way to deal with life then? Just smile and ignore problems! How? Presenting some simple/complicated/weird reasons that'll motivate you to smile more no matter what the circumstance is:

Makes you feel nice, happy and elated.
Assures you that life can be mean only sometimes.
Tells you that a bad day will eventually come to an end.
Doesn’t really cost anything.
Spreads warmth, hope & joy.
Eases tension, releases pain.
Makes you see the positive side of any situation.
Makes you realize that you’re not the only one sinking in a broken ship.
That the end of every bad day will see the dawn of a happy beginning.
Is contagious. (The only thing in the world that we would like to be infected with!)
Teaches you that god is only testing your patience.
That life is about living in the moment. So live it with a smile always.
Your list of friends will keep increasing.
Acts like an energy-drink!
Makes you start wishing more from life.
Is an indication of your sanity (unless you don’t laugh all the time?)
You’ll rarely be alone.
Will make you popular among friends and even foes.
Will make you feel special all the time.

If you can think of more reasons to smile, you’re most welcome to share your thoughts.

Cupid Calling?

2009-02-12T01:03:00.001-08:00

(This post is a fictional presentation by the writer. And is not derived from her personal life}

The vehicle reaches a screeching halt. I quickly make my way out of the auto. As my pace fastens, the scent of roses at the flower market almost make me nauseate. (Not that I hate roses but too much of anything is unbearable) I literally hop from there to some other place for a gasp of fresh air. Quickening my pace further, I try and make my way out of the ‘lovey-dovey couples’ who have their hands glued to each other’s, who are absolutely unperturbed by the number of eyes drawing on them due to their public display of affection, who don’t care about the fact that their much slowed pace is hindering many to reach their destination on time! They just seem to live and walk in their world of dreams! I swear at them (silently of course!) and move ahead thinking in my mind ‘So much in the name of valentine’s day’!$@? But of course, a twinge of jealousy adorns my beautiful face as I slowly (pace slowed because of the activities of the love birds!) enter the metro station.

The giggles and constant chit-chat of a couple in front of me heighten my anger. If this was not enough, then the lit gift shops and restaurants outside the metro station force me to believe more on my dichotomy on love and its various facets. The sudden chill outside start doing wonders to the ‘so called romantic mood’ of those madly in love, who suddenly get the license of cuddling up more. After all, it was that time of the year to woo your beloved. Time to make them feel special and time for celebrations! The only thing that pacified my jealous, retarded and troubled state-of-mind was the restricted and strange sterns that most elderly people in the queue (For the auto) were giving the people who claimed to be in love.

Waiting for my turn at the queue, my lips start moving in sync with the song that begins to play on the radio (Yeah, I had the ear-plugs on). And the lyrics go like this, ‘Chura liya hai tune jo dilko’. How ironical life is, isn’t it? …...............?????................................................................................
Really, what’s with me and people like me who hate the celebration of love? What is wrong if two people decide to rejoice their togetherness, bonding, trust, companionship and dreams on a particular day? Why can’t people like me stand their happiness? What is wrong with these pseudo-crazy(don’t know if this word exists?) men and women, who in the name of ‘welfare of society’ create havoc in lives of many such people who simply want to be in love forever.

Are we really reaching a state in our country and in our lives where we have learnt to accept ‘hatred’ whole-heartedly (which is mostly forced) but simply can’t stand eye-to-eye with the most beautiful emotion in the world –‘love’? Rather, I think each day should be a V-day. Because, it’s important to let your loved one know how much they matter to you. How beautiful they make your life. More than anything else we need ‘love’ to blossom everywhere because of our society’s incessant knack to be ‘inhumane’, ‘ruthless' and ‘ugly’ in most of the situations. We are becoming more immune to the sentiments of others and that is a grave problem. It’s important to acknowledge, appreciate and reciprocate love. Time is ticking away fast to a more grueling society. It is time we make the right decisions fast.

I sincerely hope to see no political drama on this years v-day. We have had enough of them already!

{AC, you know I am very much awe-struck by everything that you do and have done for me. You know how much you mean to me. }

Our much awaited ‘reunion’

2009-02-10T23:21:00.000-08:00

As we said our good-byes at the airport, I really wished I could hold on to time. I hoped desperately for our flights to be canceled so that we could spend some more time together. As I stood there continuing wishing for strange things to happen, time ticked away in its usual pace. I was living a mirage. And I just wanted to hover in that feeling for ever. I was reliving memories from the past. I simply wanted to be swayed in to our world of dreams, imagination and friendship. For the nth time I was looking for a solid reason to extend my stay in Chennai.

As I stared at the departure status of my friend’s flight, I went through a sudden pang of guilt. Because realization knocked on my silly brain and reminded me that I was behaving like a selfish and stubborn child. What I was unwilling to accept was that, with time our lives had moved on wonderfully well and that each one of us deserved to be going towards their respective destinations. That, in life it’s important to acknowledge the good times spent and walk ahead with optimism and dreams in our eyes for a better, happier and glorious tomorrow. (Too much philosophy?) That’s exactly when I started ignoring the wild thoughts which had been bothering me for a long time. That’s exactly when I started enjoying the moment more.

What we got was two days. Two days of reliving our mad days, two days of catching up on our good-old days, two days of pulling each other’s legs, two days of letting our hair lose, two days of abusing, cursing yet loving one another deeply, two days of witnessing how our lives had transformed, two days of bitching, two days of sharing our sorrows and happiness, two days of telling our friends the remarkable difference that they had made in our lives, two days of sheer enjoyment, joy and laughter, two days of forgetting our blues, two days of embracing the new members in our friends life like we had known them from eternity, two days of wishing each other good-luck and two days of planning another get together soon!

Life just seemed picture-perfect then. We extended our memories by clicking as many pictures in as many crazy poses we could think of. We were competing with time. Every moment that passed was locked in eternity as another mad day in our beautiful lives. We wonderfully acknowledged the transformation in our lives. It was a sheer bliss to rewind our lives for two days.

As all of us are where we belong now, I want to thank each one of my friends for making it to Sreeja’s reception. I want to thank all of you for those two days. Thanks friends. Adieus. We shall meet again.

Fun-tales

2009-02-10T01:19:00.000-08:00

Kolkata is the ‘city of colours’ for me. With each passing day, I experience and learn some interesting facet about the city and its people. After having stayed here for almost a year, here are a few things (according to me) that Kolkata cannot be associated without. So fellows, are you ready for the bumpy ride?

The bangalee in Kolkata (Bengali) simply loves his ‘cha’. His day cannot start without a cup of hot tea and some Biscoots! And mind it; he needs his cha at regular intervals. Like as soon as he reaches office, he needs another strong cup of cha to get over the city’s maddening traffic, even if already has had two cups of tea before leaving for work! That is because a bengali’s brain start’s functioning only after gulping down 3-4 cups of tea. Yes, a bangalee literally ‘gulps’ the hot tea down his throat. And on a bad day, the number of cups can extend till 10 or even beyond that. And if not served on time, some kalida or babu or harida or haru (most common names of chai walas in Kolkata) would have to bear the brunt of bade babu’s famous Bengali temper. A true bangalee doesn’t need a reason to have cha!

Nobody enjoys ‘adda’ (Conversations. Mind-less chatting) more than a bangalee. And this adda usually happens when there is lot of work to be finished. (Like how the creative gems in my office are having one right now. So much in the name of discussion!). This adda can take place between any age group of people. It’s a wrong perception that only the old involve themselves in adda. Even the young like to engage themselves in such discussions. From Rituprna’s (actor) sleazy performance in her latest flick to Sourav Ganguly’s retirement from cricket, the bangalee will have strong viewpoints on everything. And most bangalees love to flaunt this tradition. Hence, it comes as no surprise to not see Bengal anywhere in the global map of development.

Bangalee loves to ‘munch’ all the time. (One quality that I have imbibed deeply) Most Bengali’s live to eat. Whether its gorging on to lip smacking roll in the evening or biting into delicious chicken tikka’s after lunch or just munching on to some ‘moorie’ (puffed rice) in the evening, the bangalee needs something to keep their stomach full all the time. And the sweet-tooth that every Bengali is blessed with, biting into rasogullas, sandesh, chomchom or any other mishti becomes a must! And a mishti-pan in the end does wonders to the taste that continues to linger on your tongue. No wonder, you hardly see size-zero men and women here!

Another very interesting facet of this city is that you’ll find most shops closed during the afternoon. The bangalee also loves his ‘sleep’. After all that delicious food, who would not need a slight nap? (Slight nap lasts from 1-5 in the evening in most areas. After all what is most important - money or comfort huh!)

Bengal loves its ‘Dada’ and ‘Didi’. A resounding, ‘Sourav kolkatar gaurub’ (Saurav is Kolkata’s pride) from every bangalee mouth comes as no surprise who think that he’s the best in the world. Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar stand no chance in front of him! And no matter how destructive her mind and political interests have been, Mamata Banerjee continues to be much loved and adored by the janata who consider her nothing less than a deity. And those who don’t are considered mindless. (I won’t write beyond this about her as I don’t want this post to sound like a swearing message)

Bengal runs on – Cricket (Sourav Ganguly to be precise), Politics and Football (Mohan Bagan and East Bengal to be precise). Kolkata Knight Riders can also be included in this list. Most Bangalee men and women would agree with this statement that, ‘Even when Sourav turns 60 he deserves a place in the Indian Cricket team’. After all the team is what it is today because of the Bengal Tiger. Bengal loves its Football and the frenzy can be witnessed when fans take to the city to celebrate the win of their respective side. (The havoc caused on the road after this doesn’t matter!)

Romance blossoms at quite an early age in the city of joy. Now, you know who inspires Yash Chopra and Karan Johar to make such candy-floss romantic films. But of course, the bangalee 'chele' and 'mei' (boy and girl).

Most Bangalee couples make extremely overprotective and over-possessed parents.

There’s always an ‘ooribaba’ (Oh! my god), ‘oshadharon’ (extraordinary) or ‘bapok’ (excellent) expression for every celebration.

You are either called ‘babu’, ‘shonamuni’, ‘mithun’, ‘laltu’, ‘bultu’, ‘tutltu’, ‘khokhon’, ‘mamon’, ‘mamoni’, ‘anando’ and etc. If not these, the bangalee parent gives their children such tough names that even make any south Indian language sound reasonably easier. (Please, I cannot translate the above names in English)

Nobody pretends to know their states literature, drama, culture and film at the tip of their fingure like the way a bangalee does!

Politics is an integral part of Bengal. I am not just talking about party politics here but politics prevailing in households, offices and every possible place inthe city that you can think of! From mashimas to the peons to your Boss in the office , no one masters the art of creating a mountain out of a mole like the bangalee.

No one can win an argument with anybody quite like the 'bangalee kakima'! She would go to any ends and let the entire city know that she is having a disagreement over something. Her animated facial language and colourful language sets the ball rolling for an entertaining day.

The bangalee has not learnt to speak 'softly'. At least, I haven't met a Bengali man or a woman who speaks softly. It only gets worse when you see them answering a call while they are in transit. The entire world would come to know that either the person is mad with his wife or that they have had an argument with their boss. And without any surprise, they will get some very enthused onlookers for their conversation. Infact, some people would just stare them until the conversation gets over.

By nature, bangalees are very animated creatures. So, they never grin, they always laugh! (I hope you get the difference)

The ‘chalta hai’ attitude works best and works only in Kolkata.

Bangalee always gets more holidays than anybody else living in India. That’s because for any and every damm occasion, either of the two political parties will call for a ‘bandh’ or an ‘aborodh’ (protest). Kolkata loves to protest without any reason.

The Bangalee is never wrong. It is always the other person who’s at fault. And leading the way to winning this trophy are the ‘auto-drivers’.

You’ll get to see ‘para’ (colony) football / cricket matches only in this part of the land.

The bangalee will always have a piece of advice for everybody and every thing in this world. Come to my office and you’ll know!

The bangalee kaku, kakima, and khukhumunis (uncle, aunty and kids) love to flaunt their ‘sweataar’, ‘maaflaar’ and ‘jacket’ even when the temperature is 280c outside!

Most bangalee men with their respective wife / girlfriend by their side will very smartly continue to ogle at other women. (I agree this scenario persists everywhere but the ratio is quite high here)

But, there is just one thing that I sincerely love about Kolkata. And that is the way it embraces festivals. I haven’t seen people or any city for that matter lit up and gear up the way Kolkata and its people do during the time of festivals. Be it Durga Puja or Diwali or Ramzaan or Christmas or New Year, Kolkata reverberates with joy and merriment across its every nook and corner.

And now after all this, I am ready to face all the flak that I am going to be bombarded with from my fellow bangalee friends.

The Prodigy: Aamir Khan

2009-02-06T03:41:00.000-08:00

“All good things come in small packages”. And you would quickly understand how wonderfully the man in retrospect not only fulfills but goes beyond the worthiness of this title.

Long ago, the summer of 1965 saw the dawn of a little gem. A star was born, who not just dreamt but naturally did things differently! Born with a silver-spoon, his destination was pre-determined like most stars. But unlike most stars, he was confident that he didn’t belong to the land of mediocrity and stereotypes. He was different from the rest. He belonged to a separate creative group altogether. His mind was always on the run – run to escape from the rudiments and create his own niche. And like all champions, he too had his moments of despair. But he was not the one who would give up on his principles, values, dreams and most importantly his belief. He walked along steadfastly on this road, completely unperturbed by the consequences and what lay ahead of him.
From one film to another, he strengthened his caliber and position as an actor. He charmed many by his enigmatic persona and appalled many by his strategic thinking that never seemed to go wrong! In his journey of perfecting the craft of creativity and setting new trends of creative excellence each time through his films, he knew deep within , that his different approach to work would win him many laurels. That his niche would slowly become the benchmark for many aspiring newcomers. That he would be hailed as the reigning superstar irrespective of what the numbers said. That he would surely strike a chord with his audiences. That, his name Aamir Khan would be on everyone’s lips.

As you would have rightly guessed by now, I am an ardent Aamir khan fan. And looking at the kind of movies that he has been a part over the last couple of years, I truly think that the man has a magic wand. Sometimes his performances and his movies leave me jaw struck! Not that he hasn’t been part of bad cinema or bad projects, but his percentage of being associated with bad films is so minimal that you truly want to give him an award for the way he’s shaped his career. (That way he’ll at least get an award that he rightly deserves). I personally feel that he is an example of someone who simply loves what he does. I know there are many like him in various fields but none actually match the way he has mastered his passion.

This is my anecdote of this amazing star’s journey into the film-world. To me, he is one of the finest actors that we have in the business right now. What follows next is a personal review of some of his movies. Aamir’s last release was ‘Ghajini’. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film. I agree, the script was flawed but his performance wasn’t. Infact, it was a delight to see Aamir in a totally commercial film after a long-long time. He was simply magical as the rich and suave Sanjay Singhania who dearly loved his girlfriend. Even though the movie was largely promoted as a violent and revenge-based film, it is Aamir’s portrayal as a man deeply in love that won my heart. He was simply brilliant in his portrayal of a man who’s head over heels in love with kalpana. After all, Aamir is the quintessential romantic hero. I don’t think nobody can take off that image from him. Also, Aamir and Asin not only make a great pair but both of them were equally refreshing. I sincerely hope, we get to see both of them in more films.

Another major landmark film in Aamir khan’s career is ‘Taare Zameen Par’. I don’t think anybody who has seen the movie left the theatre without being teary-eyed. I am not really setting the ‘crying part’ as the film’s determining factor but to prove that the movie made a huge impact in everybody’s heart. Through this film, the whole world was introduced to dyslexia, something that most of us hadn’t even heard of. This movie was made with a lot of heart.

Another brilliant performance came from him in the film ‘1947-Earth’. He played the nasty ice candy man to such perfection that the audience was left with no other option but to hate him for what he did to Nandita Das and the little girl in the end. It’s a pity that the movie didn’t do well at the box-office. But Aamir’s success isn’t measured by the amount of moolah his movies rake in at the box-office. After all his is a different league altogether! Two of his equally brilliant movies and performances were in films ‘Rangeela’ and ‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’. Even an Anil Kapoor could not play a tapori with the kind of élan that Aamir did in this Ramgopal Verma flick. Till date, Munna continues to be one of Bollywood’s most lovable characters.

Two other very significant and interesting films according to me in his career have been ‘Ghulam’ and ‘Sarfarosh’. These two films were an eye-opener for those who thought Aamir could never play an action role. Aamir proved everybody wrong that he could look rustic and serious with his charming and cute looks also. He once again showed the world that his potential knows no boundaries as both the films got thundering response from the audience. Another magnificent display of his talent in the form of Sidhu and ACP Ajay Singh Rathore!

But kudos to him for having the guts to produce and be a part of a film like ‘Lagaan’. I wouldn’t really talk about the stupendous success of the film as it has been beaten to death several times in numerous ways. What one must appreciate is the belief that this man had in the story. And the rest as they say is history! Aamir was also part of new age cinema like ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ which like of his movies created ripples at the box-office.

I can go on and on like this. Maybe, some other time i will focus on why he hates attending award ceremonies, on why the Oscars continue to evade him and many such questions. For the moment, let me only say this that ‘you are the best’.

The fall of Federer?

2009-02-05T03:21:00.000-08:00

Is Rafael Nadal’s victory at the Australian Open, 2009 the end of a legend’s legacy? Or is it the beginning of an era of a new champion who seems unbeatable on any turf? Whatever be the end-quotient, the point in question is whether this defeat will prove costly for Roger Federer’s career? Will this defeat be the first of the many against the current world No. 1? Has the downfall of Federer begun?

Live scores 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, stared at me as I watched the presentation ceremony of the final of Australian Open, 2009. Eagerly awaiting this day (1st February, 2009), I had my seat booked (in front of the T.V. obviously!)for this grand finale between the two titans. Rooting for Federer, I had this slight feeling in my head that the world No.2 will be able to win his 14th grand slam. But with Rafa winning the first set I could sense that the game had only begun.

What baffled me the most throughout the match was the way Nadal covered each point and converted most of his chances into winners. For the remaining part of the match I was left wondering if Nadal had some kind of string attached to his shoe or was it the jitters that made Roger behave like a newcomer on the circuit after he failed to convert so many of his chances into winners!

Not that Federer was crushed to defeat. He played remarkably well. He had his share of winning moments too. You could rewind the second and the fourth set incase you disagreed on the above statement. But he just gave up in the final and deciding set. I was heart-broken like most of his other fans to see him play the way he did in the final set. I personally feel he had given up in his mind and that affected him the most.

The fact that he is no more unbeatable daunts him the most I guess. Time and again, Rafa has proved that it was not just a matter of luck that he defeated this tremendously brilliant tennis player. He leads by many points in the matches played so far between these two players. No amount of cheering could help Roger from sinking. I had felt that somewhere between the two, Federer must be mentally a much stronger player than Rafa. But to my dismay, I was wrong.

And how much this win mattered to him was evident when he could not hold his tears during the presentation ceremony. “Oh God! It’s killing me”, this statement resounded in my ears for the next 10 minutes as I slowly accepted that Roger Federer had lost the finals of the Australian Open. I didn’t really feel miserable but I just could not fathom why he gave up suddenly during the final set. After a marathon match that lasted for more than 4 hours, why did the champion play like that? Argh!!!!! I was so disappointed. Envious of Rafa’s persistent insult to the champion, I consoled myself by thinking that maybe this man from Spain is on steroids which is why he doesn’t get tired! So silly of me.

But truly Nadal deserves all the praise and recognition that he’s getting now. He displayed such great command over the game that you are left with no other option but to applaud this gem. Both Rafa and Federer put up such a great show. I am sure this match will go down the memory lane of many ardent tennis fans as a treat simply for the players competitive attitude and their love for the sport.

Coming back to the point from where I started this post, will this defeat really affect Federer’s career? I mean there can be only one winner. That’s the rule of any game. Just because Nadal has beaten Federer quite a number of times in the past doesnn’t mean that Federer cannot bounce back. These reactions are quite normal. Over here we have someone who suddenly destroys Federer’s winning streak and devoids him of breaking many more records. So to have reports talking about Roger Federer’s debacle obviously had to come out. (Media is so predictable na). But I am quite sure that Federer will come back and come back strongly. Let’s not forget that he’s a champion and that players like him are not born everyday.

We are proud of you, Federer!

Friendship, giggles, love life, dreams: My tryst with Manipal

2009-02-05T02:10:00.000-08:00

A faint smile appeared on my face as I reminisced about my golden days in Manipal. Place where life, dreams, friends, laughter and love embraced me with open arms. A destination that unfolded many facets of my personality. A journey that unraveled many surprises. A stay that helped me unlock my inhibitions. A golden period that helped me sway to the tunes of my heartbeat. A tour that helped me be more ‘me’, be more ‘responsible’. Unaware of what lay ahead of me, as I took the road to conquer my dreams little did i know that it would turn out to be the best and the most memorable voyage of my life!

Manipal teaches you to live life whole-heartedly. It teaches you the importance of living in the moment. There’s something mystique in its air that teaches you all this and more. To be able to encapsulate all that in few words or a sentence is a difficult task. Manipal’s flamboyance is hard to ignore. It envelops you into its manifold lifestyle with such ease that you never even for a moment feel like an outsider. No matter how simple, weird, crazy, wild, quiet, dumb or intelligent you are, for most manipal turns out to be a life-changing moment. Such is the magic of this place. Hence a resounding ‘we love manipal’ and ‘we would love to go back to manipal” from ex-manipalites comes as no surprise. That’s’ the magic of this beauty.

From the serene ‘end point’ to the happening ‘edge’ to the scenic ‘Kapu’, Manipal reverberates with emotion. Not to forget the renowned medical, engineering, business administration and communication institutes that bestows manipal with the status of an ‘educational’ hub. Manipal is a student’s paradise. Hence the evident exuberant chirpy, young and happy environ throughout the year. This is why while you are in manipal amidst the company of your friends you can never really have a sordid moment.

And without a doubt the two years that I spent there will continue to be the best phase of my life for a long-long time as it gave me everything that I had wished so badly to be a part of my life. It was as if I was living my dream every single moment. My share of rough tides was so tiny that not even once did I feel like giving up everything and running back to the shelter of my parents. Rather, the spirit of the good times was so high and infectious that everyday seemed like a celebration. If you are a manipalite, you would truly understand and know how. No wonder it’s called the land of friendship.

My tryst with Manipal happened five years back when I decided to go there for my master’s degree. And like any sensible young woman I studied less and enjoyed more. Most people have this perception about manipal that it spoils you. It actually does but in a good way. I mean, bad company, bad habits are a matter of luck and choice. I don’t think it has got anything to do with whether you are on your own or living with your parents. I was lucky to have a great circle of friends who not only shared my happiness but also helped me overcome my weaknesses.

I went there with a myriad of emotions swirling in my head. After facing few hiccups in the beginning I was ready to live my life. Living away from home was an eye-opener for me. A decision taken by me and well-supported y my parents. Being so used to getting everything easily these two years made me acknowledge and appreciate the value of family. Suddenly, realization dawned on me that life isn’t a bed of roses and that you have to work extremely hard to achieve your goals. All this transcended me into a more mature human-being. {And kind too I hope}. Friends made a great deal of difference to me at that point of time as they were my support for all that I needed.

I feel truly blessed to meet the kind of friends that I managed to make then. I feel glad to make the kind of mistakes that I made as they only helped me better myself. Today, I might not be exactly on the path that I had laid for myself but I feel just so happy to know that I decided to create my own destiny. Even though life is more painful now and not as great as it was three years back, I am just so happy to have taken this path. I am just so happy to have met my childhood friend after years in manipal. I am just so proud to have embraced & live life whole-heartedly – something that i imbibed from the spirit of this magical place!

Its being three years that I left manipal but my hangover still persists. It’s funny but I miss the place, most importantly the time that I spent there the most now. Every now and then I get this urge to plan a reunion to manipal with my friends. But sadly, our annoying work schedules, financial constraints and other zillion reasons keeps me from taking on this voyage once again. Though I am very keen to take on this journey of re-discovering my life yet again. Maybe, someday the reunion will happen. Maybe, someday all of us will go down memory lane at Tiger Circle over a plate of egg bun masala together. Maybe, I will fall in love again like i did at the kapu beach. Maybe, that day will come soon. Amen.

Monday Morning Blues

2009-01-27T02:57:00.000-08:00

As it poured, I watched in utter dismay the fate of my Monday morning unfold in front of me. By the time I could raise from my seat the mayhem had already been caused. I squirmed. The aftermath of this wreck had left its mark all over my seat. I looked as if I was dressed to kill from every angle! I simply wanted to run away. What a start to the day, I sighed! As I sought help from the maid in my office I was bombarded with truckloads of advice from her. Well as the saying goes, ‘if you are destined to have a bad day nothing will work in your favour’. I had a premonition that something wrong was going to happen. If you’re wondering what went wrong, I dropped tea on my beautiful blue kurta. And as the popular saying goes, the rest is history!

Menace called the "BOSS"

2009-01-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

“I hate my boss”, how many times have we all come up with such statements or have heard our friends/colleagues/neighbours pass the same statement? Is it really always their fault or is it an inherent mental problem with most of us – overworked and unappreciated? I mean, are we all ruled by the pre-conceived notion that a boss or a senior is bad, rude and ugly? What makes the boss such an annoying character if not for all but for most of us? Is it the ugly face or the dark circles? Or is it their ability to make a mountain out of a mole? Or is it their reeking superiority complex? Or is it their passion for detail in everything that they do? Or is it their ability to make every Monday morning look like hell? Or is it their enviable suave personality? {A rarity these days}Or is it their irksome nose for perfection?

God knows what drives the psyche of these so-called ‘able and much deserved to be wherever they are today’ men/woman! At my first job, I found it very inspiring when my boss told me that, “It has taken me a lot to reach where I am today”. And I kept nodding my head in complete agreement like a school-kid. But as months and years passed by I understood the intent behind this much used and super clichéd line. From that day onwards till today, I have tried hard to develop respect and likeliness for my seniors but haven’t really been successful. I really don’t why. I feel what plays in their mind would hold a very interesting subject for study. Anyways, let’s move ahead.

Have you ever come across a situation where you have been given an excruciating task to finish at work? Your boss is constantly reminding you of the deadline and is hounding you everyday with your poor hold on the benefits of research. Your every move is being judged and you feel as if you are going to have a nervous breakdown any moment. But, you have a point to prove and you burn the midnight oil {only I know the importance of this phrase} everyday with the hope that your efforts will finally be rewarded.

The moment has arrived and you are a nervous wreck. But you put up a brave face pretending to everybody in the office that the end result does not matter to you. Your heart beat is racing so fast that you could easily give Michael Schumacher a run for his money. The Man with the ‘Midas Touch’ {Yes, you guessed it right} arrives. For the first time, you both see eye-to-eye. And you already are pumped up from within. You are called inside to present your work. You hope that you are looking your best but the stress easily reflects on your face. Slippery hands, papers falling from the file, voice choking, head scratching… you begin to show all the symptoms of a bad day. But, you take a deep breadth and enter the devil’s den. You suddenly feel like the hero of some war epic. You ignore all the horrendous thoughts and get ready for the presentation.

You finish your presentation and sip in water to quench your thirst. The sound of water guzzling down your throat echoes in the room. And the gun battle begins. You are knocked down by weird and illogical comments from every possible corner. As you try and make sense of some of the comments passed, your adrenaline is rushing so high that you cannot think straight. You slowly digest the truth that you work has been rejected by one & all. To heighten you ranger the so called pacifiers present in the room begin consoling you by saying, ‘good effort’. And icing on cake comes when your boss stands from his/her throne and passes one of his favourite quotes.

By this time you are so drained out that your head starts to twirl. You start wishing you could swear at your boss and replay the scene from the film Jab We Met {scene were Kareena swears at her ex-boyfriend} but you soon realize that in times of meltdown it would be too risky. Totally flustered you open Google and start from scratch again. Now, you know why I call the boss a menace!

Bouncing back with vigor

2008-12-21T23:09:00.000-08:00

It was heartening to see the Taj and the Trident re-open business yesterday. And that too with such great aplomb! It was indeed very heartening to see so many reservations being made in advance. It was moving to see so many guests checking in, absolutely unperturbed by what had happened couple of days ago. It was indeed very inspirational. From the who’s who of the country to the most ordinary man on the street, everyone was unified with the common thread of solidarity. Everyone was awaiting this day – From those, whose lives will never be the same again to even those who were lucky enough to escape the brutality of the terror attack, yesterday was a moment to rejoice. A moment where time stood still to salute camaraderie and the unfailing spirit of this country! Moment where time stood still in memory of all those who lost their lives with the promise to bounce back each time terror attempts to knock us down. Post the terror attack, it would have been the easiest for people of Mumbai and everyone else to take to violence and divide this secular country (like always) in the name of religion. But such is the spirit of the city and the country that even a gruesome attack like this could not take away its courage to fight terror head-on.

War on India…

2008-12-18T02:28:00.000-08:00

I had a lump in my throat as I watched the program called “Mumbai’s Bravehearts” on CNN-IBN. It made my heart bleed to see an 8 year old boy light the pyre of his dead father, who lost his life so that all of us could live in peace. The only question that kept resounding in my head & mind is “Why, Why, Why”? I could sympathize like the rest of us but could actually do nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I will here reiterate what Prahlad Kakkar, the famous ad filmmaker mentioned few days after the Attack on Mumbai, “I feel raped”.

For the last three and a half days, the entire nation was glued to the T.V. set watching the terror on Mumbai, rather the terror on India unfold. Attack on Mumbai was the topic on everybody’s lips. None seemed happy or relieved. I think this incident indicated that India is no longer a safe country. Not that, terrorism was an unknown territory in this part of the land. But, we were definitely not prepared for a nature of attack like this! Because here we had 20-22 year old indoctrinated college students shooting randomly at innocent lives. India was witnessing a massive terror attack.

It pains me, frustrates me to see how our happiness, joy and peace can be destroyed in a jiffy just because some people believe that killing in the name of religion is the only way to life. How ridiculous!!! Time and again, young, innocent and the brave have lost their lives in the very name of terrorism. The big question is, “For how long will this continue”? It’s ironical to even recall the innumerable times all of us have stressed on tightening the security measures. This gruesome act has raised many questions on the governance, integrity and motive of all political parties. Now, for obvious reasons the coastal guard security system is under immense pressure.

But why do we always reckon how the worse could have been avoided after many lives and dreams have been shattered. Why are we always so late? And its absolutely meaningless to even expect the political parties to come to a conclusion. I mean, I would not be surprised if the investigation reports later reveal that all this was orchestrated by the political parties for their bloody selfish motives. Maybe, its time, that we stand up for our own lives. It’s time that we fight terrorism head-on, with hope in our mind that tomorrow will be a safer day for all of us.

Today, the Taj Hotel stands tall. Ironically, it stands tall on broken artifacts, shattered glass pieces, lost lives, gutted floors and blood math all over. It stands tall as a monument which will be reminiscent of India’s worst terror attack. And this massacre on human-kind will soon find a place in history books as well. And we will like always conclude by saying that the spirit of Mumbai will resolve everything! As I thank god for another blissful day in my life, I pray for strength, love and peace for people, whose lives will never be the same again.

What a first half!

2008-12-17T01:56:00.000-08:00

Two people running towards me as if they had reached the finishing line of some marathon. I moved backwards and wondered to myself if I was still on the busy streets of Kolkata or was this my office? Seconds later, I hear only noise. As I moved forward with a sly smile on my face, I thought to myself if we were recouping from another loss. That whiff, reminded me of something. And I sighed. Nothing but the usual chaos!

I was a little taken aback with the pace at which everyone was going about finishing their tasks at office today. Looking at them I felt exhausted, phew!!!! Everyone had their necks drowned in their respective files. Except me, who was busy and quickly opening Gmail, Orkut and Face book at the same time. Multi-tasking you see! And more so, I had just entered office. So, I deserved my bit of recreation! Anyways, getting back to the point, folks who would usually enter work just hours before lunch hour, were actually sitting in their cabin and paying great deal of attention to the monitor. Considering the usual laid back attitude that the city and its people are so famous for, it was shocking to see some of them take their work so seriously. I knew then that I was going to have a very entertaining day at work today. :)

There’s no method to madness…

2008-12-16T04:22:00.000-08:00

After much pondering over the last eight and a half months, I have come to a conclusion that creating order from madness is a seemingly herculean task. Infact, it’s impossible. Even more because when negativity and loose talks become the only way to work then anyone would get de-motivated to even try and make a difference. What’s worse is when the chaos is intended. In such a situation, does it help if there’s a change in hierarchy? I mean will the wine taste any different just because its packaging is altered radically to suit the likes of everyone? Will it help if we force-fit ourselves into a situation where all we do is make a mockery of teamwork in the name of optimism? Isn’t over-optimism extremely dangerous for individuals and even for organizations? And, then there is always the challenge of dealing with the trauma of twisted communication. How do you deal with that? What do you do when you have to make your way through a system that’s completely hollow in every respect, every single day of your precious life? What do you do to survive? Do you throw your armor and get ready to be killed? Or do you continue to slog your tiny little ass because it is your only means of survival? Believe me, to be in a situation like this is even worse then mercy-killing.

I don’t have any answers for I am trying to look for one. And, as you would have rightly guessed by now I have failed miserably. So, does that mean that we stop trying? No, it doesn’t. But it means that the approach to be used in handling any precarious situation must be well-thought out. Otherwise, things will only turn worse. And a mere change in order of command is certainly not the solution. A situation like this only kills the passion to do well, to enjoy work and to rejoice in achievements of your team-mates. It slaughters the very concept of teamwork, trust and makes people like me think more than hundred times if work can really be worshipped.

I see only one situation. Call it my rigid attitude or my incapability to adapt well and fast to change, I think people with malice in their mind should just be thrown out. Because the risk of giving deceivers with many years of experience a chance to improve can prove to be a mighty wrong decision (pun intended here). For, such people can never think, see or do right. Forget about setting things right for everyone’s interest. But, the big question still remains unanswered. What do you really do? Do you agree to lose your integrity and flow with the tide or leave in search of a better life? Like always, I am confused. And, like always I decide to turn to my friend & seek my friend’s advice. But, instead I decide to raise a question: “if you were me, would you be able to take all this casually”? I am waiting buddy. Answer pronto.

Sour Grapes

2008-12-15T02:34:00.000-08:00

It’s never easy to say good-bye. And good-bye’s are never meant to happy. They have a certain thing about them which makes your heart beat a little faster and your eyes moist. Because, good-bye means end of an association, end of a journey. It also means not meeting your friends daily, giving up on a certain activity in a certain place which you would have got so used to by now. Good-bye also tells you that its time to make new friends, that it’s important to keep adding to your list of social friends because if you get stuck (emotionally, physically or just by choice of work) with the same set of people, time will be not too far when a sudden departure of even a single friend/colleague from your circle will make you feel isolated and completely miserable. Maybe, this is the reason why so many people choose to stay in the same place for years. However, I am only assuming.

Nevertheless, whatever may be the reason, the way you bid good-bye to a person or an organization talks a lot about your character. At least, that’s what I feel. I feel good-bye is not the time to disclose your grudge which was hidden for so long. It’s not really an occasion to insult someone just because they did not fulfill your selfish interests. Well, well, I was part of a unique farewell party. Party where all people did was put up an act!

The atmosphere was sordid. I was hungry and was hoping that the farewell speech wouldn’t be too long. If not all, most of us were present in the room only to feast on the sumptuous food lying on the table! Actually, to me the behaviour of some seemed like total farce meant only to show disrespect and ingratitude. And mind-it, an intended behaviour that too! As the proceedings followed, most of us were only spectators of a relationship that had gone totally wrong. It sort of was a live example to us that any relationship built on false and selfish interests will eventually fall like a pack of cards. Good-bye is not really the right time for egos to clash. Not all relationships end on a happy note. Why can’t all of us let bygones be bygones and wish someone good-luck on their new endeavour. I guess, if sense prevailed so soon on everyone then this world would be a totally different place!

It’s not so much about what you do but how you make a person feel that matters at the end, isn’t it? I guess, some people never learn. The moral behind writing this blog is not to set new rules for bidding good-bye but to convey that sour grapes are a big threat everywhere &to everyone. They not just stench but also rot their surroundings. The longer they stay in a place, the worst the future holds for people around them. Such people should just be shown the door. For those who cannot celebrate the victory & happiness of others, can’t be part of any team building activity.

Which one is me?

2008-09-05T00:14:00.001-07:00

Some are warm and some cold. Some highly concerned while some too carefree. Some are simple and some way too flamboyant. Some high on principles while some only believe in pulling others down. Some are confused while some extremely sure. Some are beautiful while some unattractive. Some are down-to-earth while some overtly impractical. Some are straight forward while some diplomatic. Some only believe in love while some only in lust. Some are highly optimistic while for some pessimism has become a way of their lives. Some hate the ordinary while some are used to the ordinary. Some hate books while some long to read. Some are calm while some always loose their cool. Some labour because it’s their passion while for some labour is their only way of survival. Some love to dream while some wait to dream. Some are lucky while some rarely have fortune on their side. Some act too pricy while some always seek for attention. Some are plain dumb while some extremely shrewd. Some love the rains while some are left with no choice but to love them. Some like tea while some are addicted to coffee. Some like movies while some are crazy about sports. Some are sure that hockey is India’s national game while some believe it is Cricket!Some are understanding while some are always misundestood. Some are tired of learning while some are waiting to learn. Some are thin while some obese. Some have a funny side while some never explore their funny side. Some are moody while some steady. Some are rigid while some easy-going. Some always smile while some only frown. Some wish for things to happen while some make things happen. Some are modest while some arrogant. Some are friendless while some are always surrounded by friends. Some are bright while some dull. Some quest for excellence while some get everything on a platter. Some like rock while some classical music. Some are Bollywood fans while some think Hollywood is the best. Some like white some love black. Some like the radio and some the TV. Some like fiction while some facts. Some of this is me and some of this is you!

The 'little' irony of my life

2008-09-02T04:24:00.001-07:00

I was wondering sometime back how ironical life is. I still remember the time when I had finished my post graduation and was jobless. I used to wake up with bizarre thoughts in my head. I had become hopelessly pessimistic about everything in life. I don’t really blame myself for that because most of my friends had started working. So, I was bound to feel bad. Also it became very hard for me to come to terms with the fact that the dream which I had been chasing for so long would not really come true. It became difficult for me to look at other career options.

Besides the difficulty in finding a job, I was also coping with the sudden loss of independence after having stayed away from home for two years. I was missing my friends, my college life and mostly the optimism that pushed me harder to achieve my goals. Thankfully I moved on. Though right now I am wondering if I went the right way or not! Today, when I have a job I am not happy! In fact every morning I wake up hoping that it’s a Sunday! The biggest irony that I face today is I know I am not happy with what I am doing. I am aware that I need to look for alternatives but I really don’t know where to head. And obviously I am not enjoying this confusing phase of my life one bit. I know I have the caliber to deliver and deliver well but I cannot excel until and unless I am happy doing what I am doing. Life indeed is a vicious circle. It certainly gives you what you want but in a totally different package.

I hope in my next post I will have an answer to this little irony of my life!

Random Thoughts...

2008-07-30T01:49:00.000-07:00

I was elated few minutes back. Now, i am back to my cribbing self. That's because the power is back and my computer is on again. How much i hate staring endlessly at my computer. I can't hold myself from dozing off but i find it hard to resist this temptation. In a moment's time, my most favourite Kalida will hand me my cup of extra sugary tea (completely out of compulsion not out of demand). Yet, i will drink and ping my friend telling her how much i hate his extra-not-required-sugary-tea. I wait desperately for time to pass. I wait eagerly to pack my bag and go home. Another, utterly fruitless day of labour! Rather, has there ever been a single day of labour ever since the day i stepped into the city of joy!

I want to step out of this place. I am dying to do something different officially that will bring a smile automaticaly on my face. And looking at my wish list, i just realized that there are so many things that i want to do and have not been able to do. I have succumbed to the many official rules. No more. I don't want to stare at the comp anymore, i don't want to bicker with people i hate (do u ever bitch about people you love), i don't want to pay attention to the commas and the fullstops, i no more want to write the way others want me to write. For once i want to be happy with what i do.

I want to bungee jump. I want to go to Goa with my love. Though Shimla sounds more fun! I want to play with my adorable nephew forever. I want to eat a full plate of mutton biryani everyday and not worry about my waist size. I want a credit card. I want to gift a honeymoon package to my sister. I don't mind seeing Jaane tu again. I want a break.

I deserve a holiday!