Ajeeb daastaan hai yeh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Movie Name: Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960)
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Shankar-Jaikishan
Lyrics: Shailendra
Year: 1960
Producer: Mohan Pictures
Director: Kishore Sahu
Actors: Helen, Meena Kumari, Om Prakash, Raj Kumar, Shammi Kapoor
Theme: Love


Ajeeb daastaan hai yeh
Kahaan shuruu kahaan khatam
Yeh manzilein hai kaun sii
Na woh samajh sake na hum (Ajeeb)

Yeh roshni ke saath kyun
Dhuaan udha chiraag pe
Yeh khwaab dekhthi hun main
Ke jab paddi hun khwaab see (Ajeeb)

Mubaarakein thumhein ke tum
Kisi ke noor ho gaye
Kisii ke jithne paas ho
Ke sab se door ho gaye (Ajeeb)

Kisii ka pyar leke tum
Naya jahaan basaaoge
Yeh shyaam jab hi aayenge
Tum hum ko yaad aaoge (Ajeeb)

http://www.musicindiaonline.com/lr/17/2353/

Any measure to validate your genuine wish-list?

Hmmm....... How can one justify the righteousness and authenticity of one's wish-list? Anyone been successful in finding a just measure around? I have been looking for it since the past five years. It would be a great help if it came any sooner in my life. Am getting tired.

Different instances give me different scales to make judgments. So, the whole thing only becomes more confusing for me to decide. Hence, am unable to put a justified end to this never-ending saga. At times, it takes me by the whole and just gets all-consuming and terrifying. And at times, it just seems like a piece of cake.

I have a reasonable wish-list. That I am aware. I know for sure I will still have my feet grounded for life when the wish-list does get granted. Somehow, I am tired of the confusions now. Its time! Just and righteous be shalt thy answers, such that it offers peace and relief to me and every soul around me and involved in this. When would I be calling my wish-list out in public and getting into the ticking off mode? I want that answer. Pretty please, it better be QUICK!!!!!! Sigh! I have unshakable faith. So, am waiting.........................................................

Phoren return Moi!!! - Phase 2 - Coding phase - Departure flight account

Hmmm.... Phase 1 was in itself a collection of blogs! :D

Now moi was in next step - still preparing for US visit - finding out about US & RTP, food (which would be the best safest bet), packing and bags (whats a cabin luggage, how much allowed, where I can get a good suitcase or can I borrow one), forex (how much per day and how much I can surutify - thats wot ppl told me :D ), flight schedules (some say Brit airways, some say Jet, some say Lufthansa, some say Delta), hotel to stay and services, time difference details and effects, jet lag stories, things to buy and places where u wud get em - for US trip (2-3 pin plug converters, ready-to-eat MTR packs, and other necessary paraphernalia) and during US trip (tips as to where to buy and what like clothes, gadgets, cosmetics, and most imp., how can I leave chocolates out). Travel agency from office does booking of hotel and flights - but then its always better to find out whats best. Also informed my friends and people who mattered the most to me about my 2 week visit, now that things were confirmed completely. Was very jittery since it was the first time I would be flying international and staying away from home on my own.

Much thanks to my friends and colleagues, esp. my best friend, I somehow managed all that in the last min smoothly. Believe it or not, I did my packing for a 2 week stay in the last possible minute. My sis and best frnd helped me out indeed.

All set, I am bleary-eyed hours before my time to leave home for the 6:45 Brit Airways flight. Butterflies fluttering, I wait for my best frnd to come from Hennur by a private cab and pick me up at 3am. Whichever godforsaken cab this one booked gave haath in the last min - fellow says "Ivathu pick maadbekitha? Sorry. Marthoythu. Innu 10 nimisha call maadi. Ready aagbittu horadtheenee" Call him after 10 mins and he has switched off his ph. :D What rotten luck! My frnd tells me to wait for some more time and then book a cab on my own and come to Hennur all the way instead so that this nutcase can accompany me from there to BIA. :) Well, sounded crazy but then I did just that. :) Cab comes, I leave home with bleary-eyed parents and sis bidding me bon voyage. I call my friend for online company, just to be safe during a 3 am all-alone cab journey! I don't even know where Hennur is. :D To add to this confusion, my other close frnd and his cuz call up in the last minute offering to pick me up. I somehow managed to stall those two sweet nutcases since I was already implementing the other plan. I just wish those two nutcases had volunteered earlier. I wudnt ask anyway. :) Not my thing yet. Anyways, I pick my friend from Hennur and we go to BIA.

Wotte surprise awaits for me at BIA - Brit Airways was delayed by 7 hours to 3pm in the afternoon due to some technical snag in the aircraft. :D I was numb with shock, not disappointment. Sigh. I was already a bundle of nerves but this just peaked the whole event. I enter the airport terminal section all alone with my baggage whilst my frnd offered to wait outside. Standing in the long queue, I run into a not-so-familiar colleague - meeting him for the first time - pure rayil sneham sort company. We wait and wait. Brit Airways does not assure anything about the connecting flights from Heathrow (London) to JFK (NY) and JFK to RTP. Also, answers our queries very rudely. I call up my manager on my friend's advice and bug her at 4am on a Sat morning. Poor thing. She actually picks my call, listens to my woes and tells me to wait until 11am for office travel desk to come to work to see if they can do something. I tell this to my frnd - get an earful - realization dawns about the connecting flights confusion. Sigh! My friend is the one who made me realize about the connecting flights confusion. Else my coll and I would have waited to board the 3pm flight. I was frustrated, my friend was telling me the sensible things I needed to do. Coll was ready to wait for eternity until Brit airways flight started at 3pm and convinced me to wait too in the queue and talk to the officials before heading home. I did wait, which added to my friend's frustration at my manager's suggestion. I was doing my balancing act to convince my manager and coll. Sigh. I call back my manager and repeat whatever I was told to tell. :) Told her I would go back home and contact the travel desk at 11. They could arrange whichever worked out. I added that this didn't feel right, being my maiden international experience and would prefer to sleep peacefully. God, sounds ridiculous but thats wot I did!

I come bk home for my parents to find me returning from my trip so quick. :D Slept half wide-eyed, sent mail to travel desk, got Jet flight schedule, called my other close frnd to drop me this time in advance to airport, enter the airport on my own, board connecting flights, wonder at the clouds, sleep continuously and soundly, watch movies, go thro security checks with metals and no metals, eat canned food etc.

Ritesh tags along with me and I head back home with my friend. The cab had thankfully waited for us during this drama. We reach my friend's place and cab driver realises that Ritesh's suitcase is missing. Goofie had put it on the roof and driven at mad speed. His brains went to graze, I guess. We go back and search, no success. Drop friend at his place. Then driver gets an earful from me and poor Ritesh who still had not come out of shock. (My initial reaction at the goof driver's realization was a loud laugh which I controlled on time. :P ) Then dropped Ritesh at his place and I come back home, much to my parents' surprise. :D Cab driver took a very low fare and pleaded that I should not complain to the agency. Whatever.

My sis was updated about this whole series of drama as and when it proceeded eventfully but parents got to know only the Brit delay story. Didnt want to unnecessarily scare the hell out of them. Poor sis, she could not sleep coz of all this. Thankfully, it was weekend.

I reached home and tried to hit the bed. But alas, started getting phone calls from manager, travel coordinator, Ritesh, travel desk and had to login too to reply about confirmation of flights and hotel booking. Flight got confirmed on Jet airways - BIA -> Chennai -> Brussels, Belgium -> NY -> RTP. I was fine since it was from Chennai and not Heathrow again. Was and am against Brit airways. :(

Also, came to know that Ritesh somehow got his bag back, thanks to some noble Good Samaritan soul - an Indian who was coming back from US to Bangalore and noticed the luggage lying in the middle of the road. He even promptly sent an email to the email id mentioned in the luggage with his number. Ritesh saw the email and called this noble soul who was asleep then. Almost there again, but delaying Ritesh's luck - met him eventually to hand the luggage. God bless him and how lucky could Ritesh get?! :)

Updated my best friend with all the schedule and trip plan changes, emailed AM the same. And then called the other close friend (the one who offered to drop me initially in the last min) and updated him with this drama. He laughed so hard - his typical reaction. I usually gear up with an alternative solution and then narrate my funny stories to him, lest he mock me more. :D This time, asked him to drop me. :) Did not want to trouble my best friend again. Neither did I want my parents to spend a bomb on travel just for this. Sweet fella, this one did accompany me all the way with my baggage on my second visit to BIA and dropped me safe on time for my maiden international flight. :D

Check-in on my own - managed it smoothly - but was still a nervous wreck. Felt thrilled to be actually on my own in the airport security terminal. My friend waited till I went to the check-in lounge. Met R again and rayil sneham started. :) Got a window seat to Chennai. So did R. Enjoyed the takeoff and final sinking realisation that I was on my way to US. Chennai airport was another interesting learning with customs & immigration experience. Filled the forms and got thro smoothly till terminal. Felt at home still. :)

From Chennai to Brussels, R and I were at different rows in the flight, not in the least nearby. :)I was assigned an aisle seat in the middle row actually, next to a family - mom and two teenage sons. The dad springs up when I reach my assigned seat offering to swap to his 2 seater aisle. I was anyways disappointed that I dint get a window seat. So accepted his offer - why separate a family. :P I was excited that I was getting a window seat but aisle turned out to be a blessing. Window seat belonged to uninteresting Belgian guy but he was fine as a company. No talking other than exchanging few necessary pleasantries. I was relieved. :) I had my freedom to move for loo breaks or stretch in that 9 hour journey. Believe me, I actually had not realised the convenience of the aisle seat yet. This flight was uneventful but peaceful for me, a first-timer.

Brussels to NY, quite interesting. R had befriended a Tamil IT ponnu Vidhya. She gave us moral support and company till NY. Walked us thro all the way till our terminal in Brussels, had coffee with us during our transit flight wait and gave few gyan about food, NY, US culture etc. Gave me a tip to not wear a belt with steel stuff while on flight journeys. Else you have to undergo extra round of security check apart from the usual laptop, check-in bag, jacket, shoes check. Ugh! She was quite a sweet thing. Even complimented my sis' gift - the handbag and we even did chocolate shopping together. R swapped his window seat with me on our way from Brussels to NY. So Vidhya was my companion but more a sleeper. :D I was gazing out of the window continuously and thanked R many times. He he. Had wine too. ;) On reaching NY, just before we entered the customs section, Vidhya allowed me to make a call on her phone to AM to inform about my arrival. That was a good thing to do since AM had not checked her emails and did not really know when I was arriving. Goofie me had only bothered to call her and inform about Brit airways getting cancelled but didnt call again to update about Jet schedule. Trying to save money, I presume. Or it just dint strike me with all other chaos around. :D God bless Bindhu (or is it Vidhya... God bless that IT ponnu! - He knows.)

AM wanted to know the flight number and time I would arrive. I kept walking with these ppl to the Immigration section and rummaging thro my bag for the flight details. All I could tell AM was the time and lo, I could not use the phone anymore since there is no network coverage at Immigrations section and its not allowed. :( Plus, this was Vidhya's phone which I had borrowed. I was feeling torn apart but just managed to tell the time and it got cut. She waves goodbye and goes off on her way to meet her friend for a 2 day stay and then head to Boston where she works.

I can never forget the first time I saw AM at the airport with her daughter with my name placard - waiting to pick me up, drop my colleague and then me. She is a lovely lady.


My RTP stay in her words -

You'll be able to tell everybody how to pick a pumpkin, what a heron does to its prey, what you see on a hay ride, what crazy things happen when you ride a mechanical bull, how you won a basketball, how to shop efficiently at Southpoint Mall, which Indian restaurants are the best in RTP, how to talk to the sales clerks at Best Buy, how good the cheesecake is at Cheesecake Factory, what the lettuce wraps are at PF Changs, what martini glasses are, what you do at a picnic in the US, what girls talk about at girls night out in the US, how to swing a baseball bat, how to fight for chocolate cake, what Byron's team meetings really are!!, and so much more!

Believe it or not, we almost choked when I had to say bye to her on my last day of stay in RTP. She broke her ankle during my third week in RTP and still worked sooooo much to cover the release since I somehow became slack coz I was homesick and wanted to travel to NY desperately wen I had the chance. I even got slower in doing my share of documentation work even after few weeks of my return. She stood by me silently like a great pillar of strength and gave a great feedback for my appraisal. She is still my mentor, though distant. Thanked her with gifts for her, her boss, her boss' daughter, her daughter, my boss. Her team too tried to befriend me but I was so dazed. Dev team was quirky mix of ppl but engg manager was so sweet. I shall always be thankful to God for making me meet such nice ppl. I tried to show my thanks by remembering AM's birthday in 2009 and sent her a card by snail-mail. She loved it and I was so satisfied. Waiting to work with her again and again. I am sure we will get to do so soon. :)

And my NY trip gist from my reply to JFK -

All that I saw in NY were definitely interesting - right from the culture and economy change from NC to NY, me booking online for the hotel on my own, getting links from you, planning and replanning the trip, you generously offering to come along, that dumb old man offering money, me shifting rooms and getting so scared, bugging you over those phone calls and chats, colorful bus and metro train rides, your GPS getting drunk and you not believing the sight of such less crowd at Empire or Statue of Liberty, air show, Wall Street, McDonald lunch and TGIF dinner, NASDAQ and my movie mania related to Empire State Building, shopping for souveniers, walking along those streets endlessly and wondering at everything and nothing, trading Swiss knife for Statue of Liberty, the ceiling of Grand Central Station of constellations and you never having noticed it till date, our unintended initial disappointment on seeing Statue of Liberty and Empire State (well, cant stop admiring them now - took its time to set its incurable admiration fever on me).

The journey - I got an aisle seat in the middle row until Chennai and was trying to get my last few glimpses of NY sky-line. Not to be exaggerating, but the last glimpse I saw was of - you can guess - Empire State building and Chryssler building and I was so satisfied. :) Its good that I got the aisle side, realised its worth as you mentioned in such long hour journeys. Plus, interestingly, Sadagopan Ramesh was on the flight from Brussels to Chennai and I had a question-mark look on my face when I saw him (since I wasnt sure it was him). He did notice it. Two men were initially sitting in the row next to mine - aisle and window. After I woke up from a short nap, I was surprised to find Sadagopan Ramesh (SR) sitting in the aisle seat, next row to me. (No, I wasnt dreaming... I am sure of that.) I was wondering where those men vanished. I aint sure if SR thought I would strike a conversation with him - I aint sure why he was there....I wasnt going to anyway... Dunno how to start all that plus I am nil at cricket GK. He was acting funny - ordered the same dinner as me - Chicken dish and red wine (not that he shouldn't... I found it queer since I had ordered it just before him), walking around and sitting in the aisle for a while and then later, vanished bk....

Overall, the whole trip was a wonderful experience. RTP made me feel very warm and secure including the work strain, thanks to RTP team with teensy-weensy times where I did feel lonely. New York was a very short visit but I could feel the high energy city life vibes in it.

Coming to think of the trip, I realise I had reacted a lil too much about everything to you sometimes (you can say - no no, always... - I was always commenting rite from the people there, me being homesick and food etc.) It seems so silly and minuscule when I think of the amount of time you have spent abroad away from home. :) Stupid me, but well, am a spoilt brat. :P

It was an expensive trip with NY stay - 15-20k, phone bill coming to *0k talking stories to my best frnd, family (who reduced my homesickness in minutes) inspite of my sweet younger cuz bro loaning me with a calling card (upto $20). Mum was giving me tips to get rid of boredom by watching tamil channels or read tamil magazines. :D Her world is so small. :) My college friend D from Atlanta tried to make me feel at home just like my cuz. So did my frnd from MTP gang. And most of all, JFK and AM. :)

Very pleasant memories and learnings. Thank you, God! :)

Phoren return Moi!!!! - Part 1 - Requirements Analysis, and Info gathering phase :D

Well, yeah, very glad to blog about my US trip. Another item ticked off in my wish list - actually a set of items. :)

Preparation for the US trip involved so many last minute things. Its a loooong story indeed.

To start off, I had applied for the passport only two months before the final date was definitively confirmed. The passport took its own sweet time (2 whole months) to land - but hell, no complaints - after all, the last visit to the police station cost me just fifty bucks and finished the last set of formalities. I had contacted an agency to complete the application formalities but that agency made me realise that I might as well could have gone around on my own and saved 1000 bucks. Only thing they did was stand in the queue and submit the form. Sigh! :)

The agency was a surprise - I had contacted the Superseva setup in office thinking they do this kind of stuff... Stupid Superseva itself outsources such services. And the agency that they forwarded my application was somewhere in BTM layout - an area that I have never visited. To begin with, agency rejects application saying my passport pic is funny - they cant see my ears. So took another set of phutwa, filled the form again (such that I know the set of questions by heart now.) :D Then agency says I need to appear once in front of them - a part of their process to reconfirm my credentials. Ugh! Duffer wont come to my company. I have to go to his place. Duffer doesnt even talk properly - eats his own words and talks in Kannada which I am bad at... :P And then I follow up after a month of unshakeable faith in the agency that they would do things for me like police verification. I was getting pressure from my manager and I was putting pressure on this agency fellow but no use. Then with my colleague's help, started tracking the application online. Police verification had not happened though it had been almost a month. Contact agency and fellow says "Madam, neeve nimma area police station ge hogi helbeku. Innu badhilla alva? Neeve hogbidi! Illa andhrey, tatkal ke apply maadi!" Bloody fellow! :(

So, one fine day, I pick up guts and shed my laziness - Went to the police station with a friend of mine - Police says bank statements and letter proof isnt enough. Get a government-related service proof like voter id / BSNL phone bill / gas agency receipts / KEB bills only. All in daddy's name except for voter id - I havent voted in these 8 years and my area has some BBMP official's wrath - have never received a voter id, no matter how much I apply and fill and drop forms hither thither. Sigh! Agency had told me my dad's name in these bills/receipts will not help me but police says they will take it. What contradictions and what not things I have to go thro. Coz of me, my family and frnd. And to top it, I dont know driving either. :( So come home and dig for BSNL phone bills / gas agency receipts / KEB bills. Dint bother abt SBI - SBI bank service sucks - 12th main branch at indiranagar. So, though I have an account there, balance is zilch and so am not sure if acct is still alive. :)

Go back the next day to the police station - no use. They need two ph bills - One most recent and one from last year. :( So come back sad-faced. Then dig for more, throw tantrums at home and come again to police station - person not available in the morning. So come again in the evening - Constable says "Naanu ondu white paper / form kooda thogondu barakke heldhe alvamma?" I fume at him and my friend (who assured me that he would speak for me but never did so - only was a great moral support and help overall) tries to calm me. I storm out and my friend says "Looks like tis time to actually bribe them. No other proof required from your side but he is acting fishy." I stare at him coldly for his early realisation (we were aware of this bribe stuff but were waiting for the police fellow to ask directly - such duffers... :) )and take out a 50 rupee note and almost literally shoved it into my friend's hand - it got crumpled. :) Poor thing, goes inside and constable looks up and says "Thanks, sir. Everything is actually over. I was only waiting for....... I would have submitted long back." What audacity! My friend and I had a squabble over this issue though it was no fault of my friend. Both of us were angry at the police but couldnt do much about it. During the squabble, my frnd tells, "50 rupees - is nothing nowadays. Y dint u give 100?" I seethe with frustration and say "Sriram told me he gave the police 50 bucks. So I decided to do the same. And anyways, we have done so much running around and this is almost the end of passport verification and application process. Lets see what happens. If he is not going to forward my passport application, I dont care. I dint want to give him 100 at any cost." :) My blood still boils but then I need to make peace with the fact that I only bribed him with 50 bucks inspite of all that running around he made us undergo. Uff! :) Going to the police station after a day's work - Sigh, poor friend of mine who had to come a long way. I just dint have the guts to go alone to a police station

Again, few more rounds of pressure from manager and peers and me pressurizing the agency fellow ( - no use except that I let out my steam in the end for good) and also was tracking online - Passport reaches home at last but I wasn't at home on that exact eventful day and had WFH only the previous day. :) So I wait for weekend and collect it from post office after patiently waiting for my area's postman to come from his long break. Every min of wait in the post office seemed like an eternity - Imagine almost getting there and having to wait. But happiness at last. :D

Luckily, the travel dates kept getting rescheduled and delayed - worked out in my favor overall in the end. :) At one point, it looked like it would be too close and I would have to go for tatkal. Tatkal is for just one year and otherwise you get passport for 10 years. Nothing wrong in ppl suggesting tatkal since my situation was so last-minute but still I dint want to go for tatkal after such a long wait and effort put in. Stubborn, lazy ol' moi! Agency fellow coolly used to tell me, "Madam, neeve nimma area police station ge hogi helbeku - even for the second round. Innu badhilla alva? Ashtondhu urgent andhrey, neeve hogbeku! Illa andhrey, tatkal ke apply maadi!" Basically, go thro the same shit all over again - right from getting a company letterhead validating my work experience, 6 months bank statements and a letter from bank in M G Road for a charge of 54 bucks or so and bear M G road traffic etc. Bloody fellow! He got an earful from me in the end! :(

All this was happening since May. He he. I wouldn't shake a limb regarding the passport application just coz I dint actually believe I was fated to go US. :P Pessimistic no. 1 but then over-optimistic too! All's well that ends well. :) Then, after this mega-serial drama with a lot of high-strung episodes, I went to the visa interview to Chennai - have already blogged that experience. ;) Filling the visa application was another headache but then went smooth overall. Fatefully, I filled the visa form again just like the passport form - coz I had screwed up some address or something. My company travel coordinator was helpful but looks like I always need a lot of spoon-feeding. :P What not my manager and peers scared me abt the interview but it was so damn cool! :) I know for sure that if any of my frnds have to go to US for the first time or apply for passport, I would be eager to help them out to the core with whatever I can. :D

One year indeed with this blog!

Cool.... Didnt realise time flying by... Managed to complete one year of maintaining a blog, considering the rate of my on-off blogging. :)

Looking back in this one year blogs, I find somethings just the same - hanging in there and some new... Thankfully, am glad there are some new interesting, weird, funny, fond memories that I can carry forward to the next year and not blame that this year has been UNeventful.

Might try blogging more often. Alas, I cant help but add "lets see..." :)

Mad mad world or mad mad me?!

Hmmm, I am wondering if its a mad mad world out there? Or is it just me who is really mad. I have enough proof to consider the latter since I am riding on too many shoes and so, eventually freak for reasons obvious only to me.

Imagine this: A friend calls me and I miss it. I call back after a while and it gets cut. I misinterpret the message thinking its the network acting weird and I call again. It gets cut again. Now I realise that I should not have tried calling the second time in the first place. The person is busy or whatever and I disturb them without getting the hint. So embarassing but I still dont get it. As if this wasnt enough, this nags me and I call again after a while. Now it gets cut and I land up red-faced! :(

The other person could put me at ease by just responding with an sms rather than just cutting off my calls. When this happens to people coz of calling me, I tell them to cool off and advice them that there is some option called "messaging". And look at me, such a loser! :P But more than the loser, its the fish causing this volatility in me. :D How amusing!

Why cant I just cool off and let the person respond? Maybe the "busy" person is watching a movie or doing something interesting wherein a call would only be an irritant? Or very well, avoiding me. But alas, me gone mad coz something is fishy somewhere and I very well know where. This fish stings me in return as the saying "As you sow, so you reap". If the fish bites me real hard, I better learn to take it. If the fish was just a figment of my imagination, then I better take that too... with a pinch of salt, as a matter of fact. :) I want it to be the latter. And who knows, it will be. I shall know in time. :)

In the end of this blog, I realise that its me who is mad. The world is still quite a sane place, atleast saner than me. :P

Long time dream come true! (Lots pending, mind it!) :D

Dream coming true can give you such a high. :) Coming to the point, it was a long time wish to do a 1-day flight trip to Chennai. Also, its been a long time dream to fly. :) And these came true on Aug 25, 2008. Details follow.

I got this golden opportunity, thanks to my company. Thank God that everything fell in place and it was a complete fun trip. :) I had to go to Chennai due to combined reasons, both work and personal. I am a travel-alone-phobic. He he. So I ensured that I tagged my best friend along with me on this trip. Come on, my friend gets the privilege of accompanying me on my first flight. ;) This friend would be remembered whenever I recount my first flight experience with fondness at any point in the coming years. ;)

The whole thing started at 3am, Monday and ended on 3am, Tuesday. Exact 24 hours! :) We took the cab at 3:30am till J B Nagar and then boarded BIA shuttle at 4. Reached at 5, on time for my flight at 6:30. I was so much in awe of the international look of BIA. :) I learnt what it is to check-in, security etc. and get a boarding pass. The prices of everything inside the airport got me dizzy. He he. To add to it, I was too excited to have anything. :)

Dad had greatly advised to carry an umbrella and so, I had to leave my bag and send it as luggage. I had heard enough nightmares about people missing their baggage and that set me off. To top it, my friend kept chiding for this smart act of following my dad's advice and mentioned more than once "Unfortunately, we will have to leave the bag in the luggage and collect it later. There are chances of missing it!" I got wild! I was hearing the words that I was thinking! But then cooled off! :D I did not want this minor thing to spoil my excitement and obviously, optimism pays off! And this eased the tiff too! ;)

Blore to Chennai flight was a Jet Airways one. Smooth and pretty comfy. I got the window seat, thanks to my friend's generosity. :D It was so exciting to experience the take-off - similar to the Drop zone effect in Wonderla. Everything outside the window was growing small and then nothing but a white carpet of spuds (small groups of clouds)!!! Sunrise was a sight to see too!

Landed at 8ish and collected the bag. Stepped out to find a city taxi waiting (Thanks to my friend!)... Took that and headed to the office to complete my work! AC made the whole cab journey pleasant! ;)

Then I had to ditch my friend for approx. 4 hours. Poor thing! I got to enjoy the A/C comfort of the waiting hall for most of the time and the whole thing went on damn well! I saw a lot of newly-weds there and it got me a little sad but then, everything has a time of its own. Also, you gotta make things work for you. Women in silk saris in Chennai surprise me always. :) Anyways, I step out of the office and see my friend dripping in sweat and all irritated. There was no respite from the heat. I had already troubled this poor one enough. I was amused that my mood was pleasant and my friend was so irritated. Its usually the reverse. So, I was patient and we headed to Besant Nagar. Autos ask exorbitant rates in Chennai but thats feasible than the cab rates. :)

Had lunch in a place called Karaikudi. My friend gorged on the meals. I stuck to plain rice and fish curry. Food was ok. The group that came towards the end of lunch was quite a sight to see. The leader of that gang was a middle-aged lady and was such a pissing show-off. Hell-bent on creating a scene and demanding unnecessary attention. Her friends (or so colleagues) were one dumb boring group of men and women. Sigh, she was one pain!

I love Chennai for many reasons... its my hometown, all my cousins stay there and last but not the least, the beach. I hate Chennai for its hot and humid weather but it does not stand anything against the beach. :) I am crazy about the ocean, such that a glimpse of it can get me berserk. After lunch, I was so excited to see the calm Besant Nagar. So walked around and did some window shopping in The dollar store, FabIndia and Health & Glow. I obviously did little shopping in Dollar store and Health & Glow, true to my nature. FabIndia was above my budget but I like visiting that place. One tidbit news - Its the one which comes in Mozhi movie. ;)

My friend was still irritated and exhausted after the 4 hour wait and the heat. So, we squatted in Arun's icecream parlour which is just around the corner from the beach. I was enjoying the kids there than the icecream. One of the kid's mom was complaining about her daughter to her friend. It made me wonder why she took the pains of having a kid at such a late age. Its better to have children when a woman is in her mid-20s or late-20s. You would have the strength to run around your lil one! :D Kids are after all meant to fool around and goof up! Ahem, lets see how I react when my little one goofs up and creates a mess! Long way to go, let me first hook up and get married!!! :D

Headed to the beach at 3:30pm and kept strolling till 5:15pm. Was a pleasure to see kids, dogs and people of all ages having fun! The color of the sea here is much more nicer than Marina and its cleaner too! I was so tempted to jump into the sea but then had to head back home that night. So made myself content with letting the waves lap at my feet. The waves are relentless and their incessant lashing is a story in itself! Listening to the waves and watching them always puts me at ease. :) Extremely therapeutic! We had fun making weird footprints and watching tiny white crabs, live shells. It might sound silly but a visit to the beach costs nothing. At the same time, its priceless! :) The ocean makes you realise that nature is mighty and man is so teeny-weeny compared to it. But man tends to forget such things easily. :)

After the fun time at the beach, my friend's mood got better. Thank God! I noticed the famous Murugan Idly shop just around the corner. So, headed there straight and gorged on yummy dosas and also a cup of degree kaapi. Sigh, it was so fulfilling. My friend had to drag me out of the beach. I wanted to literally stay there and could not take my eyes off the ocean. I took a video of the ocean though my mind's eye has captured the beauty better. Watching the video has become my feel-good factor.



Took an auto back to the airport. Flight was at 8:45pm. Air Deccan. My friend teased me saying I get to experience both international and national flight experience on the same day. True to his word, Deccan was a small ATR aircraft compared to the Jet Airways aircraft. Boarded it and got the window seat again. But it wasnt satisfying. I could not ask for more since I was exhausted and just wanted to head back home since the next day was a working day. Some jinxed prayers mine were... the flight could not land due to turbulent weather in BIA. So the pilot (an incomprehensible European) hovered the aircraft for over 2 hours and put us back in Chennai at 11:00 pm. All of us were frustrated so as to when an alternate flight would be arranged and it was so late already. To add to it, we were so hungry. Once we landed, a pleasant surprise waited. We were put in a Kingfisher flight!!! It was such a pleasant experience to see the plush seating, petite airhostesses and the mighty aircraft! Kudos to Vijay Mallya! I am a big fan of his now! I got the window seat again and it was so satisfying. We got to eat small sandwiches and it was just perfect. There was a good-looking but stinking dude sitting next to us and laughing over those recorded videos on the flight. Hmmm, he seemed interesting but was more of an empty vessel. Works in Infosys is my guess. :)

My friend and I were exhausted. So we could not completely realise the Kingfisher comforts but I will rave on about it for years to come. :) Landed at 12:45 and rushed to board the BIA shuttle. Thank God, the cab driver waited for us when we reached J B Nagar at 2. I had done the booking long back for 11pm but he waited for us till 2am. :) God bless him. We reached at 2:35 am and I was so worried about my friend who was dozing off to glory. Thankfully, all reached safe and the whole trip has become a memorable one! :)

I recounted all this to most of my immediate friends and obviously, my family. All of them teased me about my childish enthusiasm and gloating. He he.

No matter what others say, this trip would be recounted for years to come and its my most special one. After all, it has been a long time dream come true! Many would have had their first flight experience when they were much younger but mine was this one. To top it, I got to fulfill my wish of a one-day flight trip to Chennai wherein my whole purpose to visit was the beach. :D Ocean is definitely one of the best creations of God and nature. Sigh!

Timing and its answers - Jigsaw puzzle to be put in place

Well, I can hear my stomach growling for food. I shall not pay heed. Coz I want to blog this one and then take off! :)

I always periodically have severe mood swings and I dont really know if its only coz of PMS. I am so lost that I have decided to find the key for this set of Pandora's box at the earliest! I am already mentally set out on this and am determined to give it a try atleast. It doesnt matter if the timing is going to be too early or too late. I need it for my peace of mind.

I was reading Chetan Bhagat's blog titled "Sparks". Beautiful one. He basically says that you should live your life with sparks and also make sure you tackle four mind-blocks - frustration, isolation, boredom and compromise. I keep thinking what he means by saying "Dont live life too seriously." :) Coz I get serious even about the smallest teeny-weeny matter that looks like it might go wrong.

His blog coupled with "Secrets" is only making me do something that I really never imagined to be doing. I did it once and the timing was too late. I am gonna do it again and I guess the timing would be early. What the heck, I would atleast unentangle myself from all-consuming concentric web around me.

My attitude is neutral and I feel that makes me feel old. I am going to do this to make myself feel like a 17 year old. :D

I am scared I would fall into the pits of depression if my timing screws me up. Its because its not just about me. Anyways, everything in this world can be mended with time.

On the other hand, I know this can be a fresh chapter in my life which can add spring to my every step where I will scale to heights of success and good spirits that I always wanted in every sphere of my life.

Yet, I am waiting for one single hint from somewhere to tell me if its right to go on or not. I shall wait until you know when. :)

Realisation and miracles

Hmmm........ What I thought was quite there is actually really really there. I was told so today and I believe it more now. I am going to see it materialize it in the coming days and I betcha I will be right. Miracles happen!

Waiting with fast-paced bated breath! :) Stay tuned.

Life aint just about one thing!

Talking of those concentric circles around me, I realised I cant let it take me completely like this. I was so depressed the whole of today. I had completely lost my mind. :) I was going to become my own worst nightmare if I lived like this.

I cant really talk it all out of my head to everyone or anyone since its such an entangled web. I sincerely wish I will be able to do that in a matter of some more time. I prefer lucidity than this foggy state of mind.

There are so many other things currently that demand my attention. I aint sure they are thoroughly enjoyable but they constitute an integral part of my life. So, I am gonna give those things their deserving due. :)

But kashish dil mein rahegi hi sahi! :) Talking of those concentric circles around me, I realised I cant let it take me completely like this. I was so depressed the whole of today. I had completely lost my mind. :) I was going to become my own worst nightmare if I lived like this.

I cant really talk it all out of my head to everyone or anyone since its such an entangled web. I sincerely wish I will be able to do that in a matter of some more time. I prefer lucidity than this foggy state of mind.

There are so many other things currently that demand my attention. I aint sure they are thoroughly enjoyable but they constitute an integral part of my life. So, I am gonna give those things their deserving due. :)

Par kashish dil mein rahegi hi sahi!

Also, I saw the movie "Serendipity" and it made me feel so much better. I was dying to see "Sleepless in Seattle" but the former movie made me feel good too. I am such a romantic fool! Ha ha. Life is all about everything and anything.

Caught amidst a web of concentric circles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm, well, wondering what the title means?! Tough to explain. These concentric circles are something that I put myself in both involuntarily and voluntarily.

There are 3 in total. The inner-most one is completely close-ended. The middle one is almost becoming close-ended but has some gaps. The outer-most circle is perforated and almost transparent.

The close-ended one is making me claustrophobic. Not anybody's fault but thats how it was meant to be, right from the start. I am trying to make some room to breathe. Its either taking its own time or I am destined to not get any of it. I sometimes just wish the circle almost vanishes. And sometimes I wish for the opposite.

The middle one is so mysterious that I might call it a mirage. It sometimes looks like its there and I yearn for it to become a perfect circle of contentment. But lo, it just keeps playing tricks on me.

The outermost one is mysterious in its own way and has a double-edge to it. Since its perforated all over, I am not really concerned about it. I believe I have the strength to handle it, come what may.

Now the catch is my focus is drifting towards the middle one from the closest one. And I wonder how things will turn out. I am not prepared but I am somewhat prepared too. I don't want the white flag.

Fortunately or unfortunately, many thick, thin and miraged concentric circles appeared and disappeared on their own in the course of time. Some have scarred me for life due to circumstantial misfitting. Some have been a learning. But I repeat I don't want the white flag with regard to the current focus.

"Itni shiddad se tumhe paane ki koshish ki hai... ki har zarre ne mujhe tumse mulane ki saajish ki hai. Kehte hain ki kisi cheez ko agar dil se chaho tho, poori kaayanath tumse use milane ki koshish mein lag jaathi hai. Aaj aap sab logon ne muje apni chaahath se mila diya. Iskeliye main aap sab ko tahe dil se shukriya adha kartha hoon. Hamaari hindi filmon ki tarah humaari zindagi mein bhi end mein sab kuch theek ho jaata hain. Aur agar kuch theek nahin hui tho, kahani abhi khatm nahin hui. Picture abhi baaki hain, mere dost" - One of my most favorite dialogues. I got goosebumps when I was watching Shahrukh tell it in Om Shanti Om. Life needs to tell me if its true. And I do believe its true.

I have no idea why life gets so intricately delicately complicated. Its nice to know some special things exist. Life is definitely interesting somehow because of that. But its sometimes exhausting too to see if its worth it since it means all the way.

"Unaccustomed Earth"

This is the latest collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri.

I have fallen in love with it, if I can exaggerate. Jhumpa Lahiri always captures my attention 100%. Such intricate delicate emotions handled with such enormous strength and style. Phew! And I like her style of narrating. Its slightly placid and in passive voice but it draws you into the story as you read it. Her stories take my breath away, almost because they are just so realistic. Namesake did it to me. This time, its this one. Unputdownable.

I am zipping through it with nothing else to do during the weekend. The second short story was touching now. The first one was itself just so natural and free-flowing that I was already swimming in those mixed emotions for the father and daughter, not to forget the grandson Akash!

I can relate to those people so easily in her stories. I wonder why. Is it because her writings have a feminine touch and sentiment to her? Maybe. I can so easily feel what the girl's character goes through in the second story - as much as I've read it until now. The mother confesses the pain and tumultuous turmoil to the daughter wherein both have been through similar grief of losing out on a guy whom they each banked for love (though quite out of turn).

Now I know about four families - all of them Bengali (coz the writer is herself one). I wish she would write about other regional families too. One family is struggling to deal with a drunkard. Another family is about a couple who think love is out of their married life after spending 10 years together. They realise in the end that it has not actually vanished but was taken for granted so long, in very complicated ways and after getting hurt. :)

Kudos to J.L. :)

White Flag!

DIDO LYRICS

"White Flag"

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you,
Or tell you that.
But if I didn't say it, well I'd still have felt it
where's the sense in that?

I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I know I left too much mess and
destruction to come back again
And I caused nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "it's over"
then I'm sure that that makes sense

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

And when we meet
Which I'm sure we will
All that was there
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on....

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One of my favorite numbers!!!!!!!!!!!!! This whole song has its own reasons and is justified because love is different for every person. Dido has captured the nuance of this delicate line perfectly! :)

Seed of doubt

When a seed of doubt enters your head, what do you do? Jump to conclusions? Wait and see? The former indicates lack of patience and latter the contrary. The middle humanly approach would then be to exhaust all logical polite options of finding out if the doubt is worth it. Last but not the least and the best approach is, depending on the person's maturity level and sensitivity of the situation, to talk it out frankly.

I am yet to see if this middle approach works for me this time. I hate suspense, if it brings disappointing news with it. Sigh.

Simpsons Jr.

Well, episode continued...

PY - The place to be in when am almost done with rat-race --> My dream 5 years ago. Now, I have to rethink about it because of all this commercialization and unexpected ridiculous atrocities - eve teasing, hooligans, bad customer service, firangi worship, horrible traffic followers. It was such a beautiful, different and purely French-Tamil balanced picturesque place 5 years back. Sigh, there are just remnants of that elegance now which set it apart previously. Civilization and evolution - Bah! :(

Anyways, thats the sad part of the visit. Happening part - Me walking aimlessly, being unreachable, enjoying the landscape wherein I am feeling so lost but safe, sitting and gaping at the ever-lashing waves on the rocky seashore at sunset, experiencing few sudden pleasant short-lived but memorable unexpected incidents, getting to see weird but passionate and affectionate family bonding, the best one - getting completely into the sea where the waves are almost drowning me and I become icky, sticky and salty - Most amazing experience, thanks to them! :)

To complete the list, managing to get an almost sound sleep in the middle-seat of a Qualis! :) I managed to do that coz I had blinded my eyes with a kerchief to avoid the head-lights of vehicles coming in front! Ha ha. Feels so funny. Oh, how can I forget? A generous soul shared her blanket with me and a moral support was next to me.

One of my most memorable trips. Somehow, now I am left with mixed emotions - Am I anywhere there to where I want to be or was this whole thing just a timing and place thing? When will I know the answers? :)

Waiting again with bated breath!

Kiterunner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This blog is dedicated to the book and the movie Kiterunner by Khaled Hosseini.

I am still reading the book and its taking me time to finish only because its so simply complex and written with such rich intricate emotions. (P.S: Simply complex - paradox?!)

I was so impressed with Khaled Hosseini's second book - "A thousand splendid suns". So, as expected, I went on to read his first book and in the midst of reading it, I could not resist the temptation to watch the movie. Obviously, the movie is not as harsh and turbulent as the book but has definitely managed to capture some of the turbulence and is quite power-packed. Sigh, I even recognized the writer who does a small cameo appearance in the last scene. The actors are debutants and definitely do justice to quite an extent.

My favorite twist of the book: siblings aspect and my favorite line: For you, a thousand times over. :)

These books are an eye-opener about Afghans and Afghanistan. The flow in the first book is quite not so continuous but I guess its understandable, given its the first book. Khaled is a physician. He is a good story-teller too. :)

I am definitely going to complete the book. :) Lets see how I feel by the time I finish reading it.

Khaled Hosseini - One more story-teller in my list of favorites. Sigh, I wish I had inherited some of his genius. :)

Indian Simpsons family!

Our worlds are as big as our minds. This can be further explained as follows:

Narrow / broad - due to our mindsets

Traditional alias conservative / modern alias westernized - due to upbringing

One happened to meet one such family wherein it was from the former sort of upbringing (80%) and the family was of the latter sort. Initially, it was quite a shocker for one to even see such a family in such close quarters. It was so apprehensive and lost when it was given the opportunity to meet them. Destiny took its sweet toll and put it in such weird interesting situations with this family. One admits it put itself in those situations voluntarily but Destiny has its hand. Overall, one would say that it finds that family completely adorable and yet totally unpredictable.

One met them first - they looked so distant and unapproachable. Then one met them second time wherein one spent more time and saw the madness, closeness, weirdness, frankness. :) Felt definitely interesting but lost. For this, one told self to join as it would serve as a break. :D What a break that was! In the heart of nature and in such interesting company. Now one is to meet the bunch with their etcetera again. One has put up a huge clash of emotions and confusions and guilt to embark on the third meet. Sigh, time has the key to all the doubts.

I realized lately that every single second that passed by, only pushes you further and further to your answers. Yet, we fret and nag and waste energy and effort in it. Its true that the answer awaited could be a nightmare and thats why we fret. :) Nothing is lost in hoping that the answer could be a dream/wish come true or just a simple solution.

Waiting with bated breath! :)

New name and its reasons

Well, today was one just lazy day. I reckon thats the way I wanted to celebrate Labour Day. I am quite happy it went that way though I was left out with boredom in the end of it.

Somehow, today, I just so much wanted something to happen but I was surprisingly ready to accept if it did not happen. I wonder how I cud be in two minds and still fine. Am I growing old and boring? All in all, it happened but not exactly as I expected. I am quite clueless as to if I am right in expecting more from it. I want so much from it but am scared to wish coz I would be disappointed if it dint happen. I am scared of getting hurt, you see. But then, how dumb and boring to let things happen and blame fate or destiny.

Shit, I am so confused and unsure and hence I chose the name Confucius. Its not in the least anywhere near to the famous philosopher. :) I chose it coz the sound of the name is more like the way I am. He he. "Mystic" gets prefixed coz I swear my life does have its teeny-weeny bit of mystery and I really want to sound interesting. :P

I aint a depressed soul - I am just waiting for my life to get interesting and that really shows I am lazy bum. :) Since I am lazy, I wait for good things to happen and complain that life is depressing. Also, I am quite scared to take risks to make it interesting fearing the hurt. One delicate darling. :D

Calvin and Hobbes:

Calvin: Do you believe in stars?
Hobbes: Honestly, no.
Calvin: I do.
Hobbes: What?! (Surprised)
Calvin: Thats coz its easy to blame someone else if things get bad.

I so love Bill Waterman who created Calvin and Hobbes.

Sigh!

Caught unawares

The depression visits again. Catches me unawares and then my thoughts and actions get suspended in mid-air for quite a while. I procrastinate work and many other personal things. Sigh, I hate feeling so vulnerable and dissatisfied. It also makes me get very angry and frustrated easily - Believe me, I have road rage even without knowing how to drive a vehicle. Dangerous and dumb, eh? :D I should carry a placard with me 24/7 which reads "Caution: Mood swings ahead." Female species seems to be blessed that way in general. :D

However, I also pull up myself when nothing helps thro various mediums - like talking to a friend if I am lucky to find someone free, listening to a friend who sometimes is more depressed than me, having chocolates (he he... extremely tempting and handy rather than a person), shop till I drop (pinches my wallet), watch a nice movie, read a nice book, contemplate or speculate (if I am really sober and sensibility traces remain in my senses), cry it out and fall asleep. All these are obviously followed in random order.

Life aint so bad, they say. Also, I read a quote today - "Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it." My my, it made me feel like I had found some answer at least, though not a complete one but definitely convincing one. Also, one of my friends forwarded a mail that summarized that "Blue Ribbon - Who you are definitely makes a difference". Its so touching and true. :)

I saw this movie - "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who". Nice one to watch and feel good. Moral - "A person is a person, no matter how small". You should actually listen the narrator say it. His voice and the way he says it - Makes you feel really good and also realise everyone is special in this world.

Oh, to add to another movie that I recently watched - Tashan. One hilarious bullshit gross dumb irritating movie. Quite an Indian version of "The Dukes of Hazzard" (- a popular American TV show) and "Casino". I loved Akshay in it though. Kareena - Seriously, what a makeover - had the guys drooling and I admit she is looking HOT! :) Saif was just there - Poor thing! Akshay takes the cake home with his raw rustic charm and attitude. Tashan means "arrogant, dont-care but feel good attitude" or simply "ishtyle". Intention of the director to inspire people to throw attitude and ooze loads of oomph and confidence is fine. But the finishing of the movie was just not good. Lacked class and panache. Not an efficiently made movie script-wise. Could have been made so well. Bad luck. Goof-ups so bloody noticeable - Akshay gets shot in his arm in a stunt sequence and next scene, he is fit and fine. Please dont go to see that movie unless you're out of your mind! Well, you can see it if you dont want to apply any brains and are very jobless or last but not the least, a die-hard fan of any one of the lead actors. To be frank, I quite liked it but also wanted to walk out of the theater at many points.

Looking forward to watch "Dasavatharam". I quite enjoyed "Jodha Akbar" whose main themes were love and religion. I reckon "Dasavatharam" has its own take on religion - Kamal's creation. Lets see what he has got to say. I am so confused about all this religious and spiritual space. I like movies with a religion storyline when they narrate it with a beautiful soothing touch of poignance.

Girls should talk to guys - they are after all not just that dumb when it comes to technology. :D I faced quite a tough situation with my office laptop one of these days and as usual, the IT helpdesk were taking their own time. I broke my head to fix the issue on my own and thanks to one of my friends, I was able to solve it in time. I recalled one of the conversations that I had had with this guy and tried his time-tested technique. Voila, it worked! :D

Apart from all this, I have to mention this - I had been to a wedding reception recently. It involved quite a turn of events which made me realise what a romantic fool and emotional wreck I am. I was in two minds about attending it for 4-5 days which made me realise I was getting quite obsessed about it. By the end of it all, it was quite worth it coz I felt good after that. I also realised that if I really wanted to do something, I will do it, no matter what. Should I call it Tashan, eh? :D I got the support of a few people on time to do what I wanted - true. Thanks to them, I can boast of the Tashan. :D

Coming back to my mood-swings, work-life balance is something I crave to master. Work gets so hectic and sometimes I wonder why the hell I should do it. To add to it, control my rage and sensitive attitude. I am such a touchy person - gets really tough for my close loved ones to handle me in some situations.

I can relate to quite an extent to the two women in "A Thousand Splendid Suns" - Khalid Hoseini has captured their thoughts in such a beautiful way - I have no words to describe his precision. One unputdownable read.

However, I must say that I am growing up gradually and hopefully will evolve into a better person in the coming years. Its not easy to manage a married life and then be a good parent itseems. Sigh, I hope I learn to do my best and remain in my senses by then when I enter such phases in the days coming ahead. :) Friends keep you rooted and time is the best healer after friends. I want to be able to maintain such friendships forever, no matter what. Lets see. Where there is will, there is a way. :)

Cheers to Tashan, Khaled Hoseini, Blue Ribbon and Romance..... Life is quite an interesting mystery. :)

Hmmm, this particular blog is dedicated to the first spells of rain in Bangalore for 2008. :) And I had the good fortune (I'm trying to not call it misfortune) to witness it and experience it. Phew!!! All my nightmares that had just taken a siesta until October last year, have got awakened again. :( I cant help calling it them nightmares coz of the after-effects of this "oh-so-innocent-refreshing" rain spells - maddening traffic, auto fare and commuting mode woes, mad and wet and irritated world of people around, wet clothes and humid air, last but not the least and worst of all - my area's pathetic state. I get depressed coz of all this wenever it rains. Please dont conclude I am a lifeless soul or a cruel boring person coz of all this. I love rains - especially when it brings along with it all pleasant and simple things like the smell of mud with the first few drops of rain, getting drenched completely, having icecreams when me is a red-nosed rudolph, rainbow plus sunshine, falling asleep while listening to the torrent of rain like a lullaby, curling up on a bed with a novel or a nice movie or just generally chatting away with folks or frnds or doing nothing but staring at the rain, accompanied by chai and pakodas etc., not necessarily in that order of preference. :) Well, I know I need to brace the rainy days ahead with a pinch of salt yet again.

Last month was my bday month. :) Obviously my favorite month coz I get gifts and wishes and get a chance to just feel good without any unreasonable excuses. :D Cut bday cake made just for me, for the first time in my life. Got loads of gifts - some of them were unexpected and made this year very special. I did a new thing too - went on a one day biking trip (first time) with a few colleagues to Devarayanadurga (60 kms from Blore - Tumkur side and similar to Gopalaswamy Betta near Bandipur) and had a blast of time - realised pleasure of biking, got to see green beautiful nature, bikers and their biking passion and how they reach out and have fun together. Started the trip at 5 am and ended at 10 pm. :D Not to forget I came home red-faced, covered all over with grit and mud and was exhausted though I was only a pillion rider. I was very very thrilled too. I love bullets, I say. :) Thanks much to my colleague for offering me the chance to enjoy a bullet ride and driving so safely but with such speed - his was the most envied bike in the group. :D

Apart from that, last month made me realise about Cupid's mischievous antics which sometimes turns out to be more than a mischief. :D Cupid knocks the door when you least expect. Some people tell me Cupid never approached them until they got married. Sometimes I see Cupid strike one person so many times invariably and sometimes even when the person is already committed. I can never understand how Cupid decides. :) I am yet to see how Cupid is gonna act in my life. I have started believing that Cupid's chemistry trials work out to be successful only when the couple are happily married with everyone's blessings and the couple has loads of optimism, guts, determination, patience, compatibility, trust, ability to sacrifice, share and compromise. I believe now that the results of Cupid's experiments are seen only after a certain period of time. Sigh, such a pity, right, when the world is now so fast-moving and wants instantaneous results? But sometimes some beautiful things need to be enjoyed slowly. As a rule, quick-fix solutions dont happen here always. I definitely agree with the sayings "Love is blind" and "It is better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all." I just pray people develop the strength to face the pain and overcome it if the latter occurs in their life due to some misfortune or bad timing. Been there, done that but the hurt is fresh always for some people.

To love and its undying eternal glory. :)

Its New Year and time for a new start (Is that compulsory?)

Yellos my dearest blog.... I visited thou randomly last year and now am here again after a 20-day-old New Year. :) Beware, I shall not make any promises of being regular. So be it.

Tch... tch... its already 20 days old. So not anymore new, but what the heck?! It was new sometime back. Started it with a wildest bang - did such random things that the conservative boring me wouldnt dare to. Albeit had so much fun.

God bless whoever found Orkut. Meeting a close pal (whom I was almost sure I had lost) out of the blue - Would not have happened otherwise at all. And the short and sweet quick journey that I got the chance to take to make the meeting happen was also out of the blue. An awesome blue, I must say. :) Then partied for a very short while almost immediately after the journey - I've no clue where I got the energy from.

What do you expect after I do all this emotional adventurous riot? Ecstasy - yes, thats right. But also, my lame lazed out body just wanted to breakdown and I fell ill and that really cost me so much. Wotte fun it was to fall ill?! Please do not miss the sarcasm in it - I intend to actually mean tons of it... :)

Amidst all this illness, the depression that encaptured me completely - no words to describe it. It was major emotional turmoil which was opposing the daily routine from the most pliable angle that can be imagined. It has taken tremendous effort for me to come out of the dream-reality that I experienced on the last few days of last year. Now its safely locked in my Pensieve in d midst of my heart beating rapidly for it to repeat itself. All out of naivete. :)

Now I really wonder what lies ahead for me. People around me pester me already about list of my commitments that I should supposedly be getting ready and achieving. As if its as easy as the list of targets to be achieved by a salesperson? People wouldnt understand and I aint gonna try to explain. :) I am just wondering how long I am gonna be able to hold on and not fall off the precipice. :)

Merry-making is what I expect from life ahead. Days will unleash the suspense ahead and give answers to all my puzzles. :) Amistad and good charm should keep me going. Let us see.

Cheerio!!! :)